Catholics in Nigeria Cautioned against Witchcraft Mentality, Urged to Deepen Faith in God

He blamed the proliferation of ministries in Africa's most populous nation for the rise in superstitious spirituality among some Catholics in the country, saying, “No wonder there is such a drift by many to newfound prayer houses, so-called ministries whose operators claim to offer instant miraculous solutions!”

Referring to St. Paul’s letter to Ephesians, the Nigerian Archbishop cautioned the people of God in the country against being misled by false doctrines and ideologies.

“At this period of dramatic global changes, ideological opinions, and relativism, we owe it a duty to stress the need to return to the roots of our Catholic faith and identity which have served us so well for over 2,000 years,” he said.

Archbishop Kaigama encouraged Catholics to deepen their understanding of the Church’s teachings and traditions by engaging with foundational texts and documents.

“Every Catholic should have not only a Bible but also a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Vatican Council II document, and Canon Law,” he said, urging the faithful to remain informed about developments in the Church through Catholic media and the Holy Father’s pronouncements.

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The Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Jalingo emphasized that sacraments are central to the faith as signs of grace and means of personal sanctification.

“Our Catholic life is shaped by the sacraments, with the Eucharist, being the source and summit of our faith,” he said, adding, “Apart from the regular participation in the Eucharistic celebration, a Catholic should be known for his or her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints.”

Archbishop Kaigama urged Catholics to move beyond nominal faith and embrace a life of visible devotion that reflects practical Christian living by integrating their spirituality into their daily lives in a way that positively influences society.

“There should be a difference between being merely baptized and living a practical Christian life,” he said, calling on the faithful to demonstrate their faith through daily actions and habits.

He added, “As Catholics, we are called not only to practice a theoretical or barren spirituality, but to concretely practice our spirituality in a way that we can have a transformative impact on our society, and indeed, the world.”