The Catholic Church’s centuries of humble service to humanity and her development record to society are among the reasons Alhaji Ahmed Raji, a Nigerian Muslim, has given for donating a modern 400-seater assembly hall to Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Oyo in the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province.
Speaking during the event of the blessing and commissioning of the assembly hall that is named after Archbishop Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, the Local Ordinary of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese, Alhaji also said he donated the hall because of the impact of the Catholic Church to Iseyin community, where the hall is located, this is according to a report shared with ACI Africa, which the Nigeria Catholic Network (NCN) published on November 18.
The report by Fr. Martin Badejo, who participated in the November 17 blessing and commissioning of the donated hall indicates that in his speech, Alhaji, a “devout Muslim”, cited the Catholic “Church’s long-standing tradition of humble service which has endured for centuries (and) its remarkable strides in the development of the society and humanity at large” as reasons for donating the hall.
Alhaji, described in Fr. Martin’s report as “a Senior Advocate of Nigeria” said that “the unparalleled foresight of the Church in the service of humanity and especially of the Iseyin community” also informed his decision to donate the modern assembly hall.
Alhaji highlighted his earlier donation in 2022 of a state-of-the-art operating theater and equipment to Our Lady Catholic Hospital, Iseyin, describing the hospital as “a real beacon of grassroots healthcare” since his childhood.
He praised the Church for saving lives and offering assistance through its medical and educational institutions, emphasizing that its grassroots efforts “do not discriminate against anyone.”
Raji urged Catholics, especially the youth, not to abandon the Church or succumb to the “japa” trend of emigration, which he described as a “scourge to the grassroots and our society at large,” depleting the manpower essential for societal growth.
He encouraged them to remain steadfast in their faith, value what they have, and “do as much good as they should,” spreading these values to others.
In his homily during the Mass which was celebrated after the blessing of the hall at St John the Baptist Catholic Church Isalu of Oyo Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo is said to have termed the donation as an application of faith, urging believers to demonstrate their faith through actions that benefit “others.”
According to the report, Bishop Badejo also described the donation as a gesture for “interfaith relations” in the West African nation that is grappling with religious persecutions.
“While instructing others in virtue demands living a righteous life as good examples for others to see, it is as well important to help contribute to the progress of the society, in order to provide the resources needed for development and righteous living,” the report indicates.
According to Bishop Badejo, living righteously demands that faith be “brought to practical action, to help others to grow.” He says that this works even better when the relationship between different faiths “bears such positive fruits” like what Mr. Alhaji “has done for the Catholic community of Iseyin.”
The Bishop likened Mr. Alhaji’s kind donation to the biblical story of the Centurion whose kindness to the Jews in helping to build their synagogue, despite not being a Jew, “won him the favor of Jesus as a legitimizi
*Source: ACI Africa
21 November, 2024
