REPORTER: PEACE AGBO
Governor Alex Otti of Abia state has joined other Catholic church faithful across the globe to celebrate the Chrism Mass in Umuahia, the Abia state capita.
Speaking during the Mass at Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral church, Diocese of Umuahia, Governor Otti expressed gratitude to God for the gift of life and seeing the Christian faithful through the Lenten season and ushering them into the Easter festivity.
The Governor while reflecting on the 2023 electoral year, described the events that ushered his emergence into power as extraordinary, calling the transition a “miracle” and cautioned against forces seeking to reverse the gains achieved within the period of administration.
He therefore urged eligible residents to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs noting that divine intervention must be complemented by individual effort and tasked those yet to register to take advantage of the ongoing registration process.
Earlier in his homily, the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Reverend Father Michael Kalu Ukpong explained that the Mass centred on the blessing of oils used in Church sacraments and the commemoration of the institution of the priesthood.
According to the Bishop, the sacraments derive their strength from the death and resurrection of Christ and urged the faithful to engage in sober reflection.
The Bishop cautioned the Church against indiscriminate acceptance of “anointing oils” from individuals who claim to be servants of God, stressing that the performance of miracles is not in itself but the proof of genuine divine calling.
Correspondent Peace Agbo reports that Chrism Mass is a solemn ceremony in which bishops consecrate sacred oils for the Oil of the Sick, Oil of Catechumens, and the consecration of the Sacred Chrism used in administering key sacraments throughout the year.
