As Harvest season approaches, Catholic parishes across Nigeria prepare for weeks of thanksgiving and generous offerings. The atmosphere radiates gratitude for life, family, and fruitful labour. Yet, amid these festivities comes a sober reminder: we must protect the sanctity of the sanctuary even as we celebrate God’s goodness. The sanctuary is not an extension of the parish hall. It is sacred ground, set apart for the mysteries of our faith. Here, heaven meets earth in the sacrifice of the Mass, the proclamation of the Word, and the nourishment of souls with the Body and Blood of Christ.
This truth demands even greater attention during Harvest celebrations, when numerous activities risk blurring the line between sacred and social space. Of particular importance is the Ambo, often called the pulpit or lectern. The Church teaches that it is the “Table of the Word,” a sacred height from which Christ speaks through the readings and homily. It is the first table where minds are fed before souls are nourished at the altar. The Catechism (CCC 1184) and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM 309) emphasise that the dignity of the Word of God requires a dedicated place for its proclamation.
Using the Ambo for general announcements, fundraising speeches, or comedic interludes, however well-intentioned, undermines its sacred purpose. Furthermore, the sanctuary itself—including the altar, Ambo, priest’s chair, and tabernacle—must never be reduced to a performance stage. Fashion parades, cultural dances, picture-taking sessions and honour presentations within this space violate its boundaries. The common practice of calling donors into the sanctuary for blessings or recognition should be discouraged. Equally, touching the altar in the name of thanksgiving must cease.
Blessings can and should be conferred while the faithful kneel at the communion rails or in front of the sanctuary, preserving the altar’s dignity. Such discipline is not about exclusion or class. It is about order, reverence, and fidelity to the Church’s liturgical life. In many Cathedrals and parishes worldwide, separate lecterns exist for general announcements, preserving the Ambo solely for the Word of God. Nigerian parishes may consider similar architectural provisions in future designs.
As priests, liturgical committee members, altar servers, and lay faithful, we have a shared responsibility to uphold the sacred boundaries of our worship spaces. Indeed, fundraising for parish growth is necessary. But we must never sacrifice the dignity of the sanctuary on the altar of financial need. The Harvest season offers us a test: Can we express joy without undermining reverence?
Can we thank God with grateful hearts while protecting His dwelling place from disorder? Let us teach our children, guests, and fellow faithful that the sanctuary belongs to God alone. May this Harvest season renew not only our barns but our reverence, ensuring that the Nigerian Catholic Church remains a beacon of worship that is joyful, disciplined, and deeply sacred.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
