…As CBIU marks 50th anniversary
Christians, Catholics in particular have been urged to apply godly wisdom in all that they do, so as to overcome the weaknesses of jealousy, envy, disorderliness in their groups, community, society and the world at large. The charge was given by Rev. Fr. Franklin Nnamdi, Chaplain, Lagos Archdiocese, CBIU while speaking at the 50th golden jubilee celebration of Catholic Bible Instructors’ Union (CBIU), Nigeria, held recently at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. Reflecting on the Scripture, Fr. Nnamdi said James instructs Christians to be careful the way they live their lives, adding that wherever human beings are found, there definitely will be rancour and conflicts among the people.
He urged the people to model their lives alongside the teachings of Jesus Christ, stating that the greatest should be the one who serves others. Fr. Nnamdi decried the way leaders lord things over those they lead, reminding them that with selfless service and humility, they will be fulfilling the command of Christ in the Scripture. He urged Nigerians to be humble, adding that service to one another will make things easy for everyone. Recounting the history of CBIU in Nigeria, the homilist, Rev. Fr. James Ocholi, disclosed that the mission of the union is to form Catholics who will stand to defend the faith of the Church. He added that the union also has the mission of bringing back the lost sheep, using the Bible, because sometimes, people feel Catholics do not read the Bible enough.
He said: “This union has a mission to bring back the lost brothers and sisters who have left our faith. The union also trains us to be humble, to be men and women of faith, to be people who eventually will live out the totality of our Catholic faith as pilgrims who eventually will arrive at the kingdom of God.” He disclosed that CBIU members also serve as catechists in places where the Catholic Church does not exist, especially remote places. For Bro Chris Igwe, Humbler Servant, CBIU, Lagos Archdiocese, he said the celebration is not just a milestone, but a testament to members’ faith, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the mission bestowed upon them by the founder.
He urged the people to reflect on the past, and look forward to the future with renewed vigour and purpose, asking them to continue to penetrate new grounds, establish strongholds where the Catholic Church is not present, and serve as emergency catechists and true bearers of the Word of God. CBIU was founded in Nigeria by the late Rev. Fr. Benedict Nwolu on September 18, 1974 in Aba, Abia State. The union started in Lagos in the year 1989, introduced by Brother Joseph Nwafor.
