By CSN Media
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has launched the Apostolate of Pastoral Care of Migration, a new initiative aimed at providing spiritual and material support to migrants and refugees in Nigeria. The launch, which took place at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) in Abuja, marked a significant step towards addressing the pressing needs of displaced individuals in the country.
With the theme “Fostering Collaborative Engagement of Church and State for Migrants and Refugees Assistance,” the event brought together stakeholders from government, civil society, and international organizations to discuss ways of providing compassionate and inclusive support to migrants and refugees.
In his opening speech, Most Rev. Yohanna Bulus, Episcopal Chairman of the Migrants and Refugees unit of the CBCN, emphasized the unit’s mission to provide pastoral care to migrants of all categories. He noted that the creation of the local office was a direct response to the Papal injunction urging the universal church to provide care and dignity to migrants.
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, in his keynote speech, condemned the numerous challenges faced by migrants and refugees in Nigeria, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He called for a more proactive and compassionate approach to migration, aligning with the principles advocated by Pope Francis.
Rev. Fr. Augustine Akhogba, Episcopal Secretary of the Migrants and Refugees unit of CSN, described the launch as a significant moment of compassion, solidarity, and advocacy for migrants and refugees. He emphasized the importance of pastoral care in addressing the challenges faced by migrants and refugees.
The event featured goodwill messages from various individuals and collaborative agencies, including the Migrants and Refugees Section, DPIHD (Vatican City), RECOWA, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The launch marked the beginning of a new era of collaboration between the Church and state in addressing the needs of migrants and refugees in Nigeria. With the participation of diocesan coordinators from across Nigeria and representatives of related agencies, the initiative is expected to make a significant impact in the lives of displaced individuals in the country.