AFRICA/NIGERIA - The continuous desecrations force the closure of a church

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - The continuous sacrileges committed in the church of St Peter in Makurdi have forced the Bishop of the Nigerian diocese, His Exc. Mons. Wilfred Anagbe, to suspend all activities in the parish. The suspension, which entered into force on September 15, 2020, was due to two sacrilegious attacks on the parish, on August 12 and September 13, by people yet to be identified.
The decree sanctioning the suspension of liturgical and pastoral activities states: "The parish will from now on be closed for the celebration of Holy Mass and for all other pastoral activities in line with Canon 1211, with effect from today, September 15 2020, until further notice".
The assailants entered the chapel of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the main building of the church, profaning the Blessed Eucharist and sacking the sacred chalices, so that the whole church was profaned.
The closure, according to the decree, "is to allow us to prepare ourselves adequately for the penance required by law to repair the damage that this profanation has done to the Sacred Body of Christ".
"Pastoral activities will resume only after a reparation proportional to this sacrilege has been made and better security structures for the parish will be fully guaranteed, according to the canonical requirements. Once done this, the entire community of this parish, among other things, will have to participate in a novena of reparation which will end with a rite of expiation, according to the diocesan liturgical norms", explains the decree signed by Mgr. Anagbe. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 24/9/2020)

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