by Madu Onuorah
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Rev Dr Alfred Adewale Martins has charged the political leaders in the country to prepare for the repercussions that will follow this pandemic so that the shock will be minimized.
The Archbishop’s admonition came through an Easter homily he delivered at Easter Mass on the Sunday at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos which was aired live to Catholic faithful at home in obedience to the social distancing directive of the federal Government.
The clergy noted the efforts of governments and health workers in trying to contain the spread of the pandemic and advised that the leaders should brace up for the challenges that will accompany it especially in the area of the economy.
Global Upfront News (GUN) who monitored the church ceremony online said that the Archbishop urged the people not to despair in the face of the hardship arising from the lockdown but to dutifully follow the protocol so that the spread of the virus can be checked faster.
Dr Martins said that the only way to ensure that the populace are not subjected to prolonged suffering from the economic challenge the pandemic might throw up is for government to be proactive.
He said that the risen Christ entails that evil has been defeated and that light has taken over darkness, a reality he noted should embolden Christians to defeat every disease including Coronavirus.
Earlier at Easter Vigil mass Saturday night at the same venue also aired to faithful at home, the Archbishop said that sin separates God’s children from maximizing the gains of Easter.
He then urged Christians to see the conclusion of the forty days fasting during the Lenten period as self-renewal for them to leave their old ways to a new one which their baptism already made possible.
Our Correspondent reports that the Archbishop offered two special prayers, one for faithful at home who could not physically receive the Holy Communion and second for the quick disappearance of COVID-19 pandemic from the country and the World.The GUN noted that in line with the social distancing rules of Lagos state and the Federal Government lockdown order, only less than ten worshippers joined the skeletal pastoral team led by the Bishop in the mass.
