LET US NOT BE TIRED OF DOING GOOD

“LET US NOT BE TIRED OF DOING GOOD”

– World Mission Campaign, 2021, Germany

Missio Aachen invited the Emir of Wase, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sambo Haruna and I, to the 2021 World Mission Campaign in Germany, focusing on Interreligious Dialogue in Nigeria. The general theme of the campaign is taken from Galatians 6 : 9 : “Let us not be tired of doing good”.

Arriving on Tuesday 28th September, the Emir, together with the Galadima of Wase, Umar Mustapa Galadima and I, were warmly welcomed at the Frankfurt airport by MISSIO Aachen officials, from where we made a three-hour drive to Essen.

The Mayor of Essen, Mr. Thomas Kufen and his officials, whose city is the host for this year’s take-off event, gave us a warm reception in the Essen town hall where the Emir and I spoke on our interreligious efforts in Nigeria.

The other group also invited by Missio comprising of Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, Sr. Nenlidang Gochin, FMDM, of Damietta Peace Initiative, Fr. John Bakeni, Fr. Gideon Pwakim and three participants from the Women’s Interfaith Council (WIC) Kaduna: Sr. Veronica Onyeanisi, OLA, Hajiya Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu and Mrs. Elizabeth Majinya Abok, arrived on Thursday, 30th August. They are scheduled to visit some dioceses, also sharing their experience and work of interreligious dialogue in Nigeria.

On the 1st of October, the Emir and I in company of the President of Missio, Fr. Dirk Bingener, the Auxilliary Bishop of Essen, Ludger Schepers, and other Missio officials, visited Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pfoertner, the Minister for Federal and European Affairs and International Relations, North Rhine-Westphalia (federal state) in Düsseldorf. The courtesy visit gave the Emir and I the opportunity to exchange views with the Minister about our interreligious dialogue and the need to prepare the young people in Nigeria, so many unemployed, for the task of reducing ethnic and religious tension and conflicts through dialogue. The Minister having had a warm discussion with us, asked the President of Missio to sustain the discussion with his ministry, to know what can be done in Nigeria since they already have some experience of German social engagements in Ghana.

We visited the Merkez Camii Mosque, Duisburg, in company of all the other participants from Nigeria, where we were hosted to a delicious lunch, generously offered by the Muslim community, followed by a guided tour of the beautiful Mosque conducted by a lady who explained admirably how Muslims pray and how things are conducted in the Mosque when they gather for prayers.

In Duisburg, we also saw the commendable interfaith social works facilitated by the Medical Sisters of Mary (Sr. Ursula) in favour of the poor from different cultural and religious groups, a project called “Petershof”.

One other initiative of theirs as coordinated by Sr. Mariotte, is the Christian/ Muslim women initiative of Duisburg, where Christian and Muslim women are engaged in wonderful interfaith activities, trying to understand themselves, to cultivate mutual respect, to maintain friendship and to collaborate in works of charity especially for the poor.

Our visits were not only to offices, churches and mosques, but also to coal mining sites in Bochum and Essen.

Visiting the Cathedral of St. Cosmas and St. Damian of the diocese of Essen on the 2nd of October, we understood that the Church used to be a monastery Church, built over one thousand years ago. An interesting apostolate that is coordinated from the Cathedral is the “City pastoral project”, by Fr. Bernd Wolharn. He is a “parish priest” but without borders; not the regular type of parish priest. He is incharge of the “church on the street”. He explained that his work involves bringing the church to the city’s streets and the people on the streets to the church. It is a “mobile parish” to make the church relevant to contemporary times and places, on the streets, in the church, film houses, theatres, public squares, etc. These “parishioners” on the streets are from different cultures and religions but encounter themselves, especially during the yearly Noah’s Ark Festival, when they bring food to share and enjoy music and dances together irrespective of their cultural and religious diversity.

The official Mass for the mission campaign was celebrated in St. Gertrud’s parish Church, 3rd October, presided over by the Bishop of Essen, Franz-Josef Overbeck, during which he invited everyone to work for peace and not to get tired of doing so. The Mass was followed by a meal with those who donate to the causes of Missio, and the day concluded with a novelty badminton match between Bishop Mamza and Fr. Dirk, President of Missio.

Many thanks to Johannes Seibel and Bettina Tiburzy, for kindly and patiently accompanying us since we arrived, and ensuring we are well taken care of.

So far, so good. The events of the coming days include visits to Berlin, Cologne, Mainz, etc.

To God be glory and praise!