INAUGURATION OF THE JUDICIAL YEAR, 2025
INAUGURATION OF THE JUDICIAL YEAR, 2025 AT ST. MARTIN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH LUGBE, ABUJA, ON THURSDAY, 13TH FEBRUARY, 2025.
Yesterday, 13th February, 2025 marked the official inauguration of a new judicial year for the judicial arm of the archdiocese Abuja, with the theme: “Effects of Marriage Under the Act on Christian Marriage,” with the aim of reinforcing the Church’s commitment to justice, fairness, and the proper administration of ecclesiastical matters. Clergy, religious, and lay faithful gathered to witness this significant occasion, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom in all judicial proceedings.
ADDRESS OF MOST REV. IGNATIUS A. KAIGAMA
TO THE OFFICIALS OF THE JURIDICAL-PASTORAL SERVICE AND METROPOLITAN TRIBUNAL OF ABUJA.
We are gathered again today as we always do every year to solemnly inaugurate the judicial year 2025 of our archdiocese. And I am pleased to address you, the officials of the Juridical-Pastoral Service and the Metropolitan Tribunal of Abuja as well as to officially inaugurate the 2025 Judicial Year of the Judicial Arm of our Archdiocesan Curia.
The inauguration of the Judicial Year offers me the opportunity to reiterate my appreciation and gratitude for your work. As the Holy Father directed in his address to the officials of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota at the inauguration of the Judicial Year, 2025, I shall continue to pay attention to this arm of our curia by making sure that it is equipped with well-trained persons – clerics and laity – suited to this function; and ensuring that you carry out your work with justice and diligence. I am fully aware that the investment in the training of such workers – scientific, human and spiritual training – is always to the benefit of the faithful, who are entitled to careful consideration of their petitions, even when they receive a negative response. Let me reiterate here that not everybody who approaches the Ecclesiastical Tribunal gets an affirmative judgement. For instance, in the case of nullity of marriage, if from the findings of Tribunal on the evidence rendered to it, there are circumstances, acts or omission that rendered the marriage null and void ab initio , that is, from the very beginning, the marriage will be declared null and void. However, if there are not circumstances, acts or omission that rendered the marriage null and void ab initio , that is, from the very beginning, the marriage will be declared valid. Whatever be the outcome, sometimes, one of the parties is aggrieved. The aggrieved party has the right to introduce a complaint of nullity of the judgement or appeal against the sentence in accordance with the norms of the law.
Reflecting on the theme of this year’s seminar: “Effects of Marriage Under the Act on Christian Marriage,” I am aware that some people including
priests do not understand the relationship and differences between Marriage Under the Act and our Christian marriage. What are its effects on Christian marriage? What can we do as an archdiocese to have our marriages recognized as Marriage under the act? I will allow Barr. Edward
Oga to set the ball rolling by presenting the fundamental requirements of a valid Marriage under the Act and its effects on Christian marriages in
our Archdiocese. Hopefully at the end of today’s discussion, we will get more answers. This is synodality in action.
Having listened to the welcome address of the Judicial Vicar, Rev. Fr. Christopher Nnubia and the report on the state and activity of the judicial arm of our archdiocesan curia, I want to thank all the donors who supported our Tribunal office. May God bless and reward you abundantly. I entrust our work to our Mother Mary. I bless you from my heart for your good work. To all of you, I say thank you for your presence , interest and participation.
Finally, let us now go into the main event of today, namely, the inauguration of the judicial year, which I now do,“In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” With this, the Judicial Year, 2025 is now declared open.
