Kwikila, Central Province: The Christian community of Kwikila in the Rigo District of Central Province joined the Catholic Community to celebrate the opening of the Saint Joseph’s Chapel on Thursday, August 5.
Present at the opening of the new church were high dignitaries in the likes of his Eminence Cardinal Sir John Ribat, the member for Rigo honourable Lekwa Gure, Kwikila Disrtict Administrator Koru Abe, Provincial Administrator for Central Province, Francis Koaba and others.
Despite the heavy rain, there was much singing and dancing. Grass skirts swayed to the beat of the kundu drums as the guests were welcomed at the entrance of the church grounds by the Saint Paul’s Youths from the Holy Trinity Parish in Boregaina
The cutting of the ribbon was then followed by a procession by the St Paul’s Youths who led the dignitaries and priests into the Chapel for the Blessing and Thanksgiving mass where His Eminence, Archbishop Cardinal Sir John Ribat had the privilege of presiding the first ever mass.
In his homily, Cardinal Ribat invited the people not only to keep the chapel clean but their bodies as well describing it as a holy dwelling place of God and therefore should be kept clean.
“We must pray for God’s grace to drive out things that destroy God’s temple so that our lives may become a beacon of light and hope to our other fellow Christians,” he said.
The homily was then followed by the blessing of the Altar and Tabernacle and the whole building before the mass proceeded to the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Cardinal congratulated the people for their faith and prayers that resulted in the opening of their new chapel before giving the final blessing to conclude the mass.
St Paul’s Boregaina parishioner, Ms. Cecelia Gabi described the event as ‘historical’ because the Kwikila area is mostly dominated by other Christian churches with the United Church and Seventh Day Adventists having the largest congregation members.
“I’m very happy to see the opening of this new chapel and I’m also very touched by the support that came from the other Christian Churches and for the Cardinal to make time available from his busy schedule to be physically present is a major bonus for the Catholic community,” she said.
The second part of the program was held outside where there were speeches, entertainment and feasting to celebrate the historic occasion.
The program concluded with the distribution of fresh garden produce of the famous ‘Rigo Banana’ and other root vegetables to the invited dignitaries.
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