It was a dream come true for FMDM Nigeria as the sisters in Abuja witnessed the celebration of the first Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Mass at San Damiano Chapel in La Verna Reconciliation and Healing Garden, Bwari, Abuja.
It was a God-incidence when as a community we chose to open the Garden for public use without thinking that it is the beginning of the Season of Creation. To crown it all, Pope Leo XIV following in the footsteps of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis of blessed memory on this special day, the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2025 with the theme “Seeds of Peace and Hope” challenged us to care for creation, be seeds of hope, bearing fruits of justice, peace and equity.
It was exactly a year ago when work started on what was a rich farm land to what it is today. At Mass we had a head count of 78 people comprising of men and women, children and youth from the parish and its outstation.
The parish priest of St Anthony’s Catholic Church Gaba, Fr. Barnabas was the celebrant at the Mass. He appreciated the effort of the sisters who instead of doing a different ministry elsewhere in Abuja chose to build a pilgrim prayer ground in rural Bwari availing the local community of Gyindya the privilege of communing with God.
By Sr Judith Igbojionu