Amb. Edith ISIDAHOMEN

 

The International Sanctuary of Jesus the Saviour and Mother Mary, Elele, came alive from 19 to 21 September 2025, as tens of thousands of Catholic Faithful, Bishops, Priests, and Religious gathered for the National Jubilee of Hope.

 

The event, hosted under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), served as the national culmination of Pope Francis’ year-long Jubilee of Hope, dedicated to prayer, renewal, and Christian witness.

The celebration was held immediately after the CBCN Second Plenary Meeting in Ikot Ekpene, between 11th and 19th September, 2025; from where the Bishops traveled together to Elele. It was both a pilgrimage and a national moment of grace, uniting the Church in Nigeria in thanksgiving and renewed commitment to the Gospel.

 

The Closing Mass was presided over by Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, who delivered a stirring message on the meaning of Christian hope. He urged Catholics to be “beacons of hope” in a nation grappling with insecurity, poverty, and social challenges. He reminded the faithful that hope is not passive optimism but a living trust in God, calling for unity, compassion, and concrete acts of charity.

 

Echoing Pope Francis’ invitation to “fan the flame of hope,” Archbishop Crotty stressed that the Jubilee is a call to prayer, reconciliation, and service, urging Catholics to embody Christ’s love in their families, parishes, and communities.

 

In his homily, Bishop Patrick Eluke, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Port Harcourt and Host for the celebration, reflected on the Biblical roots of hope. He recalled how Christ proclaimed liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed, reminding the faithful that Jesus Himself walked the earth as a “Pilgrim of Hope.”

 

“Our struggles with insecurity, poverty, and corruption can be overwhelming,” Bishop Eluke said. “But this pilgrimage of hope reminds us that God cannot desert us. Hope does not disappoint.” He further urged Nigerians to embrace forgiveness, reconciliation, and witness to the Gospel in daily life.

 

The Secretary General of the CBCN, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Ayanleke Banjo, emphasized the mission of the Jubilee: to bring encouragement where there is despair, peace where there is conflict, and faith where there is doubt. “Only then,” he said, “will Nigeria see in us a people renewed by Christ.”

 

Delivering the vote of thanks, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Bishop of Warri Diocese, expressed gratitude to God for the successful celebration and to Archbishop Crotty for his presence. He praised Bishop Eluke and the Diocese of Port Harcourt for their hospitality and thanked the local organizing committee, the Elele community, and all the clergy, religious, and lay associations such as the Catholic Men Organization, Catholic Women Organization, the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, and the Holy Childhood Association amongst others, for their active participation.

He noted that the visible unity of the Bishops and the faithful was a powerful witness, not only to the Church in Nigeria but also to the Universal Church.

 

The National Jubilee of Hope in Elele was more than a celebration; it was a pilgrimage of faith and renewal. For many participants, it reinforced Pope Francis’ call to rediscover the value of prayer, to live as artisans of peace, and to nurture the flame of hope in a troubled world.

 

As the Church in Nigeria journeys through the Jubilee Year, the Elele celebration stands as a reminder that Christian hope is not abstract, rather it is lived daily through forgiveness, charity, and faith in God’s promises.