By Kazeem Waris
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama has charged officers, Ratings and other personnel of the Nigerian Navy to complement their professional training, military discipline and operational capabilities with spiritual strength, integrity and commitment to God to achieve ultimate victory.
Delivering his homily during the dedication of Nigerian Navy Catholic Church Christianed as ‘Corpus Christi Catholic Church’, Bishop Kaigama stressed that “weapons, military equipment and professional competence are good and necessary to confront security threats,evil and enemies of the nation but these alone cannot provide the ultimate strength required to overcome life’s challenges”.
He urged officers and ratings to strengthen their relationship with God, noting that spiritual discipline remains essential to building morally upright and responsible military personnel.
The Bishop commended the Nigerian Navy for promoting religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence through the provision of worship facilities for Catholic, Protestant and Muslim personnel.
He described the arrangement as a positive example of religious harmony within the Armed Forces, stressing that differences in religious beliefs should never become reasons for hostility or division.
He urged the Naval Chaplaincy to sustain its commitment to spiritual care, pastoral counselling, family support and interfaith understanding, describing the church as a spiritual harbour where personnel can find peace, hope and strength.
In his Keynote remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass disclosed that, ‘the dedication of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church is a visible expression of our commitment to the holistic welfare of our officers, ratings and their families.
Represented by the Director of Administration at Naval headquarters, Rear Admiral Adedokun Siyanbade the CNS said, “is also a testament to the religious harmony, mutual respect and unity that remain essential to our identity as a professional fighting force.
His words, ‘Today, we celebrate much more than the completion of a beautiful place of worship. We celebrate the enduring partnership between faith and service, spiritual strength and military duty, institutional commitment and human welfare.
“The Nigerian Navy recognises that the strength of any fighting force lies not only in its ships, weapons and operational capabilities, but also in the character, discipline, resilience and moral convictions of its personnel.
“While military training prepares the body and mind for the demands of duty, faith strengthens the human spirit to confront adversity with courage, integrity and hope.
“It is in this understanding that the Nigerian Navy continues to support the spiritual and moral development of its personnel and their families, irrespective of religious affiliation.
Vice Admiral Abass expressed delight that what began as a vision has, through determination, sacrifice and collective goodwill, become this beautiful house of God.
“I commend the leadership of the Roman Catholic Chaplaincy Services, particularly the Acting Director, Very Reverend Father Navy Captain Richmond Diala, whose dedication and commitment have contributed significantly to the realisation of this project.
“I equally appreciate the contributions of successive Nigerian Navy leadership. While going through the history of this church, I observed that plans for its construction date back to the tenure of Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba. We therefore recognise and appreciate the contributions of these distinguished leaders, generous benefactors, Catholic faithful and everyone who supported this noble undertaking.
“Your Grace, we are deeply honoured by your presence and grateful for your pastoral leadership in dedicating this sacred edifice. We trust that this church will remain a sanctuary of prayer, a centre of spiritual renewal, a home for families and a source of moral inspiration to generations of Nigerian Navy personnel.
As we celebrate this milestone, I encourage all personnel to allow the values nurtured within these sacred walls—love, sacrifice, discipline, compassion and service—to find practical expression in their professional responsibilities and everyday lives.”
