The Catholic Bishop of Katsina Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Mamman Musa, on Sunday paid a pastoral visit to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Magama Jibia, where he celebrated Holy Mass, administered the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion, and visited two Catholic educational institutions within the parish.
The pastoral visit commenced with the celebration of Holy Mass at 7:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish Church. In his homily, Bishop Musa reflected on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing their role in shaping the spiritual lives of Christians. He urged the faithful to seek wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, noting that these gifts empower believers to live authentic Christian lives in a challenging world.
Following the homily, the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 10 candidates, charging them to be courageous witnesses of Christ and active members of the Church. The liturgy continued with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, during which six parishioners received their First Holy Communion, marking a significant spiritual milestone in their faith journey.
As the Mass drew to a close, parish societies and parishioners expressed their joy and appreciation by presenting gifts to the Bishop. Among those who made presentations were the Arewa Catholic Forum, Catholic Men Organization (CMO), Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), Catholic Women Organization (CWO), and several families from the parish community. The Bishop, in his remarks, thanked the parish for their warm welcome, generosity, and active participation in diocesan life.
The day’s activities concluded with group photographs to commemorate the visit. Afterwards, Bishop Musa proceeded to visit two educational institutions under the parish—Comprehensive Primary School and Fatima Secondary School. The primary school, which has served the community for over 25 years, and the secondary school, established in 2019, are key to the Diocese’s commitment to education and human development.
At Fatima Secondary School, the Bishop was received by the Principal, Mr. Joseph Abele, who pledged to sustain the vision of promoting quality Catholic education in the Diocese. Bishop Musa commended the management and staff for their dedication, encouraging them to maintain their standards of excellence and to build on the momentum achieved so far. He prayed for the continued success of the schools and for God’s blessings upon all who contribute to their growth.
The visit ended with words of gratitude and prayers for the entire parish community, reaffirming the Bishop’s commitment to pastoral care, evangelization, and the development of Catholic institutions in the Diocese.
