By Orapine Augustine
As part of its Youth Harvest Activities, St. Paul Catholic Church, Airpot Road, Benin City, hosted a vibrant Cultural Day Celebration themed “Embracing Diversity and Heritage”, drawing parishioners together in a colourful showcase of Nigeria’s cultural richness and Christian unity.
The event, held within the church premises, brought together various ethnic groups who expressed their heritage through traditional attire, music, dance, and local delicacies. From the spirited cultural parade to the communal sharing of food, the event highlighted the beauty of diversity when anchored in faith.
In his remarks, Rev. Fr. Godwin Ibe emphasized the importance of cultural appreciation within the Christian journey:
“As we understand, culture is a way of life of a people. And as people from different cultures, we have gathered together to celebrate the beauty of our diverse cultural upbringing. As Christians, we have come to show that these ways of life that were handed down to us can be used to worship God, and even more meaningfully.
So, today is one of those days set aside to celebrate our culture — people from different places coming together in their cultural presentations. It brings out the beauty in our diversity, and this is what we have witnessed today.
It is my prayer that the Good Lord gives us the grace to continue in this light, to strengthen our bond and unity, living together in peace despite our differences.” He said.
The day began with a Eucharistic celebration during which the Parish Priest of St. Paul’s, Very Rev. Fr. Charles Omogiate, delivered a soul-stirring homily on the power of prayer.
“Prayer means the lifting up of our minds and hearts to God. Prayer is an expression of our total dependence on God. It is also a form of humility. When we kneel before God, we kneel because we want to respect Him. We kneel because we know that He is the Almighty — He is the Creator, and we are the creatures.
“Today, in the Gospel reading, the apostles approached Jesus and said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us how to pray.’ It was not because they were not praying before, but they wanted Him to show them the format for prayer.
“In the first reading today, in the conversation between Abraham and God, Scripture referred to Abraham as a friend of God. God trusted Abraham, and Abraham trusted God. What we heard from the first reading today is the expression of God’s relationship with Abraham. God wanted to destroy the city of Sodom and Gomorrah because there was evil in the land, and God was fed up. But Abraham pleaded. God spared the people of Abraham because of his intercession.
“Prayer is important. Do not feel too tired to pray. That is the only way we can combat the forces of the evil one. If we do not pray, we will become prey to the evil one. Prayer also needs patience. We pray, but we want immediate action. God is not a magician, but He knows and sees everything. He knows when to answer that particular prayer.” He said.
The cultural reception was a joyful experience, with parishioners from different states and ethnic groups displaying traditional dances, preparing indigenous dishes, and wearing native attire. The celebration fostered both cultural pride and communal spirit.
The Vice President of the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), St. Paul Parish, Miss Imaobong Maryann Gabriel, who represented the Akwa Cross River group, expressed her joy:
“Today is a joyous day for all, a time to celebrate our heritage. Different ethnic groups came together to celebrate their unique cultures. So, today is a joyous day for all parishioners, from the parents’ body to the youth. It is truly a good day for everyone.
As they say, culture is a way of life. People come together from different ethnic backgrounds. When we meet, we share food, thoughts, and traditions. It means a lot to me.” she said
The Chairman of the Youth and Children Harvest Committee Comr. Francis Imudiase Osaretinomwan, reflected on the growth and success of this year’s celebration.
“This was the first time the Cultural Day was livestreamed. The planning was more detailed, and the event more widely publicized than previous years. It was colourful, beautiful, and truly unique.” He said.
He also voiced concern about the decline of cultural interest among some youths:
“It’s sad that many young people shy away from their cultural roots. But I believe if families instill these values early, they will stick. For me, I embrace culture wherever I go, no matter the language or tribe.” He said.
