In the spirit of Christmas as a season of love, hope, and shared joy, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Valentine Onaga, once again celebrated Christmas with the students of the Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, continuing a tradition he has faithfully upheld for the past ten years.
The Christmas Mass, which was marked by joy and deep emotion, saw the students visibly elated by the presence of the Bishop. The liturgy was animated by the students themselves, who served at the altar, played musical instruments, and rendered melodious hymns throughout the celebration.
In his homily, Bishop Onaga reminded the congregation that the true reason for Christmas is that God chose to become man in order to save humanity. He encouraged the students to remain steadfast and never lose hope, stressing that God, in His wisdom, may have permitted them to pass through this phase of life as a form of training meant to make them better persons. He urged them to see their present situation as a period of formation, noting that true freedom comes with responsibility.
Drawing inspiration from the life of St. Augustine, the Bishop exhorted the students to abandon their past and strive for holiness, reminding them that transformation opens doors of opportunity. “It is only when you change and become better that doors of opportunities will open,” he stated, adding that he would not be surprised if one day some of them become governors or ministers. He further encouraged them to love one another as God has loved humanity and concluded by praying for their freedom, expressing optimism that more efforts would be made this year to secure the release of many of them.
Towards the end of the Mass, the Officer-in-Charge of the Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, Deputy Controller of Corrections, Mr. Sunday Igwe, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Bishop for his consistent presence and support. He noted that many students had recorded significant positive changes and were ready for reintegration into society upon release. He also commended the Catholic community for its sustained interventions through the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO) and the Catholic Institute of Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), led by Msgr. Prof. Obiorah Ike. He observed that the Catholic Church is widely known for its prison initiatives and outreaches, and, in the spirit of Christmas, appealed for assistance in expanding the prison church to accommodate more worshippers.
Also present at the Mass were the Controller of Enugu State Command, Mr. Valens Obiezue; the Assistant Controller General of Corrections and Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Zone M, Enugu, Mrs. Priscilla Oku; as well as several priests, including Fr. Chrysogonus Okorie, OCD, Superior of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, Nigeria; Fr. Kenis Azuoma, OCD; the Diocesan Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie; the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Aneke; and Fr. Sylvanus Ugwu, among others.
In his vote of thanks, Fr. Jude Isiguzo, OCD, the CAPIO Director/Chaplain, expressed profound appreciation to Bishop Onaga for his constant availability and fatherly presence. He also thanked the custodial centre’s administration and all those who made the Christmas celebration possible.
In keeping with his custom, Bishop Onaga shared a Christmas meal with the students. In a gesture of gratitude, the students presented him with a metal shoe rack crafted by the Metal and Fabrication Department of the Custodial Centre. In return, the Bishop donated the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500,000) to support the ongoing metal and fabrication training programme within the facility.
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