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The Bishop of Clogher speaks of reconciliation on visit to Kaduna diocese
The Bishop of Clogher speaks of reconciliation on visit to Kaduna diocese
During the last fortnight of November the bishop of Clogher, Michael Jackson,
spent time in the Diocese of Kaduna. He has a long-standing friendship with
Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon and Mrs Idowu-Fearon and was their guest.
He had the opportunity to address the clergy of the diocese twice and the
laity of the diocese once on subject of The Anglican Covenant. He also
participated in the Advent rally for the whole Province of Kaduna in
the Jacaranda Farm, just outside Kaduna city.
The work of Bridge Builders in Kaduna Diocese and throughout Northern Nigeria
is ground-breaking and is a direct and practical response to the situation
of societal unease coming out of the Kaduna Riots.
Structured building of trust in fractured and distrustful communities struck
a chord with the work of peace-building and reconciliation in Bishop Jackson’s
own country of Ireland and in his own cross-border diocese.
A broad-ranging sense of Anglican church life, where traditional forms of
worship combine with a freer style, gave the distinct impression of a diocese
which had faced and dealt with the ruinous effects of rioting and carnage
emanating from uneasy tensions between different Faiths in a compassionate
and constructive way.
Mothers’ Union was also particularly strong in advancing programmes
of healthcare, personal dignity and the fight against HIV/AIDS in a world
which is as complicated and as open to malign influences in Nigeria as is
any other part of the world.
Clogher Diocese has been delighted to provide the bulk of the funding of
a residential facility on Jacaranda Farm which can accommodate up to sixty
people. It is also engaged as of now in the Kaduna Rural Education Project
which seeks to provide resources for small primary schools in the country
areas.