By Abasi Ita
Calabar
Over 3,000 members of the Catholic faith under the aegis of Divine Mercy Devotion Nigeria, are in Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State for the 2024 edition of Divine Mercy National Congress.
The event is meant to galvanize devotees from 57 Catholic dioceses cutting across nine provinces around Nigeria towards offering corporate prayers to God Almighty for global peace, prosperity, and the economic well-being of Nigeria in particular.
Briefing journalists in Calabar, the national promoter of the group in charge of Nigeria, Madagascar, and Africa, Archbishop Martins Uzoukwu attributed the choice of Calabar as a venue for the event to divine inspiration inspired by the peculiar interest of God in the affairs of state.
He revealed that the national congress which kicks off today Thursday and will run till Sunday themed: Divine Mercy; “The Real Source of Hope for Nigeria” will have the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Obonogemem Ekpo as the keynote speaker.
According to him;, This congress offers ample avenue for catholic faithful and intercessors across other denominations to intercede for the peace, prosperity, and development of Nigeria and the world at large”
In his words: ” The four-day event will also deepen the faith of the people and bring salvation to the land.
“Catholics in particular will get the feel of God’s divine mercy,” he opined.
On his part, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Calabar, Most Revd. Joseph Ekuwem opined that the congress will attract divine blessings to Calabar beyond religious lines while affording members ample avenues to expand the frontiers of the gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism.
Divine Mercy is an intercessory wing of the Catholic Church with a focus on mobilizing the Catholic faithful for daily prayer routines to solicit divine intervention from God for peace, development, harmonious coexistence amongst humanity, and progress of human society.
The movement was floated by a Polish Nun, Saint Faustina Kowalska after a divine visitation in the early 30s and got global ascendency during the reign of Pope John Paul 11 who lifted an initial embargo placed on the movement by the Vatican authorities.