Nigeria: CEPACS Golden Jubilee opens with a solemn and colourful Mass.
Paul Samasumo – Vatican City.
As some of Africa’s Catholic Bishops with the faithful of Lagos gathered in the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Cross, perhaps the last thing they expected was to be serenaded by Bishop Emmanuel Badejo leading them briefly to sing a chorus of Michael Jackson’s iconic classic, “Heal the World.” Even more surprising was that the choir and the entire Lagos congregation seemed to know the Michael Jackson lyrics by heart.
Heal the world
In the middle of his Sunday homily, Bishop Badejo spontaneously broke into the Michael Jackson song, Heal the World. This was at the opening Mass of the 50th anniversary of the Pan African Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS).
When seen as a gift, communication can bring about communion, understanding and healing in society, said Bishop Badejo.
“The Holy Father Pope Francis often proposes the Good Samaritan as an example for Christians to follow in order to heal the world and our societies. (The parable) is a good example of listening to others -even if they are not speaking – and it encourages us never to leave anyone behind. Emulating the Good Samaritan wherever we find ourselves can change how we see the stranger, how we see the poor, how we treat the marginalised, and how we treat the least deserving even of our attention. It can help us to craft a more just and sane world for everybody … Even some of our good singers realise that,” said Bishop Badejo as he broke into a Michael Jackson chorus. The congregation sang along:
There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space
Make a better place….... Heal the World..
We stand on the shoulders of giants
Bishop Badejo continued, “This is a Mass of thanksgiving to God for these 50 years of CEPACS with all its ups and downs, successes and drawbacks since its establishment at Ibadan … I know that as Chairman and President of CEPACS, I stand on the shoulders of many people who have worked very hard in the Church to promote and disseminate the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ among people in every way possible,” the prelate of Oyo Dioceses told the Lagos faithful and CEPACS delegates.
The two-day CEPACS conference ends on Tuesday. Several Bishops and international Church media experts are expected to present papers meant to recommit to the Church’s media apostolate in Africa.
The Michael Jackson song
Michael Jackson’s “Heal the World” is a song the singer composed and recorded in 1991 and released in 1992. The song is about Jackson’s wish for humanity to make the world a better place. He would later say that “Heal the World” was the song he was most proud to have created. It was played at his funeral in 2009.
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