By Palma Ileye
Catholic leaders and devotees of Saint Rita of Cascia have called on Nigerians, particularly political and public office holders, to embrace peace, forgiveness, faith and selfless service as essential virtues for building a stable and prosperous nation.
They made the call at the 2026 National Feast Celebration of the Pious Union of Saint Rita of Cascia in Abuja, held under the theme, “Cultivating Peace, Faith and Hope: Emulating Saint Rita’s Virtues.”
The annual gathering brought together more than 1,000 devotees from different parts of the country to reflect on the life and virtues of Saint Rita and their relevance to contemporary Nigerian society.
Representing the Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace Most Reverend Dr. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, the National Chaplain of the Pious Union of Saint Rita, Reverend Father Richard Igyor, said Nigerians could overcome the country’s challenges by building stronger relationships with God and translating Christian virtues into their daily lives.
According to him, Saint Rita’s life offers important lessons in forgiveness, reconciliation, perseverance and peaceful coexistence, which he said were urgently needed in Nigeria.
Igyor, who is a Member of the Order of Saint Augustine and works in Yola, said the current insecurity and political tensions in the country required citizens and leaders to deliberately pursue peace rather than division.
He said, “Why do we need to cultivate peace? You and I agree that the situation in Nigeria today is not peaceful. We are suffering from insecurity here and there, and as we get closer to elections, we will hear disagreements coming up.”
He urged political leaders to do more to address insecurity and other challenges threatening national stability, stressing that the responsibility for peace should not be left entirely to government.
According to him, the example of Saint Rita demonstrates that reconciliation and forgiveness can prevent conflicts from escalating into violence.
He recalled that Saint Rita forgave those responsible for the death of her husband and even prayed that her children would not seek revenge, describing the act as an example of the kind of sacrifice and forgiveness needed to build a peaceful society.
Father Igyor also cautioned Nigerians against reducing devotion to Saint Rita to the expectation of miracles, stressing that true devotion must be demonstrated through a commitment to the virtues she represented.
“May your wonders not just be for miracles. Let your wonders first be a relationship with the Lord,” he said.
He urged devotees to allow the values of Saint Rita to influence their homes, workplaces, communities and places of leadership, saying Christians should become sources of peace and positive transformation wherever they find themselves.
“If you are a devotee of Saint Rita, you should let the light shine beautifully in your home, in your place of business, in your office, to people who are under you, to your superiors, in your family, in your parish and in your diocese,” he said.
He further encouraged Nigerians to reject hatred, factionalism and victimisation, noting that internal divisions among Christians contradicted the virtues they professed.
The National Chaplain said genuine devotion should inspire believers to reconcile with others, care for the vulnerable and promote unity rather than create factions within religious communities.
Also speaking, the Prior General of the Pious Union of Saint Rita of Cascia, Nigeria, Mrs. Cecilia Oyakhire, described women as critical nation builders and urged them to promote peace, love and responsible upbringing of children.
Oyakhire said the celebration provided an opportunity for devotees to renew their commitment to prayer, charity and service to humanity.
She explained that Saint Rita’s tradition of sharing bread with the poor had continued to inspire devotees to support vulnerable members of society.
According to her, Members of the union visited hospitals during the celebration and supported sick and needy people who could not afford medical expenses.
She urged women to use their influence positively within their families and communities, stressing that peaceful homes would contribute to a peaceful society.
“Women are nation builders. Women are supposed to have a soft heart, to always make peace, show love and care. If you don’t provide care, peace and love in your home, it will spread,” she said.
Oyakhire also called on parents to raise children with strong moral and spiritual values, saying the development of a peaceful nation begins with responsible families.
In his remarks, the Abuja Archdiocese National Grand Patron of the Pious Union of Saint Rita, Dr. Ukura Samuel, challenged Nigerian leaders to emulate the saint’s forgiving spirit in the management of public affairs.
He said leaders who genuinely embraced forgiveness, fairness and love would have little reason to victimise political opponents, frustrate subordinates or promote division.
“If all Nigerian leaders are in office imitating Saint Rita, we won’t have any problem,” he said.
Ukura said his personal experience in Public Service had shown him that treating people with fairness and goodwill could create lasting relationships beyond political or official positions.
He urged politicians to avoid hatred and violence, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle saying, “Why should we kill somebody? For what reason? If the politicians imitate the life of Saint Rita, you will see Nigeria will be a better place to live.”
