Easter: Opportunity by which God tells us never to lose hope – Archbishop Martins

…As Catholics celebrate 2026 Chrism Mass

Adewale Martins, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, has called on Nigerians to strengthen their resolve and hope in a better Nigeria.

The cleric admitted that Nigerians are finding it difficult to live their daily lives on the back of the socio-economic challenges currently facing the country.

He however assured Nigerians that Easter celebration presents an opportunity by which God is telling people never to lose hope.

“When Jesus died on Good Friday, it was as if death had overcome. And, so when the challenges of life press upon us, it’s as if it will never come to an end.

“But the resurrection gives us hope that whatever is dead in our lives will be brought to life by God,” Martins said during the 2026 Chrism Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos.

The archbishop also called on the government and security agencies to change their approach in tackling the growing insecurity across the country.

Martins urged the security agencies to

take the task of securing the life and property of Nigerians more seriously to forestall the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians.

“A lot of work has been going on, but the challenges are still there, which means that it is necessary to rethink again the way of dealing with these challenges. Because on Palm Sunday, people were still killed in Jos,” Martins said.

He also called for synergy between the government and security agencies in dealing with the level of lawlessness, so as to earn the trust of the populace.

“So, we want to ask that government and security agencies should work together again in order to renew in us the faith that things will become better in this country,” Martins said.

Chrism Mass is an annual celebration by Catholic faithful for priests to renew their vocation in the faith.

The celebration offers an opportunity for Catholics to thank God for the gift and service of priesthood in the church.

“As priests, we have gathered with our Archbishop and we want to announce to the world and to reassure the lay faithful as Jesus did in the Gospel that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us because he has anointed us to bring glad tidings for the poor.

“He has sent us to proclaim liberty to Catholics; a recovery of sight to the blind and to let the afraid go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord,” Paul Akin-Otiko, Chaplain of St. Thomas More Catholic Chaplaincy, University of Lagos (UNILAG), said in his homily.

According to him, Chrism Mass is an ancient Christian liturgy that dates back to at least the 7th century where bishops consecrate and rededicate their service to the Church.

He added that Chrism Mass highlights the unity of priests with their bishops, Archbishop, and shows the commitment of the lay Bishops to the work of God.

“Beyond this general purpose, the Gospel gives some insight into why we are gathered here as priests and as lay faithful,” Akin-Otiko said.