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A parish church in Nigeria that was attacked on Pentecost Sunday last year reopened for Easter Sunday Mass on April 9.

St. Francis Xavier Owo Catholic Parish of the Diocese of Ondo in Nigeria was attacked on June 5, 2022, resulting in the death of at least 50 people. Gunmen reportedly fired at Catholic worshippers and detonated explosives. Reports in Nigeria media indicated that many children were among the dead.

In his homily during the reopening of the church, which was closed for renovation for 43 weeks and to allow time for survivors of the attack to receive treatment, the local ordinary of Ondo Diocese emphasized the need to rely on the strength of faith in the person of Jesus Christ.

“Let our faith that has remained our strength continue to help us to deal with the issues of life and to overcome all that come against us and the Gospel of Christ,” Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade said.