The Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese , Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, have laid the foundation stone for the building and remodelling of the N1. 2 billion Dominic Cardinal Ignatius Ekandem villa which houses the Gaudium et Spes – Psycho-spiritual institute in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The institute, which is resourced with two priests specially training in Psycho-spiritual therapy, has helped to rehabilitate hundreds of people from different faiths and backgrounds who have suffered various forms of psychological and spiritual challenges, including depression, trauma and addiction.
Laying the foundation stone, Archibishop Kaigama stated that the project was a reminder that anybody who has worked in the archdiocese, no matter how little or big will never be forgotten.
He said: “We raised them up on the alter of God during Holy Mass, asking him to be merciful to them, especially those who have departed.
“We are also working tirelessly to see that there is inclusion for those who are having problem hearing, we are going to introduce sign language in our mass.”
Cardinal Onaiyekan informed that the church has always been impacting the lives of the people in many ways.
He said; “The major job we do as a religious leaders is dealing with the spiritual problems of our people but this particular one goes beyond spiritual work because it doesn’t only solve their spiritual problem but also psychological problem.
“This project will be a pilot project in the Abuja archdiocese, it may not be the only one, more priest will be trained in this regard especially now that Nigerians are going through hard times. There is need to give people place where they can go sort themselves out physiacologically and spiritually”.
Gaudium Et Spes Psycho-spiritual institute, also known as Dominic Cardinal Ekandem Villa was conceived as a private residence for the first Archbishop of Abuja after whom it is named. It was at the German floor level when His Eminence was called to eternal service.
His successor, John Cardinal Onaiyekan redesigned it into a retreat and renewal centre for Priests, religious and Lay Faiithful within and outside the Abuja Archdiocese which he named
Gaudium Et SPES (joy and hope) Institute in 1997.
Recently the facility have become totally inadequate for the current need and demands of the institute, have to be remodel completely from it’s initial nine rooms to fifty rooms, including conference room, library, kitchen and a bigger chapel, a project estimated to cost 1.2 billion Naira.
The Chairman, Project Development Committee, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, solicited the help of men and women of goodwill to help raise the money needed for the success of the project.
He said “ours is a small though devoted community, with all the determination in the world we are unable to raise the N1.2 billion Naira needed to complete this project from among ourselves only.Ours is a journey of trust and faith in God that He will hear our prayers through men and women of goodwill like yourselves, and friends of His Grace and His Eminence to realize this ambitious but most necessary project”.
“Your support in any form, cash, materials, equipment, goodwill etc will be highly appreciated. We have done the much that we can to get the project started, and we shall continue to exert ourselves to the limits of our endowments to ensure that the project progresses but our capacity is limited.”
