AFRICA/NIGERIA - Commemoration of 60 Loyola Jesuit College students killed a year ago in Port Harcourt air-crash

Wednesday, 13 December 2006

AFGHANISTAN

2024-04-22
Commemoration of the victims of the Easter attacks: Catholic Church wants to initiate the beatification process of their martyrdom

2024-02-07
Manipur, torn by conflict, tries to reconnect the threads of dialogue

2023-12-04
The Franciscan Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Jinan celebrates the 60th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium, to continue walking on the paths opened by the Second Vatican Council

2023-10-16
Prayer for the reconciliation of the peoples of Israel and Palestine

2022-02-24
Integrating refugees into society: the commitment of the Pro Bambini Association of Kabul

2021-12-18
The Barnabites, with their hearts in Kabul: "Pray for Afghanistan"

Abuja (Agenzia Fides)- A special Mass was celebrated on Sunday 10 December for the repose of the souls of the 60 students at Loyola Jesuit College Karu, Abuja (Nigeria) killed a year ago in an air crash in Port Harcourt, on 10 December 2005. A total 117 people were killed including the 60 young college students.
The Mass was presided by Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, who then unveiled and blessed a memorial to those who perished in the disaster.
The Mass was followed by a presentation of The Concerned Youth, a group of young people committed to writing and publishing reports and promoting discussion and debates on key problems in Nigeria, such as air and road safety, spreading HIV/AIDS virus, education quality, the issue of corruption etc…
Family members gathered in Port Harcourt for prayers and a public debate on the issue of air -safety. In January a special requiem Mass was said at the College by the Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria Archbishop Renzo Fratini.
Fr. Peter Schineller, headmaster of Loyola College, said “the first anniversary is sad moment for parents and brothers and sisters of those killed. May they be filled with God’s love and the consolation of the Holy Spirit”.
The tragedy did not leave the students inert, instead it promoted them to launch initiatives also with the help of funds collected world wide to remember the victims. One of the initiatives is to open a new Jesuit Loyola College at Port Harcourt where the tragedy happened. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/12/2006 righe 30 parole 297)