Msgr. Roger J. Landry
National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies
Journey to Nigeria Day 6
March 10, 2026
Here is the video of today’s reflection.
The YouTube generated transcript for today’s reflection is:
I’m Monsignor Roger Landry National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the US. It’s day six of our missionary pilgrimage to Nigeria. Today is mainly a travel day. We started in Ancore um very early this morning with mass and then we had a connecting flight to Abuja the federal capital and now we’re flying to Enugu which is one of the more Catholic regions in all of Nigeria to be able to see the building up of the church there. Travel in Nigeria is a different experience compared to those in the United States, the airport experience, etc. But the flights themselves are quite safe and you’re able to see a lot of this beautiful green country as we’re flying over it and praying for all those who are underneath us on the ground as we prepare to go to one of the most Catholic regions of the country. I’m excited to see the faith there. We’ve seen a lot of faith where we’ve already been. But down there from what I hear all the Nigerians are saying wait until you get to Enugu. So tomorrow we’re going to have mass of the largest seminary in the world which has over 600 named after the founders of the society of St. Peter the Apostle which is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies we we support. We’ll visit some Catholic hospitals, Catholic women religious. We’ll visit some other shrines and churches and parishes to basically get a glimpse of what parish life is here in Nigeria.
I’m Monsignor Senior Roger Landry. It’s day six of our missionary pilgrimage to Nigeria. We’ve arrived now in Enugu in the southeastern part of the country, one of the most Catholic uh regions of Nigeria. And we’re at Bigard Memorial Seminary, which is the largest seminary in the world. It has over 700 seminarians. Behind me we have the statue of Jean Bigard who in 1889 as a young woman together with her mother sold their house in order to help educate seminarians being trained by a French missionary bishop in Nagasaki. What a beautiful story this seminary is that that sacrifice eventually led to the only seminary in the world named Bigard Seminary which just happens to be the largest seminary in the world. An extraordinary place of hope. The word seminary comes from the Latin word for seed. And this is the seedbed of the future of the church. It’s because of what Jesus Christ, the divine gardener, plants within young men here that eventually germinates, that eventually grows, that eventually builds fruit. That so much of the Catholic present history of Nigeria is being written. And because there are so many, thanks be to God, vocations to the priesthood here in Nigeria, Nigerians are being missionary priests all over the world, including as many of us know in the United States. And so tomorrow morning we’re going to come here in order to be able to have mass Sunday, the Lord’s day at 7:30 in the morning. Here in Nigeria, we’re in a country where 93% of all Catholics come to mass each Sunday. We know that the mass attendance rate here at a seminary is 100% on Sunday. But we’re going to be able to experience a little bit of the vitality that helps this country every Christian Sabbath. So we’ll see you tomorrow.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download