By Juliana Uzoka

The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Matthew Ishaya Audu, has said that forgiveness is a healing force capable of restoring the human soul and renewing broken lives.

The Archbishop stated this on December 26, the feast of Saint Stephen, during a Mass celebrated at the Jos Correctional Centre, an annual event held at the Prison Chapel for over 30 years in keeping with the Church’s mission of visiting prisoners and evangelising, so that the Word of God may take root in human hearts and transform lives for the good of society.

In a homily delivered on Boxing Day by the Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Akpe, a former Chaplain of Prisons in the Archdiocese of Jos, the faithful were reminded that true forgiveness goes beyond identifying those who have caused pain. Rather, he said, holding on to offences only deepens wounds and prolongs suffering.

“Many times, we complain that we have been offended,” Fr. Akpe noted, adding that the reverse should also be considered — the humble acknowledgement that we too have offended others and therefore stand in need of God’s mercy. According to him, healing begins when one accepts responsibility, asks for forgiveness, and admits one’s faults.

“It is helpful and deeply healing to ask for forgiveness,” he stressed.

Reflecting on the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, Fr. Akpe explained that the saint’s forgiveness of those who stoned him became a channel of salvation and transformation. In the same way, he said, inmates should not see themselves as condemned, but as people offered a renewed opportunity to encounter God and become agents of positive change in society.

To illustrate the power of forgiveness, the priest recounted the story of a woman who had waited 11 years for the fruit of the womb and was eventually blessed with an only child after the tragic death of her husband. Her joy, however, turned to sorrow when armed robbers invaded her home and killed the child. The perpetrators were later arrested, convicted, and eventually requested to see her to ask for forgiveness.

“I got my healing from that moment,” the woman reportedly confessed after granting them pardon.

Fr. Akpe acknowledged that such pain can be unbearable but urged the faithful to ask for the grace of Saint Stephen to let go of vengeance and instead seek salvation even for those who cause them harm.

He also drew attention to the example of an American preacher, Charlie Clark, who was murdered, yet whose wife chose the path of forgiveness toward her husband’s killers — a decision he said freed her from the deep wounds that resentment leaves behind.

The priest further encouraged inmates to allow their shared experience within the correctional facility to foster friendship, unity, and mutual support rather than division and hostility, noting that true reform cannot thrive where enmity persists.

The celebration was enlivened by the presence of “Father Christmas,” who moved around greeting inmates and drawing smiles from their faces. Adding colour and cultural flavour was “Mama Birom,” a familiar figure at Archdiocesan events, who danced in traditional attire while waving her signature horse tail, energising the gathering.

The Prison Choir, dressed in red shirts, added to the festive mood as they rendered Christmas songs that captivated the inmates and guests who came to share the joy and love of Christ within the correctional facility.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the Jos Custodial Centre, DCC Ongagi Adams, expressed gratitude to Archbishop Audu for his consistent solidarity with the inmates and for the refreshments provided during the visit.

Through its charitable arm, the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Archdiocese of Jos, the Church also donated items including books, pens, whiteboards, markers, Vaseline for inmates, and medical supplies to support their welfare.

The prison visit, organisers said, remains a powerful sign of shared love and renewed hope, reminding inmates that their time in custody can become a moment of genuine transformation and new life through an encounter with God and the saving message of the Gospel.