Monsignor Paschal Nwaezeapu, the Parish Priest of the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki, and the Episcopal Vicar, Lekki Region of Lagos Archdiocese, is the founder and convener of Unusual Praise, considered one of Africa’s largest Catholic reward and worship live shows. Nwaezeapu, alongside the Vice Chairman of Unusual Praise 2026, Tina Oruche, spoke on the upcoming version, the essence of the programme, and ideas on increasing the annual occasion past two cities. Ferdinand Ekechukwu brings the excerpts
What is the essence of this non secular gathering and what are the defining factors of Unusual Praise?
When you discuss Unusual Praise there are numerous issues you may discuss. But there are three that may stand out; one is thanksgiving. We are saying that possibly in the midst of the 12 months God has blessed us; it’s not as if we didn’t face challenges or something like that. Problems got here however that you’re nonetheless standing implies that God remains to be with us. So, taking a look at every part he has executed for us we aren’t taking something without any consideration. Going to mattress, waking up, is a blessing. Sunlight is a blessing; air is a blessing. During Covid-19 you noticed how folks have been paying hundreds of thousands to have oxygen. So, we aren’t taking these issues without any consideration. What we simply determined on the finish of yearly we collect collectively to offer because of God via reward for all of the issues he has executed for us. The second one is evangelisation. The church was established for mission and that mission is known as evangelisation. Even as we collect folks to offer thanks, we additionally type of possibly attempt to proclaim Jesus to them anew for them to resume their dedication to Him and for many who haven’t been evangelise for them to come back to religion in him. There’s this angle of evangelisation, fulfilling the mission of the church. But we perceive evangelisation has two dimensions. There’s what we name the transcendental dimension whereby you attempt to join folks to God. But we’re additionally not oblivious that even right here on earth there’s what you name the horizontal dimension whereby it’s essential communicate to the state of affairs of individuals right here on earth and that’s the place ‘’Unusual Entrepreneur’ is available in. We can’t do every part. The authorities might not be capable to do every part even when the federal government has the intention to. So, in our personal little manner we try to do what we will do by empowering folks as a result of you may’t inform a hungry man love Jesus and the person is hungry. A hungry man is an offended man. We wish to see how we will empower folks to allow them to know that additionally religion, Christianity isn’t just about come to God. It can also be about dwelling effectively. Because God gave the human being dignity; it’s inherent in him. And something that assaults that dignity doesn’t glorify God. Extreme poverty assaults that dignity. Anything you do to liberate you from poverty turns into one thing that respects human dignity after which glorifies God. These three issues are key. But there could possibly be different issues as I mentioned.
Can you communicate to us about this 12 months’s theme?
Talking concerning the theme ‘Declaring His Glory Among the Nations’ I feel from what I’ve mentioned up to now, he has executed a lot for us. We are usually not blind folks; we’re considerate folks, individuals who can replicate. And as I mentioned, we don’t take something without any consideration. Like folks say ‘oh my alarm woke me up’. But we all know that it’s not the alarm that wakes you up. Alarm can ring and nonetheless you don’t get up. God wakes us up daily. The indisputable fact that we get up daily we will see, we recognise it as a blessing. We see all of the blessing we will’t even title all of them. When you discuss ‘declaring the Glory of God’ is to proclaim Him. It’s a mission that has been entrusted to us. We wish to proclaim to the entire world that God is alive and God remains to be working regardless of the challenges we face He’s alive. And we have now a mission by advantage of our baptism to make it work. That’s why we wish to declare His glory to the nations and we aren’t simply speaking about Nigeria as a result of Unusual Praise goes past Nigeria to no matter extent we will go.
How does the 2026 footprint fulfill your unique imaginative and prescient of this programme contemplating Unusual Praise has developed from a parish initiative to considered one of Africa’s largest Catholic reward and worship occasions?
We are nonetheless constructing as much as it. But every part we have now been doing earlier than we’re nonetheless doing. And we try to see if we will even surpass what we have now been doing earlier than. So, speaking concerning the unique imaginative and prescient of possibly giving thanks, in fact I do know that day individuals are coming to offer thanks. And there shall be thanksgiving. I do know that folks shall be reached for Christ in order that manner it’s to meet my imaginative and prescient. And then I do know for certain that folks shall be empowered. And that God shall be glorified.
What’s the thought behind the venues, particularly Onitsha? Any plans to increase?
The venue for the Lagos one is Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), on THE second Friday in December, which is eleventh. Then the venue for the Onitsha one is the Catholic Basilica in Onitsha, on Friday, November sixth. The reality is that we’re in Lagos and the factor must be held in Lagos. And we can’t however begin from the place we’re. But then speaking about Onitsha, at a degree we really considered transferring the programme exterior Lagos. Onitsha was the very first thing placed on the desk and that was additionally as a result of the Chairman as on the time is from Anambra. And Onitsha being the Archdiocese in Anambra as a result of meaning it’s the middle of the Catholic Church there. So that was why we opted for it. But that doesn’t imply we will’t go to different locations. As God gives, we’d be capable to increase to different locations and naturally when folks come on their very own and say we would like it and so they can assist plan it, enthusiastic about the various things concerned, then in fact we go. Its evangelisation wherever there’s want and wherever we have now the chance. In addition, we’ve had Onitsha. We simply thought Unusual Praise shouldn’t simply be solely in Lagos. I imply the plan for Unusual Praise is that in years to come back, we might have Unusual Praise not simply in Onitsha. It shall be in different elements of Nigeria and likewise even worldwide. People from exterior of the nation have been calling us, we wish to host Unusual Praise in London; we wish to host Unusual Praise in Canada. But by the Grace of God, we’re working in the direction of that. Onitsha got here as a result of that’s the second place we may host Unusual Praise and the Archbishop there and all the parishioners there have been coming, saying you may’t cease, preserve coming again. We are hoping to go to different states in Nigerian in a short while. And then we predict that this 12 months could be a lot larger, than the earlier years’ editions.
How are the native communities and the Catholic Archdiocese in each places collaborating to maximise the outreach?
It’s been a number of work. We have committee members in several elements of Lagos within the archdiocese. As I communicate to you now, we have now committee members in Ikeja Deanery, Ipaja Deanery, Surulere Deanery, Yaba and so far as Ijaniki and Badagry. So Unusual Praise is for everyone; not simply even within the Lagos Archdiocese. We have folks exterior of Lagos, in Abeokuta planning Unusual Praise as effectively to make it larger. There’s actually a number of collaboration amongst parishes and likewise not simply even Catholics. Even these that aren’t Catholics, colleges have reached out to us that they wish to be part of this 12 months’s Unusual Praise. We are actually wanting ahead to an even bigger programme this 12 months.
Speak to us on the planning and expectation of Unusual Praise 2026?
We’ve been planning for the reason that final version. Once 2025 ended we began planning for 2026. Planning has been ongoing. There’s been a lot going behind the scene. There have been a number of actions, media, going to totally different parishes in archdiocese, a lot on the social media platform at Unusual Praise each on Facebook, Instagram, and there’s been a lot with attempting to organise our gospel ministers each the as soon as which are native and the worldwide ones. We have an entire lot of ongoing actions behind the scene in the direction of 2026 Unusual Praise.
You talked concerning the gospel artistes performing, how do you curate a steadiness between these artistes whereas sustaining a deeply non secular atmosphere on the occasion?
You know I preserve saying ministers whenever you say artistes as a result of we take a look at them as not simply artistes however ministers. We are usually not simply working with these women and men of God as those that sing. We are working with them as folks which are coming to minster to the attendees on that day. We’ve been chatting with them. They know Unusual Praise a few of them have been up to now years’ editions. Some are simply coming for the primary time and we do imagine God that God will work wonders via these minsters on that day. They are actually aligned with what the imaginative and prescient for Unusual Praise is which may be very deeply non secular to start with to win extra souls for Christ. And then in fact the opposite a part of Unusual Praise which is the “Unusual Entrepreneur” to empower folks. I imply it’s collaboration between parishioners, between those that wish to attend and likewise between the gospel ministers.
How do you tackle new conventional voices inside the Church who see otherwise this contemporary type of evangelisation – mixing conventional Catholic worship with modern gospel music?
You see it’s simple. I feel Pope John Paul II already addressed that within the ‘Mission of the Redeemer’. What stays fixed is the gospel. How you propagate the Gospel can change so long as it doesn’t take away the substance of the gospel. If you take a look at Jesus Himself Jesus didn’t play the organ. But organ got here from Europe. But the gospel has remained the identical in order that’s necessary. It’s the gospel we’re propagating and even Pope John Paul II mentioned folks ought to provide you with initiatives with which they will make the gospel attain the center of the folks of right now. And in our church, we have now the youths which are going this different manner. The reality is a mix of the 2 will all the time present that you’re assembly these ones’ needs and assembly these different ones their needs as effectively. I simply imagine that and other than that, from expertise, we have now additionally found that a few of the folks we see or name as so conventional a few of them are keying into the entire thing.
Given the present financial headwinds, how essential is the church’s function in offering bodily empowerment to match non secular revival?
I feel I’ve touched on that already via Unusual Entrepreneur we’re ready to try this. And is a key side of no matter we’re doing as a result of evangelisation has two legs. We have the transcendental, and we have now the vertical and horizontal dimensions. We don’t simply inform folks to simply come to God. But what we will do to assist them dwell effectively now we additionally do. I invite all to be a part of Unusual Praise 2026.
The turnout of worshippers at Unusual Praise typically turns into overflow. What plans have been made to accommodate the gang for safety causes and all that?
Last 12 months we noticed the next quantity totally different from the earlier 12 months and we all know that this 12 months shall be a lot larger once more. We are planning for that. Last 12 months the overflow was we had folks at TBS and we all know that this 12 months we might even have folks on the overflow. We are actually planning in the direction of that and naturally in case you’ve been to Unusual Praise earlier than you’ll know if there’s one factor that stands out for Unusual Praise is safety. You wouldn’t see even with the surge, the gang you’ll not see any type of stampede. There’s all the time coordination from entry to exit to motion, every part is all the time so seamless and so fantastically organized. We are actually making way more plan even with the Lagos State safety personnel; LASTMA, police folks and we’re very certain nobody can have any points coming to Unusual Praise 2026 at TBS and even in Onitsha.
What message do you hope resonates with the viewers this 12 months and past?
When you discuss concerning the viewers, I do know that could be whenever you go to totally different international locations there are issues which are explicit to them.
Like Nigeria now, what’s, possibly, on the (middle) CENTRE of debate is 2027.
But one factor I imply stays clear to everyone that God created the world; He is the proprietor of the world and we should acknowledge God in every part we do. God should be on the middle of every part we do. I imagine personally that after you take away God, mankind dies.
Once you take away God, society collapses. And go to any nation the place issues are usually not proper, you will note that in some way there’s an effort to push God to the facet and convey man to the (middle) CENTRE.
