Yinka Olatunbosun
Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja and the Salesians of Don Bosco hosted a special screening of The Oratory on December 12th at the Grand Cinemas, Lekki, Lagos to an audience who relished every bit of the cinematic offering.
The Oratory, an internationally acclaimed movie was filmed in various locations in Rome, Atlanta, Lagos and Turin featuring a galaxy of Nigerian and international movie stars such as Enyinna Nwigwe, Rich Lowe, Shane Gilbeau, Celeste Marconte, Temidayo Akinboro, Lawrence Nwali and Charles Ukpong.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Gbenga Adebija(KSM), said that the special screening was “an excellent opportunity to engage with broad-ranging stakeholders and collaboratively identify solutions to the issue of displaced children.”
Movie premieres of The Oratory have previously been held in Dublin, London, Lagos, Turin, Abuja and Venice.
The Executive Producer of the movie is Reverend Father (Dr) Cyril Odia (SDB) a Nigerian priest currently serving as the Rector of the Salesian House of Theology in Maynooth University, the Republic of Ireland.
In his opening remarks, Fr Odia revealed: “This special screening of The Oratory is to raise awareness on the plight of displaced children and to raise funds for various initiatives by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) to expand the capacity to rescue and rehabilitate more children throughout Nigeria.”
Very Rev Fr Jorge Crisafulli, Provincial Superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco (Nigeria and Niger) affirmed that the Salesian order remains resolutely committed to the philosophy of their founder St. John Bosco in supporting young children to live wholesome and meaningful lives.
“The Oratory movie therefore highlights the Salesians commitment to sustainable engagement with the youth,” he said.
The enthusiastic reception and rave reviews that The Oratory has received around the world remains a wonderful testament to the world class quality of the movie and the relevance of its theme.
