…As Soludo Donates 10M Naira to Support Rally
By Micheal Nnebife and Emmanuel Chigozie
The atmosphere in Awka the Anambra State capital, Thursday, August 28, 2025 was bubbling with celebrations as the members of the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, CYON, from all over the country gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral for their national rally and 40th Anniversary of the organization which began in 1985.
According to the National President of the Organization, Mr Kizito Eze, and the Awka Diocesan President, Amb. Augustine Ubosi, the highlights of the double celebration which began on Wednesday, August 27 and ended on Saturday August 30, 2025 included talent display by the youths, catechesis, pilgrimage walk, lectures, excursion, among many other religious, cultural and social activities.
The event, which aimed at straightening the faith of the Catholic Youths, and celebrating their achievements as an organization in their missionary work as evangelizers of their peers, began with a Holy Mass, presided over by the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor.
Speaking in a homily during the Holy Mass, Bishop Ezeokafor, who expressed delight for hosting the event, admonished the Catholic youths to draw closer to God and shun the mentality of get-rich-quick syndrome.
The Bishop told the youths that wealth was earned through hard work and grew step by step, reminding them that quick-gotten wealth had terrible repercussions.
He advised them to have their trust in God, whom he said, had a very good plan for their lives.
‘Work hard to cooperate with God to achieve the plan,’ Ezeokafor urged the mammoth crowd of Catholic Youths who filled the new St Patrick’s Cathedral, the venue of the Mass, to the brim, admonishing them to have Jesus Christ in everything they engaged in.
The Prelate who also charged them among others to submit their lives for reformation in order for them to be balanced personalities and make heaven, prayed that the 40th Anniversary would rekindle the flame of missionary zeal in every member of CYON across the country.
He thanked all the dignitaries that graced the event, especially the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, for making a donation of 10 million Naira to support the event themed, ”You also are my witnesses because you have been with me (John 15:2).’
In his remarks, the National Youth Animator, Rev Fr Boniface Idoko, on behalf of the Organization, appreciated the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria for providing a platform to celebrate all Catholic Youths, and a number of individuals, for their respective contributions to the success of the event.
Fr Idoko said the event was not just another anniversary, but also a moment of spiritual rebirth and responsibility.
‘At 40, CYON must not be a parked car. You must be a movement, alive, burning with the spirit, and rooted in Christ,’ the Youth Animator advised Catholic youths.
In his address, the National Chaplain of the organization, Rev Fr Maurice Mbeke, advised Catholic Youths to live out their faith in God authentically as witnesses of Jesus Christ.
‘You can’t profess Christ or Catholic faith only in Church, but at schools, workplaces and larger society. Your greatest weapon of witnessing is the life you live outside the Church. Therefore, let Christ live and be seen in our lives,’ he advised.
For his part, the Onitsha CYON Provincial Chaplain, Rev Fr Benjamin Ochiagha, said the event aimed to bring together the Catholic Youths in Nigeria for them to share their joys and pains.
‘In this context, we cannot only exchange pleasantries, but also to address the ways, out of neo-paganism and develop skills that can enable us to wriggle out of abysmal level of poverty,’ Fr Ochiagha told the youths, and advised them to make use of their strength, talents, gifts and positive youth exuberance to work for the Lord as St Paul.
Also, the host Diocesan Chaplain, Rev Fr Paschal Udo, stated that the CYON, for 40 years now, had been a powerful platform for nurturing young Catholics to live out their faith with courage, service and love.
While reflecting on the theme of the event, Fr Udo reminded the youths of what he called the sacred mission entrusted to them by Christ to be His witnesses in the world.
In his remarks, Governor Soludo said the period of youth was a time of study and preparation to become a useful adult member of society, and charged the Catholic Youths to deepen their understanding of Catholic faith and doctrines, so that they could successfully witness for Christ.
‘Whoever possesses Catholic faith, has life,’ he emphasized, and commended the Church, saying it had been alive to its duty to young people.
In his address, the National President of the organization, Mr Eze, said that young people faced numerous challenges occasioned by the realities of life.
Quoting Christus Vivit 243, Eze appealed to all stakeholders to regard the youth with understanding, affection, among others, arguing that this pushed them to be true witnesses of Christ and evangelizers of their peers.
In their separate addresses, the Chairmen, National and Local Organizing Committees, Engr Maxwell Ogwudire and Amb. Ubosi, expressed gratitude to not only those that contributed to the success of the event, but also the numerous benefactors of the organization for their various support to the youth ministry over the past four decades.
Present at the Holy Mass, heralding the epoch-making event, were a number of provincial and diocesan chaplains of the organization, including, the President, Catholic Men’s Organization, Awka Diocese, Bro Joseph Onuegbu; his Catholic Women’s Organization counterpart, Lady Sabina Ndigwe; the President, Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria, Awka Diocese, Sir Joseph Igwebuike; among others.
