…As 224 Candidates Receive Sacrament of Confirmation
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu and Jessica Akabueze
It was a celebration of sorts last Sunday at St. Kevin’s Catholic Church, Nimo, in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, as it celebrated the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Parish.
The event preceded by a concelebrated Eucharistic Celebration, had the Catholic Bishop of Awka, His Lordship Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor; the Diocesan Chancellor, Reverend Father Charles Ndubuisi; the Diocesan Bursar, Reverend Father Nicodemus Izuchukwu; in attendance.
In his homily, the chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Bishop Ezeokafor, admonished parents to be alive to their responsibilities, saying that poor parenting had caused many children and wards to be misbehaving in society, exhorting them to shun what he called unbridled quest for materialism and pay attention and also devote more time to their children and wards.
‘I am particularly concerned about the way and manner the parents of today handle these children. They care less about the conduct of their wards. They are busy chasing money. If you keep chasing money without paying attention to what your children are doing, you’ll end up regretting it.
‘They ignore and abandon completely the most vital role they are supposed to play in the lives of their children. It is saddening, to say the least. Spend more time with your children. Stop leaving them at the mercy of your house helps, their teachers, and society. Be in charge. Teach them morals. Impact them positively. Live by example. Be a good ambassador. Show them the way. The ways of God. Teach them hard work, teach them patience and endurance,’ Bishop Ezeokafor charged them.
Administering the Sacrament of Confirmation on the two hundred and twenty-four candidates, Bishop Ezeokafor exhorted them to live up to expectations and guard jealously all what they had been taught during the classes. Bishop Ezeokafor urged them to believe more in themselves and endeavour to practice everything the Church taught, emphasizing that the Church was out to catch them young and nurture them to the point of maturity and independence.
The Local Ordinary reminded the parishioners and all those present that the building of Peter University Achina/Onneh, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, was a continuous process and the Church would continue to invest in it, even as he asked material and financial support.
He emphasized that the varsity, being faith based, did not have any subvention or grant from any government or any individual or organisation, adding that the University’s continued existence and development solely depended on what the parishioners and public spirited individuals contributed.
‘I want all of us to know that Peter University is for all of us. We have given out scholarships to the indigent students and will continue to give. Your contributions are always put to good use. We pay salaries and run the day to day administration. It is a capital-intensive project.
‘We would have embarked on money spinning ventures, but we chose to go into education because we understand the importance of continuity and character formation. From our primary to our secondary schools and to our university,’ the Bishop explained.
The Parish Priest of St. Kevin’s Catholic Church, Nimo, Reverend Father Mac Ben Okeke, and MD of Zontal Fobis ( W.A.) Ltd., Awka, Rtn. Felly Zontal Akosa, showered praises on the Bishop, praying God to continue to guide and protect him.
The Parish Priest said he was particularly elated with the visit of the Bishop, saying that his presence made a lot of difference and would leave them better than he met them.
In an address of welcome signed by the Parish Priest, Reverend Father Mac Ben Okeke, the Vicar, Reverend Father, Dr. Theodore Iloh, and read by the Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council, Ms Regina Ntigbu, they commended the Bishop for coming to identify with them, describing him as a caring father.
They equally appreciated the Epicospal Vicar of Nimo Region, Very Rev. Fr. Shadrack Anunwa, and the Dean of Nimo Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Alfred Anazodo, as well as the Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Norbert Ajaegwu, for their respective contributions towards the growth of the Parish.
