By Michael Nnebife
St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, and the Catholic Women’s Organization, CWO’s Cana House Complex, Awka, were agog with celebrations as the CWO inducted 234 new life members with a marching order to remain true witnesses for Jesus Christ and beacons of faith.
‎The solemn and joyous event with the theme, ”Pillars of Faith in the Public Square: Moral Leadership”, took place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, featuring reception and decoration of Lady Prof Theresa Chiekezie, who recently, received ”Mother of Peace” Award from the CWO of Nigeria in recognition of her outstanding service to God and the Church, among others.
‎Present at the event, which began with a Holy Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, were the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor; the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi; the Chief Chaplain of the Organization, Rev Fr Evaristus Okafor, and a number of other priests, religious men and women, as well as prominent personalities in Anambra State who included the Governor of the State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake; the Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi; the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sir Victor Umeh; the member representing Awka North and South Constituency in the House of Representatives, Prof Lilian Orogbu, among others.
‎Speaking in a homily during the Holy Mass, Bishop Ezeokafor, who presided over the Mass, charged the newly inducted life members, to be true witnesses for Christ.
‎The Bishop, who described their induction into the CWO’s Life Membership as an elevation, further admonished them to allow their new status to draw them closer to Christ, and avoid any act capable of bringing reproach to their lives as Christians.
‎He expressed gratitude to the entire members of the CWO for ‘their unwavering support and service to God and the Church.’
‎In her address of welcome during the second part of the epoch-making event, which she described as a day of thanksgiving, honour and recognition of renewed commitment to the service to God, the Church and humanity, the Director, CWO, Awka Diocese, Lady Ngozi Dorathy Muo, charged the new life members to be beacons of faith, models of Christian womanhood and pillars of support within their parishes and the wider Catholic Community.
‎Congratulating them, the CWO Director, who told Fides that the honour done to the new life members, was for them to embark on more aggressive evangelization, reminded them that Life Membership of the CWO was not merely a title or privilege.
‎’It is a recognition of dedication, sacrifice, exemplary service and commitment to the growth of the Church and CWO Family.
‎’You have been called to become beacons of faith, models of Christian womanhood and pillars of support within your parishes, diocese and the wider Catholic community.
‎‎’As life members, your journey will not end with today’s induction, rather, today’s ceremony marks the beginning of your greater responsibility.
‎’You are expected to continue to support the mission of the Church, encourage younger women, contribute to pastoral and developmental programmes, promote unity and peace, and extend helping hands to the poor, the vulnerable and the less-privileged in our society.
‎’May your life continue to inspire others, and may your service remain a beautiful testimony of what it means to live out Catholic faith through love, sacrifice and service,’ the Madam Director urged the new life members.
‎She also congratulated Lady Prof Chiekezie on her award, urging her to let the award encourage her to continue in her noble service to God, the Church and humanity.
‎Lady Muo encouraged the CWO and the old life members, reminding them that as Catholic women, they should always remember that their strength lay in the Christian faith, unity and willingness to serve their various families, God and the Church.
‎Noting that the CWO remained a strong instrument of evangelization, charity, family development, women’s economic empowerment, and community building, Muo urged Catholic women to continue to uphold the values upon which the CWO was founded.
‎’Let us remain women of prayer, women of courage, women of compassion and women committed to the advancement of the Church and society.
‎’To our old life members, I urge you to remain elders, mentors, advisers and role models to the younger generation.
‎’Let your experiences become a source of wisdom, your achievements inspiration, and your service continue to speak even when your words are no longer heard,’ the Director appealed.
‎She expressed gratitude to Bishop Ezeokafor; the Chief Chaplain of the CWO, Fr Okafor, the priests as well as the religious men and women, including all the authorities of the Church, for their continual guidance, prayers and support to the CWO of Awka Diocese.
‎Appreciating the executives and all who contributed to the success of the event, Lady Muo prayed that the event would strengthen the bond of the Organization as Catholic women and inspire them to be giving more of themselves to the service to God, the Church and humanity.
‎In his remarks, one of the dignitaries, Mr Obi, congratulated the new life members, and appealed to Christians to put their prayers for better Nigeria in action by coming out to vote and protect their votes in the forthcoming general elections.
‎Also speaking, the Chairman of the event, Senator Sir Umeh, applauded the new life members, saying they were examined and found spotless in the Catholic faith. He urged them to be mirrors of faith for Catholic women
‎In separate interviews with Fides, the President of the Life Members, Lady Oby Obodozie; the national CWO Mother of Peace Award recipient, Lady Prof Chiekezie; and some of the newly inducted members, Lady Maureen Mbuba, and Mrs Stella Okemuo, described the honour conferred on them by the CWO as a charge for greater responsibility and service to God and humanity, pledging that they would continue to follow in the footsteps of the Blessed Mother Mary.
‎The event, which also featured decoration of Lady Geraldine Ugorji as the Face of CWO, 2026, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the service of the CWO, drew the presence of the lady organizers of the CWO across Awka Diocese, a mammoth crowd of families, as well as friends and well-wishers of the newly inducted life members who filled the venues of the event to brim.‎
