By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Catholic Community in Awka, Anambra State, last Sunday, November 24, joined their counterparts across Nigeria to observe and celebrate the feast of Christ the King.
The celebration which climaxed at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, saw the Awka Catholic faithful, both men and women, young and old, as well as students, take to the major roads and streets in the city, proclaiming Christ as the King of the universe.
The Feast of Christ the King, also known as Corpus Christi, is a Christian liturgical solemnity, celebrating the real presence of the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, in the elements of the Eucharist.
Austria, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, observe the feast as a public holiday.
In a short homily to commemorate the event, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, appealed to parishioners not to make the celebration a mere routine exercise, but a spiritual uplift that would bring them closer to God.
The charismatic and influential prelate appealed to the congregation to always live Christ-like lives and keep his commandments at all times. He prayed that the celebration would bring joy and happiness to various homes in need of it.
In their separate speeches, the immediate past Director of Social Communications, Awka Diocese, Very Rev. Most Jerome Madueke, and the Cathedral Administrator, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Matthew Attansey, corroborated the bishop by calling on the Christians to think more about eternity.
Singing and dancing along the streets by all the parishes in Awka Catholic Diocese formed the highpoint of the feast.
