Catholic Fathers in Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi Meet in Awka over Neo-Paganism

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By Michael Nnebife and Ebube Edieh

It was a solemn moment at Archbishop A.K. Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno-Awka, Anambra State, recently, when the members of the Catholic Men’s Organization of Nigeria, CMON, Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, converged at the Centre for her Maiden Provincial Conference, Award/Installation of Patrons, Mayors and Ambassadors which was aimed at charting a way to stem the tide of neo-paganism currently threatening the life of Christendom across the South East of Nigeria.

The historic conference, themed, ”Weaving the Web of Life: Neo-paganism, Community and Social Justice”, was a 3-day activity-packed event which began on Friday, 22nd and ended on Sunday, 24th November, 2024.

The Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor delivering Homliy

According to the Local Organizing Committee Secretary, Dr Paul Unegbu, who spoke with Fides, the conference delegates who were selected across the nine dioceses of Onitsha Province, on arrival, paid a courtesy visit to the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor. Speaking at the Mass, on Saturday 23rd November 2024, the Bioshop who expressed optimism that the members of the CMO are evidently concerned about the menace of Neo- paganism in the society, averred that training of children is not just the responsibility of parents but that of the society.

According to the bishop, every child deserves to be drilled in the cultures of the society, Church and the family. And he charged fathers to champion the cause for the proper formation of children in the family.

Among activities that formed the highlights of the epoch-making event were lectures and awards presentations/installation of some individuals as patrons, mayors and ambassadors of CMON, Onitsha Province, in recognition of their distinguished service to the Church and the humanity.

The individuals were the Speaker of Anambra Assembly, Rt Hon Somtochukwu Udeze, who received a legislative award of excellence; Senator Okechukwu Ezea; Hon Valentine Ozigbo, and Chief Sir Evaristus Uba, as Patrons; Engr Sir Victor Onyeayana; Chief Hon Emeka Okonkwo; Chief Edwin Nnadi; and Chief Chukwukeje Anenechukwu, as Mayors; Hon Afam Ogene; Chief Sir Johnbosco Ugwu; Chief Samuel Ejim, and Chief Titus Edeh; as Pillars.

Others included, Nze Jude Umenzekwe and Raymond Obianyo, who were honoured as Gold Ambassadors of the CMON, Onitsha Province.

In his address, the President General of the Organization, Hon Casmir Izukanne, said the awards were to recognize the countless contributions of the award recipients to the development of the Church and humanity.

The President stressed the need for Catholic fathers to understand the basic Christian Education and Doctrines, urging them never to feel unconcerned about the issue of neo-paganism so as to save the upcoming generations and Christendom from going into extinction.

The CMON helmsman told Fides that the conference had come up with well-articulated solutions to tackle neo-paganism. According to him, these would be sent down to the dioceses for implementation after being scrutinized for advice by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha Province.

Noting that the conference was a heavy success, Hon Izukanne charged the delegates to take home the knowledge they had gathered to other members of the CMON at diocesan, deanery and parish levels.

The President General of the organization, Hon Casmir Izuakanne

In his remarks, the CMON Chaplain of Awka Diocese, Rev Fr Jude Uba, charged Catholic fathers to stamp fatherly authority against neo-paganism.He expressed regret that the lofty contributions the fathers had made to the Church over years, were being threatened by neo-paganism.

‘The neo-paganists are not aliens, they are our people; and some of them are our children; we have to stamp our authority; take the battle up so that we can sustain the Church,’ the Chaplain urged.

Also, his Ekwulobia Diocese counterpart, Rev Fr Peter Nwankwo, expressed optimism that with the caliber of the people constituting CMON, victory awaited the Church in the war against neo-paganism.

For his part, the host diocesan CMON President, Comrade Joseph Onuegbu, described the conference and its theme as apt, expressing the hope that with honest implementation of the resolutions of the conference the Church would win the war against neo-paganism.

Speaking in a lecture entitled, ”Insecurity: A Threat to our Humanity and the Roles of the Church in Nigeria”, an officer in charge of the ICT Unit, Anambra State Police Command, CSP Charles Enekwe, advised churches in Nigeria to channel their resources towards manpower development, and provision of infrastructural amenities that would affect lives positively rather than investing much money in building multi-dimensional cathedrals and church buildings.

In an interview with Fides, the Vice President of the Organization, Prof Adonai Okonkwo, expressed the hope that when the resolutions of the conference and the knowledge acquired by the delegates were taken down to the grassroots, the neo-paganism problem would be solved.

Ekwulobia Diocese C.M.O Chaplin, Rev Fr. Peter Nwankwo, presnting awards

Also, the Secretary of the Organization, Prof Edward Aja-Nwachukwu, told Fides that the conference identified a lot of factors, such as the way some priests went about worship, seeming to support the issue of neo-paganism.

He said the firm resolutions reached by the Catholic Fathers on the issue of neo-paganism would be sent to the Bishops to see what they could do and thereafter would be published in diocesan newspapers for public consumption.

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