By Michael Nnebife
The entire members of the Catholic Men’s Organization, CMO, Diocese of Awka, have been urged to prioritize prayer, to enhance their spirituality as Catholic fathers.
The Diocesan President of the Organization, Comrade Joseph Onuegbu, recently, gave the advice in his 2024 Father’s Day Presidential Address, themed ”Enhancing Spirituality and Christian Virtues in Catholic Fathers: A Father’s Day Reflection”.
Comrade Onuegbu who described the theme of the year’s celebration as not only significant but also deeply profound, took the Catholic fathers on how they could deepen their spiritual lives and exemplify Christian virtues in their roles as fathers, husbands, and members of the Catholic Community.
‘First and foremost, let us reflect on the essence of fatherhood. In the Catholic tradition, fatherhood is not merely a biological relation but a sacred vocation entrusted to us by God Himself. We are called to emulate our Patron Saint, Joseph, in all our actions.
‘To enhance our spirituality as Catholic fathers, we must prioritize prayer and Sacramental life.
‘Regular participation in Mass, reception of the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation are essential for nourishing our souls and drawing closer to God.
‘Furthermore, we must actively cultivate virtues such as humility, patience and selflessness,’ Onuegbu said.
According to him, those virtues were not only the building blocks of Christian character but also indispensable in fulfilling their responsibilities as fathers and role models.
‘Therefore, let us strive to be virtuous men leading by example,’ Onuegbu urged.
He further enjoined fathers to draw inspiration from the Holy Family of Saint Joseph and emulate its example of faith, love and obedience to God as they celebrated the year’s Father’s Day.
Similarly, the CMO Chairman, St Mary’s Parish, Awka, Mr Emeka Udekigbo, described the year’s celebration as a remarkable one, with a lot of memorable activities aimed at enhancing the spirituality and social well-being of the fathers.
Mr Udekigbo, who spoke to the press shortly after the Holy Mass to mark the 2024 Father’s Sunday at St Mary’s Parish, noted that the celebration offered the St Mary’s CMO an opportunity to engage in health and spiritual talks, medical check, get-together with their wives, among others.
The St Mary’s CMO Chairman thanked God for keeping the CMO members alive and healthy to celebrate the year’s Father’s Sunday.
Recalling the prevailing economic situation in Nigeria, the CMO leader appealed to Nigeria’s ruling elite to have mercy and compassion on the suffering Nigerians, who, he said, voted them into power.
Mr Udekigbo enjoined the Catholic Fathers to ensure they had multiple streams of income, for them to meet the requirements of what he described as the bad economic situation.
He reminded them of the need to be alive to their civic responsibility, such as taking active participation in elections, and being vocal in correcting the political leaders.
