… As He Flags-Off 2025 CMO Week at St Andrew’s Catholic Church, Adazi-Nnukwu
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu and Emmanuel Chigozie
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, has expressed deep worry over what he described as incessant and continued lateness to Holy Masses by some of the parishioners across the various parishes, outstations and chaplaincies, saying he finds it disturbing and worrisome. According to him, anyone who is not in the Church when the sign of the cross is carried out cannot say he or she is early for Mass.
Bishop Ezeokafor, who stated this while delivering a homily during a Mass organised in honour of Awka Diocesan Catholic Men’s Organisation (ADCMO) at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Adazi-Nnukwu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State to mark the beginning of their Week, exhorted all to take seriously all the rituals associated with the Eucharistic Celebration and also ensure that they were in the Church before the commencement of the Holy Mass.
The Prelate who was represented by the Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish (CKP), Adazi-Nnukwu, Reverend Fr. Fabian Chukwuma Bielu, charged Christians to work towards improving and sustaining their spiritual lives, saying that the teaching of the Church was well spelt out for all to look up to and make necessary adjustments, just as he admonished all to adhere strictly to the doctrines of the Mother Church.
‘I want to encourage the fathers for their determination, resilience, and steadfastness. I want to commend you all and ask you never to relent. Continue to lead from the front. Keep shining the light in your various homes. I urge you to pray without cease. I don’t know if the CMO members are increasing or decreasing every day.
The turnout is becoming so low and discouraging by the day. I want you to ask yourselves if you are growing in number or decreasing in number. The question is equally for the CWO (the mothers). If you’re decreasing, that means there’s a serious problem. Where are your replacements? Where are younger fathers? Why are they not here? Today is not an exception. I have observed it in various parishes. CMO leadership should work in that direction.
‘Be religious with your prayers. Do not be distracted. Lack of concentration is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. It is the bane of every useful and meaningful prayer. I am particularly worried about the incessant lateness of some parishioners,’ Bishop Ezeokafor said.
Flagging off the Week, the Chief Chaplain of ADCMO, Very Reverend Fr. Jude Uba, said it was the second time in History that the week had been flagged off, announcing that the first was at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Amawbia, in Awka South Local Government Area, and that it had ever remained green in their lives, stating that this year’s Week would be grandiose and fascinating.
He charged Fathers to sit up and focus on their fatherly role in their various families and also devote adequate time and energy to the children and desist from leaving their training and spending time with them to their wives alone, stating that their contributions as pillars of their different homes were well noted and appropriate.
He advised them to use the Week to think out ways to become better fathers who would not leave the spiritual growth of their children at the mercy of their wives and outsiders alone.
‘Go to Church with your children, prepare and attend Church activities with them. Be that role model they want to look up to. Giving wives money is not enough. You have to be there for your family. They need that fatherly figure,’ the Chief Chaplain concluded.
In their separate speeches, the President of CMO, Awka Diocese, Comrade Joseph Onuegbu; the Secretary, CMO, Awka Diocese/Flag-off Committee, Hon. Innocent Chuba Nwafor; and the Chairman, Flag-off Committee, Professor Kingsley Ubaoji; extolled Bishop Ezeokafor for his fatherly love and care and for always identifying with them. The trio individually thanked all those who graced the occasion, including the awardees, the traditional ruler, among others.
The event featured award presentations to deserving individuals such as Very Reverend Fr. Dr. Hilary Peter Ugochukwu Ekwenibe (Agulu Deanery CMO Chaplain 2020-2024); Ichie Sir, Hyacinth Obikwelu, KSJI (Ichie Oranyelu); and Noble Lady Hon. Chinwe Irene Muo (Supreme Subordinate President, Ladies Auxiliary KSJI; Prince Emeka C. Onyiuke (Ogbuefi Owelle II Nimo); Sir Eugene Ezeani, KSJI (CMO Chairman, Holy Family Parish, Agulu); among others.
This year’s CMO Week had “Responsible Christian Fatherhood” as its theme, with a brief talk being given on it.
