By Daruwana Daku and Emmanuel Chigozie
The Nriagu family in the ancient town of Nri in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, trouped out en masse to celebrate and rejoice with their twin Octogenarians, Mrs Catherine Ogbo and Mrs Josephine Mmorah. This celebration which resonates with the befitting-living-and-not-befitting-burial Philosophy of Bishop Paulinus C. Ezeokafor took place at St. Mary’s Eucharistic Parish, Nri on Sunday, 6th October, 2024. The children, grandchildren, family members, friends and associates of the celebrants Mrs Catherine Ogbo and Mrs Josephine Mmorah used the opportunity to appreciate the legacies of their mothers who had turned 80 on 4th October, 2024.
Speaking at the Holy Mass which was celebrated in thanksgiving to God for the twin Octogenarians together with about forty other Octogenarians and above, the homilist, Rev. Fr. Jonas Unegbu, the Principal Chaplain of Awka Diocesan CWO, said that celebration of that form helped Christians to reflect about heaven, their true home.
According to him, the joyous celebration of the Mass and of the gracious achievements in the celebrants’ lives were ‘foretaste’ of the great celebration in heaven. He therefore prayed that humanity would work with love, humility and peace in order to attain that necessary goal, even as he thanked those who took great care of those celebrants.
On another note, the parish priest of St. Mary’s and the Chief Celebrant at the Mass, Rev. Fr. Martin Chukwuemeka Anyabolu while speaking with Fides joyously expressed the need to celebrate parents because according to him, they laid the foundation of the Church, family and society. “We can never get tired of celebrating them, they are our parents”, Fr. Anyabolu emphasized.
After the Mass and the grand reception of the twin Octogenarians along others by the Parish, the Nriagu family used the opportunity to also celebrate their mothers in grand style.
During the family reception, when approached, one of the twin Octogenarian, Mrs Catherine Ogbo speaking also on behalf of her sister, pointed out that though life had not been without its ups and downs, they were filled with joy and thanksgiving to God and to all who came to celebrate them. She noted that patience and perseverance should be the watch word for youths who are coming up in life.
More still, families and friends spared nothing in giving testimonies of the life of the celebrants. Mrs Chinyere Okarah who testified about Josephine Mmorah described her mother as just and upright woman. Mrs Kate Ewah speaking of Catherine Ogboe averred that their mother had been a resolute and spirited individual whose life of Christianity has endeared many to her.
Others who spoke about the celebrants unanimously testified that they were disciplinarians, lovers of education and people with great sense of justice. The grandchildren of the celebrants, Emmanuella Ewah and Ifunanya Obi, who were the Masters of Ceremony at the family reception event described their grandmothers variously as great gift of God to them.
Fides gathered from one of the children of Mrs. Catherine Ogboe, Mrs. Esther Obiorah the reason for the celebration. Mrs. Esther who is also the Deputy Director of Awka Diocesan CWO and Vice President of Awka Diocesan Laity Council, revealed that she and her siblings had always wanted a time to celebrate their mothers and make them happy.
According to her, the opportunity came when the parish fixed a date to celebrate their Octogenarians and above. They used the occasion to uniquely celebrate their mother, together with her twin sister, Mrs. Josephine. She expressed joy also that the wish of their mother, to use the money raised to support the indigent was met and fulfilled, even as she recognized with joy the unity and love in the family which the celebration had brought.
The event attracted many dignitaries like the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Obiora Okafor; the Director of Awka Diocesan CWO, Lady Sabina Ndigwe; the Awka Diocesan Laity Council President, Hon. Joseph Igwebuike; Deputy Director of Fides, Rev. Fr. Constantine Okoli, who was harbored by Mrs. Catherine Ogboe during his Six Week Apostolic work at St. Mary’s Nri in 2015; and many others. The celebration of the octogenarians was filled with many highlights among which was; the cutting of birthday cake, Sax performance by one of their grandchild, Master Sochima Nwankwo, dance and group photographs.
