By Jude Michael
The Catholic Men’s Organization, CMO, Diocese of Awka, on 27th April, made history as the entire members of the Organization trooped out en-mass from their various parishes to St Matthew’s Catholic Church, Amawbia, to flag off their week-long activities, ushering in the 2024 Fathers’ Day celebrations.
The essence of the event tagged, ‘’2024 Fathering Sunday Flag-off’’, was to sensitize the Catholic men about Fathers’ Sunday celebrations and urge them to participate actively in the activities lined up for the week and the D-Day to enhance their spiritual lives.
According to the Planning Committee Chairman of the flag-off ceremony, Prof Kingsley Ubaoji, the one-week activities-loaded event would enable the fathers to reach out to the old members of the CMO; visit orphanages and the destitute; and have a retreat.
It would also feature different talks on family relationship and health matters, inter-zonal football competitions, among others; all at parish level.
Declaring the one-week event open, the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, thanked God for giving the Catholic fathers the grace to come up with the initiative.
In a homely during a concelebrated Mass, the Bishop described the flag-off ceremony as the first of its kind in the Diocese and noted that it would go down in the diary of the Diocese.
The Prelate applauded the Catholic fathers for the initiative and expressed the belief that it would yield a positive result.
The Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese reminded the fathers of the dire need to be active members of the CMO, admonishing them to live out their faith in God through service to God and humanity with the aim to attain eternal life.
In his remarks, the Chief Chaplain of the Organization, Rev Fr Jude Uba, expressed special appreciation to the Bishop for celebrating the Mass for the flag-off, as well as the host of dignitaries that graced the occasion, for honouring the invitation of the CMO.
The Catholic fathers used the opportunity of the ceremony to honour one of their great supporters, Senator Sir Victor Umeh, with an award of ‘’Ezi Nna CMO Awka Diocese’’, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to youth development and uncommon support to the statutory organizations of the Church.
Responding, Senator Umeh expressed a delight at the award and appreciated the CMO for the honour.
Umeh, who recalled his inputs so far in the service to God and humanity, said they were rooted in his faith in God, which, he noted, began before he joined politics.
While presenting his address of welcome in the second part of the event, which took place at St Matthew’s Amawbia’s podium, the President of the Organization, Comrade Joseph Onuegbu, described Father’s Day celebrations as occasions that underscored fathers’ commitment to the value of faith, service and solidarity that defined them as Catholic men.
Reminding the Catholic men that they were the pillars of strength and wisdom in the community and the Church, the President urged the fathers to be a beacon of light that inspired hope and installed the value of faith, integrity and service in the hearts of all that came in contact with them.
He advised them to use the occasion to reaffirm their commitment to the principle of faith, service and brotherhood that bound them together as members of CMO.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Raphael Okigbo, described the historic event as highly remarkable and outstanding.
In her goodwill message, the Director, Catholic Women’s Organization, CWO, Awka Diocese, Lady Sabina Ndigwe, prayed for long life and divine providence for the Catholic fathers so that they would be able to provide for their families continually.
The CWO Director, who argued that the role of a father went beyond providing food and other necessities for the family, advised the Catholic fathers to work together with their wives in order to bring up children they would be proud of.
Also speaking, the Planning Committee Chairman, Prof Ubaoji, thanked Bishop Ezeokafor, Senator Umeh, the entire members of the CMO, the Planning Committee, and the numerous dignitaries that graced the occasion for not only attending the epoch-making event despite their tight schedule, but also donating a sum of money in support of the Organization.
He prayed God to reward and guide them as they retired to their various homes.
The Episcopal Vicar of the Diocese, Rev Fr Michael Onwukike; the Chief Chaplain of the Laity Council of Nigeria, Rev Fr Jude Ezeanowasia; the Traditional Ruler of Ebenebe, Igwe Chris Nnaegbune, represented by the Traditional Prime Minister of the Community, Chief Ezechukwu Joe Unegbu; the President, Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, CYON, Assumption Parish, Nimo, Mr Uchenna Onuorah, representing the entire members of the diocesan CYON; the denary chaplains of CMO, among others, were present during the event.
