By Ononye VC
The Cardinal Arinze Annual Lecture 2023 which was held on 19th August 2023 at the Bishop Shanahan main auditorium,Basilica of the most Holy Trinity,Onitsha has highlighted many benefits gained by parents for sending their children to Catholic schools.
The 90 year old Prefect Emeritus,Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments,Vatican City,Europe,Francis Cardinal Arinze delivered the lecture which was titled,”The role of Catholic schools in evangelization”.
During the lecture,the Cardinal was flanked on both sides by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,most Rev Valerian Okeke and the Bishop of Aguleri Diocese,most Rev Denis Chidi Isizoh.
While highlighting the benefits derivable to parents by sending their children and wards to Catholic schools,Cardinal Arinze pointed out that in bringing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to people,the Catholic Church has all along the centuries found the school to be one of the powerful instruments of education and development.
According to the Cardinal,Catholic education among other endeavours,aims at the formation of the citizen with Christ as ideal.
With respect to Catholic education,the Cardinal maintained that the whole person has to be educated in body,mind and spirit such that an ideal Catholic school nurtures students in finest virtues.
He pointed out that the Catholic schools teach respect for the rights of other people and also helps in promoting dialogue among diverse groups irrespective of tribe and religion.
The Cardinal said also that it is not a good sign where many young people look down on schooling and prefer to become traders in hope of accumulating quick money, pointing out that,”The love of money as Saint Paul wrote his disciple Timothy,is the root of all evils.He said that it was through the craving for money and wealth that many have wondered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with money pangs.
- Latest
- Trending
