By Jude Michael
The Awka Diocesan 2024 Laity Week was flagged off on Sunday 10th March 2024, by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, his Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Amawbia. The event which was organized by the Awka Diocesan Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria AD-CLCN, started with a holy Mass presided over by the Bishop and had representatives from each of the deaneries in the Diocese in attendance.
The Bishop during his homily which was based on the theme for the 2024 Laity Week, “Religion, synodality and civic responsibility for a better Nigeria”, said that it was apt that the life of every Christian should influence society in which they lived. Borrowing from the motto of the Laity Council of Nigeria, the Prelate extolled the congregation to be light of the world and salt of the earth. According to the Bishop, if Christians really woke up to their duty of transforming society in which they lived by living by good examples and inspiring policies that put society in the right direction, then society would flourish.
The Bishop called attention to how the Burial Control Law was killing the culture of waste in society and insisted that that Law was a good one and should be obeyed.
On another note, the Bishop raised concern that the educational system in vogue today seemed to uproot the students from learning the values of the family, the Church, the school and society. According to the concerned Prelate, any form of education that distanced the child from his or her parents was not a good education system. The Bishop expressed dissatisfaction with the long hours spent in school by students these days and the manner in which many of the periods of holiday and rest had been reduced to unwarranted moments of extra lessons. Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor observed that this system which seemed beneficial to both parents and teachers was nonetheless inimical to proper development of the child.
He advised parents thus: ‘No Teacher can train your children better than yourselves.’
He charged parents to own up their responsibility and spare not the rod less they spoilt their child.
Shortly after the Mass, the Chaplain of the Laity in Awka, Rev. Fr. Jude Ezeanokwasa, thanked the Bishop, the priests and all the people present. In the same manner, the Parish Priest of St. Matthew’s Amawbia, Rev. Fr. Mike Onwukike, welcomed all to the parish.
The president of AD-CLCN, Mr. Joseph Igwebuike, while appreciating the Bishop and others for their esteemed presence, emphasized that the 2024 Laity Week was expected to run from 10th to 17th March, 2024 at the different parishes in the Diocese. According to him, there was a manual produced in order to make the teachings orderly and easy.
The event attracted people from all walks of life, including Senator Uche Ekwunife, who was the Chairman of the occasion and was represented; Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central Senatorial Zone; Presidents of Catholic Men’s Organization, CMO; Catholic Women’s Organization, CWO; Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, CYON; Hon. Pius Okoye of Awka South House of Representatives and many others.
The highlights of the occasion were the launch of the manual for the Laity Week and welcome song presented by the members of the Holy Childhood Association.
