By Nna Anulumadu
The Catholic community of Our Lady of Fatima Woliwo last Sunday, May 28, staged a spectacular event to celebrate this year Pentecost Sunday.
The colourful event attracted a large number of parishioners who gathered to celebrate the birth of the church.
Preaching at the Holy Mass, Fr Ernest Nwagbara reminded Christians the significance of the Pentecost Sunday which he said was the day the church was born. He charged the faithful to develop the different gifts they received from the Holy spirit and utilize it for service of God and for the humanity. The Holy Spirit, he said, emboldens and makes one fearless. He also stressed the need for Christians to make way for the Holy spirit by living a good life worthy of dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The Parish Priest Rev Fr Hyginus Ogbonna CSSP in a speech eulogised the parishioners for participating actively in the event. He described the event as great feast to mark the birth of the Church and also to celebrate the Holy Ghost congregation at 320. According to him, without the Holy Spirit, the Church becomes an ordinary social club.” He also stated that it was on Pentecost day that the Church was born. Likewise, the Holy Ghost congregation was established on a Pentecost Sunday precisely on 27th May, 1703 by a young seminarian, Claude Blaces.” He further disclosed that one cannot talk about the Catholic Church in Igbo land without mentioning the Holy Ghost fathers who greatly assisted in evangelizing this part of the world. He enjoined parishioners to embrace the Holy Spirit and make Him our closest friend because He will teach, guide and direct us.
The Parish CMO Chairman Engr. Paschal Okeke Okwudili who spoke to Trinitas correspondent expressed joy over the feast. He posited that his Parish is lucky to have Holy Ghost fathers as Priests, stating that with their pastoral care and guide, the Holy spirit is working miracles in the lives of the parishioners. He charged fellow parishioners to do things in the spirit rather than in flesh. He further extolled the Parish Priest for his selfless sacrifices, describing him as a dynamic and hard-working pastor who is currently transforming the Parish.
Also Br. Celestine Enwenam aka Ambassador (president Our Lady of Fatima Holy Ghost vocation movement), in his contribution said he was elated over the event. He advised fellow parishioners not to relent in holding tenaciously to the Holy spirit.
Featured at the event was CMO cultural dancing competition that entertained the guests. Meanwhile zone two of the parish emerged first position and was presented with the trophy.
