By Emmanuel Asadu
Peter Cardinal Okpaleke recently visited the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka where he had a brief chat with the Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, the bishop of diocese, at the Bishop’s Court, before proceeding to Holy Redeemer Parish, Nru Nsukka.
Okpaleke was received with joy by the parish priest of Holy Redeemer Parish, the Very Rev. Gabriel Ngwu, and his assistant Rev. Fr James Odo.
The parishioners of Holy Redeemer Parish gathered the next day, Sunday, 26th March 2023, to officially receive His Eminence Peter Cardinal Okpaleke to their parish.
In the holy Mass officiated by the cardinal, he described the Church as a family of God’s people where all are equally welcomed without discrimination, saints and sinners alike. The Church, he said, helps her saintly members to keep to their noble lives of holiness and helps sinners to encounter God and live holier lives. He observed that the role of the Church in the lives of her members is similar to the role of mothers in the family. He appreciated the role of women in the family since the time of Adam and even more their roles in the Church, which is the family of God’s people.
He encouraged women to continue to be good mothers who radiate the love of God in the family, which is the domestic church, and in the Church, which is the family of God’s people. This message was well received as this was the event of Mothering Sunday in the Church.
The cardinal sent his words of appreciation to Bishop Onah for allowing him to come around to visit his friend and classmate and for his brotherly disposition towards him always. He also thanked the parish priest and the parishioners for their show of love and hospitality. He expressed his delight in seeing that a number of priests had come from their parishes to welcome him.
