The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor has inaugurated the 2014/2015 pastoral year with a call on the priests and laity to expedite action in the area of evangelization saying that the church’s stand was for all to make heaven at last.
Bishop Ezeokafor who made the call at St. Andrew’s Catholic Parish, Amaokpala Orumba North Council Area of the State explained that the inauguration would usher in new pastoral year in the church calendar noting that the event would avail the priests and the laity the ample opportunity of interacting with one another and also a retrospection period.
The Chief Shepherd of Awka Catholic Diocese, who stressed the need for robust and undiluted evangelization, reminded the priests of their onerous task of winning souls for Christ exhorted them not to play god in their various parishes adding that they were called to serve and not to be served.Bishop Ezeokafor who made the call at St. Andrew’s Catholic Parish, Amaokpala Orumba North Council Area of the State explained that the inauguration would usher in new pastoral year in the church calendar noting that the event would avail the priests and the laity the ample opportunity of interacting with one another and also a retrospection period.
In a homily, the homilist Rev. Fr. Innocent Duru charged the priests to redirect their energy to the teaching of marriage course, catechism, importance of the reception of Holy Communion, Catechesis and witnessing.
Fr. Duru enjoined the priests to practice what they preached noting that they were expected to always preach God’s kingdom through their ways of life both in their actions and inactions.
Earlier in a remark, the president of the Priests Association Rev. FR. Emmanuel Anuluko expressed satisfaction over the turn out of priests and urged them to replicate all they have learnt in their various parishes for the greater good of all and sundry.
Also speaking the parish priest of St. Andrew’s Catholic parish Rev. Fr. Simon Obiakor, expressed gratitude to God for His Grace and also thanked the Bishop for selecting his parish as the venue for the inauguration of 2014/2015 pastoral year noting that they were thrown into ecstatic mood immediately the news of hosting the event filtered town.
Rev. Fr. Obiakor while thanking the Bishop, commended Mr. Patrick Ikwueto SAN, and family for agreeing to provide refreshments for all the visiting priests, laity, friends and well-wishers of the parish.
In a paper presentation, entitled ‘The Gospel of Compassion’ and delivered by the Director of Pastoral Office (DPO), Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Uzochukwu Udechukwu (Odira Chukwumma) referred the priests to the invitation of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, which was to embrace a new chapter of evangelization marked with joy.
He stated that there would be no space to chronicle all the events in the last pastoral year, but singled out 29th August 2014 as eventful date in the history of Awka Diocese.
According to him, ‘the date marks a great entry and a historic exit of Bishops: an ordination of our auxiliary bishop Most Rev. J.B. Okoye and a transition into eternity of our Emeritus Bishop Most Rev. Simon Okafor. A day of mixed feelings as Fr. Fred Eke observed, we were promptly consoled by God with the raising in our midst another Sacerdos Magnus.
‘A very important aspect of our ministry is to heal the wounded, to bandage the bruised, pacify the hurting, and console the grieving. Pastoral activity needs to bring out more clearly the fact that our relationship with the father demands and encourages a communion which heals, promotes and reinforces inter personal bonds,’ Fr. Udechukwu said.