By Staff Reporter
The entire youths of Uromi Diocese converged in colourful styles at the Seminary of All Saints, Uhiele to celebrate four days of sports and culture. The event which spanned from Thursday 1st through Sunday 4th of September, 2016, was declared open with confession session and the opening Mass by the CYON Chaplain, Rev Fr. Kelvin Ibhaze and his Assistant, Rev. Fr. Damian Esene, with some assisting Seminarians in attendance. While speaking to the participants at the Mass, the assistant Chaplain reiterated the reason for the programme, which is primarily to evangelise and to emphasize the need for the Esan people to retain our good culture, which promotes communal living and peaceful coexistence. In conclusion, the youths were advised to be of good conduct and also be diligent in handling Seminary properties.
The second day opened with Morning Mass presided over by the host Priest and Dean of the host Deanery, Very Fr. Dr. Patrick Ebhote of the Catholic Church of Nativity of Mary Uhiele. He welcomed every youth of the Diocese to his domain and enjoined them to be of good conduct. In the homily, Fr. Ebhote admonished participants to always have humble and quiet moments with the Lord as the Holy Spirit is not synonymous with noise and distracted minds. Concluding for the day, Fr. Ebhote noted that the modern youths are faced with litany of temptations compared to how it was in his time as a youth. According to him, the only way to overcome this tempting time is to imbibe discipline and cultivate an attitude of constant reflection on the Scriptures. The closing prayers by Fr. Ebhote introduced the participants into the sporting aspect of the morning program. On this, over fifteen different games were contested between youths from the two deaneries. In all however, the former Opkebho Deanery stole the day by winning most of the games contested.
In the afternoon of the same day, all the participants gathered in the Seminary Church to hear a talk delivered by Bro Peter Ebosele Ebhohimen from Benin City. It was a talk that drew its title from the theme of the program âMY CULTURE MY PRIDEâ. While speaking on this topic, Bro Peter noted that the Esan people are unique, and this calls for unending thanksgiving to God. He made it clear that âCultureâ doesnât imply rituals or sacrifices only, but âthe entirety of way and practices that distinguish one community from another.â In conclusion, he advised participants to try always to practice the Esan culture by speaking Esan, wearing Esan attires, singing and dancing to Esan music, eating our local delicacies and most importantly telling the younger generations, the story of men and women and events that help in shaping the origin of the Esan nation and its evolution. According to him, this would go a long way in preserving our history and preparing the minds of all for greatness. The evening of the same Friday was characterized by chains of events including Quiz Competition which was duly contested and the debate, titled: âMORAL DECADENCE WHO IS TO BE BLAMED? PARENTS OR YOUTHSâ?
On Saturday, after the Morning Mass presided by Fr. Ibemaria Igwoke OCD of Mary the Queen Ekpoma, all the participants rolled up themselves in the traditional attire of varied cultures in Nigeria in preparation for the historic Cultural road show. This road show was designed to evangelise on the need to be completely Esan as long as we are Esan people, a culture which we described as one that promotes discipline, morality, chastity, love, care for one another, communalism, peaceful and harmonious coexistence to mention but few.
To disseminate this information, participant carried along a big banner while they distributed hand bills which bore our purpose as we moved the length and breadth of Uhiele singing and dancing to Esan music in full dexterity. In the same vein, the end of the road show marked the beginning of an extra ordinary cultural display at the Seminary compound, an activity that drew dignitaries from the nooks and craning of Esanland. Later in the evening, participants held a âVariety Nightâ which featured, dances, songs, comedies and suspense-filled pageantry which saw the emergence of MISS LEILA USUNOBUN from Mary the Queen Ekpoma as winner and successor of Miss Iyafe Ayebelelin who took the crown of âMiss Uromi Dioceseâ in December 2012.
The Thanksgiving Mass that ended the programme on Sunday the 4th of September at Church of Nativity, Uhiele, was a memorable one. In his address to the youths, Fr. Dr Ebhote, expressed his gratitude and joy on receiving the Diocesan youths in his parish. He also blessed the youths who danced to the altar in thanksgiving in a spirit they tagged as âHarvest of Culture.â One of the hallmarks of this closing Mass was an address to the Parish community by diocesan youth delegates led by Bro Stephen Okhueleigbe. The address which was delivered entirely in Esan dialect and in complete traditional outfit by delegates, summed up the essence of the celebration, drew parents and parishionersâ attention to the cultural decadence of our time and reminded them of the need to go back to our priceless Esan cultural Heritage and to teach their children the Esan Cultural Values.
The Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Ibhaze, who concelebrated the Mass also thanked the youths for making him proud once more after he had led them to sing the Youth Anthem in honour of their recently deceased Diocesan Patron and youth loving Mr Solomon Aisabokhale, who was a parishioner. He also thanked Fr. Ebhote and his parishioners for their hospitality and cooperation. In his address to the entire youths, Fr. Kelvin, on behalf of the Diocesan Youth Delegates at the just concluded 2016 World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, used the opportunity to relate to the entire youths, the message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
He concluded by admonishing all young people to be active in CYON activities as it is one organisation the CBCN has designed to bring all young men and women together in the Catholic Church after the mind of Christ. He equally reiterated the fact that the Bishop, Most Rev Dr Donatus Ogun, OSA, means well for the organization and the Catholic youths in his diocese as well as their welfare if the youths continue to key into his desire for them, that is, to wake up and be more vibrant in their parishes and take up more youth based responsibilities such as church compound maintenance and security in their various parishes.
The entire event ended with group photographs of the youths with the Chaplain and the Dean, after which participants departed to their different destinations with fine memories to share. The youths were immensely grateful to Almighty God and to the Bishop, the host parish and Parish Priest, Chaplain and his Assistant, Guests Lecturer, Patrons and Ambassadors and all Uromi Diocesan Youths for all your efforts and sacrifices in ensuring a smooth Diocesan Cultural and Sports Fiesta 2016 as they departed the venue.
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