UROMI DIOCESE CELEBRATES NATIONAL LAITY WEEK
By Staff Reporter
The Catholic Diocese of Uromi celebrated the Annual National Laity Week for the year 2017 in most of Parishes/Mass Centres as well as out stations within the Diocese.
The programme which had as its theme “The family as centre and point of departure for lay evangelization” was held from March 13 to 19, 2017.
Day 1: The Message of the President, National Laity Council of Nigeria, Barr. Chizoba Nnagboh (KSM) was read in all Masses Celebrated throughout the Diocese. Also, awareness campaign and sensitization/ mobilization of parishioners was carried out in all parishes/Mass centres and stations.
Day 2: The flag-off ceremony. The Bishop most Rev. Dr. Donatus A. Ogun (OSA) was personally present at the ceremony held at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Ubiaja, to address the Laity and officially declare the Laity week for the year 2017 open. Also with the Bishop were Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Ewah (Vicar for Laity), Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Ehimen (Dean of Ubiaja Deanery and host parish priest), Rev. Fr. Andrew Ogbenbe (Guest Lecturer), and some other members of the clergy
The Bishop and his entourage were received at the occasion by a large number the faithful from Parishes/ Mass Centres in the Diocese who were already well seated for the ceremony.
In an address of welcome, the Diocesan Laity President Prof. (Mrs.) E.O. Omoregie (LSM) noted that 2017 marks the 14th edition of the National Laity week in the existence of the council.
The president opined that parents play important roles in the lives of their children by being the first teachers to their children. She likened the family to the various branches on a tree where members grow in different directions but are held by a single root system. Whatever members portrays as they move their various ways depends on what the roots feed them with. She therefore called on the lay faithful to inculcate right values and attitudes into their offspring (branches).
The Bishop of the Diocese Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Ogun in a keynote address appreciated the laity for their presence in very large number to witness the flag-off ceremony. He urged them to continue in such high spirit to participate actively in the remaining programme as they get back to their various parishes. The bishop remarked that the choice of the theme of the program is illustrative of the attention that should be given to the family, if it must play its role as the domestic church. It is the place where the child gets to know about God and the world. The Bishop noted that the erosion of both cultural and human values from the world translates to the multiple problems being experienced today such as coordinated attacks on marriage and family life. He however added that we must strive to address the above multiracial problems of the family as a church, and the Catholic Laity has to play an indispensible role. He concluded by admonishing the laity not to allow the exigencies of modern day living create a distance between parents and their children, or worse still, a void due to the rat-race that constitutes making a living nowadays in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the occasion, Elder Fred Ijewere who was ably represented by the principal, St. Francis College, Ubiaja, congratulated the laity council for the choice of such wonderful theme and its soothing topic which are quite timely and relevant to the present realities of our time. He noted that if we follow the tenets and teachings of the church in accordance with the holy gospel, decent family lives would be created and the society would be a better place for all.
The guest lecturer Rev. Fr. Andrew Ogbenbe while speaking on the topic of the day “The Family the Domestic Church,” threw more light on the family and family life. He used biblical, practical and common daily examples to buttress his points. He cautioned parents to always live by giving good examples to their children and desist from encouraging their children into prostitution and other vices currently plaguing the country. He concluded by calling on the lay faithful to imbibe good discipline, moral values and overall training of the children in the fear of God so that our families will be an example of the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
A mini- launching of the laity week booklets was done to raise funds for the Diocesan Council to pay National levies and to complete the Laity Project at the Veritas University, Abuja (VUNA). At the end
of the ceremony, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Joseph Abhulimen moved a vote of thanks on behalf of the council. He thanked God for the success recorded at the ceremony and appreciated the bishop for his presence despite his tight engagements. The priests, invited guests and parishioners were all appreciated for their various roles while praying for a successful laity week activities and for God’s grace to witness more future events in Jesus Name.
Day to 5: Laity week activities and lectures were held in the various parishes/ Mass centres while monitoring was done by members of the committee, presidents/ secretaries of Deaneries as well as Diocesan Laity officials
Day 6: Saturday March 18, 2017: The day’s activities were dominated by visitation of Laity executives at the various levels to Prisons, hospitals, healing homes, and other less privileged members to offer gift items and also join them in Prayers as part of the corporal works of mercy for the day.
Sunday March 19, 2017: Thanksgiving Masses was held in all Parishes/Mass Centres. There was also National Laity week collections at all Masses.
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