Fides Media Living the Faith
By Amarachukwu Okpunobi
The Awka Diocesan Presbyterium on 10 January 2022 held her 2022 Get-together at the Archbishop Obiefuna Retreat Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno. The annual event commenced with a Holy Eucharistic celebration which was presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor. The event was also to celebrate with priests whose silver jubilee will come up this year.
The homilist, Fr. Ignatius Onwuatuegwu, cautioned the Presbyterium on their approach to situations pertaining to the lifestyle of the lay faithful, as well as that of themselves. He called the priests to be truly what they were called to be in their vocation and as such rekindle the fire of meditation and diligent observation.
The clergyman advised the priests to be mindful of their utterances in and out of their comfort zones as such recklessness could lower their esteem in the eyes of the lay faithful, who, he said, no longer saw priests worthy of sacramental confession.
Delivering his address, the Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese, Bishop Paulinues Ezeokafor, lauded the priests who in their different capacities had brought to existence the remarkable strides as seen in the Diocese. He also named the challenges as faced by the Presbyterium and urged them to work together with the lay faithful in their different parishes and administrations to surmount such challenges.
On behalf of the silver jubilinarians, Fr Patrick Onwuatuegwu appreciated Bishop Ezeokafor for his love towards the Diocese, especially to his fellow priests, for taking part in the celebration of their silver jubilee.
Highlights of the event were presentations by Fides School of Theology on New Evangelisation in Politics, gift presentation to the silver jubilarians and cutting of the silver jubilee cake.