Fides Media Living the Faith
…Tasks Children on Proper Care of aged Parents
By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, says the Catholic Church does not emphasize or insist on payment of tithes, which demands that people pay ten percent of their monthly earnings to God, from her members.
Bishop Ezeokafor, who stated this in his homily of the Mass to mark the 2021 Easter Celebration and the 35 Years Anniversary of St Dominic’s Parish, Adazi-Enu, on Easter Sunday, explained that the Church rather encouraged her faithful to give to God according to their might.
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor (2nd from right), blessing the parish pastoral councilors of St Dominic’s Parish, Adazi-Enu, during the thanksgiving. The bishop is flanked on his left by the parish priest, Rev Fr Peter Chikelue, Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021.
He thanked God for the event and encouraged all to support the 35 Years Anniversary which was also organized to raise funds for the actualization of the projects of the parish. According to him, giving came from the heart, disposition and one’s capability; and those who contributed wholeheartedly to Church’s development were always blessed by God.
Fides gathered that the projects included repairing of the faulty church building roof, renovation of the rectory, upgrading of the Divine Mercy College of the parish, send off for priests who served in the parish in the past, and payment of the outstanding Peter University levy.
Bishop Ezeokafor, who again kicked against expensive funerals, insisted that the thing beneficial to the dead were prayers for the repose of their souls. Pointing out that aging was not an easy feat, the bishop tasked the children to ensure that they took proper care of their aged parents, as well as celebrate them while they were alive.
According to the Catholic prelate, taking proper care of the aged brought about God’s blessings, and it was the responsibility of the children to take proper care of their aged parents, just as it was the duty of the parents to take proper care of their children to adulthood.