Fides Media Living the Faith
Donate to Correctional Centre, Orphanage Home
By Chioma Ndife
The Ladies Auxiliary of Knights of St. John International, LAUX 518, Enugwu-Ukwu, have donated some relief materials and personal effects to inmates of Awka Correctional Centre and Children at Divine Mercy Compassion Orphanage Home, Amawbia.
Fides gathered that the donation which was made last Wednesday, December 7, was in line with the cardinal principles of spirituality, discipline, charity and fraternity of the religious paramilitary order.
Speaking to Fides, the respected President, Lady Priscillia Oduche, said the donation was in the spirit of charity and fraternity which was among the cardinal principles of the order. She noted that the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knight of St. John, through the visit, hoped to act according to the instructions of Mother Theresa which entailed doing little things with great love in their own little ways.
She assured those at the correctional centre of their prayers and urged them to make effective use of the opportunity which the management of the home had put in place to make their lives better. She disclosed that proper utilization of the opportunities put in place at the home would assist them to prepare to become psychologically and physically ready to re-integrate into society when they finally regained their freedom.
Lady Oduche explained that the idea behind the visit was to use the Christmas period to give succour to those in great need of assistance and appreciated those who contributed immensely to make the visit feasible and prayed God to bless them more abundantly.
Addressing the inmates, the Spiritual Director, Rev. Fr. Patrick Umezi, while using an illustration of a cup filled with water, tasked the inmates to accept their current life situation and have hope that one day they would leave the correctional centre bearing in mind that God knew everything and could intervene in all situations.
He appreciated the Ladies of the Knights of St. John International for organizing the visit to the correctional centre and orphanage home, saying that it was part of living a practical Christian life.
Welcoming the religious paramilitary Order, the Deputy Controller of the Correctional Centre, Harris Okonkwo, represented by the Assistant Superintendent of Awka Correctional Centre, Henry Okafor, of the Welfare Department, disclosed that various programmes had been put in place for the inmates to make their lives better, noting that three inmates at the moment, were currently running their masters programme.
The Matron of Divine Mercy Compassionate Orphanage Home, Amawbia, Sr. Chizorom Ugwu, DMMM, appreciated the Ladies for visiting their home with the various gifts items and explained that they would assist in running the home.