Fides Media Living the Faith
By Emeke C. Okeke
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, has celebrated the Holy Childhood Day, with the theme,”Training children in love and fear of God and re-awakening their missionary spirit”.
The parish also celebrated their third Annual Block Rosary Day, being Sunday, 20th August, 2023, in commemoration of the Feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The event began with the celebration of a Holy Mass by the Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Bonaventure Nzeadachie and the Resident Priest, Rev Fr. Clement Ezeka.
During the Homily, the Chief Celebrant, Fr Nzeadachie, emphasized on the importance of good motherhood and good parental upbringing of children, noting that mothers had the power of intercession.
Citing examples from the Bible where the Virgin Mary and her son, Jesus,were at a wedding in Canaan, he said that mothers were the pillars of society and that society could never be good if they did not train their children in the fear of God.
He further explained the negative impact of temper tantrums in children which may result in being a bad omen in society when they grew up, even as he charged mother’s to always watch their children’s behaviour for the betterment of society because they were the leaders of tomorrow.
He said the type of training given them today would determine what they would become in the near future.
In the Holy Mass in which three children received their first Holy Communion, he taught them the importance of receiving Christ in their everyday life, noting that it would boost their spiritual life.
After the Holy Mass, they moved to the second phase of the Holy Childhood event, and Block Rosary Crusade Day, which started with opening prayers by the parish priest.
In an address of welcome which was presented by the President of the Block Rosary Crusade, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Nri, Miss Chinecherem Nnagbo, the association commended the efforts of the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Nzeadachie, parents and various patrons and patronesses and those who hosted the Block Rosary centres in their various homes, among whom were Mr and Mrs Peter Ikeagu; Mr and Mrs. Boniface Umeadi;and Mrs. Bridget Nwokoye.
The president appreciated them for their immense contribution and support towards the growth of Holy Childhood and Block Rosary Crusade praying for God’s blessings upon them.
The president in her speech harped on the challenges and things they needed for their Block Rosary crusade such as a new Block Rosary centre where they could be coming together to say the Holy Rosary.
In the same vein, she appealed to all parents to allow their children to come to Block Rosary prayers in order to make them stand firm in the Catholic faith and in Block Rosary prayers to build up their spiritual life.
She thanked and appreciated an anonymous donor whose name was not mentioned but who provided them with candles, crucifixes, and altar cloths.
The Holy Child and Block Rosary Crusade Programme featured choreography, child rearing tips by children, singing competition, fashion parade, quiz, drama and cultural dance/entertainment climaxed the event.
In the quiz competition, the Block Rosary centres that participated included; Queen of all Souls Centre; Mirror of Justice Centre, Queen of Martyrs Center and Queen of All Saints Centre, in which Queen of All Saints Centre emerged the winner of the quiz competition with a total of twelve points.
Donations to the Block Rosary Crusade by parents were also done at the event.
In the closing remarks by the Parish Priest, Fr Nzeadachie, he thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the event, praying God for more blessings upon them.