By Michael Nnebife and Wise Yakubu
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, has advised Christians to use every opportunity provided by the ephemeral life on earth to work for an everlasting life in heaven.
The Catholic Bishop gave the advice while delivering a homily during a Holy Mass mark his episcopal visit to St Mary’s Parish, Awka, Anambra State, on Sunday 16th February.
Reflecting on the gospel and readings of the day, the Bishop reminded the parishioners of St Mary’s that a condition that awaited every man after this ephemeral life had been made explicit by Jesus Christ in Luke 6:24 and Prophet Jeremiah in Chapter 17:5, urging themto make a solemn decision on the one to take.
According to the Bishop, God created man to love and serve Him in this ephemeral life so as to have an everlasting life in heaven.
‘Therefore, heaven should be your target in everything you do in this life that is short,’ the Bishop advised.
While emphasizing that wealth or poverty was not a guarantee of heaven, Bishop Ezeokafor enjoined St Mary’s Parishioners to totally submit themselves to God, arguing that both man and material possessions belonged to Him.
Expressing regret that wealth and material possession often blinded people to think there was no God, Bishop Ezeokafor recalled the biblical account of a rich fool and a prayer of
Rev Fr Edeh’s Ministry which he recited as, “God, all I have is yours; I am yours, yours I want to be; use me to do whatever that pleases you”.
‘In all things, this prayer and mentality ought to be your guiding principle, whether you are poor or rich,’ the Prelate admonished St Mary’s Parishioners.
He commended them for the various transformations and positive changes in the church after his visit in 2019.
The Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese who also reminded the faithful at St Mary’s of the stand of the Diocese on some critical issues which included the dust-to-dust burial ritual, thanked them for their support to the Diocese which he rated as satisfactorily high.
Responding, the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Bernard Anabene, thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for his fatherly care and love for the Parish.
In an address of welcome read by the Secretary, Parish Pastoral Council, Mr Joseph Onwe, during a reception, the parishioners appealed to the Bishop to elevate their outstation, St Bonaventure’s, to a parish status.
They applauded the Bishop for what they described as his numerous good work and prayed God to continually bless him with sound health and wisdom.
Shortly after the reception, the parishioners further received the Bishop at the Fathers’ Rectory.
The Vicar of the Parish, Rev Fr Blaise Ejike, who described the second
reception as an innovation and first of its kind, told Fides that the essence of the reception was to support Bishop Ezeokafor for his personal concerns and needs.
The Vicar expressed gratitude to God for the success of the epoch-making event and also appreciated the guests for honouring the visitation of the Parish, wishing them journey mercies as they returned to their various homes.
Some of the dignitaries that graced the event in which Bishop Ezeokafor administered the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation on 300 candidates, were the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi; the Bishop’s Secretary, Rev Fr Evaristus Ifeanacho, among other priests of the Diocese and people from all walks of life.
The Director of Fides Media, Rev. Fr. Robert Anagboso.