…Visits St. Paul’s Parish Achalla 10 Years After
…Warns Youths against Encroaching Into Church’s Properties, Idol Worshipping
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu, R.A. Yakubu and Emmanuel
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor has harped on the importance of prayers, perseverance, and utmost respect for God, admonishing those who are in the habit of compelling God to do their bidding to desist forthwith and allow God’s wish to be done in their lives.
The Bishop who stated this in his homily at St Paul’s Catholic Church, Achalla, in Awka North LGA of Anambra State, July 27, advised people against always praying for material things but to pray more for heavenly blessings emphasizing that the spiritual controlled the physical.
This was on the occasion of the Bishop’s Pastoral visit to St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Achalla, ten years after his last visit.
Bishop Ezeokafor during the visit, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation on 194 deserving candidates and also blessed the newly constructed St. Paul’s Parish’s Secretariat.
‘Always think about your spiritual growth. Consider it very necessary to seek the face of God at all times. I understand we need material things for our survival, but we also need to think about spirituality. Everything is not about materialism. Make sure that you are spiritually sound. Make prayers your companion. Do not chase alone the things of this world. Remember, there is a place called heaven. We should strive to be there.
‘There are people who will always want God to attend to them first without recourse to God’s plan in their lives. Things are not done that way. You cannot order God around. We should pray and wait for God’s will to be done in our lives. I am aware that people are passing through a lot, but that is not enough to question God or forget that He sees and knows everything.
‘Even in the Bible, He told us to ask that we shall receive and seek; that we shall find. Let our prayers revolve around that which God has destined for us. Let us always think and do things that will glorify God. Whenever we ask for help, let us not think less of our spiritual growth,’ Bishop Ezeokafor counselled.
The Cleric exhorted youths to steer clear from the Church’s property and also stop encroaching into the Church’s land, saying that doing so attracted God’s wrath, even as he wondered why some youths could just wake up and start dragging landed property given to the Church by their forefathers without coercion or in any form of duress.
‘You can imagine that. Coming to fight the Church over a property you did not know how it came about. It is really not pleasant. Look for something meaningful to do with your life. Your ancestors handed these property over to the Church. Why then are you asking that it should be given back to you?’ he queried
Bishop Ezeokafor stated that the Church worked hard in enthroning discipline, law, and order, saying that the surprising and funny thing about those youths trying to take over the Church’s property was that they were the children of those the Church converted from paganism to Christianity.
‘Today, some of these youths who are sons and daughters of the converted want to go back to paganism. In fact, they are practicing neo-paganism. They should retrace their steps. Some of them are doing it out of frustration. Some out of ignorance. They should look for what to do with their lives. Do not use hardship as an excuse for engaging in crime and criminality, the Bishop counseled.
Speaking, the Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Achalla, Rev. Fr. Tobias Chinyere Osigwe, thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for the visit, saying that the visit would change a lot of the narrative.
The Parish Vicar, Rev. Fr. Charles U. Ezeugwa, the Traditional ruler of Achalla, HRH Igwe Ositadimma Sunny Nwokedi; Hon. Nnamdi Ikwunne; the former member representing Awka North State Constituency, Chief Hon. John Nwokoye (Onowu Achalla); the Vice Chairman the Parish Pastoral Council, Bro. Peter Ndubuisi; the Secretary, PPC, Ogbuefi Raphael Enukora; Mrs Tina Nwarienne, Secretary Parish; separately took their time to appreciate Bishop Ezeokafor for coming.
The Bishop was accompanied by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubuisi; the Diocesan Bursar, Reverend Father Nicodemus; among others.
