By Michael Nnebife
St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, Anambra State, was agog with celebrations, as the Divine Mercy Devotion, Diocese of Awka, marked its 35 Years Anniversary.
The celebrations, which grand finale took place on Sunday, April 12, with a Pontifical Mass at the new Cathedral of St Patrick’s, began with nine days Novena, visits to prison and hospitals for special work of mercy, among others, on Friday and Saturday, April, 10 and 11.
Present at the grand finale, were the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor; the Chaplain, Divine Mercy Devotion, Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Rev Fr Vincent Udemezue; Bishop Ezeokafor’s Secretary, Rev Fr Evaristus Ifeanacho; the Awka Diocesan Chaplain of the Group, Rev Fr Alphonsus Obiekezie; the Director, Fides Media, Rev Fr Mark Ikeh; Awka Diocese’s Bursar, Rev Fr Nicodemus Izuchukwu; top Anambra State Government functionaries and politicians, who included the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Pius Okoye; a former Attorney General of the State, Barr Prof Uju Nwogu, who was the Mother of the Day; the State Women’s Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Hon Mrs Esther Onyekesi; among others.
In his remarks, Bishop Ezeokafor, who presided over the Mass, congratulated the Divine Mercy devotees on the anniversary, noting that all about the group revolved around what he described as the unending mercy of God.
Noting that Pope John Paul II officially established Divine Mercy Sunday, as a universal feast when he canonized Maria Faustina as a saint of the Church, Bishop Ezeokafor prayed God to grant all that gathered at the Cathedral for the celebration the grace to receive His Mercy.
Also in his remarks, the Awka Diocesan Chaplain of the Group, Rev Fr Obiekezie, thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for what he described as his fatherly support which the Group enjoyed. He also thanked the dignitaries for finding out time to come and rejoice with the Divine Mercy devotees.
Speaking later, Fr Obiekezie, who described the event as an auspicious celebration of 35 years of God’s Mercy, enjoined all people on earth to embrace the mercy of God for the salvation of their souls.
Earlier in a homily, the Assistant Administrator II, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, Rev Fr Cyriacus Ezeamaechi, admonished the Divine Mercy devotees and their guests to work hard to be merciful people who live out the mercy of God.
Fr Ezeamaechi, who titled his message, ”Mercy, God’s Greatest Attribute: The Greatest Need of Mankind”, highlighted compassion, forgiveness, seeking the good of people, among others, as virtues expected of Divine Mercy devotees and every believer at large.
’For you to stand as merciful people, you must have these virtues,’ Ezeamaechi told the devotees.
In his welcome speech during a reception which formed the second part of the event, the Awka Diocesan leader of the Group, Mr Anthony Oji, expressed joy, saying the Group, which, he noted, began under Rev Fr Aloysius Oraeke, with just one parish, St John’s, Umuokpu, Awka, had grown, covering over 60 parishes.
‘Truly, this is the work of God,’ Mr Oji said, stressing that Divine Mercy was indeed more than a 3 O’clock prayer. ‘It’s a call to live mercifully,’ he added.
Oji took time to highlight the group’s achievements spiritually and physically, within 35 years of existence.
He said that the Group had remained deeply committed to the work of mercy in obedience to Jesus Christ’s command in Matthew 25, securing releases of prisoners through courts, and assisting the sick, the poor, the marginalized, underprivileged orphans, among others.
The Divine Mercy helmsman thanked the numerous sponsors and supporters of his Group for their contributions which he described as service to God and humanity.
He appealed to them to help the Group to procure a shuttle bus for smooth discharging of its mandates.
In separate interviews, some of the supporters and dignitaries who included Rt Hon Okoye, Barr Prof Nwogu, Hon Onyekesi, described the celebration as a remembrance of the day God showed His mercy upon humanity.
Congratulating the Divine Mercy devotees on the 35th Anniversary, they expressed readiness to continue to support them, urging people to be part of the group.
The highlights of the event, chaired by the Chief Medical Director, Paternoster Hospital and Maternity, Awka, Sir Samuel Eze, included special thanksgiving, renewal of vows by the members of the group, and awards presentation to numerous individuals in recognition of their support and service to God and humanity through the group.