…As CWO Flags Off 2026 August Meeting
By Michael Nnebife
The atmosphere at Cana House Complex, Awka, was filled with joy and celebration, Saturday, July 4, as the Catholic Women’s Organization, CWO, Diocese of Awka, flagged off the 2026 August Meeting.
The event, which the CWO’s Director, Lady Ngozi Dorathy Muo, described as a season of reflection and renewal of fellowship among Catholic women, featured among others, unveiling of the theme of the 2026 August Meeting, ”Pure Love in Action”; unveiling of the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary; lighting of the flag-off candle; and presentation of items by CWO’s leaders that gathered for the event, by regions.
Present at the event which began with a Holy Mass were the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, represented by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi; the Bishop’s Secretary, Rev Fr Evaristus Ifeanacho; the Chief Chaplain of the organization, Rev Fr Evaristus Okafor; his Assistant, Rev Fr Emmanuel Akposionu; the Senator representing Anambra Central in the National Assembly, Sir Victor Umeh; the member representing Awka South and North Constituency in the House of Representatives, Prof Oby Orogbu; the Anambra State Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Hon Esther Onyekesi; the All Progressives Grand Alliance Candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial District, Hon Dozie Nwankwo, represented by the Executive Chairman, Anaocha Local Government Area, Hon Rome Ibekwe, among others.
In a homily during the Holy Mass, Bishop Ezeokafor frowned at what he described as the excessive use of mobile phones, admonishing Catholic mothers to shun the trend and devote adequate time to their families.
The Bishop advised the women to walk along with Christ, noting that one of the best ways to maintain close relations with Jesus Christ and His mother, Blessed Virgin Mary, was prayer.
’Family prayer is very important. You are civil servants, you are busy, if you forget prayer, you have destroyed your family,’ he told them.
The Prelate reminded the women that marriage offered them an opportunity to live for others – their husbands, their children, and everyone around them.
’Today, things are going wrong. If marriage is entered into today, tomorrow we hear it has been dissolved because there is no family time, no bond, no mutual communication; the man is in his own world, the woman, in her own, then marriage clogs because there is no family time,’ he regretted.
The Catholic Bishop argued that the western world that introduced phones to the Africans recognized and continued to maintain a family time.
’During this time, everybody will be seated together without having his or her phone in him or her,’ he said, urging the women to prioritize the close relation built on communication with their families over excessive use of mobile phones.
The Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese prayed for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the 2026 meeting to be one of the best.
In his remarks, the Chief Chaplain of the CWO lamented that today’s children had gone astray as a result of high rate of moral decadence.
Noting that this year’s August meeting would focus on moral decadence, the Chaplain expressed belief that through the meeting, God would help the Catholic women to come up with renewed energy and grace to redirecting their children for Him and the good of society.
Presenting an address of welcome during the second part of the event, the CWO Director, Lady Ngozi Dorathy Muo, said the event marked a beginning of a remarkable season in the life of CWO in Awka Diocese.
’It is a season to reflect and renew fellowship accordingly. As we gather today with this emphatic theme, ”Pure Love in Action”, we would be reminded that active Christian love is not merely expressed in words, but demonstrated in concrete act of human kindness, sacrifices, forgiveness and service delivery.
’This year’s August Meeting, no doubt challenges one to move beyond the routine participation to embrace deep commitment to our vocation as Catholic women.
’We are called to be living witnesses of God’s love in our homes, parishes, workplaces and society at large.
’In a world increasingly confronted by the decline of moral values, economic hardship, family instability, and social segregation, the role of Catholic women has become demandingly important,’ the CWO Director said.
She stressed that August Meeting provided unique opportunity for spiritual enrichment, mentorship, mutual support, and collective reflection on the challenges facing families, the Church, and society.
’As we officially flag off the 2026 August Meeting, I wish to encourage every member to participate actively with open heart, renewed enthusiasm and genuine desire to translate our faith into a meaningful action for the overall benefit of the Mother Church,’ the Director said.
Lady Muo expressed the hope that the year’s meeting would inspire the Catholic women to deepen their commitment to the ideals of the CWO and its cherished motto, ”Apostolate in Unity, Justice and Love”.
She thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for his fatherly care and encouragement to the organization.
Speaking with Fides, the Director, who recalled that the event usually was the first August Meeting flag-off under her watch, expressed happiness and appreciation to God for the success of the event.
She explained that the event take place, either in June or July to tell the members of the organization earlier, to go and organize the main meeting, which, she said, happened across parishes.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Hon Nwankwo, said that in many families, modern society had swallowed African traditional upbringing, resulting in moral decadence, crime and criminality confronting society today because many parents no longer had time for their children.
’Integrity has gone into extinction; values have gone into extinction, what the parents are after is money.
’You have time for a morning Mass, you have time for work but you don’t have time for your children.
’On the last day, you will be asked, those children given to you, how did you bring them up?’ he reminded the Catholic women.
’So, I beg you, as we are going back, let us consider seriously everything about upbringing in the August Meeting in our various parishes,’ the Chairman urged them.
Contributing, the Father of the Day, Senator Umeh, described mothers as great pillars of society, saying the progress and beauty of society depended greatly on the role mothers played.
The Senator, who however blamed crime and criminality confronting society today on the failure of mothers to take responsible upbringing seriously, advised Catholic women to play their role well by teaching their children morals, Catholic doctrines and prayers, for the children to become useful and responsible adults.
’We talk about mkpulumiri (methamphetamine) today because a mother failed to take responsibility.
’You should look into the affairs of your child while he is growing up to save that child and save society.
’Also very important, teach your child to revere our Blessed Mother Mary, and follow in her footsteps. If you do so, that child, no doubt, will be a useful and responsible adult,’ the Senator told the Catholic women.
For her part, Prof Orogbu, who expressed appreciation to the Catholic women for giving her the opportunity to lead the unveiling of the year’s August Meeting theme, urged them to raise their children in the way of the Lord for them to be useful for themselves, the mothers, and society when grown up.
The event which also attracted the President, Catholic Men’s Organization and Laity Council, Awka Diocese, Sir Barr Victor Meju; the President, Life Member, Awka Diocese, Lady Oby Obodozie; the President, Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, Pharm Franklin Okoye; the immediate past CWO Director, Lady Sabina Ndigwe and her Life Member counterpart, Lady Oby Onyenwe, featured cutting of August Meeting flag-off cake.