… Mark Mother Mary’s Birthday in Style
By Michael Nnebife
The atmosphere at Archbishop A. K. Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno, Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, was solemn but joyous, as members of the Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts, Nigeria, a pious society in the Catholic Church, from all the dioceses across the country, converged on the Centre for their 2026 National Convention.
The annual event, with the theme, ”To Jesus through Mary, De Montfort Way”, began on Saturday, September 5 and ran through Wednesday September 9, with a myriad of solemn activities which included prayers, talks, revival, renewal, seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in their lives’ journey and celebration of her birthday in grand style.
The opening Mass for the five-day event took place on Sunday, September 6, with Latin, the language of the Church, at the Good Shepherd Chapel, Archbishop A. K. Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, with the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, presiding and assisted by the National Chaplain of the Association, Rev Fr Michael Mary Akaigwe; and the Awka Diocesan Chaplain of the Association, Rev Fr Levi Ukor.
Speaking in a homily, Bishop Ezeokafor enjoined the children of Mary to emulate the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary for success in life.
The Bishop described Mary as the Queen of all hearts because she tried to contemplate all the mysteries in her life.
’That contemplation is very necessary and important to all of us, not only for our spiritual lives, but also for our normal lives.
’Mary, receiving so many blessings from God, was calm and made it possible for us to have somebody to follow,’ he said, and emphasized that Catholics did not worship her but only joined God to honour her.
Reflecting on the Church’s universal celebration of the day, ”World Day of Prayer for Care for Creation”, the Prelate advised the members of the Association to take care of creations and shun all forms of practice that terminated human life.
While noting that all creations reflected the beauty of God, the Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese stressed the need for the children of Mary to know that God created the world and cared for it.
’Preserving life, preserving creation is a task that must be done. You have that responsibility,’ he told them, admonishing them to shun unhealthy environmental practices such as blocking of water ways, throwing waste into drainage channels, among others.
In his remarks, the Awka Diocesan Chaplain of the Association, Rev Fr Ukor, expressed appreciation to the Bishop for his generosity, which, he said, made the event a reality.
’Our Lord Bishop’s generosity made our hosting this event so easy; if not for him, it wouldn’t have been possible,’ Fr. Ukor said.
In his address, the National Chaplain of the Association, Rev Fr Akaigwe, said the theme of the event expressed the very heart of the spirituality of the Association.
’We have chosen Mary because Jesus gave her to us as our Mother, and Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort teaches us that Mary is the surest, shortest and most beautiful way to Jesus,’ Fr Akaigwe said.
He reminded the children of Mary that their pious practices and Marian devotions were not empty routines.
’Our daily Rosary, Angelus; Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary; little office Marian prayers, spiritual reading; meditation, examination of conscience; acts of love and other practices must become occasions for deepening our relationship with God,’ the National Chaplain advised.
He prayed that the event, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, become a moment of profound spiritual renewal for the Association and new impetus for the spread of the kingdom of Christ in Nigeria.
Also, the National Director of the Association, Brother Sylvester Mary Young, argued that the Church celebrated the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8 because she was born sinless in a state of grace and friendship with God.
The National Director emphasized that as the Immaculate Mother of God, Virgin Mary’s Birthday could not pass unnoticed.
’The world must know that a great woman was born on September 8, and it is our duty to make it popular,’ Brother Young stressed, and advocated that Mary’s Birthday celebration should be cherished, fostered and preserved, describing it as a noble enterprise.
’It is a powerful prayer force and great instrument of Marian evangelization.
’It serves not only to strengthen the bond of unity in the Marian Family but also a means of spiritual formation, transformation and blessings for us and for our nation,’ the Director told the children of Mary.
Contributing, the National Coordinator of the Association, Sir Ikechukwu Johnmary Uchenwa, described the event as a celebration of hope, and urged the children of Mary to use the opportunity to renew their faith and draw closer to Christ through the maternal intercession and the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Sir Uchenwa said that the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary marked the dawn of salvation for humanity as she was chosen to bring forth the Saviour of the world.
Citing St Montfort, Uchenwa maintained that the devotion to Mary perfectly led members of the Association to a union with Christ.
’This, we ought to hold tenaciously, so that worshipping God will be holistic in truth and in spirit,’ he advised the children of Mary, appealing to them, as a family, to seek the motherly intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Nigeria, with particular emphasis on the 2027 General Elections.
While speaking with Fides, the Awka Diocesan Coordinator of the Association, Brother Anthony Mary Nweke, added that the event was another privilege to reap bountiful blessings from the Blessed Virgin Mary, describing her birth as the beginning of the salvation of mankind.
Brother Nweke, in his message, thanked all and sundry who contributed in one way or other to the success of the event.
Cutting of birthday cakes by dioceses in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on September 8, the fourth day of the epoch-making event, climaxed the event, which was hosted by Awka Diocese for a second time.