… Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba pray for deceased members
By Michael Echi
Evil thrives in our society because we live in denials of the reality of the times, and for fear of death, to those who are supposed to speak the truth to power rather choose to tell lies, painting evil as good. But we shall all die one day. This was the submission of Very Rev Fr. Lawrence Nwaneri CSSP, the Parish Priest of St Patrick Catholic Church, Igbogila, Alimosho Local Council Area of Lagos State, in his Homily delivered on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, to mark the solemnity of All Souls organized by the Knights of St. Mulumba, Region 4. Fr. Nwaneri said death came to humankind, tracing it to the disobedience of Adam, when he sinned against God and was thrown out of the Garden of Eden, but that He gave us His only begotten son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross to atone for our sins. The mercy of God is boundless to the extent that He loves both the sinner and the righteous, and that those who kill and take pleasure in seeing others go through pains and sufferings should give up the evil act, he admonished, noting that God is giving them a second chance to repent.
In his words, ‘Remember, you kill today, but you shall die one day,’ the Catholic clergy warned. On purgatory, Fr. Nwaneri said: “It is a necessary cleansing chamber; everybody must pass through to seek God’s face, and be cleansed in the blood of the lamb. He urged the living to be upright to make heaven. Quoting from the first and second readings, and the gospel of Mathew, the Beatitude, he noted that to the eyes of the fool, the dead is being punished for sins committed, but that no, death is a necessary end for both the sinners and righteous. Our destination, he emphasised, is the kingdom of God, and that those going through persecution, oppression and rejection on account of their beliefs should not give up, for they shall be comforted and obtain God’s mercy.
According to him, suffering has a universal dimension, as he added that even in saner climes where social security is guaranteed, ranging from free food, affordable housing and better living conditions, people still commit suicide. He noted that in all, our hope is in the resurrection, which he said sustains us. The event was organized by the Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba Region 4, comprising, Akowonjo, Mater Christie, Idimu, Isolo and Ejigbo Sub Councils. Speaking to the Catholic Herald after the mass, the Alimosho spokesperson and host of the event, Worthy Brother Grand Commander, John Ichue said the solemnity of All Souls, held annually and rotated among the Sub-Councils in the region, is to pray for their deceased brothers and sisters, as part of activities to mark the All-Souls’ Day. They also presented a gift which they described as a token to the host parish, St Patrick Catholic Church, Igbogila.
