…As Lagos Archdiocese holds Laity Week
The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos was agog with activities last Sunday, March 26, 2023, when the Archdiocese held its 2023 Laity Week Celebration and awards presentation in grand style. The event tagged, “Politics and the common good in contemporary Nigeria: Catholic social teaching standpoint”, organised by the Lagos Archdiocesan Laity Council, LALC and hosted by Ajah Deanery, kicked off with Mass at Our Lady Mother and Queen Catholic Church, Badore, Ajah, Lagos. Delivering the homily at Mass, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, quoting Ezekiel 37, said God loves his people and will ensure that he restores the fortune of Nigeria. Archbishop Martins added that God will secure the good health of the nation, bring life into the people’s livelihoods and businesses that had gone down, and restore everything that has been battered by corrupt and bad leadership over the years. On the fall outs of the just concluded general elections, the Archbishop advised the people not to be lured by ethnic and religious divisions that have been created for purposes of winning of elections, and are not related to the common good and welfare of the people. He said: “I think we the people can only tell ourselves that we must not be set against one another.
The people must tell one another that divisions that set neighbour against neighbour, divisions that heighten tension and make people suspicious of one another must not be allowed to take root or to survive. The Archbishop advised that the pursuit and satisfaction of the common good be prioritised over individual interests and personal desires. Stating that Jesus Christ himself is an exemplar of what it means to act for the common good, he said the conference is an avenue for the people to look at how they have fared in exercising their basic individual rights and performing their responsibilities in ways that guarantee the realisation of the common good. Speaking on the occasion, Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Akinsowon, Dean, Ajah Deanery urged the laity leaders to work more on incarnating the Gospel of Christ in their own lives, so that their witness to him (Christ) before their brethren cannot be undermined. Stating that Nigeria is in dire need of social transformation, which must begin from the Church, he said that the country is sick with a number of multifarious illnesses, adding that the remedy can be found in the good people of God in the Church. For his part, Mr. Ugonna Ezeifedi, Chairman, LALC, speaking on the effects of politics said that the goals of politics have been defeated in Nigeria, as he added that politics ordinarily should give birth to good governance and actulisation of the common good of the people. He noted that rather than peace, unity, social order, growth and development, the country has witnessed chaos, destruction of lives and properties of people, among other vices which form parts of the discussions at the Laity Week at the various parishes in the Archdiocese. The award recipients include, Mrs. Chizube Igbioanugo, immediate past Chairman, LALC, Mr. Cyril Oghaego, President, Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria, CCRN, Satellite Deanery’ after Cyril Oghaego, Mrs. Kate Southey, among others.
… urges Catholics to show sense of duty to God
Catholics, Priests and Religious in particular have been tasked to show a sense of duty and obligation to God, as they are urged to emulate the Virgin Mary who complied to God by carrying out the task which He (God) gave. The charge was given by Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of Lagos, Saturday, March 25, during the Diaconate ordination of three Deacons of the Congregation of the Servants of Charity, held at St. Cyril Catholic Church, Okota, Lagos. Archbishop Martins noted that the day was an important one in the life of the Church and the life and history of the entire humanity, as it celebrates the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Stating that the solemnity of the annunciation that is being celebrated many years after is a monumental event that changed the course of history, the Archbishop added that everything became different for mankind, from words that the angel announced to Blessed Virgin Mary on what God wanted her to do. He admonished the deacons to have a sense of duty and obligation to God like the Mother Mary who did not hesitate to accept the task that God gave her. The Archbishop advised that whatever mission they are sent on, even if they do not understand, they should seek understanding and take up the assignment because God has called them to a duty, which they are taking on their ordination.
“Your faith and obedience to God’s will must drive your acceptance of whatever mission God calls you to. God will not take you to wherever his faith will not be with you to guide you. The grace of God will always be with you wherever you are called to be”, he prayed. He urged the newly ordained deacons that as they receive the book of the gospel, to read the word of God, teach the gospel and live according to the gospel. “I pray that God gives you grace to become like the first deacons in the Acts of the Apostles who were men of faith, full of wisdom, full of integrity, generous in service. Please, be men of integrity beyond all reproach. Be men of honesty. Be men of generosity and service. Be happy in serving the Lord. And be sources of joy to those you have been called to serve”, the Archbishop admonished. Also speaking on the occasion, Very Rev, Fr. Kelechi Maduforo S.C, Superior, Vice Province of Africa, Servants of Charity, said the congregation is ready to continue the mission as young men like the three ordained deacons decided to consecrate their lives in the service of the poor. He congratulated the deacons for their decision to be part of the mission of charity by the Guanelians in Africa, adding that in them, God reassures that he will continue to multiply and grow the missions as have been witnessed in the last 30 years. The newly ordained deacons include, Revs. Theophile Mvuama, Malachi Ugwu and Emmanuel Nwafor.
