In a bid to alleviate poverty among women in the parish community, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, CCM, St. Mary Catholic Church, Isolo, Lagos has given out choice equipment to widows in the parish to empower them in starting up businesses depending on their skills. The event took place last Sunday, May 8, 2022 in the Church premises after the items of empowerment were prayed over and blessed by Very Rev. Fr. Gilbert Osilama OSJ CCM Chaplain. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Carol Opara, president Confraternity of Christian Mothers, CCM, St. Mary Catholic Church, Isolo, Lagos said that the society decided to empower the widows in their Church community so that they can take care of themselves.
According to her, “Instead of giving cash like we did in the past, we decided to set up business opportunities for them, to give them things to fish, know the value of the fish they have caught and then know how much they need to sell it; with that they will know the profit they will be able to make.” On the reason CCM decided to empower widows, she said: “We chose the widows because we feel that from the story of Mother of Sorrows, we know how passionable she was even at the point where the son was crucified. She saw everything and still did not run away. So, we want to empower the widows, we want to see them like the way Mother Mary saw Christ.
According to her, prior to getting the items, the widows, thirty in number were screened so as to find out what they can do and be empowered in the skill they are qualified. Mrs. Oge Okorie, Project Coordinator of the Empowerment Programme disclosed that the empowerment scheme which was launched in the parish in September 2009 had been an avenue to empower over 70 widows in the parish. According to her, “Today, by the special grace of God and support of our parishioners we are empowering 30 widows in our parish, not just from the society, but from every other society that has widows as members.” In her message of hope to the widows, she assured them that they are not alone, adding that the journey of salvation is a continuous race that they should not throw away because they are widows.
Fr. Phillip Egbuniwe, OSJ, Parish Priest, St. Mary Catholic Church, advised the beneficiaries to see it as an opportunity that should not be abused. They should use it well and also help in adding value and meaning to other people’s lives. Fr. Egbuniwe commended the CCM for organizing the scheme, as well as empowering the widows and providing them reliable sources of livelihood. He also thanked the parishioners for keying in and supporting the programme by providing the money to get the items for the women, so as to reduce the number of the vulnerable mothers and widows in the parish. The fashion designers among them were presented with sewing machines, while the caterers got gas cookers, cylinders and frying pans, as others were given grinding machines as startup for their businesses.
