… Disburses N4.2 million Education Grant
It was celebration galore among the Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria, Maryland Deanery, Archdiocese of Lagos, last Sunday when the members came together at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, IfakoGbagada, Lagos, for the end of the year party, marked in grand style. The event which witnessed the disbursement of Education Grant to 20 students to the tune of N4,200,000 (four million, two hundred thousand naira), saw the women gathered in their numbers, as well as guests who came from far and near to grace the occasion.
In her welcome address, Lady Theodora Abhulimen, Coordinator of the Maryland Deanery Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) commended the beneficiaries of the Education Grant, whom she said came through successfully after screening and written examination, conducted by a committee of seasoned educationists of the Maryland Deanery, CWO. Lady Abhulimen disclosed that the beneficiaries are deserving children of indigent members across the 10 Parishes that make up the Maryland Deanery, who are currently in government owned tertiary institutions, or have recently gained admission for further studies.
According to her, “This act of charity is our own little way of thanking and appreciating Mother Mary for interceding for our individual families.” The Deanery Coordinator thanked in a special way all members of the Education Committee for their hard work, to see that the project came to reality, as she prayed that the beneficiaries employ the funds towards their education as intended. “As the name implies, it is a grant for your education, and not a loan, therefore, no paying back”, she said. Also speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Ijeoma Ihedioha, President, CWO, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, welcoming the women, expressed joy for the honour to host the get-together.
Thanking God for sparing their lives to witness the occasion, she said for the parish, 2023 has been a wonderful year in which they have had numerous spiritual, soul-lifting, evangelical, and support programmes. While delivering the homily, Rev. Fr. Basil Oguata, urged the people to work on their spiritual life as they await the coming of Jesus Christ. He said Jesus is always coming every day in the people’s lives, including at Eucharist, in their prayers, and when they gather, he’s always there, he added that as Christmas is around the corner, Christians must prepare themselves spiritually, watch, pray and wait to welcome the saviour of the world.
Asking them not to give up hope, and to continue praying, he said Nigerians are like children of Israel thousands of years ago, adding that no body sent them on exile, but they are on exile even in their own land. He assured that God will handle the situation and build up the people’s hope again. “Let us prepare ourselves spiritually and physically so that the celebration of Christmas will never elude us spiritually”, he admnonished.
