Sunday, February 12, 2023 was a day filled with love and merriment for clergy, religious and lay faithful of Ss. Mulumba and David Catholic Church, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos, as the parish held its 2023 Valentine Day celebration in grand style. The event organized by the Catholic Women Organisation, CWO, Ss. Mulumba and David was a colouful outing that saw the people, all dressed in glittering apparels of red and white, which added colour to the already beautified atmosphere of the Church’s surroundings. Speaking on the occasion, Rev. Fr. Andrew Edogbo, C.S.Sp, Parish Priest, Ss. Mulumba and David Catholic Church said aligning with the feast of Valentine, the parishioners of Ss. Mulumba and David came together to express the love of Christ as He (Christ), exhibited, for one another. Stating that the essence of Valentine is to show love, Fr. Edogbo said that the whole commandment of Christ is summarized in love of God and love of neihgbour, as he added that the love of neighbour has to be expressed among the people. The parish priest reminded the people that Jesus came to the world, and died for humanity out of love. He said: “We should be able to sacrifice for one another and show the love of Christ to one another everywhere; in the Church, in our families, with our colleagues and with other people that we come in contact with”. Speaking on the situation of the country, he reminded the leaders that this season is regarded as the season of love in the Church and across the world, as he advised them to be guided by love, adding that they should eschew themselves of selfishness and greed.
He said: “What is happening in our country is that a set of people want to accumulate everything. And that is why the resources in the country are not distributed evenly as it should, and many people are suffering today because of this. “If you love your neighbour, you wouldn’t sit and watch the person suffering. So, my message to our leaders is that they should be able to express love to those they lead. If they build on the principle of love, everything will work out well for Nigeria and Nigerians.” He advised Nigerians to participate fully in the elections and ensure that they vote in the right candidates, who will relate with the people and their plights. “We should vote in candidates we know can express love to the people. It is our duty, our responsibility to bring on such persons to lead us and put things right in the country”, he said. Giving a talk on marriage, tagged, “To have and to hold”, the guest speaker, Mrs. Ada Muo, advised couples to put God first in every aspect of their lives, their marriage in particular. She urged couples to be the best they can in their marriage, as well as inculcate love, trust, understanding, forgiveness among other essentials of marriage.
