* As Most Rev. Afareha. Fr. Djebah, Ugbuagu identify
challenges of family life
By: Owho Warri
The Bishop of the diocese of Warri,
Most Rev. John Okeoghene Afareha, has charged the Catholic Laity Council to be
steadfast in their commitment to evangelize the family and the society, saying
that the gospel should be preached to the parents who would in turn transmit
the gospel to their children and many other families, including the
neighbourhood for which the family is a part.
Most Rev. Afareha, gave the charge,
on 2nd December, 2016, at the Mother of Redeemer Catholic Church, Effurun,
during a holy mass to mark the 45th Annual National Laity Conference, held in
Warri, Delta State.
The Bishop, while delivering a homily which centred on the
theme of the occasion: "The Family as Centre and Point of Departure for
Lay Evangelism," emphasized the role of evangelism in promoting the
teaching of the word of God. He stressed the importance of faith in the life of
a Christian, saying that the story of Abraham and Isaac was a testimony of
faith in the Lord.
Most Rev. Afareha reiterated the importance of the family in
the making of a healthy society, and called on the church to take a firm stand
in building the family which in turn would build a healthy society.
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Most Rev. Afareha
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He tasked parents on enduring moral training of their children so that
they would be responsible citizens in the society. The legal icon warned that
if the children were not properly trained, the consequence would be grave for
society to curtail.
In his address, the national chairman of the Catholic Laity
Council of Nigeria, Barr. Chizoba Nnagboh, emphasized the role of the laity
council in promoting the word of God using evangelism as a medium, even as he
expressed his gratitude to the Bishop of the diocese of Warri, Most Rev. John
Afareha for his overwhelming support to the growth of the Laity Council.
He
poured encomium on the Bishop on the first class infrastructure in the diocese
of Warri, noting that the venue of the conference, "Jubilee Retreat &
Conference Centre, (J.R.C.C), Catholic Bishop's Court, Effurun," is
undeniably an unbeatable master piece of infrastructural design.
Nnagboh described the progressive development of the Laity
Council over the years as laudable, saying that the commitment of its members
had been marvelous in every sense of the word.
The eloquent speaking President
thanked the organising committee of the conference for making the event a
success.
Earlier, in his welcome address, President, Warri Diocesan
Catholic Church of Nigeria, Chief Bernard Imonivwerha (KSM), journey through
the memory lane, saying that the Warri Diocese/Laity Council was created out of
the Diocese of Benin City on the 10th of March, 1964 by His Holiness, Pope
Paul VI, and Most Rev. Lucas OluChukwuka Nwaezeapu was reputed as the 1st
Bishop.
Continuing, Chief Imonivwerha said that over time, the diocese of Warri
had witnessed tremendous development, especially under the leadership of the
Most Rev. Afareha, stating that currently, the number of Catholics has risen to
about 300,000 which are spread across 5 pastoral regions. He mentioned other
development to include 20 deaneries, about 130 parishes and chaplaincies and
numerous mass centres.
Imonivwerha stated that the theme of conference was aimed at
building the family, saying "the family and evangelism can never be over
emphasized."
In a similar vein, Sir George Umoru, President, Benin City
Provincial, described the Warri Diocese, as one of the most vibrant dioceses in
the province.
He recalled that the theme of the conference became necessary
following the falling standard of family life in recent times, noting that
young people no longer see the family as an institution to be proud of even
when the family plays the role of a domestic church.
The high point of the conference was lecture sessions from
the intellectual reservoirs of Fr. Nicholas Djebah, and Dr. Veronica
Ogbuagu.
In his lecture entitled: The Family as Evangelizer, Fr.
Djebah noted that over the years, the family had been faced with numerous
problems and pressures resulting from the threatening forces and situations
confronting the dignity of human life which include, rapid spread of
pornography, new demands for easy divorce, steps towards easy abortion, claims
of sexual revolution, startling advances in the manipulation of human life,
etcetera.
Fr. Djebah also noted that the nuclear family is under siege
occasioned by increase in divorce, out of wedlock births, homosexuality,
abortion etc. Proffering ways to get the family fulfil its vision, Fr. Djebah,
said the family had to go back to its root by applying the guidelines set out
by Catholic social teaching which emphasizes moral precepts.
Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu gave the second lecture at the
conference entitled: The Education of the Heart, A Primary Function of
Parents." She noted that following the spate of the general moral
decadence in the society, the family life was deteriorating and becoming
dysfunctional in recent times.
The erudite scholar, educationist and former
Delta State Commissioner of Education said the lecture was aimed at bringing
children up to behave ethically, morally and responsibly. She attributed the
moral decadence amongst children to abandonment of the natural laws which
places strong emphasis on values.
Drawing a link between education, heart and
parents as the principal variables in bringing up a responsible child, Dr.
Igbuagu pointed out that most people see education of the child in the light of
acquiring certificates in certain field of knowledge. She noted that education
in its unique nature is a life-long process which transforms children into
responsible citizens…
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