The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria, (CLCNAD) has flagged off its laity week as part of its annual celebration.
The event which started with a pontifical mass at the St. Mary’s Catholic Parish, Awka, on Sunday by His Lordship Most Rev Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese is expected to commence in different parishes from Sunday 14th and end on Sunday, 21st 2021.
The Bishop while declaring the laity week open called on religious faithful, to focus on improving their spiritual life especially during this period of hardship and use the opportunity to shine as the light of the world.
Speaking during the welcome address presented by the president, Awka Diocesan Laity Council, Hon Joseph Igwebuike said the theme for the 2021 Laity Week Reflection tagged “the Word of God; Dependable Light and Hope of Survival in Adversity” was properly chosen based on the situation in Nigeria, where kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, killing, rape, etc is the order of the day.
He called on all parishioners to be alive to the opportunities provided by this year’s laity week to mobilize and educate the people as well as to raise fund for the on-going secretarial project.
Also speaking, the Committee Chairman, Mr John Chidiebere Nwafor noted that the manuals for the laity week teaching have been made available to different parishes adding that the parishes are expected to visit orphanage homes, correctional centres to give what was collected as part of the alms giving during the Lenten season.
Present at the ceremony were laity council members from Ekwulobia, Ukpor, Nise and Ifitedunu, Amawbia deanery and top government officials among others.