Christians have been reminded that they were called by God through baptism to be the salt and light of the world.  This reminder was made by the Owerri Archdiocesan Chaplain of the Guild of St. Anthony of Padua, Rev. Fr. Cosmas Onukwugha in a homily he delivered during Holy Mass that marked the inauguration of the Guild in Christ the King Catholic Chaplaincy, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri on Sunday, June 30, 2013.

According to the homilist, Christians should fulfill the mind of God in Christ, which he said, demands they live holy and righteous lives.  Describing the life of St. Anthony of Padua, Fr. Cosmas said that the saint had the fear of God in him, sacrificed his life for the work of God.  The clergyman in the Holy Mass which chief celebrant was Rev. Fr. Lawrence Okwuosha, pointed out that St. Anthony is teaching Christians to feed, clothe and give assistance to those who cannot repay them.  He pointed St. Anthony as the salt of the world who worked hard to see that the poor ate and lived a happy life.  Fr. Cosmas Onukwugha urged students to join the guild for their spiritual growth.

The inauguration Mass was also featured by the induction of new members of the guild who took the oath of allegiance to the Catholic Church and to the guild.  Another highlight of the Holy Mass was the blessing of “St. Anthony’s bread”, which according to the Chaplain of the guild in Owerri, signifies one of the works of St. Anthony of Padua – feeding the poor and the hungry and never allowing the poor to go hungry.

In a welcome address at the reception held after the Holy Mass in the CKC Alvan Hall, the President of the Guild of St. Anthony of Padua of the Chaplaincy, Brother Amanze Ekenedirichukwu opined that the occasion offers the guild a moment for serious reflection on the life of the prayerful and miraculous saint who lived a life worthy of emulation, a recast of mind on their journey so far in impacting positively on the lives of their fellow human beings and a time for more efforts in witnessing to the faith.

Highlighting the activities of the guild, the president said that since the revival of the guild by the efforts of St. Joseph’s Chaplaincy, Imo State University Chapter of the guild about two years ago, the guild at CKC Chaplaincy has been functioning effectively, adding that it has had it as a tradition to be paying regular visit to orphanages and as well participate constantly in the activities of the guild at the archdiocesan level.

Bro. Amanze however pointed out that the young guild has been heavily constrained financially, which he said affects her evangelization responsibilities, especially in making available prayer books to her ever-growing membership and provision of “petition box” and plan to have a big statue of St. Anthony erected in the chaplaincy.  At the foregoing, the president made an appeal for financial support for the programmes of the prayer body.

Concluding, Bro. Amanze appreciated the support from the CKC Alvan Chaplain, Rev. Fr. G. Alaribe and Assistant, Rev. Fr. Temple Nwaneri and the support given to the guild by the new Archdiocesan President of the guild, Mrs. Nma Rose Okoro, the Patrons and Patronesses of the guild in the chaplaincy and other benefactors of the guild who were presented with an “award of honour”.

In his opening remarks at the occasion, the Chairman of the occasion, Associate Prof. Ikediachi said that he is always glad to see young people striving to embrace Christ.  He pointed out that Christians would be better off if they take time to remodel their lives to reflect that of St. Anthony of Padua, whose powerful intercession, he said, would see them through in life.

In his own speech, the outgoing Archdiocesan President of the Guild, Bro. Emma Uzoechi expressed his gratitude to God for enabling them achieve the feat of inaugurating the Guild in Alvan Chaplaincy.  He encouraged the Alvan Chapter of the guild to persevere in the apostolate, promising that the support of the guild at the archdiocese is assured.

The Archdiocesan Chaplain of the Guild of St. Anthony of Padua, Fr. Cosmas Onukwugha in his closing remarks said that the inauguration and induction ceremony is a blessing to both the Church and the AlvanIkokuFederalCollege community as they have youths who decided to join St. Anthony’s Guild rather than becoming cultists.  According to the clergyman, no time or resources committed by the members into the guild’s activities would be wasted but rather be multiplied by God for them.

Those presented with the “award of honour” at the occasion included Mrs. Chinyee Azike, Dr. Pat Nwamuo and Asso. Prof. Ikediachi.

Other highlights of the event include the launching of St. Anthony’s stickers, cutting of St. Anthony’s cake and cultural dance by “Ibu umu ogaranya” cultural dance of the St. Anthony of Padua Guild of the St. Joseph’s Chaplaincy, ImoStateUniversity.

In attendance to the occasion were the guilds from Federal University of Technology Owerri, Federal Polytechnic Nekede and Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo.

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