The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria, CLCN, Orlu Diocese blazed the trail on Saturday, January 25, 2014 as it pulled the crème de la crème of Orlu Catholic Diocese to the Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu.  The assemblage cuts across all fields of human endeavour – academics, politicians, captains of industry, business moguls etc.

The occasion was the Maiden Laity Day and installation of Patrons/Patronesses and Pillars of the Laity in Orlu Diocese.  In most parishes and dioceses, Catholics pay little or no attention to activities of the laity. Some parishes don’t even have laity council.

The ceremony began with a concelebrated Pontifical Mass presided over by His Lordship, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma, Catholic Bishop of Orlu, assisted by the Emeritus Bishop, Most Rev. Gregory Ochiagha, Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Eboh, Diocesan Laity Chaplain, Msgr. Emmanuel Jinehu, Msgr. Ojimba and other priests.

In his homily, Bishop Ukwuoma said the Clergy, the Religious and the Laity have different but complementary roles to play in the Church,

He posited that through baptism, the lay person has become an apostle and therefore should play active role in evangelization and spreading of the gospel as St. Paul did.

The prelate reminded the congregation of what he called the new evangelization, emphasizing that it is new in method, new in zeal and new in enthusiasm”.

He charged the laity to bear witness to the life of Christ through their own lifestyle.   Such witness, he explained, could be practicalized by living holy life and keeping those traditional values of the Church.

Turning to the Patrons/Patronesses of the Laity, Bishop Ukwuoma told them that they were being commissioned as Fathers and Mothers of the Laity in the diocese and “you must epitomize what it means to be a lay father or lay mother in the Church – holy life with burning zeal for the growth of the church”.

For the Pillars, the prelate noted that as pillars support Church buildings, without which they will collapse; so in like manner, the pillars of the Laity are the strength of the Laity and “without you the Laity will not stand”.  He therefore charged the “Pillars” to ensure that the Laity Council in Orlu Diocese does not collapse.

He thanked the awardees for accepting the awards and charged them to come and ensure the growth of the diocese.

Later at a reception, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, Vice-Chancellor, Imo State University, called on the awardees to donate generously in support of the Church and Laity activities in Orlu diocese.

In his address of welcome, the Chairman, Catholic Laity Council, Orlu Diocese, Mr. Dominic Okoro (npom), said the occasion was the first of its kind since the erection of the diocese 33 years ago.  He paid glowing tribute to the Bishop for the transformation of Orlu Diocese, which though a rural diocese, is nowgraded alongside other Grade One dioceses in the country.

He revealed that majority of the awardees were those who helped the Bishop in the transformation of the diocese; men and women who have contributed immensely to the growth of their parishes and the diocese.

“Today, we want to honour these people whom we have painstakingly selected in this first ever award by the council”, Mr. Okoro said..

“These awards are our own way of saying thank you for your contributions to the growth of the Catholic Church in the diocese of Orlu as well as to urge you not to relent.

“From today, we expect you to champion the course of Catholic Laity Council wherever you find yourself and keep supporting the Council as much as you can”, Mr. Okoro appealed to them.

Mr. Okoro, who is also the Chairman of Owerri Provincial Laity Council, said Orlu Laity Council has a number of challenges, including lack of an evangelical bus and high cost of running the council.  He therefore appealed for assistance in that regard.

Our reporter said Bishop Ukwuoma painstakingly decorated each of the Patrons/Patronesses and Pillars in a ceremony that lasted more than six hours.

Some of the Patrons include: Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie (KSM), Vice-Chairman, Imo State University, Prof. Chigozie C. Asiabaka (KSM), Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO),  Arc. Alban Okwaraoha, Deputy Metro Grand Knight, Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Prof. (Barr.) Jude Ezeala, Hon. Chief Roselyn Mgbor, Noble Vincent Nnaji KSJI), Barr. Jude Nnodum (SAN), Prof. Anthony Uzoma, Ichie Dan Onyeama etc.

Among the Pillars are: Senator Osita Bona Izunaso, Rt. Hon. Donatus Ozoemena, Chief Felix Chidi Idiga, Hon. Jerry Alagboso, Hon. Uche Nwosu, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), Dr. J.B. Okolie, Barr. Chris Duru, Hon. Dr. Geff Ojinika, Ugoeze Shirley Okwudinma, Nneoma Ethel-Rose Awuzie, Sir Val Obieze etc.

Each awardee appreciated the honour and announced various forms of support to the Laity Council.

Catholic Laity Council is the umbrella body for the entire Laity of the Catholic Church, which include the CMO, CWO, CYON, Mary League Girls, the Knights and other sodalities.

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