Christ’s faithful have been charged not to give up efforts to make a difference in a world full of evils, even when they are misunderstood, provided their conscience are clear.

Rev. Fr. Raphael Uzoekwe and the Ladies of the Holy Rosary

Fr. Raphael Nnaemeka Uzoekwe (CMF), gave the charge while preaching the homily at the closing Mass of a three-day retreat held for the Holy Rosary Sub-Council of Ladies of St. Mulumba (LSM) Owerri, from Friday, March 14 to Sunday, March 16, 2014 at the Claretian Institute of Philosophy, Maryland, Nekede.

The homilist, who is also the Director of Retreats at the Institute, urged the women to be dynamic in reaching out to the grassroots, touching the lives of fellow Christians with what they had learnt from the retreat.

He drew their attention to the great sufferings encountered by the missionaries who brought Christianity to our land.  He maintained that the fruits of their labour which are glaring today should challenge Christ’s faithful to crusade against evil, including, obnoxious widowhood practices, osu/diala dichotomy etc.

Fr. Uzoekwe warned the women that their spirituality should not end in going to church but must influence positively what happens in the large society through their good works.

He also admonished the Ladies of St. Mulumba to appreciate how Abraham was rewarded for obedience to God, learn to listen to Jesus as God the Father commanded during the Transfiguration, live by the Commandments of God while influencing the world around them through justice, truth and honesty.

In an exclusive interview with THE LEADER, the President of the Sub-Council, Vic Mary Madu-Asebo listed the benefits from the retreat to include: enrichment of the spiritual life of members, who are now empowered to embark on the evangelization of the larger society.  She said that her members have encountered God in a serene environment, devoid of distractions and away from the usual busy family chores.  The Holy Rosary sub-Council, she disclosed will soon pay a charity visit to the inmates of the Nigerian Prisons Service Owerri.

It would be recalled that the retreat was organized by the last set of 2nd Degree Sisters, with Sister Regina Ikwu as Chairman.

In answer to a question, Sister Ikwu expressed joy at the outcome of the hitch-free three-day exercise, which she said was not only well attended but gave them a lot of spiritual enrichment.  She commended members of her committee for their cooperation and thanked the Sub-Council for the opportunity given them to serve.

The retreat had as its theme: The Importance and Demands of Lent on the Life of a Catholic.  The three lecture topics were: Reason for Season of Lent and Goal of Lent, Ash Wednesday: Its Significance and Renunciation of Sin and Satan.  There was an opening Mass on Saturday, while Stations of the Cross and Confessions also feature

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