Holy Family Society marks feast of all saints

The anniversary which equally marks the Feast of All Saints, was opened with a media chat at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Maitama, Abuja. The Holy Family Society is a group within the Catholic Church. Highpoint of the anniversary was a Thanksgiving Holy Mass to be celebrated by the Papal Nuncio in Nigeria (the Pope’s […]

The anniversary which equally marks the Feast of All Saints, was opened with a media chat at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Maitama, Abuja. The Holy Family Society is a group within the Catholic Church.

Highpoint of the anniversary was a Thanksgiving Holy Mass to be celebrated by the Papal Nuncio in Nigeria (the Pope’s representative in Nigeria), His Excellency, Archbishop Augustine Kasuijja, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Gwarinpa, Abuja tomorrow evening.

There will be musical concert tagged Celebrating with the Saints’, that evening.

The Papal Nuncio will be assisted at the alter by the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, who is chairman, CBCN Family and Human Life Committee, Most Rev Dr Valerian Okeke, as well as the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev (Dr) Ignatius Kaigama.

Apart from the Catholic Bishop of Minna, Most Rev (Dr) Martin Uzoukwu, priests from all over Nigeria will be present for the Holy Mass.

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev (Dr) John Onaiyekan, is the Chief Host/Homilist while a priest in the archdiocese, Rev Fr. Chris Bologo is the host.

In his speech marking the official opening of the celebration, the Founder/National Co-ordinator of the society, Sir David Osunde, KSS, dwelt on the significance of the Holy Family Society and the importance of the feast.

He stressed, “it is a call to holiness. All we are doing is to draw attention to sainthood. We want all to understand the virtues of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Family members should work toward holiness.”

The society, he explained, is for family evangelism in the hope of bringing families back to God: “Helping families to return to God,” he stated.

He explained the rationa behind the Angelus (prayer) which the society sponsors on radio: “Angelus is a call to prayer. This is to remind us that we cannot do anything on our own. It’s a reflection and guiding principle to show that ‘I’m not here on my own’. Mary says ‘I’m the handmaid of God.’”

He said through programmes like this anniversary, the society helps families to have communion with saints in heaven.

According to him, bishops, priests, seminarians and lay persons have all come together to showcase their talents for everyone to see. He maintained that many clerics have talents which they hardly display.

A priest who came to Abuja from Aba, Abia State for the celebration, Rev Fr Owuegbu Bartholomew said he had been part of the society from childhood. He said he likes the society because it propagates ideals of society.

A member of the society, Barr Joseph Chidi Onuoha, implored parents to at this time, soberly reflect on their roles and re-engineer proper child upbringing. Onuoha who quoted Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka as saying the present generation is lost, implored all to work towards bringing up a better generation.

Another member of the society, Dame Mary Joan Osunde, prayed God to spare lives of those who mean well for Nigeria particularly as the country enters electioneering saying, “there should be love even in politics because the whole world is a family.

“The Holy Family Society which was founded in 2000 in Benin, Edo State, expects families, small as they may be, to put the home front in good shape so the generality of society can be better.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Make Sense Out of Your Family”.