By Rev. Fr. Anthony Adetayo
The Diocesan Widows’ Apostolate was inaugurated with the installation of the Holy Bible on Friday 24th November 2023. The programs started at about 4:15 p.m. at St. Sebastian Catholic Cathedral Ijebu-Ode. In attendance were few Priests and multitude of widows across all the parishes in Ijebu-Ode diocese. At the introductory remarks, the Bishop; Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina noted that it is the function of the church to minister to widows through the word of God. The Director of the Family and Human Life Apostolate; Rev. Fr. David-Mary Odunsi congratulates the widows and appreciates the bishop for this initiative. He describes God as the defender of the widows and the father of the orphans. According to him quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, four sins cry up to heaven for vengeance.
They are willful murder, sodomy, oppression of widows and defrauding labourers of just wages. He added that it is important that we therefore take care of widows. According to him “there is a popular out cry on the global stage to emancipate the widows from oppression and slavery, but many of these agitations have not really birthed the required change. Therefore, the church needs to do more as it is part of our primary responsibilities”. Rev. Fr. Victor Egwuonwu listed the 7-point agenda for the diocesan widows’ apostolate and encouraged active participation of all the widows in this program. The Bishop in his closing remarks said the prayers of the widows open heaven just as the prayer of Hannah did. He advised the widows in the following words “see yourself as family members supporting each other with your resources and prayer”.
The Bishop on behalf of the Diocese of Ijebu-Ode donated the sum of 500,000 and on behalf of his mother Mama Adesina also donated the sum of 100,000. He said help can come from everywhere for the Widows’ Apostolate. The program ended with distribution of few items and the benediction from the Bishop.
