Bishop Ezeokafor Fetes 500 Vulnerable Persons At Easter, Laments Harsh Economy
His Lordship, Most Revd Paulinus Ezeokafor the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese has distributed food and other livelihood items to no fewer than 500 less privileged members of the society including widows, destitutes and orphans.
The beneficiaries included Christians, Muslims, traditionalists, people of Igbo origin and non Igbo as well as destitutes from the republic of Niger.
The items shared were clothing, handbags, 300 tubers of yam, 100 bags of rice, 200 coconuts, 10 bags of 50k bags of garri, food flasks, transport fares, and others.
Ezeokafor lamented the high cost of food items which is making life unbearable for the less privileged in the society.
The Bishop expressed sadness with
people were going through and called on the wealthy to remember the less privileged among them at Easter and beyond.
He said the gesture was a monthly routine activity of the church within the diocese and that the Easter edition was dedicated towards making all celebrate Easter with them.
Ezeokafor urged the poor to remain hopeful and never deviate from their faith as a result of the poverty in the land because according to him, things would surely improve at God’s appointed time.
‘Easter is the period we reflect over the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who is the hope of every believer. We know that the challenges confronting everyone in the country were multiplied by the current economic situation.
“Poverty in the land has increased, prices of goods have skyrocketed yet salary earners did not receive any increase.
“‘We pray that our leaders will listen and do something urgent to address the ugly situation. We must persevere. We must not allow it to make us deviate from the reason for the season.
“We must hold unto God because He is in control and will surely alleviate our sufferings. I call on the rich and well to do members of society to assist people of this nature to celebrate Easter too,’ he said.
Rev. Fr. Levi Ndubuisi Ukor, the Director, Justice Development Caritas (JDPC), thanked the Bishop for sustaining the programme since he became the Bishop of the Diocese.
Ukor said Ezeokafor had been a strong pillar and motivation for the JDPC adding that most of their achievements were because of his support.
