Archbishop Martins lauds new education curriculum,

By Vivian Onyebukwa

The Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, has lauded the yearly Catholic Faith Family Project, saying it has been able to fulfill evangelization as well as deepening the faith within the families in the archdiocese.

The Archbishop stated this during the grand finale of this year’s family quiz competition, organised by Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, in conjunction with Knights of St. John International, Lagos Grand Commandery, and Laux, Archdiocesan Laity Councils and Catechetics/Religious Education Department. The event took place at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos, which kick-started with a Holy Mass officiated by Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins.

The Archbishop stated that the project has over the years shown itself as a formidable tool for encouraging families to take on the task. “First of all, it’s learning about the faith, getting to know God better through the scriptures and through the teachings of the church. I believe that the event has gathered momentum over the years and it has expanded such that many more groups are taking full advantage of this project that was started over a decade ago.”

The Archbishop noted that the range of gifts that have been given over the years has also continued to be encouraging for people to be part of it, noting that more importantly, it has helped to build interest in learning about the faith and also in living the faith.

He congratulated the members of the Knights of St. John International who have been instrumental in terms of encouraging the catechization project. “Thirty years is a milestone, but the milestone is also the beginning of another set of milestones to cover. And so as we congratulate them for all the work that they have done in the past, we encourage the Knights to also ensure that they do not drop the ball, but rather they keep on striving, because to strive is to attain even better”.

The Archbishop urged the families who took part in the quiz to also continue to learn more, adding: “More importantly, let us recognize that heaven is the goal. And therefore, whatever we win as a result of competition, whatever we learn, let us never forget that to try and attain holiness of life, which only makes for heaven, is the ultimate that we must all strive for, strive for holiness of life.”

He applauded the government’s effort to revamp the country’s education system with the new curriculum system, which he described as an effort to do a standardization of education in the country. “It’s a good thing that needs to be encouraged, and that all schools, both in the private and in the public sector, need to work at. It’s important to say that as government tries to push the private institutions to move, they must do the same for government institutions, because most often that is where we have most lack in terms of standard, infrastructure, and in terms of instruments that they need for education”.

Congratulating the government in this regard, the Archbishop expressed hope that they would not only pursue it relentlessly, but ensure that it bears the fruits that it was set up to bear.

The Archbishop then noted that the competition scheme will lead to a long-term understanding of the Catholic faith and imbibing it in the family. “That’s the hope, and that’s what we have gradually seen. It has encouraged people to really read the scriptures with attention. It has encouraged people to study the teachings of the church with depth more than ever before. And all of these together, I hope, will also encourage them not only to have something in the head, but also have something in the heart, so that they will live according to that which God has given to us. As I said again and again, heaven is the goal, and it must be the ultimate that we strive for.”

General Joachim Chuks Amamgbo, the grand president, Lagos Grand Commandery, Knights of St John International, commended the Religious Education Department and the Archdiocesan Laity Council of the Archdiocese, for their zeal and commitment in ensuring the success of the event cumulating from the Parish level to the grand finale. “Let me remind us of the occasion for which this project is aimed at targeting while promoting the awareness and understanding of our faith, our Catechesis, morals and religious teachings as Catholics. I am very proud and delighted to say that these laudable objectives are being met through this competition,” Amamgbo said.

The competition witnessed participants from four regions represented by four families from Lagos, Ikeja, Lekki, and Badagry.

At the end of the highly competitive quiz, Ikeja region represented by Victor and Mrs Udeozoh family, won Toyota Corolla car as the star prize. They also received other significant cash prizes.

They are followed by Badagry region represented by Mr and Mrs Adzor family with a cash prize of N1M and a generator.

Lagos region, represented by Mr and Mrs Onyekachi family came third and went home with a cash prize of N700,000, while Lekki came fourth with a cash prize of N300,000. The region was represented by Mr and Mrs Ojeah family.

Expressing their joy, the star prize winners, family of Victor and Mrs Miriam Udeozoh, described their victory as the fruit of determination and faith.

At the event, awards were also given to some individuals and members of Knights of St John International for their support and dedication to the order’s mission.