From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke has charged the inmates of Onitsha Correctional Centre to live a life centered on love so as to overcome all challenges and experience a new lease of life.
Speaking on Sunday while celebrating Easter with the inmates, Archbishop Okeke who delivered a homily titled: “Following Jesus with Love” said there are great rewards for those who love genuinely noting that love conquers all problems and overcomes all faults.
He cited the story of Mary Magdalene in the Bible whose life turned around for good following her encounter with the Lord and she never looked back but rather loved Jesus and followed Him till death to the extent that she was the first to discover that Jesus has risen from death.
“If any one of us worship God and do it with love, we enter a new level, a new platform. When you encounter Him, you will radiate kindness. There is no discrimination in God’s blessing. Anything you want others to do for you, do it for them likewise because if you do good, goodness will follow you in return. Today as we celebrate Jesus Christ who rose from the dead, He calls us to live a new life centred on love “the Archbishop said.
The Archbishop also presented various items for the inmates which included cooked rice and meat, live cows, toiletries, home provisions, cakes among others, charged the inmates to maximize the various opportunities provided inside the custodial centre for their reformation so they can be better human on regaining freedom.
Chaplain of the Correctional Centre Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Barth Okpalugo in a remark said Archbishop Okeke has brought life to the Onitsha Correctional Centre through his various transformation projects like the multimillion naira ultramodern skill acquisition centre where the inmates are trained in various skills and his interventions in the educational, health and material wellbeing of the inmates.
The Controller in charge of Corrections in Anambra State, Valentine Nwosu while speaking also praised the Archbishop for his all-round provisions to the inmates.
“Your continuous support to us here is unwavering. Your dedication in serving God through various humanitarian gestures like the ones you’ve done over the years at the Onitsha Correctional Centre is a beacon of hope and source of inspiration to all of us” he stated.
Dignitaries that attended and supported the Archbishop on the Easter visit to the inmates included the Accord Party Governorship Candidate for the upcoming Anambra election, Sir Chidi C. Onyeeze and former APC Governorship Aspirant, Valentine Ozigbo, a Hungarian on Charity Mission in the Archdioces, Dr Reeka Fodor among others.