By Uche Chukwu, Onitsha
The Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke and the Parish Priest of Blessed Iwene Tansi Parish in Umudioka, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State have harped on the need for couple to always pray as a means to curb family crisis.
The Archbishop Okeke who made this known during his homily contextualised on Relational Character in a Family also dwelt on the values of love and forgiveness for lasting family life.
The cleric told the congregation that a family that “prays together stays together,” emphasising that, prayer attracts peace, joy, unity and progress.
According to him, couple should embrace love of one another, as he observed, without love, a family would be in disarray.
“Love is the centre of a united family. Each family should live a life of love that is above board, “he noted.
Archbishop Okeke urged every husband and wife to maintain good bond, rather than be in a toxic relationship or live in suspicion of one another, a situation he noted destroys family unity.
The cleric advised couple to always tolerate each other and avoid every act of suspicion that is capable of leading to crisis in a family. He advised couple to be sensitive guided by Divine Initiative, citing the obedience of Joseph to the angelic message that he should take his wife and Saviour Jesus and leave Bethlehem to avoid being caught up in the directive of King Herod that every child born within a certain period should be put to death.
Noting that each member of a family should have a specific role to play, he charged husband to forgive his wife and parents to forgive their children and vice versa to maintain good relational character.
In a welcome address, the Parish Priest thanked the Archbishop for finding time to visit, and for the homily which he said has tendency of enriching family values, saving and delivering the parishioners.
He further described the visit as spiritual, compact, touching, impactful and practical. The Parish Priest also thanked Archbishop Okeke for floating a scholarship scheme through which mamy indigent ones have been provided with opportunities to further their education and promised to see Indigenes of Unudioka enjoy same.
