End of year thanksgiving: Archbishop Valerian Okeke calls for special prayers for the country,the poor and less privileged… 

The Onitsha Archdiocesan Presbyterium led by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke last Tuesday celebrated an end of year thanksgiving mass where the Archbishop called for special prayers for the country,the poor and the less privileged to lessen the current hardship and sufferings of the masses.

The thanksgiving mass was held at the permanent site of Shanahan University,Onitsha.

Delivering his homily during the mass,the Archbishop said the outgoing year 2023 was full of challenges and some favours though,but that Nigeria’s situation was sinonymous with the people and beckoned on God to salvage the situation.

The Archbishop urged the priests to be selfless and care for the people adding that if they do so,the Lord will surely answer their prayers.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Archbishop Okeke pointed out the end of year thanksgiving mass was to express gratitude to God.

According to him,expressing gratitude to God does not suggest paying Him back for all His blessings but that it rather attracts inumerable blessings from God.

The Archbishop offered special prayers for peace and progress in Nigeria and Anambra state in particular.

Present at the thanksgiving mass are,the Vicar General of the Archdiocese,Very Rev Fr Johnbosco Okafor,the Chancellor of the Archdiocese,Very Rev Fr Prudentius Emeka Aroh,the Vice Chancellor Very Rev Fr Basil Ekwunife,and the Secretary to the Archbishop Very Rev Fr Emmanuel Onunkwo.

Others are,the Financial Administrator Very Rev Fr Philip Ibeneme,the Director of Social Communications,Very Rev Fr George Adimike among other priests numbering over 300,some of whom came from the diaspora.