BY POLYCARP IFEANYI / ONITSHA
Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke has visited Onitsha Correctional Centre where he celebrated Easter feast with the inmates.
The visit of the Cleric featured celebration of Holy Eucharistic and visiting of the skill acquisition site in the area.
Archbishop Okeke at the visit disclosed that he had finally got the approval to commence fencing the skill acquisition center from the Controller- General of Correctional Centre Abuja.
Recalled that the skill acquisition center which was located behind the Correctional Centre was single handedly built and fully equipped by Archbishop Okeke but had been not functional due to non- approval by the authority.
Archbishop Okeke who expressed joy of getting the approval noted that he would be free to fence the facilities so that inmates could commence learning of various skills in the center.
Delivering his Homily entitled: “Nothing is Impossible With God”. Archbishop Okeke admonished that many people are still in doubt for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death.
The Cleric said, “many did not believe does not mean that Jesus Christ did not resurrect from death”
His words:
“Nothing is absolutely impossible before God almighty. In every condition, don’t give up. Always remember that nothing is impossible before God. When something is happening in your life, follow it with faith and prayers.
“If you have faith, you will see the glory of God in your life. The power of God will overwhelm your challenges like flood. Nothing happens in accident in the presence of God. When we Celebrates Easter, we celebrate the victory of God”
Appreciating his guests, the Chaplain in charge of St. Maximilian Kolbe Chaplaincy Correctional Centre Onitsha, Rev. Fr. Bartholomew Okpalaugo rained accolades on the Archbishop Okeke for his frequent visits to the center.
He stated that the Prelate visits Correctional Centre thrice every year with a lot of food items and materials for the inmates, even as he explained that Archbishop Okeke transformed Correctional Centre in a special way.
The Cleric further eulogized all the Priests, religious, lay faithful and friends of the center who graced the event.
Also commenting, the State Controller of Correctional Centre, Mr. Patrick Chukwuemeka commended Archbishop Okeke for his visits to Correctional Centre, describing him as a father of the Center.
Chukwuemeka also praised the Archbishop for transforming the Correctional Centre, stressing that he had served in almost the states across the country, but haf not seen a Correctional Centre reformed like that of Onitsha.
He said that the Correctional Centre could only reciprocate Archbishop on what he had done by applying his teachings in their lives and always praying for him.
The Correctional boss urged the inmates to understand that God wants them to repent and be corrected in their evil way by allowing them to stay in Correctional Centre.
He further told them to use the opportunity of Archbishop Okeke’s magnanimous to the Center to reform themselves.
Items donated to the inmates by the Archbishop Okeke included assorted tissue paper, toilet soaps, carbine biscuits, Easter cake and special cake, one live cow, ten bags of cooked rice amongst other.
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