Ekwulobia, 19 March, 2024 / 9:30 pm (ACI Africa).
On the occasion of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia in Nigeria, Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, has challenged citizens of the West Africa nation to be proactive, working towards resolving the challenges in the country.
In his message for the March 19 Solemnity, Cardinal Okpaleke appeals to citizens of Africa’s most populous nation to “do something to help to resolve the challenges of this time, especially the challenge of hunger.”
“I propose that we all go back to the farms in this Diocese of Ekwulobia and beyond,” the Nigerian Cardinal says, and adds, “I exhort all the faithful, including Priests and Consecrated Persons, to go back to the farm. Let there be no empty plots around us.”
He continues, “We can help ourselves by doing our best. Plant trees, plant vegetables, plant whatever we can so that in the next few weeks you will smile. God will help us.”
Cardinal Okpaleke asks Nigerians to draw inspiration from St. Joseph, who had a proactive spirit. He says, “It was such a situation during the time of Joseph himself. People were hungry. He himself was hungry. He did something by the work of his hands.”
