From Victor Duruamaku Owerri
A Catholic Priest, Rev Fr Maurice Emelu of the Gratia Vobis Ministry ( CVM ) Thursday, at St Jude’s Catholic Church personally fed about 5, 000 poorest of the poor from Umuchima Community in Ideato South local Government Area of Imo State
Apart from personally serving the target group, food, Fr Maurice Emelu also donated a 50kg bag of rice to each person and an of some money for the condiments
Speaking shortly after the mass preceding the event, Fr Emelu explained that as a covenant he had with God, he decided to relate and feed the poorest of the poor in the society pointing out that these category of persons are human beings created by God and deserves to be recognised and related with as human beings
He explained further that his decision to carry out this exercise occurred when he was praying on one of the days, a message from God came to him asking that the poorest of the poor in the society needed to be related with and treated like kings and queens
Fr Emelu expressed satisfaction saying, ” today I am fulfilled and satisfied that I was able to achieve heart desire of feeding the poorest of the poor in our midst and treating them like kings and queens ”
He however urged the rich in the society to always remember the poorest of the poor in the society and be in the position to help them saying that the GRATIA VOBIS MINISTRY, ( C V M ) stands for this
Giving credence to the ministry stand, His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja noted that the occasion of the celebration of the Jubilee year 2025, in Umuchima Community is very great
According to him, the occasion was by divine inspiration giving to Fr Maurice Emelu an illustrious son of Umuchima Community
Cardinal John Onaiyekan noted, ” thousands are flocking to Rome on pilgrimage for the Jubilee of hope” pointing out, ” the local celebration is no less important and rewarding as we believe many people have testified to
He further said that this celebration coincides not by accident but by Providence with two milestone in the life of the celebrant Fr Maurice Emelu which are his fiftieth birthday and the twentieth anniversary of his priestly ordinary
Onaiyekan beloved that, ” there can be no better context to celebrate these anniversaries than what has brought people together.at Umuchima
He said the Jubilee year 2025 was declared by the late Pope Francis and confirmed and continued by the new Pope Leo XIV explaining that the desire of Pope Francis was to inspire hope in a world that was drawing in hopelessness being abhorred and saddened by the avoidable deaths and pains caused by violent conflicts in many parts of the world
According to him, ” the Pope was particularly pained by the recklessness of the lose of lives in Ukraine and Gaza nothing the growing injustice in the world economy order and the refusal of the rich nations to listen to the warning about global warming
He said that the politicians are talking about renewed hope with little or no effort to sustain such hope which has turned to hopelessness pointing out that the Jubilee hope is of a different nature
According to him, ” it is hope in God who never disappoints
However, the event was witnessed by top people from parts of the country, including the target group, HRH, Eze DAC Okwara the traditional ruler of the community, the president general, key members of the ministry and large number of both Catholic and non Catholic Priests
