Cleric urges churches to impact society meaningfully

As Caritas Foundation Celebrates 13 Years Anniversary

The Executive Secretary, Catholic Caritas Foundation, Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, has stressed the need for the church to effectively impact lives and bring support and succor to people, especially the downtrodden in the society.

Speaking at the event to mark the 13th anniversary of the Caritas Nigeria in Abuja, Obodoechina lamented that so many Nigerian youths are languishing in various prisons across the country for years due to their inability to get as little as between N5000 and N15000 in a country where billions have been stolen by politicians, who walk freely on the streets.

He noted that the church was within a society and it needs to effectively impact on the society, adding that Caritas Foundation is working towards securing freedom for a good number of inmates so that they will begin to live a new life

Obodiechina said that Catholic Church established Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria in 2010 to carry out the church’s responsibility of ensuring the well-being of all persons and to see that everyone has a fullness of life.

The cleric stated that the foundation has been working in 12 states of the federation in the past 13 years and that the foundation is implementing HIV programme in the South Eastern part of Nigeria through the support of US CDC.

He recalled that in 2000, HIV was a very serious issue but today, “it is a case but no longer a death sentence as result of billions of dollars spent on fighting the scourge and that Nigeria is arriving at epidemic control.

Obodoechina observed that Caritas is working in the northern part of the country, implementing humanitarian programme to people affected by insurgency in Borno and Adamawa States, working with youths in Edo State to discourage illegal migration and also working in Cross River State, supporting over 11,500 Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria.

He thanked all the funders and partners who have trusted the foundation with their resources, for their support and collaboration.

Speaking on theme of the celebration, ‘Our Environment, Our Common Goal ‘, he said that the climate is in great danger, adding that the flood in Nigeria and earthquakes in some countries are consequences of climate change.

He therefore urged Nigerians to take care of their environment in other to make it worthwhile.

Also speaking, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, said that Caritas Foundation has implemented numerous humanitarian programmes in the last 13 years, adding that there was no crisis situation that the foundation has not made some interventions.

He added that the Foundation has contributed immensely in making life worth living for many Nigerians, and commended the partners for their support over the years.