SHARING IN THE LIFE OF GOD’S FAMILY

Family of God’s people is the Sanctuary of Life and a very vital cell of society and of the Church. It is in the family that the features of a people take shape, where the members acquire basic knowledge of who God is, and what his kingdom is all about. It is in the family that people learn to love in as much as they are unconditionally loved, they learn respect for others, in as much as they are respected, they learn to pray and communicate with God in loyalty as they receive the first revelation of it from a father and mother full of attention in their regard. It is in a family people learn what it means to give freely without reservation, forgive and seek for forgiveness, and how to live together as one family of God.

Pope Francis in one of his sermon calls all Catholics to live in the Church as the family of God and bring the world home. He said “Christ can never be separated from his Church, which he has made the great family of God’s children.” Everyone belongs to a family. Its importance is not just that it expands God’s creation of human family through generations, but from the family, individuals attain their identity.

The main mandate to all is to be holy, expressing faith, love and happiness that radiate life. We feel it is in this leaf that we, as Daughters of the Holy Spirit collaborate with other members of the family of God’s people in the mission of love in the church at St. Peter Catholic Parish Ota and anywhere we find ourselves.

In Our small House of charity, we live and share our charism with others to whom God has given to us as companions in the midst of God’s family the Church where we are inserted realizing the grace God has endowed us with, to bring life to those whom we are sent and to participate with them: Children, youth, woman, men and the poor in the mission of love in the church.

For me, any place is sacred ground for it can become a place of encounter with the divine presence. In reflecting on the experiences and people I have encountered in the mission and apostolate i.e. apostolate in the Diocese and perish, the poor, Adult literacy class, pre-marriage instruction Class, Visitation of homes and families, the Youth and Woman, counseling of the adolescents and married people, participating in the say life of the church and others we have been strengthened and empowered to see the Spirit at work in the little we are sowing in the life of those to whom we have been sent.

When we think of the relationship and the love, the listening ears, helping hands, the collaboration of each child of God in the mission, the sacrifice each parishioners show in the serving of others in the church, we feel humbled and grateful to God for bringing such wonderful and caring people into our life.

Many of the children, youth, men and woman are so committed to living their lives in emulating the teachings they received and are ready to make a lot of sacrifice with their  time, talent, wealth and giftedness for others and the poor, because of what they see us do. Some have committed themselves in making sure that those who are poor in health attend Mass every Sunday, by going to their homes every Sunday to bring them when we discover them during home visitations.

Working with the children from the ages of 3-24 years in Holy Childhood Association (HCA),in the young Missionary movement (YOMM) and Children Liturgy, in planning and executing many faith, spiritual and moral activities which they participate in the parish, deanery, diocesan and national levels, We see the family of God’s, sowing seeds of faith, which will be due for harvesting in the future of the life of the Church. Catching them young for Jesus, and planting the faith, prayer life and the essence of evangelization in them, fostering them to love Jesus, the Church and their fellow children. Giving generously, their time and talents for the mission of the Church, while they are still young, also developing the habit of sacrifice and sharing at their tender age through the apostolate, we see people longing for spirit nourishment and growth in the spiritual although due to the situation of the country, many leave early to work in Lagos and come back very late, so most of the time Morning and Evening Masses and activities are not crowded like the Sunday Masses which shows the strong faith people have in God.

Also, on the part of Children liturgy, this has helped many of the children to be more committed in the activities and serving God in their tender age through Singing in the Choir, legionaries, Altar Servers, Block Rosary, Church Warden, Lectors, Half of the church Lectors are the children from the H.C.A. and YOMM groups.

We also with some generous parishioners, in the mission entrusted to us in the Church work with men and women who, due to circumstances, did not have the opportunity of going to school, and cannot read nor write. In adult literacy Classes we teach and encourage them to take the risk of learning how to read, write and speak English. It brings fulfillment to our hearts when they enroll, after some Months you see these children of God’s making effort to read, write, pronounce and speak simple English. It gives them joy seeing their efforts and cooperation in working with others who are in the same situation. It is fascinating when you see those studying English Book 2 or 3 teaching those reading queen primer 1 and 2 how to read. With all the fun in the class, they are happy being part of this program. Although it has not been easy for them, but I am grateful to God and to my Congregation who gave this ample opportunity to these children of God.

Through home visitation, with the children, we visit the sick parishioners, children and their families in their homes or hospitals, encouraging them to have faith in God who knows their situation. The children sometimes is it Motherless homes, remand homes and  Blind Centres to see their fellow children who are in need, to pray with them, and donate items which they contributed from their little charity for the homes work without play makes jack a dull boy’ they say. We also have excursions to Companies and places of interest, where the children learn how things are produce, and why some element of nature are where God has placed them.

Having Mass in the Convent also, gives the opportunity to take communion to the sick in their homes especial those who are bed ridden and it fosters more unity in our Basic Christian community, where we know ourselves and care more for one another’s physical and spiritual well- being.

To be a pastoral worker in this era is demanding. We depend  on prayers, trust in God and encouragement from the Community each day. For those who are materially poor, we try to reach out with the little help we receive from generous people.

It was not easy when the mission calls and no much experience of what you are to do, dependence on God’s revelation and inspiration becomes the ultimate. It was much difficult when I started with one parish priest getting to know him, life was sniff out of him by illness and still depending on the grace of God, and I have to work with three parish priests in less than two years. Here, I learnt in a hard way, discovering that life and people have a great lesson to teach, if only one can be, docile and attentive to what the daily experiences and people bring.

Over all, we are meant to grow together as a family, in availability to all the church activities which helped us to discover that it is through the experience of pastoral services we reach to the grass-root of families, meeting them in their homes, interacting with them, sharing the word of God, praying with them, sharing their conditions and contributing the little we can, to what they are living as a family in love and openness. These experiences have helped us to grow more in humility, gentleness and sensitivity in working with the family of God’s people while remaining as Daughter of the Holy Spirit.

Sr. veronica Odoemenem,