INTRODUCTION:
The Provincial Day of Prayer and Atonement, as directed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province at their plenary provincial meeting on 10th August 2010 at the Sacred Heart Pastoral Retreat Center Orlu, was held on Thursday 9th September at the Parish level and on 10th September 2010 at the Diocesan level. The Bishops directed that Priests, Religious and the entire Laity of the Catholic faithful in the Province should observer the Day of Prayer and Atonement in black wears (as mourning cloths). It was observed in all the Dioceses that made up the Province (Owerri, Orlu, Ahiara, Okigwe, Aba & Umuahia) to seek God's intervention against all forms insecurity, various forms of armed robbery, kidnappings, the violation of human rights and various forms of man’s inhumanity to man and sacrileges against the Church and the society especially in the South Eastern Part of Nigeria (Igbo Land).
ORLU DIOCESAN EXPERIENCE:
In Orlu Diocese, it was well attended by almost the entire Catholic faithful of the Diocese from all walks of life and many other people from other religious denominations. On Thursday, 9th September, 2010, the day of Prayer and atonement was observed in all the Parishes in the Diocese to bring the impact of the prayer down to the grass root. The highlights of that day at the Parish level include Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary Procession, penitential prayers and hymns. Some Parishes had their programme in the morning hours; some had held theirs all day, while some had their own in the evening hours. It was well organized and attended by the Parishioners and other non-Catholics from all walks of life. At the Diocesan level, the Programme started at 10: 00 am with Rosary Procession from the various centers as was directed by the Diocesan Catholic Secretariat, Orlu. The Parishes from Ideato area gathered and started their procession from Holy Cross Parish Mgbee. Those from St. Gregory’s Pastoral Region comprising the Parishes from Amaigbo Region assembled and started from St. Patrick’s Parish Eziachi. The Parishes from Uli Region and it environs started from St. Joseph’s Parish Okporo. The Parishes around Umuowa, Owerre Umudioka, Umuzike, Amucha, Nkume and old Umuaka Parishes began from St. Martin’s Parish Owerre Ebeiri. Orlu Cathedral Parish, Amike, Amaifeke, Okwuabala, Ogberuru, Obibi-Ochasi, Ihite-Owerre and Obinugwu started theirs from St. Joseph’s Parish Umuna. The Parishes from Orsu are gathered and started theirs from Regina Pacis Parish Ihioma.
THE CLOSING MASS OF THE DAY OF PRAYER AND ATONEMENT:
The procession ended at Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu with a Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma the Catholic Bishop of Orlu. The closing mass has the Bishop Emeritus, Most Rev. Dr. Gregory Ochiagha and all the Priests of the Diocese as concelebrants. The Religious and the entire Laity of the Diocese together with many other Christians of other denominations were in attendance. The Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu was filled to the brim with a mammoth crowd at the closing Mass as never before.In his Homily, the Bishop Ukwuoma stressed the necessity of such a day of prayer and atonement. He recounted the history of man’s falls and God’s punishment as recorded in the Scriptures. He highlighted some the evils of the time that attracted the wrath of God on us and enjoined on all to make sincere acts of repentance and finally prayed God to forgive all our failings and be merciful to us. To read the full text of the Bishop’s Homily at the Closing Mass of the Provincial Day of Prayer and Atonement, Click Here…
Towards the end of the Mass after the Post Communion Prayer, the Bishop thanked all for the active participation and sacrifice. He confessed that the type of crowd that graced the occasion has not been seen before at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu since the inception of the Diocese in 1981. He prayed God to give heed to our heartfelt petitions and complaints and prayed for journey mercies on all. The Mass came to an end at about 3: 00 pm and all departed happily and fulfilled to their various destinations.
