Chinedum Elekwachi
Metropolitan of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Archbishop Valerian Okeke has called on married couples to anchor their homes on prayer, love and forgiveness to eliminate family crisis.
The Archbishop gave the advice at the Blessed Iwene Tansi Catholic Church, Umudioka in his message titled, “Relational Character in a Family.”
He explained that consistent prayer fuels peace, joy, unity and progress in the household, while genuine love acts as the glue that holds the family together.
He further urged spouses to nurture relationships free from suspicion and toxicity, stressing that without love, a family risks disarray.
According to him, “a family that prays together stays together.”
He recalled how an angel of God instructed Joseph to flee Bethlehem with Mary and the infant Jesus to escape Herod’s decree.
The Prelate underscored the importance of prompt, divine‑guided responses in protecting family life.
Forgiveness critical virtue
“Forgiveness is another critical virtue that bonds members of the family.
“A husband should forgive his wife, a wife should forgive her husband, and children should forgive their parents—and vice‑versa.
“Each family member—father, mother, or child—has specific roles to play for the overall growth and harmony of the home,” he stressed.
Earlier, Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, popularly known as Ebube Muonso thanked the Archbishop for his “home‑coming” visit, describing his sermon as spiritual, compact, touching, impactful and practical.
He highlighted the Archbishop’s mentorship role, noting his scholarship support for students at Shanahan University, Onitsha, and announced a special scholarship for indigenes of Umudioka to further their education.
He concluded with a personal pledge: “I’ll die a Catholic.”
The event underscored the Archbishop’s broader pastoral vision of fostering resilient families through faith, love, and mutual forgiveness.
