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Friday, March 29, 2024

Awka Diocese Bans Priests From Expensive Funerals

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..No More Cooking, Sharing of Souvenirs

BY ABUCHI ONWUMELU

Determined to cut cost of burial ceremonies that have become the norm in the country, especially in the South East geopolitical zone, the Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has directed the priests of the diocese to desist from cooking food and sharing of souvenirs to the bishops, priests, religious, among other costly expenditure at funeral of their relatives.

However, food and refreshment for the laity, if it must be provided, must not overstretch the family.

Bishop Ezeokafor who made the pronouncement at the New Year Priests Get-Together at Retreat and Pastoral Centre, Okpuno and reiterated it at  St. John’s Catholic Church, Enugwu-Agidi, Njikoka Council Area of the State, urged the priests to adhere strictly to the directive, insisting that whoever violated the new order did that at their own risk.

The Catholic prelate, who once again expressed displeasure over what he described as unnecessary expenditure during funerals, called on some Igbos who engaged in flamboyant burials to take a cue from Hausa Muslims who, he (Bishop Ezeokafor) said, spent little or nothing during burials.

His words, ‘The order will soon be extended to the laity in Awka Diocese. We are starting with ourselves (The clergy). We are doing it to help ourselves and relatives. Even if the dead is mama father or papa father, there will be no cooking of food and sharing of souvenirs. We are to mourn with deceased’ families and thereafter go our separate ways. Times are hard, we should find a way of reducing burial costs to the barest minimum,’ Bishop Ezeokafor said.

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