A priest of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara and founder of Steward of Hope Foundation, Rev. Fr. Dr. Canice Chinyeaka Enyiaka has distributed wheelchairs, crutches and food items to persons living with disabilities and indigents across the country.
Speaking during the ceremony marking the distribution of the items held on Saturday January 10, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Nguru Center,Mbaise Imo State Nigeria . The Reverend Father noted that the Steward of Hope was out to advance and promote human dignity.
“What we are doing here is central to what we call ‘the Catholic social teaching of the church’, where entering the humanity of the others ensures the promotion of human development – that’s what is propelling and informing what we are doing”.
“The primary purpose of what we do at Steward of Hope is to promote human dignity. We are not limited nor confined to an environment. Today, we have beneficiaries from Umuahia, Porthacourt, Okigwe, Awo-Omamma in Oru East LGA, Mbaise, Naze Owerri North among others. We are reaching out to those in need irrespective of location”.
The Catholic priest who was ordained on 12th of August 2000 also celebrated his 25th year anniversary of priesthood last week noted that apart from the distribution of wheelchairs and crutches, the Steward of Hope equally donated medical supplies (endoscopic machines, microscope) to the Catholic diocese of Ahiara, bag-packs to students in the rural areas, food drive and microcredit to poor widows in the communities.
“We started this support for humanity in 2012. We don’t focus on moment because moment comes and goes, humanity stays”. Honestly, considering that life is about supporting the most vulnerable and under-served in the society, it gives me real joy putting smiles on the faces of people and uplifting the course of humanity as our Lord Jesus Christ came and emptied Himself for humanity. We call on everyone to join hands in line with the Catholic social teaching that asks ‘What do you see?- we have to see the pains of others, we have to see the challenges and sufferings of others. When you see, you judge: how do you judge the situation. Your judgement depends on your values. If you judge based on ‘I am because we are’. We can judge to help promote human dignity and when you see, you judge and then act. What’s the action: it’s changing the situation of the downtrodden and the vulnerable in the society which is promoting the course of humanity”.
Rev Canice called on all and sundry to recognize “our shared humanity irrespective of our varying social , economic or religious differences to appreciate our real identity which is our humanity”. “When we have this understanding, we will be motivated to help others because that’s what we are called to do”. He appreciated the Parish priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church Nguru Center, Rev. Fr. Chinatu Anyanwu for making the premises available, the Steward of Hope board members for their dedication and others who are making sacrifices towards the success of the program.
In his sermon that preceded the ceremony, Rev. Fr. PeterClever Ohaeri urged the beneficiaries to develop thankful hearts and understand that they’re lifted and supported to assist others, adding that there’s grace in both giving and receiving. He lauded the founder of Steward of Hope Rev. Fr. Dr. Canice Chinyeaka Enyiaka for his magnanimity by extending such support to the indigents and vulnerable members of the society.
One of the beneficiaries (physically challenged) who received a brand new wheelchair, Mrs. Chika from Awo-Omamma thanked the founder of Steward of Hope Rev. Fr. Dr. Canice Chinyeaka Enyiaka for bringing her out of the challenge of crawling on bare hands. Emotionally speaking, she said “with this wheelchair, my dignity as a person has been restored. I will no longer walk on my hands again. May God bless the organizers for this gift that I cannot afford “.
