By Aluta News
The Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze, has dedicated a 3,000-capacity Church donated by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.
A statement by the National Director of Social Communications, Padre Mike Umoh on Sunday, said the church is located in Okada town, in Edo.
The Archbishop said the Church has been named St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, Okada, and prayed for Igbinedion, saying he has set the pace for others to follow.
“As Scripture tells us, charity covers or better still, charity wipes away sins (1 Peter 4:8). The more charitable you are, the more you endear yourself to God’s heart.
“We must always keep in mind that we are as rich as what we share, and we are as poor as what we keep to ourselves.
“Esama’s wealth is not to be counted based on what he has stored up for himself but based on the many lives he has touched positively,” he added.
The Archbishop urged the family of Igbinedion to lead in the sustenance and building upon the legacy of the Esama.
He urged other Christians who have the means to also spend in the service of God and humanity.
“Never be passive when you are called to support the work of God with the material resources given to you by God,” he added.
Akubeze further said that the kindness one showed on earth would determine the way God will treat the person in the hereafter.
“We also invite the people of Okada to come and worship God in this beautiful Church,” he said, adding that the leadership of the church should also encourage people attend.
“This might require house to house apostolate that is well coordinated. This might require getting good buses to transport the people from their homes to the Church here,” Akubeze said.
The clergy also said that they had taken a giant step towards actualizing the vision of getting a new diocese.
“We pray to God, that you will live to see the day the diocese is created and erected.
“Let us intensify our prayer that our request to the Holy Father for a new diocese will be granted soon,” he prayed.
He enjoined the church to keep praying for the family of Igbinedion.
“May God bless the many generations of people who will worship in this Church.
“May God bless his words in our hearts and make them bear fruits in our lives through Christ our Lord,” he added.