Bishop Okpaleke (6th from left) poses with Some Awka Diocesan Priests Tennis players after the re-opening of Tennis Court. squatting 1st from left is the DOSAD Director, Rev. Fr. Obinna Dike.
…Flags-off Fr. Muonwe Tennis Tournament
By Sunny A. David, Awka
His Lordship, Most Rev. Peter Ebelechukwu Okpaleke has blessed and officially re-opened the renovated Bishops’ Tennis Court located inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, Anambra State Capital.
Bishop Okpaleke during the blessing of the Lawn Tennis Court flagged-off Rev. Fr. Michael Muonwe tennis tournament being organized for Catholic priests in Awka Diocese. The lawn Tennis Tournament solely sponsored by an indigenous priest of Oko Community, Fr. Mwonwe was flagged-off on Saturday, April 13, 2018.
The flag-off commenced the competition that involved about 32 priests and would last for a period of two months.
Handing over the Tennis Court to the Catholic Church following its completion, the Chairman of Awka Catholic Diocesan Priests Fraternity (ACDPF), Rev. Fr. Peter-Val Uzoezie appreciated the diocesan Bishop, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor who was represented by his counter, Bishop Okpaleke for the renovation which was made possible through him. He noted that the court would enable priests in the diocese to keep body and soul together, saying that priests’ fraternity in the diocese would receive a boost through it.
Fr. Uzoezie who is the coordinator of the renovation project, called on those who don’t play Tennis to come and join others who play Tennis as it was an avenue to socialize.
In his words, ‘It is not all about playing tennis. Come and interact with fellow priests as some pastoral issues could be solved through such interaction’ he stated.
Re-opening the Tennis Court, Bishop Okpaleke thanked those whose initiative led to the transformation of the court and others who pioneered the construction of the court. He stated that the daily activities going on in the Tennis court would make priests feel better in mind and body.
The Director of DOSAD, Rev. Fr. Obinna Dike applauded the diocesan bishop for improving the Tennis court and expressed hope that more priests would be motivated to join others who play regularly at the court. He described the tournament being organized by Fr. Muonwe as a welcome development, saying that more of such was needed.
Sponsor of the tournament, Rev. Fr. Michael Muonwu said it was organized in a bid to energize and mobilize priests in Awka Diocese to come together as brothers. He maintained that such competition would help to lubricate the priesthood ministry as it creates avenue for leisure among priests.
In his words, ‘You know many a times, priests don’t have time for leisure so this creates time for leisure. When they come around, they enjoy their social life not only spiritual life and pastoral life. It will help us also to ease off stress attached to various pastoral engagement and move on with life’ he noted.
He explained that the tournament involves all priests in the diocese who plays tennis, saying that a total of 32 priests would be competing for one trophy. He said that the competition involves 16 seeded players and unseeded players.
“Seeded players are 16 in number then unseeded players are also 16 in number. So we have 32 priests who are competing. Then it will be doubles, one seeded player will pick one unseeded player. They will form a team to play others. This tournament will last for a period of two months.”
He disclosed that a grand prize of N50, 000 awaits the winner while the second runner-up and third place winner would receive N30, 000 and N20, 000 respectively.