Valentine Day: Faithspiration Initiative celebrates with inmates of Onitsha Correctional Centre

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha
Faithspiration, a charity organization founded by the very Rev Fr. Dr. George Admike, Director of Communication of Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Anambra State, has celebrated this year’s Valentine Day with the inmates of Onitsha Correctional Centre.
The Spiritual Director told the inmates that Faithspiration as a Christian group came to celebrate Valentine’s Day with them on this day of St. Valentine, known world over for showing love.
He expressed happiness for the opportunity given to the organization by the management of the Correctional Centre to spend time with the inmates, explaining to them that the Church and the world in general were celebrating the feast of Cyril, Methodius and Valentin.
He reminded them that Valentine was prominent due to life of love he lived, saying that the mission of the organization was to “share words of God, play with them, give them physical and spiritual food to eat”.
” We are here because of you. You are part of us. Today is feast of Cyril, Methodius and Valentin but Valentin is more popular because of life of love to one another he lived. So, we bring you spiritual and physical food. I want to assure you that all of us are equal before the almighty God. God is good for all of us because he gives us life,” Fr. George said.
“Your staying in the Correctional Centre is temporary. It doesn’t mean that God do not like you. God loves us and takes care of us wherever we are and that is why the plans of enemies over us were not manifested. So, this is a trial period for you. Don’t lose hope because you are in the prison. There is still hope for you, the Spiritual Director admonished them.
“Remember that many of your mates have died and you are still alive, it is a good privilege for you. There is hope for you but God knows why you are here . It is a matter of time and I pray God to intervene for your release within the shortest period” the Cleric prayed for the inmates.
Fr. George extolled the management of Onitsha Correctional Centre, especially the Controller and the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Bathlomew Okpalaugo and their Spiritual Mother, Very Rev. Sis. Bennett Ezeoki for their understanding and trust by allowing his group to spend time with the inmates.
Appreciating Faithspiration Intiative, the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Bathlomew Okpalugo expressed gratitude to them, saying that only God would appreciate them better.
The clergy noted that it is not easy for a group like Faithspiration Intiative to remember the inmates especially in time of feast, stating that they have actually demonstrated practical love to humanity which he asserted that even Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of love when he was preaching to His followers.
Fr. Okpalugo specifically eulogized the leader and founder of Faithspiration Intiative, Very Rev. Fr. Adimike for his gesture of reaching out to the prisoners, stating that God would protect, sustain and uplift Faithspiration Intiative.
Items donated by Faithspiration Intiative during the event includes; cooked food, tissue papers, detergents, laundry soaps, tooth pastes and brushes, bags of pure water amongst others.
The event was rewarding for the inmates as they danced and enjoyed sweet melodies echoing from the famous Gospel Singer, Chioma Ezefete and Igwe white comedian who equally entertained them.