The Christian faithful have been charged to open themselves up to allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives.

“We all stand in constant need of Divine help,” said Archbishop Matthew Ishaya Audu, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, on Pentecost Sunday, when the women in the Archdiocese converged to mark the 2024 World Union of Catholic Women Organization (WUCWO) Day, at St. Murumba Parish, Jos, with the theme: Motherhood, a call to perform a Sacred and Supreme vocation.

The Archbishop likened the Holy Spirit to a sports coach who ensures the wellbeing of his athletes, outlining the attributes of a coach to include: inspire his members, defend them, encourage them and fight for the wellbeing of his team; he said likewise, the Holy Spirit who came to “lead us to all truth,” would also “embolden” the faithful like He did with the Disciples on the Pentecost.

“We are drawn to errors.” Archbishop Audu noted during his homily, adding that the Holy Spirit will have to “breath into us” for transformation to take place, just like the disciples whom He “transformed into the body of Christ, became new creatures in Christ,” and “became the mind of Christ.”

Accordingly, he encouraged the Christian faithful to “be ready to let the Holy Spirit to move us this way or that way, as He sees it best for us and our lives.”

The gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit can only be obtained when “we allow the Holy Ghost to ”mould us” and “give us a shape that is pleasing to the Father,” the Archbishop said.

For those who welcome the Holy Spirit into their life, “it becomes clear to those around them, these people are good in a way of what is good, honest, true, faithful to God and helpful to others.” He added.

Archbishop Audu also warned in strong terms Catholics who occupy political and leadership roles to represent their faith in a manner pleasing to God and not bring dishonor to the Church by standing always on the truth and being guided by the Spirit of God.

He further charged them to speak out when they observe that something is going wrong in their administration and be prepared for the consequences because the spirit given to Christians is that of “courage,” and led through “guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

Addressing the WUCWO, the Archbishop admonished the mothers to set the right examples to their children, adding that often bad parenting breeds immoral children who become a problem to the society.

He added that women are “co creators with God”, thereby it is their ‘sacred responsibility” to impact positively the lives of those in their families and communities.

Addressing the women who turned out in large numbers in colourful attires each representing a group, the President Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria, (CWON), Jos Archdiocese, Evelyn Dung Dantak called on the women to bring up their children in love and fear of God while not neglecting their own salvation.

“The primary role or vocation of a mother, is to nurture and protect her children, she helps to form their values and a major influence on their emotional and spiritual development.

“A mother’s vocation is to love her family, and through that dedicated love, to work out her own salvation while she is guiding her family to work out theirs as well, offering up challenges and sacrifices along the way for love, Galatians 13.”

Similarly, the National President CWON and Executive Board member WUCWO, Mary Gonsum who graced the event, said she felt gladdened to participate in this year WUCWO, especially since Jos is her jurisdiction.

However, advised women to learn to say positive words to their children and also to not relegate them to their care of house helps. She added that she understands there are factors that could affect the proper care a child should have such as: economic necessities, ungrateful husbands and thirdly, need for professional satisfaction.

Gonsum noted that all these cannot come into play if mothers are appreciated in their homes and allowed their pride of place to exercise their sacred vocation.

Additionally, President CWON St. Murumba Parish, Mrs Celestina Ogbechie observed that more youths are under the influence of social media and peer pressure which contributes to their dwindling participation in church activities. Adding that dumping them to the mercy of house helps also affect them often negatively.

Ogbechie advised that while prayers is good and as a matter of fact be the first point of call, parents should draw closer to their wards giving them both financial and moral support to mold them in the fear of God.

At the event, a sensitization of early detection of cervical cancer was made by a Paediatric Doctor, at Jos Univeristy Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Dr. Esther Yiltok, who said that 95% of cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus  are preventable if detected on time. Dr. Yiltok outlined some preventive measures to take. These she said are: Youth enlightenment because detection needs to start at an early age; take the vaccines which she said is available now in Nigeria and thirdly to go for pap smear screening, which is conducted from age 35.

WUCWO Day is an annual event for Catholic women worldwide. In Nigeria it is an umbrella body comprising Catholic Women Organization, Zumunta Mata and Christian Mothers.

In a statement the President General of WUCWO, Dr. Monica Samantha said that WUCWO Day is organized to:” remind us that we are not alone, for we are part of a great universal network of prayer, joint actions and solidarity support, in which Catholic women around the world come together for training, sharing good practices, helping each other and working to transform the world, bringing to all mankind God’s Word and love. This network, which extends to all corners of the world where our more than 100 organisations representing more than 8 million women, undoubtedly counts with the Lord’s loving hands and Mary’s infinite embrace.”