The atmosphere in Festac community, and its environs were enveloped in festivity last Sunday, when the Catholic Women Organisation Lagos Archdiocese (CWONLA), Festac Deanery celebrated its 2024 Cultural Day in grand style at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Amuwo, Odofin, Lagos.
The event which began with Mass, concelebrated by Very Rev. Fr. Melvis Mayaki, the Dean and other priests of the Deanery saw an array of beautifully clothed women from the 12 parishes in Festac, displaying vibrantly different cultural regalia among other cuisines of African countries and cultures they represented.
Fr. Mayaki, who spoke at the event, said the event aimed to unify the deanery’s women through healthy competition, as well as helping to commit themselves to the beautiful African culture. He also said it was a day to celebrate womanhood, femininity, their culture, and faith in God expressed in oneness. The Dean encouraged the women not to give up but emulate the Blessed Mother who continued to serve God despite her sorrows, urging them to hold their heads high and do their best to cushion the challenges of the country.
The coordinator while commending, also said the deanery chose to diversify this year by showcasing various African cultures, including Mali, South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Togo, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Nigeria (Ibibio and Kalabari), among others in the bid to identify, promote unity, diversity, as well as educate the guests about the peculiarities of the countries and beauty of the African heritage, as well as displaying vibrant continent’s traditions. Each group was commended for their effort in bringing the rich African culture and their delicacies.
She also disclosed that it is on this premise that the CWONLAFED established its Product Centre, where different food products are packaged, and members from other parishes are employed, to enable them to work and earn a living as St. Paul advised in 2 Thessalonians 3:10. The day also witnessed the launch of the CWONLA, Festac Deanery coaster bus, to aid the women’s mobility in their various mission activities within and outside the Archdiocese.