From Francis Akinnodi, Ondo
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The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jude Ayodeji Arogundade has called on individuals, private groups as well as government to partner with the church to improve the living standard of residents at the Saints Joachim and Anne Old People’s Home in Ondo city.
Bishop Arogundade made the call during the 22nd anniversary celebration of the home saying the annual event reminds everyone of his or her commitment and duty as a Christian to take care of the needy especially the aged through meaningful contributions towards their upkeep.
He thanked the late Pa Ibitayo Fawehinmi’s family for their kind gesture in conjunction with the Catholic Diocese of Ondo as he called on all well meaning Ondo indigenes to get involved in the maintenance of the place.
“For those who are wealthy in the society, we must learn how to give. When you are blessed by God, do not forget the needy, we need to look after them. The home should be the pride of Ondo state. So we need assistant.
“As Christians, it is our duty to cover those naked and parents should try teach their children on how to take care of the old ones. The Catholic church preferred to invest in health, school and taking care of the needy than in something that will bring profit. We must all be part of this developmental project”.
Early in her address, Sister-in-Charge, Rev. Sr. Catherine Kalesanwo said presently the home consist of fifteen residents including six males and nine females.
She said the aim of the home is to give and provide shelter and loving care for the poor abandoned old ones and less privileged irrespective of tribe or religion in Ondo state generally and in the neighboring states.
She noted that the bulk of the maintenance of the home has been on the founding founder, the church and many other good Samaritans both in group and individual, added that a lot still needed to be done to improve their lives.
The Hope reports that at the Old People’s Home, Ondo, bags of rice, bags of beans, kegs of palm oil, cartons of vegetable oil, tubers of yam and monetary gifts among others were presented by the parishes under Ondo Catholic Diocese and Fawehinmi family.
