Catholic Mothers Urged To Live True Love in Action
As Catholic mothers nationwide celebrate Mother’s Day, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Celestine Ekennia, chaplain of the Ahiara Diocesan Catholic Women Organization, alongside Prof. Angela Obiageli Nnamocha, president of the Ahiara Diocesan Catholic Women Organization, has urged women to embrace this year’s theme, True Love in Action (I John 3:18), as a guiding principle in their homes and communities.
Speaking during an interview with one of our correspondents, the chaplain, Fr. Celestine Ekennia, described motherhood as a sacred, elevated, and divine vocation aimed at nurturing, educating, training, and shaping the next generation. According to him, “being a mother transcends mere biological and social functions; it is both sacred and spiritual.” He emphasized that motherhood draws its inspiration from God, stating that as a Catholic/Christian mother, one must strive to exceed expectations in fulfilling this sacred duty.
Reflecting on the theme, he noted that “True love in action” as articulated in I John 3:18 underscores the importance of practical, sacrificial, demonstrative love, rather than mere words or empty sentiments. He reiterated that St. John implores us to love not just in words but in action and in truth. He illustrated this concept through the example of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who demonstrated his love by washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:3-14). “Having loved his own who were in the world, Jesus loved them to the end. “The action of Jesus was ‘ feet-washing, not “”brain-washing,”he stressed. He referenced Dorcas (Tabitha), whose acts of love were remembered by the widows in Joppa even after her death (cf. Acts 9:36-42). Fr Ekennia advised that such love should be the guiding principle for our mothers.
However, he acknowledged that mothers face numerous challenges, including the difficulty of being a woman today, terrible isolation in nuclear family structures, and the lack of support from the traditional large family/village system. These challenges are also seen in extreme mental load and physical exhaustion emanating from the pressure to “do it all” alone, balancing career demands with family/child care, the high cost of child/medical care, and financial instability. He further added that they are also experienced through lack of proper support from partners, which often leads many mothers to experience severe sleep deprivation and chronic stress, which can significantly affect their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Sequel to this, their power to mold the character of their children and future generations is weakened. He encouraged mothers to remain resolute.
The chaplain further highlighted the indispensable role of mothers, stating that “Good mothers are ‘home-builders’ and not ‘home-breakers.'” A good mother strives to meet the tangible needs of others (especially her family) through TLC (Tender, Loving Care), thereby investing her TTT (Time, Talent, and Treasure) for the good of all (the common good).”
In the face of challenges, Fr. Ekennia encouraged mothers to work together to create a harmonious, peaceful, and happy family atmosphere. This entails having a listening ear to the plights and needs of those around them and extending a helping, comforting, and healing hand to those who are politically, spiritually, financially, socially, and psychologically wounded in our society and country. He urged them to always fly to the patronage of our Blessed Mother Mary, who continuously intercedes for us.
In her remarks, the president of the Ahiara Diocesan Catholic Women Organization, Prof. Angela Obiageli Nnamocha, described motherhood as the divine privilege granted to adult females by God to bring forth and to nurture lives within the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. She stated, “Catholic motherhood to the CWO is the gift and responsibility we received from our Blessed Mother Mary, our model, following her YES to God during the Annunciation. ” The spiritual import of our motherhood is that we have accepted to be co-creators with God and to nurture all, both our biological children and the adopted children, according to His will. ”
She further explained that this year’s theme emphasizes that love must not only be expressed in words but must also be adequately supported by concrete actions. Mothers, by virtue of their unique vocation, are called to love in service. She pointed out that mothers today embrace this mandate by caring for, serving, nurturing, and grooming all members of the family in their daily tasks of cooking, cleaning, caring, mending, counseling, praying, and serving.
Enumerating the potential challenges mothers face that impede the actualization of this practical love, she mentioned economic pressures and insufficient moral support. Mothers thrive when they are productive, supporting the fathers in providing for the family, and when their efforts are appreciated by all family members. Whenever challenges occur, mothers are advised to look up to our role model, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to follow in her footsteps of patience and prayerfulness.
Highlighting achievements under her leadership, Prof. Nnamocha revealed that a major initiative her administration introduced is the CASHLESS POLICY, which ensures that all funds are paid directly and wholly into the AHDCWO account (rather than personal accounts), thereby prohibiting cash transactions. This approach has gone a long way in building both trust and transparency within the CWO.
Moreover, she shared that since her inauguration in mid-June 2025, her administration has revived the long-abandoned NAZARETH HOUSE at Lude Ahiara, a Diocesan CWO project. “This is a massive 51-room complex, housing a chapel, a conference center, a hall, a dining area, and several other spaces. It was a daunting challenge to break into the thick forest after several years and to host the Diocesan August meeting there for the very first time. We have successfully decked the second floor, and the block work for the roofing is currently ongoing,” she detailed. She further highlighted that under her leadership, the AHDCWO has hosted the OPCWO seminar, gathering arch/diocesan executives from all six dioceses in our province, as well as successfully organizing the annual CWO Day, wherein noble men and women of our diocese were conferred the prestigious Mater Pillar and Nneoma awards by our Lord Bishop.
Prof Nnamocha stressed that the AHDCWO has continually fulfilled its obligations of genuine, practical love by extending material gift support to all the registered/recognized charity homes in our diocese, as well as our schools. This was done as part of the CWO FOOD APOSTOLATE in honor of the birthday of Mother Mary on September 8th. She remarked that these initiatives have brought much positive outlook to the organization, embodying the essence of True Love in Action. “The activities carried out by mothers are all practical and result-oriented, far exceeding mere verbal expressions of love. Essentially, they exemplify the concept of true love, as stated in 1 John 3:18,” she reiterated.
According to her, several other laudable initiatives are underway and would unfold over time. She acknowledged that these efforts have significantly contributed to the growth of the organization and the development of the diocese.
Prof. Nnamocha recognized that mothers serve as mediators, reconcilers, and advocates in any environment they find themselves in. Within the parishes, besides supporting the feeding of the priests, mothers help maintain church cleanliness, support catechesis, and provide any necessary financial and moral support. She encouraged mothers all over the world, particularly those in our dear Ahiara Diocese, to embrace true love, allowing their actions to reflect love. They should strive to be a living example of love for others to emulate, following the footsteps of Mother Mary, and celebrating the joys of motherhood as exemplified by her.
In facing life challenges, she advised mothers to pray with greater devotion, asking for the grace to love more sincerely and to realize the principle that “less can be more.” She encouraged mothers to cook a simple, affordable meal and eat it together in love as a family. “You do not need a new dress to mark Mother’s Day; the CWO uniform is the dress code, so there is no fashion-statement pressure on our mothers. Check your kitchen, wardrobe, and compound; take note of items that you have not used meaningfully in the past three to four months, and gift them to friends, family, or charity. Mother’s Day is a day of loving deeply, and this can be done in the simplest and cheapest ways. Send messages of hope and comfort to those who grieve, share some food with those who lack, visit the abandoned, and strive to bring a smile to at least one person. Pray for those who have hurt you, and also for those you may have hurt. Seek to be at peace with yourself, your past, and those around you. These are simple and practical ways to have a fulfilling 2026 Mother’s Day, amidst the challenges of the times,” she added.
Both the chaplain and the President concluded by urging mothers to intensify their commitment to embodying true love in all their actions.
As our mothers celebrate, their message vividly highlights the unending influence of mothers as pillars of faith, agents of change, and builders of a more compassionate and united world.
