One of the traditional slogans of the Catholic Men Organization (CMO) is ide ji ulo, in Igbo, which, when translated into English, means “the pillar that carries the house”; it allegorically presents a kind of power and responsibility to fathers for the structural stability and beauty of the Church.
A true Christian father carries a significant responsibility, not only within the Church but also in his family, community, nation, and the global society in general.
A vibrant Christian father is a representative of God in his family, church, and the society at large. Just as Joseph in the Bible served as the foster father of Jesus Christ, representing the eternal Father, so too does the father’s position as the pillar of the house serve as a standard model passed down through generations, despite fringes of agitations by women, including that of the Beijing Conference, which brought the issue of women’s liberation to global attention.
While Adam allowed his spouse, Eve, to undermine the mission mandate of God for mankind through the devil’s deception, leading to her disobedience, which in turn implicated Adam and resulted in their banishment from the Garden of Eden.
God continued to find favor in other vibrant fathers of faith like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who stood as pillars of the house of God’s people in their era. This continued until the New Testament, when God found a lowly carpenter named Joseph from the house of David and made him the earthly father of Jesus. Despite his weaknesses, Joseph played the fatherly role diligently, helping Jesus to fulfill his earthly mission.
In today’s world, vibrant fatherhood is increasingly rare. Many fathers and leaders of families and nations abandon their God-assigned roles to indulge in various forms of corrupt practices, including greed and dishonesty. This raises critical questions for all fathers across different spheres of life: Are you a father like Adam, whose mission, mandate, and purpose in life could be undermined by a disobedient spouse? Or are you a vibrant father like Noah, who had the fear of God and cherished the survival of the children of God? Or like Abraham, who accepted the responsibility of being the father of many nations? Or a father like Pharaoh, who did everything to undermine the destiny of Moses, the foster son of his daughter? Or like many political leaders who claim to be fathers of the nation but, like leeches, have sucked the nation’s blood/oil dry?
As a Christian father, before you celebrate Father’s Day 2026, take time to reflect on these examples and choose which path you wish to follow to fan the embers of vibrant fatherhood and be a pillar of the house of God, serving as an agent of change in the good governance of Nigeria.
Through the CMO, Catholic fathers, in their meetings, can begin an exciting explosion of interest in the governance of the Nigerian nation to fulfill important purposes in the country, including promoting good governance within the context of accountability, transparency, justice, equity, and fairness for all.
They can also push for more Christian learning and growth, support in coping with difficult personal and national issues affecting the moral upbringing of the younger generation, who are now under tremendous social pressure.
Fathers could take it as their duty at all times in an interactive format, which may involve discussing the scripture and addressing personal interests, needs, and concerns of their families, church, or nation. Conversations and planning at such CMO and CYON meetings should focus on areas of services within the church, family, community, workplace, prayer, and worship.
If Catholic fathers, the CMO, should initiate strong programs like these with the mothers and the youths, it will foster greater integration and growth.
In doing so, fathers will also fulfill their need for significance by having the opportunity to exert influence in the formal structures and programs of the church and the good governance of the nation. This represents a significant way fathers (CMO) may find their importance as decision-makers, opinion setters, and agents of change both in the church and in Nigeria’s governance.
