John Nwaigwe
Thanksgiving Mass: Senator Austin Akobundu Adopts Altar Servers, Places Them on Scholarship (Pictures)
The senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Senator Austin Akobundu has adopted six altar servers at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Umuozugwo Oloko in Ikwuano LGA, Abia State.
Senator Akobundu made the announcement on Easter Sunday after the Altar Servers prayed over him during their visit to him at his Oloko country home in Ikwuano.
The six altar servers who served Mass at Senator Austin Akobundu’s Thanksgiving Mass in the parish on the day approached the Senator after the Mass and offered to come to his residence to pray over him, an offer which the Senator gladly welcomed.
During an interactive session with the children after their prayers in his residence, they introduced themselves and their classes in school, including what they would like to become in future. They are: David Melody, Daniel Uke, Gideon Uke, Chizaram Uke, Nna Peter and Uchechukwu Jonathan. It was discovered that four of the six children were orphans.
In his address to them, Senator Austin Akobundu encouraged them to imbibe the lessons of Easter and not lose hope in life no matter their circumstances, urging them to learn from his own childhood experience, a part of which he testified about in church earlier, telling them that, “If God could lift me from the ashes of life to this height, He can do it for you too. But you all have to be focused on Christ, remain committed to the Church and your studies, and see how God lifts you in due time.
“Among you are governors, ministers, senators, and even president. But don’t allow yourselves to be influenced by the vices that destroy the dreams of other children who turn their back on God and their studies,” he counselled.
It was at this point that Senator Austin Akobundu announced that he was adopting the six of them and was taking responsibility for their education henceforth. He requested them to always come around and spend time with him whenever he was in Oloko, as his doors would always remain open to them.
In their response, the highly elated children thanked the Senator for his kind gesture and promised to heed his advice.
Highlight of the interactive session was a group photograph of Senator Akobundu and his wife, with the children.
