Dr Chioma Ernest-Onuoha, wife of the Vicar of All Saints Anglican Church Wuse in Abuja, has urged women to serve God faithfully and extend charity to the poor and less privileged in society.
She gave the charge on Sunday during the church’s 2026 Mothering Sunday celebration themed “Rooted in Christ,” urging women to uphold compassion, generosity and faith as pillars of Christian motherhood.
Ernest-Onuoha said women should cultivate the habit of helping the needy around them, stressing that charity and compassion remained central teachings of the Christian faith and vital for societal harmony.
“Women should serve God and be charitable, especially to those they are better than; the poor and the less privileged in particular.
“This is because he who lends to the poor lends to the Lord; we should encourage them and support them, and above all, women should fear God and trust in Him.
“We are in challenging times; it is the grace of God and His mercies that is sustaining us. In as much as we do our bit and work hard while trusting God, we will succeed,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Ogechukwu Tagbo, Chairperson of the Mothering Sunday Planning Committee and Love Group, urged women to live lives of service and positively impact their families and communities.
Speaking on the topic “Living the Life of Service and Kindness as Mothers,” Tagbo said sacrifices made by women reflected their spiritual commitment and dedication to nurturing families and society.
She said that motherhood required virtues beyond childbirth, urging women to maintain peace in their homes and communities while seeking God wholeheartedly with sincere hearts.
“Make love the foundation of your service; serve with love, humility and endurance as a sacrifice; study and meditate on God’s words always.
“Whatever area the Lord has blessed you with, don’t be proud; use it to positively impact others, especially the less privileged,” she said.
Tagbo further urged women to remain committed to their roles as mothers and strive to be remembered for good deeds that uplifted families, communities and future generations.
She prayed that God would grant every woman the grace to fulfil her destiny, support their families and continue making positive impact in society.
Mothering Sunday is observed on the fourth Sunday in Lent, three weeks before Easter, to honour mothers and give thanks to the Virgin Mary, also known among Catholics as Mother Mary.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that special prayers were offered for children, husbands, Nigeria and its leadership during the church service.
NAN also reports that special awards were presented to some deserving church members in recognition of their invaluable contributions to the growth and activities of the church community.
Earlier, a medical outreach organised by the church’s medical sub-committee provided members of the public with free health checks and basic medical services.
Dr Amede Osakwe, Chairperson of the medical sub-committee, said the outreach was designed to create awareness and encourage people to regularly monitor their health.
“We offered different services, including dental and eye care, distributed free reading glasses and conducted cervical Pap smear tests for about 20 women and other routine medical checks,” she said.
“We also held health talks, teaching people how to live healthy lives, avoid harmful habits, eat balanced diets and understand the importance of regular exercise,” she added.
NAN
