By Chikezie Ogbonna
St. Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy, Federal Government College witnessed a memorable day as Bishop Callistus Onaga made a special pastoral visit, coinciding with the 69th birthday celebration of Sir Paul Erinne, a distinguished philanthropist renowned for his generosity towards the church and the impoverished in society.
In his homily, Bishop Onaga lauded Sir Paul’s humility and philanthropic spirit. Drawing from the scriptures, he emphasized the ultimate purpose of life as union with God after death. The Bishop referenced the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians, highlighting Jesus Christ’s sacrifice to elevate humanity and urging the faithful to emulate Christ’s example by sharing their blessings with the less fortunate.
Bishop Onaga particularly commended Sir Paul Erinne, noting his extensive charitable works over the past two decades. “Sir Paul has taken care of more than 1500 widows, and his philanthropy extends beyond the Catholic community to anyone in need, regardless of their faith,” the Bishop remarked. He praised Sir Paul’s foundation, which supports orphans and widows, drawing parallels between Sir Paul and Mother Theresa’s unwavering commitment to charity.
The Bishop recounted numerous acts of kindness by Sir Paul, including building homes for destitute women and providing scholarships for their children. Sir Paul’s generosity, exemplified by his annual distribution of over 2000 bags of rice at Christmas, was highlighted as a model for others to follow. The Bishop encouraged everyone to emulate Sir Paul’s spirit of giving, stressing that no one is too poor to contribute to charity.
The celebration of Sir Paul’s birthday included a special song and blessing from the Bishop, followed by the conferment of the sacrament of confirmation on candidates. The day concluded with a grand reception in Sir Paul’s honor, where he distributed over 1000 bags of rice to widows.
Reacting to the accolades, Sir Paul emphasized that his philanthropy is not just a calling but a structured mission designed to continue beyond his lifetime. Joined by friends and family, they praised his virtues, reflecting on his humility, faith, sacrifice, love, and discipline.
Just as with the many blessings that accrued from today’s event, it further underscored the profound impact of Sir Paul Erinne’s philanthropy and the importance of selfless giving in building a compassionate society amidst many more.
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