Catholic Church, Oro, celebrates 100 years with free three-day medical outreach

ST. Andrew’s Catholic church, Oro, Irepodun local government area of Kwara State has carried out three-day free medical outreach among residents of the area as part of activities to mark 100 years of the church.

Speaking with journalists in Oro on Monday, the parish priest of the church, Reverend Father Joseph Awoyale, said that the church has concluded plans to make the programme a permanent project with the establishment of a medical clinic that will be sited inside the church to take care of residents of the area free of charge

The parish priest, who said that the free medical outreach was part of evangelism of the church, explained that the facility would be available to residents of the area irrespective of their religious beliefs and affiliation.

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He said that the three-day free medical outreach performed by some US volunteer medical practitioners, afforded people with free treatment and drugs on common ailments and simple surgeries.

Reverend Awoyale, who said that evangelism involves educational development of the area as well as act of treating people as fellow human beings, added that the act was handed down to present church leaders by the early missionaries as part of efforts to win more souls.

He said that scholarship award was also instituted for students who take first position, adding that many Muslims among other students had benefitted from the programme as part of evangelism.

Also speaking, Baba Ijo of the St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Sir John Adeoti, said that part of achievements of the church in the past 100 years in Oro town include establishment of coeducational schools and girl’s only school as well as a general hospital, adding that people had been brought to light from darkness through Christianity.

Sir Adeoti said that the schools had produced professionals and educationists, adding that the church had produced over 30 indigenous Fathers and 15 sisters since after exit of foreign missionaries in the church.

He said that some challenges faced by the church during the early days was the need to choose only one wife, especially, among those polygamous men according to dictate of Catholic church, adding that land acquisition was difficult.