Saint Jude Society of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Onireke, Ojo, Lagos, on Friday, urged religious organisations to widen their social service scope in order to impact positively on the indigent in the society.
Chairman of the society, Chief Tony Iwueze, stated this at the flag-off of its 2022 visits to correctional centres, at the church premises in Ojo, Lagos.
He said that foods, clothing, toiletries, books and cash donated by members were part of the items to be donated to the inmates at the correction centres.
Iwueze said that the humanitarian visits would begin on Jan. 29, with Kirikiri correction centre as the first port of call.
He said that the humanitarian work of the society was to fulfill the directive of the scriptures that one’s faith should be accompanied by work.
Iwueze said that faith-based organisations should not be preoccupied with investments in structure of big worship centres to at the detriment of fellow humans who could barely put food on their tables.
He said they should change their perspectives to humans, instead of competing in structures.
“It is even in the scriptures that the haves should take care of the have nots in the society in the interest of peace and harmony.
”It is disheartening to see people in varying degrees of needs at worship in centres without being assisted.
“There is the urgent need for our society to change this orientation, especially now that economic hardship is pervading in the society.
“God does not have any other business asset in the world than human beings.
”Therefore, any society that aids in advancing God’s course will gain rewards from God, while any society that does otherwise is doing so at its own peril,” he said.
Also speaking, the Visit Coordinator, Mrs Angela Etuk, said that the group had been in humanitarian work for years, with beneficiaries becoming better persons after release from incarceration.
She said that apart from giving out items to the inmates, the society usually preached to them to redeem their souls during such visits.
Etuk said that other faith-based societies should beam their searchlights on the indigents and those in need around them with a view to positively impacting on their lives for a better society.
Chaplain of the society, Rev. Fr. Willy Johnson, said that the act of giving was a culture for those who wanted to build their abode in heaven while on earth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the society is known for its aids to the less-privileged and inmates of correctional centres. (NAN)