As we look back at the 10th anniversary of Gratia Vobis Ministries (GVM), celebrated on August 12th at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic church in Cary, Diocese of Raleigh, we are filled with gratitude to God for all He has done through us. We remember the call to bring God’s love and grace to all we encounter, and we’ve answered that call with great joy and enthusiasm.
Through our ministry, we’ve seen the power of God’s love transform lives and bring hope to the hopeless. We’ve reached out to the poor, the sick, and the marginalized, and brought them the love and compassion of Christ. We’ve shared inspiring words every day to thousands of readers all over the world. Likewise, we’ve worked to create a culture of life, where every human being is valued and respected, and where the dignity of every person is upheld. Moreover, we’ve continued to be a hub of cross-cultural Catholic evangelization.
Our ministry has taken us to many places, and we’ve continued to be God’s agents of grace wherever we go. Whether we are on the streets of a big city or a small village in a remote area, we always seek to be channels of Divine Grace to those around us. God has blessed us by providing us opportunities to witness many people come to faith in Christ. And we’ve seen the hearts of others drawn to the love of God. All these in simple, unassuming ways.
Therefore, as we move forward in our ministry, we must continue to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and be ready to go wherever God calls us. We must be willing to leave behind our comfort zones and take risks for the sake of the Gospel.
Joy and Service
The 10th anniversary celebration was a time of great joy and celebration. We were honored to have many deeply committed and faithful leaders from our local communities join us, including the GVM President Paul Verderber, Fr. Paschal Ajuka, Fr. Joshua West, and Bishop Luis Raphael Zarama, the Catholic Bishop of Raleigh.
Bishop Zarama and Paul Verderber Speak
Bishop Zarama’s speech reminded us of the importance of our ministry in the larger context of the Church’s mission. Also, he urged us to continue to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel. Likewise, he asked us to take seriously our call to be God’s agents of grace in the world, doing so in our quiet, simple manner. In his speech, Paul Verderber highlighted some of the incredible things we’ve accomplished over the past decade. In addition, he reminded us that although our ministry is young, it has already made a significant impact on the lives of many people around the world. Both messages and testimonials from a couple of beneficiaries to the charity aspect of our ministry are in the video below.
Mission and Purpose
Fr. Nnaemeka Paschal Ajuka’s homily was powerful and inspiring. He reminded us of our mission. GVM ministry, like the virgins in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 25, must always be ready to meet the bridegroom in service of the poor and everyone around us. Fr. Joshua West’s words of encouragement reminded us that we are not alone in our ministry. We have the support and prayers of many faithful Catholics around the world. Thus, we must continue to work together to bring the light of Christ to all nations. These messages can be seen below.
In my keynote speech, I spoke about the workings of grace in our lives and in our ministry. I reminded the congregation that everything we do is only possible because of the grace of God. I spoke about how our ministry began with a simple desire to help those in need and how it has grown to encompass so much more. Watch the video below.
Moving Forward
Finally, as we move forward in the coming years, I urge all of us to collaborate in expanding our efforts. Let us be bold in our witness to the Gospel. Let us be willing to take risks for the sake of the Gospel. Let’s love God and our Catholic faith with passion. Let’s be mindful of the needs of those around us, seeking to bring the love and compassion of Christ to all we encounter. In addition, let’s unite in prayer and support for this important work.
May God bless us all as we continue to be His agents of grace in the world. Amen.
God love you. God bless you.
Fr. Maurice Emelu
