By Nkiru Anakor
The Catholic community of St. Pius X Parish, Okpeze, on Sept 27, rolled out the drums to receive the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, during his pastoral visit to the parish.
The visit featured the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation to over 80 faithful and the blessing and dedication of the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration built and donated by Pharm. and Mrs. Alphonsus Mmuogbo, and the Grotto of Our Mother of Perpetual Help donated by Mr. and Mrs. Modestus Mmuogbo.
The Chapel of Perpetual Adoration was built and donated by Pharm. and Mrs. Alphonsus Mmuogbo, while the Grotto was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Modestus Mmuogbo, both families praised by the Bishop for their generosity to the Church.
Recounting his long-standing relationship with the parish dating back to his days as a senior seminarian, Bishop Ezeokafor commended parishioners for the remarkable growth and development recorded since his last pastoral visit in 2015.
In his homily, the Bishop said the progress in the parish demonstrated that when people work hard and take responsibility, they can positively transform their community. He noted that although all fingers are not equal, parishes should avoid unhealthy competition as every member has something unique to contribute to the growth of the Church.
He appreciated the donors of the chapel and grotto and encouraged other members of the community to contribute to the development of the Church and society according to their means, while expressing satisfaction with the efforts of the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Vincent Nwajagu.
“When a priest comes to a parish, the parishioners must not waste time in seeing the direction he is going and support him forthwith,” the Bishop charged.
In separate remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Alphonsus Mmuogbo, and the Secretary of the Pastoral Visit Committee, Sir Anthony Ikebuasi, thanked the Bishop for his sustained love and attention to the parish, appealing for his intervention in reviving Central School, Okpeze.
Presenting the parish address, parishioners appealed to the Bishop to help make quality basic education accessible to children from less-privileged families and to ensure qualified teachers are employed in the school.
Responding, Bishop Ezeokafor, who recalled his humble beginnings at St. Pius X, Okpeze, declared his adoption of the school, assuring that no child would be denied basic education due to poverty. “I am adopting Central School, Okpeze, and I will see to it that no pupil is denied basic education,” he said, adding that modalities would be worked out with the Parish Priest and other stakeholders.
The pastoral visit also featured presentation of gifts to the Bishop by individuals and groups, including the aspirant for Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, Dr. Odiraa Nwankwo.
Nkiru Anakor is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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