By Emeka Ilozor
It was a moment of joy and thanksgiving in Abagana on October 4, as St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Abagana, was formally dedicated to the glory and service of God, joining the league of dedicated churches in the Catholic Diocese of Awka. The ceremony attracted priests, government officials, politicians, community leaders, parishioners and other dignitaries.
The dedication featured a solemn Holy Mass officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, who, in his homily, urged the faithful to see the occasion not merely as the dedication of a physical structure but as a call to rededicate their lives to God and uphold the sanctity of the church.
Bishop Ezeokafor explained that the church transcends the physical building and its construction materials, reminding the congregation that christians themselves are temples of the Holy Spirit. He stressed that christ is the head of the vhurch while the faithful constitute His body, adding that the church is fundamentally a place of worship, prayer and communion with God rather than a centre for commercial activities.
The Bishop described dedication as a spiritual transformation that sets something apart for a sacred purpose, warning the faithful against activities capable of desecrating the sanctity of the dedicated church. He described the church as a meeting place between God and His people and distinguished it from a chapel, which he said is primarily intended for private devotion, while a church serves as a public place of worship and communal prayer.
Recalling the history of the parish, Bishop Ezeokafor noted that St. Francis of Assisi Parish attained parish status in 2009, with Rev. Fr. Boniface Ezeoke as its pioneer parish priest. He expressed appreciation to everyone who contributed to the development of the church, particularly the family of Umeadi Onyekwelu, whose support he acknowledged as significant to the realization of the project.
The Bishop described the newly dedicated church as a house of God, a place of prayer and hope, and a spiritual centre that would serve present and future generations. He prayed for spiritual renewal among the faithful, urging them not to limit the significance of the occasion to the completion of the physical structure. “As we dedicate this church, let us also rededicate ourselves to God,” he admonished.
Earlier, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oguno, described the occasion as a day of immense thanksgiving to God for His faithfulness and provision. He said the dedication marked the fulfilment of years of prayers, sacrifices, hopes and collective efforts by the parish community and its benefactors, describing the church as both a gift to the present generation and a lasting legacy for generations yet unborn.
Fr. Oguno expressed profound gratitude to benefactors and benefactresses, parishioners, families, organisations, groups, friends, institutions and other people of goodwill whose contributions facilitated the completion of the project. He noted that the church would provide a sacred space where children would receive the sacraments of christian initiation and couples would come to receive God’s blessings upon their marriages.
The ceremony featured several liturgical rites, including the formal handover of the keys of the church to Bishop Ezeokafor, prayers of dedication, anointing of the altar and walls, and the incensing of the altar, church building and congregation. Among those who attended were the member representing Njikoka II Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Akpua, and former Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, alongside priests, politicians, community leaders and other dignitaries.
Emeka Ilozor is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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