By Jude Michael
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Umuawulu in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, has honoured the Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Pius Okoye.
According to the Parish Priest of the Church, Rev Fr Benjamin Odika, the honour, which came as the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, dedicated a gigantic church building of the parish recently, was to appreciate Hon Okoye for his outstanding support and service to God in the Church.
While speaking with newsmen, Okoye expressed joy with the honour, saying his support and service to God in the Church were a token of his appreciation to God for His goodness and mercies upon his life.
The Deputy Speaker thanked St Joseph’s parishioners and Bishop Ezeokafor for the honour and dedicating the church edifice, expressing the belief that henceforth, genuine prayers that would be presented to God in the edifice would be answered.
He enjoined the Umuawulu people to make the best use of the edifice for their spiritual needs.
‘Bishop has dedicated this beautiful edifice; anything you do here now is dedicated to God.
‘We therefore call on Umuawulu people to prioritize a relationship with God.
‘Before you begin to do anything, first of all, come here and commit it to God,’ Rt Hon Okoye advised.
Similarly, the church was during the epoch-making event, which took place on Friday, 25th April, honoured numerous other individuals who contributed in building and modernizing the church edifice, as well as other projects in the church.
Among them was an illustrious son of the Umuawulu Community, Chief Chekwube Okafor, who thanked God for giving him an opportunity and grace to contribute to work in His vineyard.
Speaking with newsmen, Chief Okafor, who is popularly known as Ike Jerusalem, said, ‘I’m so grateful to God for giving us strength and energy to contribute so massively to the work in His vineyard so that the Church continues to march on.’
He thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for dedicating the church edifice; the Parish Priest, Fr Odika, for championing various projects in the church, and the entire parishioners, for the honour given to him, expressing readiness to contribute more.
