By Ononye VC
The joy and happiness was extraordinary on Sunday,20th October as the clergy,religious and entire parishioners of St Jude Catholic Church,Fegge,Onitsha,led by their new Parish Priest/Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Onitsha,Very Rev Fr Johnbosco Okafor,trooped out in large numbers to receive His Excellency,the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke who paid his yearly pastoral visit to the parish.
The visit which fell on the Catholic Church’s Mission Sunday on 20th October,for which the parishioners contributed generously, coincided with the Archbishop’s 71st birthday,making the visit memorable and historic.
The Archbishop who was visibly elated by the excitement of the parishioners,their infectious expression of love and joyful song of a birthday wishes,thanked the new Parish Priest,Very Rev Fr Johnbosco Okafor and entire parishioners for their exceptional show of love and support to him.
While delivering his homily,the Archbishop explained to the congregation that the Mission Sunday was a day of free-will donation by the faithful to the church which is eventually sent to the Pope for advancement of the Mission and Evangelization.
According to him,”if Christ is in Mission,all of us are also in Mission.Today therefore,we are called to continue to follow the footsteps of Jesus and on this,we establish that we are part of the Mission”,the Archbishop said.
The Archbishop informed the congregation amid cheers that for many years,the Archdiocese of Onitsha had taken the lead as the highest contributor to Mission Sunday collections in Nigeria Catholic Dioceses.
While summarizing the entire homily of the Archbishop,the Chancellor of the Archdiocese Very Rev Fr Dr Prudentius Emeka Aroh,admonished the faithful to unite themselves with the sufferings of Christ as a matter of “vicarious suffering”,adding that faith is the key that opens heavenly blessings and that service is the key to greatness.
In his closing remarks,the Archbishop appreciated the new Parish Priest, Very Rev Fr Johnbosco Okafor,describing him as a man of grace” and expressed hope that his stay in the parish will be a blessing to them.
In a welcome address presented by the Parish Council,signed by the Parish Priest,Very Rev Fr Johnbosco Okafor,the Vice Chairman of Parish Council,Comrade Albert Okeke and read by the Secretary,Mrs Gloria Nwachukwu,the parishioners eulogized the Archbishop for all his achievements in the Archdiocese topmost of which is the inauguration of the new Shanahan University,Onitsha.This was received with a loud applause and confirmed by the testimony of the immediate past Parish Priest,Very Rev Fr Justin Oguama (aka Otimgbodomgbo Jesus)that one of the parishioners benefitted from admission and scholarship of the Archbishop in the new university.
In his vote of thanks,the new Parish Priest/ Vicar General,Very Rev Fr Johnbosco Okafor thanked the Archbishop for his visit,congratulated and wished him many happy returns on his 71st birthday.He also thanked the entire parishioners for their “wonderful outpouring for the Archbishop.
Some of the dignitaries present include the member representing Onitsha South 1 constituency in the State House of Assembly,Rt Hon Pat Ezenwa,the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Govt Hon Orji,the Director,CWO Archdiocese of Onitsha,Dame Dr Ngozi Nwanosike among many others.
One of the major highlights of the Archbishop’s visit was confirment of sacrament of Confirmation on 484 candidates and presentation of gifts to the Archbishop.
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