By Sylvester Igwesi
The remains of the founder of Catholic Church in Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu South L.G.A of Enugu State, Late Elder Anthony Eze (Aka Mmiri Enwe-Iro I of St. Jude Parish, Amechi, recently committed to mother earth at his home town Amechi, Awkunanaw.
Trinitas correspondent who witnessed the burial ceremony of the deceased, gathered that late Elder Eze received deposite of Catholic faith from the early missionaries at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Coal Camp Enugu, and become a legionary back in 1954. The deceased with his collaborators, started planning on how to establish Catholic Church in Amechi Awkunanaw, because there was no Catholic church in the community at that time. Late Elder Anthony Eze and his collaborators, saved up to two shillings and gave the money to the then Parish Priest of St. Patrick Parish, Coal Camp, Enugu, to say masses for God’s approval of the establishment of Catholic Church in Amechi Awkunanaw. After series of challenges, threats, persecutions and ordeals which the founder and his collaborators suffered; the then elders of Amechi Awkunanaw, agreed to give Catholic Church a piece of land known as evil forest, the then Parish Priest of St. Patrick, Rev. Fr. Brennan changed the name of the Catholic Church in Amechi, from St. Emmanuel to St. Jude. He explained that St. Jude is a powerful saint who would help the people of Amechi, in their struggle to spread the faith. It shall be recalled that the founder of Catholic Church n Amechi Awkunanaw, Late Elder Anthony Eze, was the benefactor/foster father of very Rev. Msgr. Dr. Anthony Nsude Egbo who is the first indigenous Catholic Priest in Amechi Community.
Delivering Sermon in the burial mass.
Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Joseph Ezechi, noted that when Catholic Church came to Amechi in 1950, the then leaders of the community, refused to accept the church, they stressed that they have accepted Methodist and Anglican Churches, therefore, they don’t want another church in the community but late Elder Eze dified all odds and established Catholic Church in Amechi, despite the challenges. Fr Ezechi who is the chairman of culture and tradition in Enugu Diocese cum Parish Priest of All Saints Parish, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu, described the deceased as a selfless man, who wants God’s glory and not his glory. Earlier, in his remarks Very Rev. Msgr. Dr. Egbo, described late Elder Eze as father of faith in Amechi.
Also, the Parish Priest of St. Jude Parish, Amechi Awkunanaw, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Daniel Okwor and the Vice Chairman of the Parish, Engr. Chris Ezeoha stated that God made the deceased, the Abraham of Amechi Community. In an interview, the Co-ordinator of greater Amechi Catholic Community, (old St. Jude Parish) Ogenyi Sir Innocent Nnaji Ede, KSJI, and the catechist of the Parish, Princess Josephine Ogbodo in their separate interview, told Trinitas in Amechi Community, that Old St. Jude Parish includes the following Parishes, Holy Trinity Parish, Amagu-Ugwu Amechi; St. John Parish Obeagu Amechi, St. Michael Parish, Ihuorie Amechi; Divine Mercy Parish, Centenary Layout Amechi and many others. They described the burial ceremony of the funder of Catholic Church in Amechi Awkunanaw as celebration of life and time of late Elder Anthony Eze. Among the participants was St. Michael Choir of Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Anambra State, the choirmaster, Mr. Eziechine Stephen told Trinitas that one of the sons of the deceased, Mr. Eze Omenka Jude was a one time vice chairman of the choir.
