By Nna Anulumadu
Onitsha Archdiocesan catechists Association on Thursday felicitated the Chief Shepherd of Onitsha Archdiocese His Grace Most Rev Valerian Okeke on his 43rd priestly ordination anniversary , describing him as God’s sent to the mother church and to humanity.
The president Onitsha Archdiocesan catechists Association Mr Matthew Thomas in his felicitation message on behalf of his members described the Archbishop as a special gift to the church and humanity.
His words: ” Our Chief Shepherd is the man of the people. He is constantly living out his motto ‘ I have come, that they may have life and have it in abundance.’. ” Since he assumed office as the Archbishop of Onitsha , he has brought great transformation to our association and has been taking good care of the catechists through our Archdiocesan director Rev Fr Dr. Jude Mgbeobukwa. He is very much concerned about our welfare and has been supporting us as a loving prelate. He is always there at our retreats, reformations and investiture, performing his role as our big D
Daddy. Under his leadership, catechists have been trained in a special way. He has also made our investiture to look like a priestly ordination and we cannot thank him enough for that”.
Mr Thomas further described the Archbishop as a man of vision who laid down his life for his flock in the Archdiocese. “He has transformed our immediate society and has invested heavily in various sectors of the society such as education, banking, health, communication etc. His prison apostolate is second to none in Nigeria. We are very lucky to have him as a priest and Archbishop.”
The president on the other hand enjoined fellow catechists to remain committed to their primary assignments in order to give the Archbishop and his priests best pastoral assistants in propagating the gospel of Christ.
