By Emma Ihemeje
Ebonyi Catholic community in Anambra last Sunday, April 21, 2024 rolled out their drums to welcome their Chief Shepherd His Lordship Most Rev Dr Peter Chukwu who paid a pastoral visit to his Ebonyi flock in Anambra state over the weekend. The Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese His Grace Most Rev Valerian Okeke who was represented by his episcopal vicar Onitsha region Rev. Fr. Victor Mbanisi who doubles as the Parish Priest of SS John and Paul Awada with Ebony Catholics residing in Anambra formerly received the Prelate at the said Parish.
Speaking to newsmen at the wake of the pastoral visit which was started with a holy mass, Very Rev. Fr Victor Mbanisi who expressed appreciation for the pastoral visit of the Bishop of the Abakaliki diocese underscored the spiritual benefits of the visit to the Catholic faithful in Anambra state, describing Bishop Peter Chukwu as his classmate during their academic heydays.
It was all joy and excitement as many of the Ebonyians in Anambra state especially the Catholics came together at lba Pope Awada Parish to a rousing welcome to the Bishop of Abakaliki diocese.
The event attracted people from different walks of life. Addressing the audience at the occasion, Bishop Chukwu commended the Ebonyi Catholic community in Anambra state for their unity of purpose and subsequently listed some of his development programms in his bishopric which included the creation of additional Parishes, plan to establish Radio and Television outfits, educational institutes amongst others.
Some of the leaders of Ebonyi people who spoke to the press about the pastoral visit expressed immense gratitude to the Bishop who made out time to visit his flocks in Anambra state. Speaking at the occasion, the coordinator of the programme for the visit, Evangelist Joseph Nwonyi thanked the Archbishop of Onitsha for the attention and publicity given to the pastoral visit. He further asserted that the visit of the Abakaliki diocesan Bishop was for spiritual benefits of the Ebonyians in Anambra state apart from unifying them and showing solidarity to their Bishop. Nwonyi also explained that the communal crisis in their state informed the people to come together to solicit God intervention through prayer for their problems. He specifically expressed delight for the manner the parishioners from different Catholic churches paid homage to the Bishop of Abakaliki diocese, an indication that Catholics all over the world are one.
Also in his comment on the pastoral visit, the chairman of the media and publicity committee, Bro Okpeudo Uchenna described the visit of Bishop Chukwu as the first of it’s kind to Anambra state which invariably impacted positively on his people and Anambrarians. He further said that the epoch making event was to disabuse the mind of some individuals that Ebonyi people are not what few thought they are.
Bro. Okpeudo Uchenna disclosed that the leadership of his people in Anambra state have some employment or skill acquisition programms for Ebonyians in Anambra state, expressing worry that some disgruntled elements are defacing the image of Abakaliki people in Anambra state.
Earlier in his comment to the press, the President of Adoration ministry Enugu, Evangelist Elijah Chukwuka Nwalo disclosed that for sometimes now the Ebonyians have been praying fervently in seeking the face of God, noting that the Ebonyi people unlike some detractors thought are reasonable people who persevere in their means of livelihoods, faithful and skilled in some undertakings.
