The Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, has commended the Manager of Uzondu Micro Finance Bank, Rev. Fr. Cyprian Chidebere Ezeakunne, together with his siblings, Rev. Sr. Mary Frances Ezeakunne (IHM), Mr Valentine Ifeanyi Ezeakunne and Mrs Anastesia Ijeoma Uzoh (Nee Ezeakunne). Others are: Mrs Jane E. Ezeamama (Nee Ezeakunne), Pharm. Malachy Chima Ezeakunne, Mrs Oluchukwu Mbeke (Nee Ezeakunne), and Mrs Sabina O. Okafor (Nee Ezeakunne),reports Fr. Robert Anagboso
It was a beehive of colorful celebration, Thursday 2 January 2025, in Umuchu at the tastefully decorated and magnificent Ezeakunne compound where the 75th birthday of the Matriarch of the Family; Mrs Agatha Nkechinyere Ezeakunne’s (Nne Okwukwe) was grandiosely celebrated with a Holy Mass parked full with large numbers of the Clergy, the Religious and the lay faithful.
Delivering his homily during the Holy Mass, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, who also led the Mass profoundly, thanked and commended Fr. Cyprian Chidi Ezeakunne, together with his other brothers and sisters, for choosing to celebrate their mother while the matriarch was still alive.
Bishop Ezeokafor, a well known champion of ‘Befitting Living’ as opposed to ‘Befitting Burial’, praised the action of the Ezeakunne family in celebrating the birthday of their mother.
‘You have done very well, both for yourselves and for your mother, in organizing this birthday celebration for her. We are still in the season of Christmas, the birthday of Jesus our Lord and saviour. The gift of life is the first highest gift God gave us. We must celebrate it according to our means while still alive,’ Bishop Ezeokafor said.
The Awka diocesan prelate decried the situation where people failed to take care of their parents at old age, only to mount billboards, road blocks and all manner of fanfare in the name of “befitting burial” for the deceased who was not equally well cared for while alive.
‘We first of all live before we die, and this life must be taken care of and maintained,’ admonished the Bishop.
Turning to the large congregation of both the clergy, the religious and lay faithful gathered for the birthday Mass, the amiable Bishop advised: ‘Offspring should take care of their parents because parents pass through a lot raising their children. Most times, they deny themselves a lot of things in order to provide for the children. And so children should take care of their parents at old age and make them feel happy as they age.’
In the same vein, the prelate commended the birthday celebrant, Mrs Agatha Nkechinyere Ezeakunne (Nne Okwukwe) for her doggedness in life and in her faith, noting that despite losing her husband, she kept faith, working tirelessly to see her children through.
‘Today your children are celebrating you. You are reaping the good fruits of your labour in raising them very well in the faith. You even gave two of them to God: your son Fr Cyprian, and your daughter, Sr. Mary Frances. You are now a good in-law to God,’ the prelate jocularly noted.
Perusing briefly through the life history of the Matriarch, Bishop Ezeokafor highlighted the aspect of Mrs Ezeakunne having to be a teacher who equally engaged in petty trading and sewing, working very hard on each of the engagements in an effort to augment and improve the living condition of the family.
The Bishop praised her industrious nature while urging all present to emulate and embrace hard work in line with the Igbos adage of “Aluoo na-anwu, elie na-ndo”, hard work is always rewarding even if it is taxing.
In his address, the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima, Umuchu (the parish of the Ezeakunnes), Very Rev. Fr. Cyril Okpala, on behalf of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia, His Eminence Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, welcomed Bishop Ezeokafor not only to the compound of the Ezeakunne family but also to the parish and to the Ekwulobia Diocese:
‘My Lord, we welcome you to our domain, which is equally your domain. Our bishop, Cardinal Okpaleke is unavoidably absent, but has asked me to welcome and thank you for being here to celebrate with Ezeakunne’s family. We were certain you would come for this occasion because this is the type of celebration you love.
You have always promoted and encouraged the celebration of life instead of unnecessary exhibition of mundane obscenities at one’s death, all in the name of “befitting burial”. Today you have again reiterated the same message. Thank you and may God continue to bless you with good health of mind and body,’ Fr Okpala stated
Speaking on behalf of the family, Nze Ifeanyi Valentine Ezeakunne, the eldest child of the Matriarch, profoundly thanked and welcomed Bishop Ezeokafor who, despite his numerous engagements, found time to come and celebrate the birthday Mass for their mother:
His words, ‘My Lord, words cannot be enough to thank you for this show of love to our family. Your presence and prayers will go a long way in helping our family to grow from strength to strength. We celebrate our mother today because she fully deserves it. She suffered for us. She was there for us when we lost our dad. She has always been a beacon of faith, hope and love. We cannot celebrate and appreciate her enough, and you have come here to bless her, thank you so much.’
Similarly, Nze Ifeanyi thanked the galaxy of priests and religious sisters thus, ‘Today you have come to celebrate with us, and in solidarity with your brother priest, Fr. Chidi and fellow sister, Sr. Mary Frances. I and my siblings cannot equally thank you enough for finding out time and means to be with us, may God bless and reward you most abundantly.’
He equally extended the same appreciation to the entire congregation who were there in their numbers to witness the glamorous celebration.
One of the highlights of the occasion was the presentation of the Papal Blessing of the Supreme Pontiff; Pope Francis, by Bishop Ezeokafor to the birthday celebrant Mrs. Agatha Nkechinyere Ezeakunne, imparting an ‘Apostolic Blessing to Mrs. Ezeakunne (Nne Okwukwe) through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary invokes an abundance of divine graces.’
Other highlights included taking of many memorable group photographs with the birthday celebrant, Mrs Ezeakunne; cutting of the 75th birthday cake; toasting of wine to the good health and many more celebrations for the Matriarch.
The occasion attracted many important dignitaries, friends and well-wishers of the children of the Matriarch, including the Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia, His Eminence, Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpalaeke, (represented by the Dean, Umuchu Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Nwankwo); Rev. Mother Maureen Akabogu (IHM), the Superior General of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Chief Sir Ikenna Okafor (Ide Akwaeze); and a host of other dignitaries and business associates of the Ezeakunne brothers.