By Michael Nnebife and Emmanuel Chigozie
St John’s Catholic Parish, Neni, in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, Sunday, 20 July 2025, honoured 60 individuals who had meritoriously served the Church in different capacities.
The essence of the honour, which came as part of activities to mark the 35th Anniversary of the dedication St John’s Church Building, was to appreciate the 60 award recipients for their various contributions to the spiritual, material growth and development of the Parish.
The award recipients, who were individuals from all walks of life, included the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, who received the award on behalf of all the former parish priests of the Parish; Senator Dr Uche Ekwunife; a former Traditional Prime Minister of Neni Town, the late Chief Anthony Enukeme, who was honoured posthumously, among others.
The epochal event began with a concelebrated Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Ezeokafor, who appreciated the Parish for recognizing the services of the award recipients.
He recalled that the magnificent St John’s Church building was dedicated on 27 December, 1989, and expressed joy for taking part in erecting the edifice.
‘So, to me, it is a joy coming back to see the Church. Indeed, it is a thing of encouragement,’ the Bishop said, while congratulating and thanking the award recipients for their service, expressing belief that those, who received posthumously would be rewarded by the God they served.
The Prelate, who said that the blessing of God upon man was incomparable with anything man could imagine, encouraged the award recipients to continue to do more in the service to God for more awards and blessings of God.
While thanking the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Cosmas Okafor and his Vicar, Rev. Fr. Anthony Okoyeatu the parishioners for the awards, which, he said, would spur the recipients to do more, the Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese, advised St John’s parishioners to also remember their fellow members who had stopped coming to Church as a result of old age or health challenge.
‘Set a committee that will be visiting them from time to time. This will encourage them, rekindle their faith and make them understand that they are not forgotten,’ the Bishop advised.
Saying that St John’s was a leading Parish in Neni, he charged the parishioners to stop at nothing in occupying their pride of place in Neni Catholic Community.
While reflecting on the readings of the day, Bishop Ezeokafor admonished Christians to emulate Abraham by striving to have a spirit of accepting sojourners and attending to their legitimate needs.
‘Let us be those that accept sojourners through listening to them, to know their needs and do everything we can for their comfort.
‘Abraham did this and received the blessing of a child which he had been praying for, for a very long time,’ the Bishop advised, among others.
In his remarks, St John’s Parish Priest, Rev Fr Cosmas Okafor, thanked the award recipients, especially Bishop Ezeokafor, and the guests that graced the event.
He expressed gratitude to God, praying that the event would bring blessings, joy and progress upon the award recipients, the parishioners, and all that attended the event.
The event, described as a ”Thank you award ceremony”, by the Assistant Parish Priest, Rev Fr Anthony Okoyeatu, while speaking with Fides, featured the blessing of the foundation of the parish’s multipurpose hall and a toilet facility started by the parish’s CWO, and completed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Chancellor of Awka Diocese, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi; the Episcopal Vicar General of the Diocese, Rev Fr Peter Akaenyi; the Bursar of the Diocese, Rev Fr Nicodemus Izuchukwu; the Dean of Neni Deanery, Rev Fr Henry Ezeobi, among others, graced the joyous event.