By Michael Nnebife
It was celebrations galore in Awka, the Anambra State capital, as the parishioners and friends of St Peter’s Catholic Parish, Nkwelle Awka, gathered to receive the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, who was on an episcopal visit to the Parish.
The event which took place on Sunday 13 July 2025, attracted religious men and top government officials, among whom were the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi; and the Executive Chairman, Awka South Local Government Area, Hon Prince Chinedu Okafor.
In a homily during a Holy Mass to mark the event, the Catholic Bishop, whose message hinged on love for others, admonished St Peter’s parishioners to strive to love every human being as they loved themselves for them to make heaven.
‘Jesus Christ is a great king but because of love he accepted to come into the world to save mankind from total condemnation,’ Bishop Ezeokafor said.
Through this, the Bishop noted, Christ showed humanity greatest sacrifice, which he described as love.
‘This encourages us greatly to strive to live our lives with love for our fellow human beings,’ he advised St Peter’s parishioners.
Recounting the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Prelate said that though love for one’s enemy might be hard, but Christians should strive to love all human beings around them without discrimination, no matter the situation, for the sake of making heaven.
Highlighting the importance of forgiveness in Christian living, Bishop Ezeokafor frowned at the attitude of some individuals who maintained that a case with their trespassers would only be settled in heaven.
He said individuals with such attitude were not preparing to make heaven.
He said heaven was not a place for settling cases, but a place of rejoicing by the people that loved God, their fellow human beings, and lived their lives in the world righteously.
‘So, if you have a case with any person, go now and settle the case with the person here, not in heaven, if you really want to make heaven,’ Bishop Ezeokafor exhorted the parishioners.
Baring his mind on some issues of serious concern to the parishioners and the entire Catholic faithful, the Bishop stressed that the dust-to-dust burial ritual remained sacrosanct in the Catholic Church world over, urging St Peter’s parishioners to continue to observe it.
He appreciated them for their services, expressing satisfaction with both spiritual and material developments of the Parish.
The Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese, who extolled the relationship existing between St Peter’s parishioners and their priests, also thanked them for their support to the Diocese, especially as it concerned the last Cathedraticum of the Diocese; Peter University, Achina-Onneh; among others.
The Bishop, who administered the Sacrament of Confirmation on 183 candidates of the Parish, prayed that the event would bring blessings and grace to make heaven upon the entire parishioners.
In his remarks, the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Donatus Esiegbue, who described the event as a prayer answered, expressed gratitude to God for the success of the event and to the Bishop for his fatherly love for the Parish.
The visibly elated Fr Esiegbue, who expressed happiness at the level of development in the Parish, also thanked the dignitaries for finding out time to identify and rejoice with the Parish.
In an address of welcome read by the Secretary, Pastoral Parish Council, Lady Ngozi Okoye, the parishioners continued to thank Bishop Ezeokafor for his care and concern they enjoyed, as well as his achievements, especially the establishment of Peter University.
While noting the challenges facing the Parish, the parishioners appealed to the Bishop to assist them in acquiring a permanent site for their outstation, Immaculate Conception, Agu Awka, as its population continued to increase.
Speaking with Fides, the Chairman of Awka South LGA, Hon Okafor, also thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for his episcopal service for Awka Diocese, praying God to continue to bless him with wisdom, guidance and protection.
Highlights of the epoch-making event, chaired by the Chairman, Joez Pharmaceutical Ltd, Sir James Eze, included award presentations by the Parish to some individuals in recognition of their distinguished services to God and humanity.