By Kizito Nonso Umennadi, Phd
It was a profound celebration of faith, family memory, and consecrated life as Very Rev. Fr. Gerald Nwafor (OPP) marked multiple significant anniversaries at St. Gabriel’s Parish, Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The occasion featured the anniversary of death of his late father, Mr. Ephraim Nwafor; his mother, Mrs. Cecilia Nwafor; and his younger brother, Mr. Williams Nwafor. In the same solemn, yet joyful gathering, Fr. Nwafor also celebrated the over 70 years of first religious profession and 93rd Birthday Anniversary of his maternal aunt, Rev. Sr. Mary Josephine Anyansi, IHM.
The solemn Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by the Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, and was graced by a large and distinguished assembly of priests from the Onitsha Archdiocese, Awka Diocese, and Ekwulobia Diocese, alongside religious men and women, lay faithful, family members, and friends of the Nwafor and Anyansi families.
Archbishop Okeke: Gratitude, Mercy, and Blessings
In his remarks during the Mass, Archbishop Valerian Okeke thanked God for the gift of life and for safely ushering the faithful into the New Year, 2026. He prayed for God’s abundant mercy, protection, and divine favour upon all present.
The Archbishop equally gave thanks to God for the lives of the departed souls whose memorials were being celebrated, commending them to God’s eternal mercy. He expressed deep appreciation for the long, faithful, and fruitful religious life of Rev. Sr. Mary Josephine Anyansi, IHM, praying that God would continue to bless her with sound health, strength, wisdom, and peace. He concluded by invoking God’s blessings upon the Nwafor and Anyansi families and all who gathered for the celebration.
Delivering the homily, the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia (CADEK), Very Rev. Fr. Prof. ABC Chiegboka, reflected on the theme, “Jesus Christ and Our Responsibility”.
He began by reminding the congregation that the Church was still within the Christmas Season, extending warm Christmas Greetings to all. Drawing from the Gospel reading of the day, John 1:29–34, he explained how John the Baptist was divinely entrusted with the responsibility of presenting Jesus Christ to the world.
According to him, Christ’s life and mission were marked by extraordinary uniqueness—His birth, public ministry, sacrificial death, and the enduring mandate to proclaim the Good News to all generations. He highlighted John the Baptist’s proclamation of Jesus as the ”Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”, emphasizing that true forgiveness and salvation were found only in Him.
Fr. Chiegboka noted that Jesus preached and embodied a message of disarming and unarmed peace. Even in moments of violence and provocation—such as when Peter reacted with force—Christ chose the path of peace and self-sacrifice. He reminded the faithful that Jesus remained the Prince of Peace whom the entire world must look up to and emulate.
He called on people of all races and backgrounds to accept Christ’s peace and live it out daily, stressing that the gathering was also an occasion of gratitude: gratitude for the long and fruitful religious life of Sr. Mary Josephine Anyansi, and gratitude for the grace of surviving 2025 and entering 2026.
The Vicar General urged everyone to prepare spiritually for the New Year through renewal of life and recommitment to faith, lamenting what he described as a worrying decline in faith among many young people today, a trend, he warned, could have grave consequences if not urgently addressed. He emphasized that accepting Christ as the Prince of Peace in one’s heart was the sure path to personal, communal, and societal renewal.
He praised Fr. Gerald Nwafor for organizing the memorial celebration, describing prayers for the dead as a noble Christian duty and an expression of faith in the resurrection. He concluded by praying that the New Year would be filled with abundant blessings, peace, and divine favour for all.
A Celebration Beyond the Altar
Following the Holy Mass, the celebration moved to the parish arena where a formal reception was held. Activities included the traditional breaking of the kola-nut, an address of welcome, presentation of gifts, cultural entertainment, goodwill messages, and freewill speeches from well-wishers.
Voices from the Celebration
Fr. Gerald Nwafor, the chief host, expressed deep joy and gratitude to God for what he described as the rare privilege of celebrating his aunt’s 93 years of life and over 70 years of religious profession. He prayed that many more people of God would attain such remarkable milestones.
He described Rev. Sr. Mary Josephine Anyansi as a powerful inspiration and role model in his own vocation, noting that her fidelity and commitment to God greatly influenced his decision to embrace the priesthood. He thanked all who honoured the invitation, paying special tribute to Archbishop Valerian Okeke, whom he fondly described as his uncle, professor, teacher, and confidant. He also expressed appreciation to Sr. Anyansi for what he described as her perseverance in religious life and called on the faithful to continue praying for her.
Also speaking, the Mother General of the Daughters of Divine Love (DDL), Rev. Sr. Dr. Mary Anastasia Dike, expressed immense joy at witnessing what she described as such a rare and inspiring milestone in consecrated life. She noted that celebrating 70 years of religious profession was even more significant than celebrating a birthday, as, according to her, it represented decades of fidelity, sacrifice, and divine grace.
She expressed admiration that Sr. Anyansi remained hale, hearty, active, and strong at 93 years of age, describing her life as a clear testimony to God’s sustaining grace. She encouraged young people discerning religious life to bring their aspirations before God in prayer, trusting Him to guide their discernment. She added that those in religious life lost nothing, for in Christ, everyone became their family—husbands, wives, children, brothers, and sisters.
Words from the Celebrant Herself
In her remarks, Rev. Sr. Mary Josephine Anyansi, IHM, expressed heartfelt joy and gratitude to God and thanked all the guests for honouring the invitation, noting with delight that everyone – from the Archbishop to the last attendee – made out time to celebrate with her.
She described her life as one filled with happiness and fulfillment, encouraging everyone to commit their lives to God through prayer, with the assistance of the Blessed Virgin Mary for discernment and wisdom. She urged all to trust God always, love themselves and their neighbours, and think deeply before acting. She concluded by praying for safe and peaceful journeys for all as they returned to their respective homes.
A Spiritually Enriching Gathering
The event concluded with closing remarks by Fr. Gerald Nwafor, final prayers and blessing by Archbishop Valerian Okeke, and the dismissal.
Indeed, it was a grand, spiritually enriching, and emotionally fulfilling celebration, beautifully uniting remembrance, gratitude, faith, and hope.