By Michael Nnebife
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, has dedicated St Peter’s Catholic Church, Ugwuoba, in Oji River Local Government Area, Enugu State, for holistic worship of God in the area.
Speaking in a homily during the solemn ceremony, which took place on Sunday, March 15, the Catholic Bishop admonished the Ugwuoba Catholic Community to dedicate their lives to God by living out their faith in a such way that their lifestyles witnessed for Christ.
The Bishop reminded the Ugwuoba Catholic faithful that they were the real temple of the Holy Spirit, advising them to always be holy and work hard to make heaven, which he described as the highest church.
Bishop Ezeokafor, who described a church as a house of prayer and worship of God, also admonished the faithful to avoid any other activities such meetings, reading of newspapers, among others, in the gigantic St Peter’s Church Building, rather than using it as a meeting point for communion with God.
While performing the dedication rituals, Bishop Ezeokafor prayed God to sanctify the gigantic edifice, and answer the prayers of the believers that would come there to seek Him.
He thanked the Parish Priest of the Church, Rev Fr George Arinze Anahalu, for his efforts, and the parishioners, including various individuals, especially Sir Francis Nwandison, for their contributions to the dedication project, praying God to bless and reward them.
In his remarks, the Parish Priest in return, appreciated the Bishop for his fatherly care and love for the Church, noting that his fatherly concern made the dedication project, which, he said, was long overdue, possible.
Fr Anahalu, in an interview, told Fides how Bishop Ezeokafor raised and emphasized the need for the dedication, during the opening ceremony of the new pastoral year of the Priests of Awka Diocese, held at the Church, on October 27, 2025.
’He called on an illustrious son of Ugwuoba, Sir F. C. Nwandison, who also singlehandedly built St Paul’s, his own home Church.
’After that day, things began to move well and here we are today, seeing the dedication happen after many years it was expected,’ Fr Anahalu said, thanking Sir Nwandison, for his magnanimity.
He prayed God to bless him, and other numerous individuals, who contributed both financially and spiritually to the success of the dedicated project.
In their address of welcome read by the Chairman, Dedication Committee, Chief Patrick Nwobu, during a reception, St Peter’s parishioners continued to express gratitude to Bishop Ezeokafor for his scholarships to their children at St John Bosco Seminary, and other schools.
They also appreciated their benefactor, Sir Nwandison, whom they described as a great instrument in the hands of God, for the growth of faith in Ugwuoba Region and beyond.
St Peter’s parishioners extended appreciation to the priests and the religious, as well as other guests, for gracing the historic event.
Entertainment by St Peter’s CMO Traditional Music, their CWO Band counterpart, among others, added glamour to the epoch-making event, which also incorporated Bishop Ezeokafor’s pastoral visit to the Church.
