By Michael Nnebife
St Matthew’s Catholic Parish, Amawbia in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, has built and donated a new modern two-bedroom apartment to an indigent 83-year old widow, Mrs Victoria Okoye, to ease the deplorable accommodation problem facing her and her family.
Blessing the house, on Saturday, February 14, 2026, the Parish Priest of the Church, Rev Fr Donatus Izuchukwu Oragwam, said the gesture was to practically demonstrate the teaching of Jesus Christ about love.
Fr Oragwam, who said the blessing of the house, coming on February 14, was his Parish’s commemoration of St Valentine’s Day based on Christ’s teaching about work of mercy, for the downtrodden in society.
He said that after seeing the condition of Mama Victoria, and how she had been surviving, they thought it wise to extend some charity to her.
‘So, we built the house on behalf of the Parish and handed it over to her today, February 14, Valentine’s Day, to concretize love,’ Oragwam told Fides shortly after the house blessing ceremony.
He thanked the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, for, according to him, magnanimously approving the project; the immediate past Parish Priest of St Matthew’s Parish, Rev Fr Mike Onwukike, who, he said, initiated the project; and the entire St Matthew’s parishioners, for their various contributions.
Responding, the benefactor, Mrs Okoye, with tears of joy, appreciated Bishop Ezeokafor, Fr Oragwam, Fr Onwukike, the entire St Matthew’s Parishioners, and all that contributed to the project.
Mrs Okoye, who could not control her emotions, prostrated in prayer, asking God to reward and bless Bishop Ezeokafor, Fr Oragwam, Fr Onwukike, and the entire St Matthew’s parishioners.
In his remarks, Mr Benedict Okonkwo, the Zonal Leader, Zone II, St Matthew’s Parish, the Zone where Mama Victoria belongs, said the gesture was a great thing of joy, not only to the beneficiary, but also to the Ezimeza Village, Amawbia, where she is married.
Speaking with Fides, the President, Catholic Women’s Organization, Amawbia Catholic Community, Lady Regina Igwebuike, described the gesture as overwhelming.
‘If you see Mama Victoria’s original house, you will definitely cry; the walls and the roof of the house were something else.
‘So, we are happy and very much overwhelmed that this kind gesture has reached her,’ Lady Igwebuike said.
The women’s leader and Mr Okonkwo also expressed gratitude to Bishop Ezeokafor, Fr Oragwam, Fr Onwukike and the entire St Matthew’s Parishioners, for rescuing Mama Victoria from what they termed unspeakable accommodation sufferings she and her family faced.
The event, which ended with light refreshments among the members of Zone II, St Matthew’s Parish, who were present during the event, featured group photographs by the beneficiary’s immediate family, and the members of the zone with the Parish Priest.