… Receives Bishop Ezeokafor for Father-child Interactions
By Michael Nnebife
It was a moment of celebration in Nimo as parishioners of Our Lady of Assumption, Nimo, in Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State, including friends and well-wishers, converged to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Church as a parish since creation in 1951 by the then Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev Charles Heerey.
The historic event which took place on Sunday, September 6, 2026, also came with a pastoral visit by the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor.
The double celebration which began with a Holy Mass during which Bishop Ezeokafor administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 196 Candidates, attracted a number of priests among whom were the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Fr Charles Ndubisi; the Education Secretary of the Diocese, Rev Fr Maximus Okonkwo; the Bursar of the Diocese, Rev Fr Nicodemus Izuchukwu; and the Dean, Nimo Deanery, Rev Fr Alfred Anazodo, as well as other dignitaries who included the Director, Catholic Women’s Organization, CWO, of the Diocese, Lady Ngozi Muo; the member representing Njikoka II Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr Jude Akpua; and the Executive Chairman, Njikoka LGA, Hon Dominic Ononuba.
Speaking in a homily, the Bishop expressed satisfaction with both the spiritual and infrastructural growth of the Church, and thanked the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Shedrach Anunwa, as well as his predecessors, for his service.
Bishop Ezeokafor, who described the event as a big celebration, thanked God for His grace upon the Church throughout the 75 years, and the parishioners, for their support to their priests.
Reflecting on the spirit of the universal celebration of the day, ”The World Day of Prayer for Care for Creation”, the Prelate admonished the Nimo Catholic faithful to strive to preserve creations, and make their environment a better place of living for common good.
’As a creation that bears image of God, we should strive to preserve all creations, preserve the world we live in, and preserve lives in it, especially that of human beings,’ the Bishop told the faithful, urging them to avoid abortion of any form which he rated as the greatest crime against creation.
While briefing them on the outcome of his interactions with their stakeholders, Bishop Ezeokafor advised the parishioners of Our Lady of Assumption to comply with the Anambra State Burial Law and the burial regulations of Awka Diocese for the good of the common people in society.
The Bishop who further warned the parishioners to shun neo-paganism, thanked them for their support to Peter University, Achina-Onneh, appealing for more support to the University for it to survive.
In an interview with Fides, the Parish Priest of the Church, Rev Fr Anunwa, expressed gratitude to the Prelate for what he described as his fatherly love the Church enjoyed, praying God to continue blessing him with good health and wisdom for continuity of his good work for the Diocese.
Fr Anunwa who said the event was to thank God for His grace and blessings upon the Church since 1951 till date, expressed gratitude to the parishioners and other individuals for their support, making special mention of the Father of the Day, Sir J. C. Odike, and the Aniedebe Family.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Sir Toochukwu Chidobelu, praised the individuals who contributed to the establishment and development of the Church, especially Fr Anunwa, whom he described as a great silent achiever.
While having a chat with Fides, Sir Chidobelu, an illustrious son of Nimo, decried the wave of neo-paganism in present society.
Noting that the Church was the root of Nimo, he urged the Nimo youth who had gone astray to return to God for their salvation.
In an address of welcome read by the immediate past President of the CWO of the Church, Mrs Maureen Mbuba, during a reception, Our Lady of Assumption parishioners also lamented what they described as the increasing rate of paganism in the community, and appealed to Bishop Ezeokafor to help them.
They thanked him for creating the Nimo Region and making their Church the headquarters; deployment of dedicated, workaholic priests to the Church; among others.
Our Lady of Assumption parishioners further thanked the Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese for ‘his numerous projects’, making special mention of the General Hospital, Nimo; St Michael’s Technical School, Nimo; Peter University, Achina-Onneh, among others, even as they prayed God to continue blessing him with good health, wisdom, and all it took for the continuity of his good service to the Diocese.
A special rendition by Cecilia Choir of the Church, and acrobatic performance by Umumma Women’s Cultural Dance Troupe, Iruaraba Nimo, added glamour to the epoch-making event, which also featured the blessing of a multi-million Naira ultramodern podium built by the CWO of the Church.