Fides Media Living the Faith
…Onyekachukwu Odogwu Donates One
By Precious Ukeje
The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Most Rev. Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, has blessed a renovated grotto of Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM), at St Anthony’s Parish, Amansea. Bishop Ezeokafor at the August 7, 2021 Event, also blessed a beautiful new grotto of BVM that was built and donated to Our Lady of Victory Outstation, Egbeagu, of St Anthony’s Parish by Onyekachukwu Titus Odogwu.
Fides gathered that the blessing of the two grottos of Holy Mother Mary in the parish was the first of its kind in the Catholic Diocese of Awka.
Speaking shortly after he blessed the grotto at St Anthony’s Parish, Amansea, Bishop Ezeokafor, who was visibly joyous, described the two grottos which were blessed same day as a sign of double blessings to the parish.
At Egbeagu where he arrived in heavy rain and performed the rites for the blessings from inside the church auditorium, the bishop charged parishioners not to be deterred by the rain which he described as a sign of blessing.
The Catholic prelate commended the donor of the new grotto, Mr Odogwu, for the donation, which, he said, was worthwhile. According to him, the donor had with the grotto, provided an ideal and solemn place of prayer for the people to commune with God and have close relationship with Holy Mother Mary.
Bishop Ezeokafor urged the parishioners to take advantage of the two grottos for their spiritual growth and wellbeing.
Earlier, when he handed over the grotto to the bishop for blessing, the donor, Mr Onyekachukwu Odogwu, said the donation was in gratitude to God for his many blessings on his family through the intercession of Holy Mother Mary. He added that the Grotto of BVM was also to provide a convenient place of prayer for the people of his community. According to him, the people of his village often trekked a long distance to St Anthony’s Parish, Amansea, to pray at the grotto, and noted that the new BVM Grotto was also to reduce difficulties for the people.
Odogwu who also donated some chaplets to the parishioners, stated his conviction that the grotto would bring light to the community and their families, and that God would use him to execute more projects in the church. He prayed God to sustain him and his family in healthy, long life.
In his remarks, the Parish Priest, St Anthony’s Parish, Amansea, Rev. Fr Cornelius Anene, appreciated the diocesan bishop for his availability at their parish for the blessing. Fr Anene, who is also Dean, Ugwuoba Deanery, appreciated Odogwu for the gift of the grotto..