Fides Media Living the Faith
…Church Dedication becomes Solemnity in the Parish – Bishop Ezeokafor
By CP Uzoaganobi
Christ the King Catholic Church, Adazi-Nnukwu, in Anaocha LGA, Anambra State, was dedicated to God as a holy place of worship and adoration by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
The Holy Mass of the second Sunday of Easter, marked as Divine Mercy Sunday, was presided over by Bishop Ezeokafor alongside a host of other priests.
The church dedication was also followed the consecration of the Grotto of Jesus on the cross; blessing and sprinkling of holy water to attract the presence of God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit; Litany of the Saints; anointing and blessing of the Altar and Pillars of the Church; incensing of the altar and the church; and lighting of candles.
During the Homily, Bishop Ezeokafor pointed out how remarkable it was for a church to be dedicated and informed the parishioners that it was now a solemnity in the parish. More so, the Bishop emphasized the need for a true Christian Life to be a reflection of the beauty of the church building, noting that ‘our body is the temple of God’.
The Bishop further encouraged the lay faithful to continue to invest in the things of God and also thanked everyone present, including the priests, both past and present who have worked in the parish, to the entire parishioners, especially those who put in their resources in the building of the church.
The Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Fabian Bielu, in his words of appreciation, thanked his Lordship, Bishop Ezeokafor, for his continuous presence in the growth of the parish, starting from the creation of the parish in 1999, till date. He further extended his appreciation to the engineers and exhorted the Bishop to thank the lay faithful for their consistent contribution to the growth of the parish and the Church in general.
Speaking to Fides, the former Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Fabian Bielu disclosed that Christ the king Parish was the second parish created from St Andrew’s Parish before the creation of St Joseph the Worker Parish from the presently dedicated parish, all in Adazi-Nnukwu.
Chief Engr. Theodore Ezekwe, the chairman of the occasion, in his remarks, thanked the Parish Priest on his plan of rebranding old structures, which he said, added to the new outlook of the parish. He charged the parishioners not to cease their support to the parish.
The event was graced by the Chancellor, Rev Fr. Charles Ndubisi; the Episcopal Vicar, Adazi region Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Anike; the Dean of Adazi Deanery, Rev Fr. Sylvester Uchenna; the past Parish Priests, Rev Fr. Sebastian Anokwulu; Rev Fr. Bartholomew Onuorah; and Rev Fr. Malachy Ezeonyiwara, a host of indigenous priests, Reverend sisters and traditional chiefs.
