Fides Media Living the Faith
…He is known for his humility, Obedience and Service- Fr Chidume
By Mercy Hill , Adejumoke Alebiosu and Sophia Ugwuoke
Friday, 7th January, 2022 was an exceptional day of joy and thanksgiving to God at St. Mary’s Parish, Neni, as the Dean of Neni Deanery and parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Very Rev. Fr Henry Obijiofor Ezeobi, popularly called Lord Mayor, celebrated twenty-five years of his priestly journey.
Fr Ezeobi who was ordained a Catholic priest in 1996 alongside twenty-five others by the then Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Simon Akwali Okafor of blessed memory, was born at Achina in Aguata LGA of Anambra State.
Leading in the concelebrated thanksgiving Mass, Fr Ezeobi quoted 1 Timothy 1 vs 12, explaining that God’s grace had been at the centre of his vocation.
In his homily during the Mass, the Chancellor of Awka Diocese, Rev Fr Francis Chidume, said that a priest was a Godlike being whose responsibility was always to protect the flock entrusted in his care. As such, he said that every priest should be able to take up tasks in humility and cater for their flock.
Talking on thanksgiving, Fr Chidume called for a life of thanksgiving in gratitude to God for His ever-sustaining grace.
For the jubilarian, the chancellor extolled him for his simplicity, obedience to the Church and dedication to the service of God and humanity.
He encouraged the celebrant to never relent in his good work, given the testimonies at his various places of apostolate and prayed for more strength for Fr Ezeobi to continue being fruitful in God’s vineyard. He went further to advise him to continue living an exemplary live worthy of emulation as he prayed for continued backing of the Holy spirit.
In his vote thanks, the jubilarian said it was the strength of God that had kept him going in his journey to priesthood. In a special way, he appreciated Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, Bishop of Awka Diocese; the Bishop of Ekwulobia, Peter Okpalaeke, and Bishop Albert Obiefuna of blessed memory and others who had been instrumental to his priestly formation.
At the second phase of the event, the chairman of the event, Chief Dr Anthony Anadi, noted that Rev Fr Ezeobi had been very instrumental to the growth of the parish and had affected lives within and outside the state. He welcomed in a special way, dignitaries who had attended from all walks of life.