… Urged to Live Out Faith, March Forward to God
By Micheal Nnebife and Jessica Akubueze
It was a celebration like no other on Saturday October 25, 2025, at Akwaeze in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, as the Akwaeze Catholic Faithful, including their friends and well-wishers, trooped out en masse to mark 100 years of Catholicism in the community.
The historic event began on Friday, October 24, with Holy Masses separately celebrated at Mpegbunam’s, Ibeabuchi’s and Ndiadito’s compounds, the first three places, those who brought the Catholic Church to the community in 1916 touched before taking off the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the community.
Present at the event, which the Parish Priest, St Michael’s, Akwaeze, Rev Fr Barth Onuorah, described as not just a celebration but also a solemn awareness creation to tell the world that Catholicism had taken its pride of place at Akwaeze, were the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor; the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi; numerous other religious men and women who had served in the community; the Traditional Ruler of the community, Igwe Christopher Okpala, with his cabinet members; the President General of the community, Nze Osita Udemba; among others.
Speaking in a homily during a Holy Mass heralding the grand finale of the epoch-making event which took place at St Michael’s Magnificent Church Building, Bishop Ezeokafor extolled the level of both spiritual and physical growth of the Catholic Church in the community.
The Bishop who presided over the Mass, admonished the Akwaeze Catholic faithful to strive to live out their faith in God so as to celebrate in heaven on the last day.
While condemning the wave of neo-paganism, especially among the youth, the Prelate charged the Akwaeze Catholic faithful to continue to move forward to the Lord, and never to revert to pagan practices, which, he said, even their forefathers rejected to embrace Christianity.
Bishop Ezeokafor reminded them that even though Christianity came from West to Africa, it remained the best among other religions in the world.
He expressed gratitude to the Akwaeze Catholic faithful, especially those of them who were supporting and investing their property for the development of the Church in the community.
In his remarks, the Parish Priest, St Gregory’s, Akwaeze, Rev Fr Martin Nwakaeze, expressed gratitude to the Bishop for his fatherly support the Akwaeze Catholic Community enjoyed.
Fr Nwakaeze said the Catholic Church brought development to Akwaeze and made it an exemplary community in Anaocha LGA in particular and Anambra State at large.
Nwakaeze applauded the Akwaeze Catholic Faithful for their devotion to the service to God.
Recalling that the Centenary Celebration was supposed to have come in 2016, he thanked and commended the Parish Priest of St Michael’s, Fr Onuorah, whom, he said, made giant strides to ensure that the celebration took place.
Speaking with Fides shortly after the second part of the grand finale, Fr Onuorah said the Catholic Church came with light and transformation of not just the spiritual life, but also material life of the People of Akwaeze, totally eliminating morally repugnant practices.
Onuorah, who said the idea for the Centenary Celebration was to create awareness that the Catholic Church had taken its pride of place in Akwaeze, expressed the belief that after the celebration, many youths would have a rethink and embrace Christianity.
He commended the Akwaeze Catholic Faithful for upholding their faith, and admonished many others, whom, he said, were pretending to be Christians, to practice the teachings of the Church in spirit and in truth for their personal salvation.
In an address of welcome, the Secretary, Akwaeze Central Pastoral Council and Centenary Committee, Nze Henry Uzochukwu, said the Catholic Church came into the community in 1916 AD through the late Chief Ezechukwu Ezewulu of Umuezeani Akwaeze.
According to the Secretary, since then, the Akwaeze Catholic Adherents began to strive to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ across Akwaeze Community.
He said that in 1987, St Michael’s Catholic Church, Akwaeze, became a full-fledged parish in Awka Diocese, and its church building dedicated in 2012.
Nze Uzochukwu added that in the year 2015, Akwaeze got a second parish, St Gregory’s, Akwaeze, through the encouragement, prayers and support of Bishop Ezeokafor.
He told the Bishop and all the guests who graced the event that both the former and present priests working in Akwaeze were doing well to ensure the Catholic faith progressed in leaps and bounds in the community.
Speaking with Fides, two former Parish Priests in Akwaeze, Rev Fr Peter Eche, the pioneer Parish Priest in the community; and Rev Fr Joseph Nwilo, assessed the development of Catholicism in the community.
Fr Eche rated the development of Catholicism at Akwaeze excellently high, both spiritually and physically, with the number of the adherents and the indigenous priests increasing satisfactorily.
For his part, Fr Nwilo said that Akwaeze Catholic Faithful were church-loving and minded people as good Christians, stressing that they had taken a giant stride in the development of the Church in their community.
Nwilo and Eche however, advised those that had fallen to idolatry and neo-paganism to come back to the Catholic Church for the salvation of their souls and more development in the community.
Contributing, the Chairman, Planning Committee, Mr JohnBosco Ezeanyanwu, who described the event as a great occasion, said the celebration showed that Christianity in Akwaeze was no longer a new system but had grown in leaps and bounds.
He told Fides that the Catholic Church in Akwaeze engaged in house-to-house evangelization, preaching to the youth to shun neo-paganism for the salvation of their souls.
In separate interviews with Fides, the President General of the community, Nze Udemba, and the Spokesperson of Igwe Okpala’s Cabinet Council, Chief Anthony Anwusi, affirmed that Christianity brought love, unity, peace and development to Akwaeze.
Emphasizing that Akwaeze had been rooted in Christianity, Nze Udemba and Chief Anwusi expressed optimism that more blessings of Christianity were on the way to Akwaeze.
The community leaders condemned neo-paganism, advising the fallen youth to come back to the Catholic Church for the salvation of their souls.
Among the highlights of the historic event chaired by Chief Sir Ikenna Okafor, represented by his wife, were planting of a centenary tree, and symbolic releasing of a pigeon, signifying the liberation of the people from the shackles of paganism.
Cultural dance performances by the Block Rosary, St Gregory’s, and the Holy Childhood Association, St Michael’s, both of Akwaeze, added glamour to the event, which also attracted the presence of the Akwaeze Anglican Community led by the Rev Canon Royce Umezuluorah of St Andrew’s Church, Akwaeze.
