Parishes, Chaplaincies, and Mass Centres with Highest Number of Cows in their Grades 1 to 10 in the Last Cathedraticum Receive Awards
By Daruwana Daku and Ebube Edieh
The last phase of Awka Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting was held last Saturday at the Arch Bishop A.K. Obiefunna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The meeting which was attended by parish priests, heads of Catholic institutions, Laity Council members and Vice Chairmen of respective parishes within the diocese, was chaired by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, His lordship, Most. Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor. The Bishop, in his opening remarks, appreciated and welcomed all participants for being present.
As the meeting was held to receive reports from parishes and institutions under the diocese, it also had the Anambra Burial Law, Nazareth Formation Centre, Isiagu and the 2024 Cathedraticum reports and awards as top of its agenda.
The Bishop who is passionate on modest and befitting burials, spoke unequivocally on the issues surrounding the Anambara Burial Law which, according to him, was already prepared and implemented in the diocese. While noting that he respected the position of the state in their support in making sure the Burial Law was adhered to by all and sundry, Bishop Ezeokofor also noted in appreciation, the efforts of the Governor of the state, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, with adherence to the Law.
He further said that the Governor, during his late father’s burial, showed good example by holding a simple and modest funeral. The priests reacted in adherence to the burial laws while they were enjoined to comply in their respective parishes.
One of the top issues also raised in the meeting was the Nazareth Formation Centre that has become one of the hallmark projects of Bishop Ezeokafor in celebrating his 40th Priestly Anniversary. Bishop Ezeokafor in reaction to the need of a formation, espoused that the project had been gulping a lot of money that had run into millions of Naira.
Even though he maintained that the diocese had not been bothered financially in the building of the project, a call on free will donation from parishes and church organizations was spearheaded by the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hillary Ben Ezenwa and the Parish Priest of St. Francis Parish Enugu-Ukwu, Rev. Fr Peter Val Obieze.
Parish priests and their Vice Chairmen contributed in support to the Nazareth Formation Centre in Isiagu.
The meeting also availed the Bishop the opportunity to appreciate parishes for their continuous contributions towards the 2024 Cathedraticum, noting that even in difficult moments, the parishes proved themselves in participating actively to the success of this year’s Catheraditcum
As awards were presented in the order of diocesan, regional, and parish positions, the list of awards was reeled out on the performance of parishes and institutions under the diocese.
St. Mary’s Awka came first in this year’s diocesan simple positioning with 260 cows, while with 220 and 150 cows, Ave Maria Parish, Nawfia and St. Theresa’s Parish Enugu-Ukwu, followed in the second and third positions respectively.
Also Awka, Adazi and Nimo Regions came first, second and third in the regional positions, while the parish positions were partitioned in grades, with St. Mary’s Awka again taking the lead with 260 cows to come first in Grade 1, just as St. Patrick’s Awka (90 Cows) and St. Andrews Adazi Nnukwu (77 cows) came second and third respectively.
However, in the Grade 2 category, with 80 cows, St. Thomas Aquinas came first, while St. Anthony’s Enugu-Ukwu and St. John’s Neni, came second and third with 65 and 55 cows.
Enugu-Ukwu’s St. Theresa’s took the lead with 150 cows, just as St. Paul’s Abba came second with 100 cows and St. Matthew’s, third with 45 cows.
In Grade 4, St. Joseph’s Umawulu secured the first position with 4 cows while Queen of All Hearts Aguluzigbo and Our Lady of Assumption Nimo came second and third.
Akwaeze’s St. Michael’s Parish came first with 76 cows in grade 5 while in the second and third positions were St. Augustine’s Ichida (62 cows) and St. Anthony’s Awka (60 cows). Additionally, with 60 cows, St. Rita’s Ichida were placed first and St. Francis Awka, together with St. Peter’s Awka, came second and third with 50 and 33 cows respectively.
Interestingly, Ave Maria Parish Nawfia came first, while Amawbia’s St. Joseph’s and Akwaeze’s St. Gregory’s had a close race, coming second and third in Grade 7.
Also Awka’s Sacred Heart Chaplaincy took the first position with 27 cows, while St. Mary’s Neni and St. Joseph’s Nri tied in the second place with 22 cows. The third place with 20 cows went to Agulu’s St. Martin’s Parish.
In Grade 9, Holy Family Achalla took the first position with 30 cows, while St. Joseph’s Awgbu followed with 12 cows to make the second position. However, St. Benedict’s Enugwu-Ukwu; St. Michael’s Nawgu; St. Albert the Great, Amansea; St. Raphael’s Okpuno; Sacred Heart, Adazi Ani; St. Theresa’s Mbaukwu; and Our lady of Victory Amansea, all tied with 10 cows in the third position.
Ezinato Chaplaincy were positioned first with 70 cows in the Grade 10 category. This was even as St. Lawrence Awka and Regina Caeli Family came second and third place with 32 and 20 cows respectively.
The awards and recognition were also given to mission schools within the diocese. And in the mission school position, St. Patrick’s College, Awka came first with 31 cows, while St. John of God Secondary School Awka, came a close second with 30 cows. Additionally, Tansi College Awka and Loretto Special Secondary School, Adazi Nnukwu, both tied in the third position with 25 cows each.
The Bishop appreciated those whose efforts were visibly seen and encouraged others to continue to strive in making their mark towards the growth of the diocese.
Highlights of the meeting included presentation of awards, breaking of kola nuts and photographs.
