… Commissions Magnificent Grotto of Mother of Perpetual Help
By Michael Nnebife
It was a day of rejoicing for the Catholic faithful at Isuaniocha in Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State, as the parishioners of Christ the King Church, including their friends and well-wishers, converged to receive the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, on a pastoral visit after seven years of such in the Parish.
‎The historic event which took place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, featured the blessing of a magnificent Grotto of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, administration of the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation to 500 candidates, among others.
‎Present at the epoch-making event were a number of priests, who included the Chancellor of Awka Diocese, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi, as well as top government officials, who included the member representing Awka North and South Constituency in the House of Representatives, Prof Lilian Orogbu, among others.
‎Delivering a homily during the Holy Mass celebrated in Igbo and Latin, Bishop Ezeokafor advised the Isuaniocha Christ the King parishioners, to work hard in order to meet Jesus Christ on the last day, as he noted that no one knew the time of Christ’s Second Coming.
‎’So, in our lives, let’s prepare; always be vigilant, and ready to meet Him whenever He comes,’ he urged them, saying that an end was the most important in everything, especially in their lives as Christians.
‎Emphasizing the importance of wisdom, the Bishop further advised the Christ the King parishioners to seek, acquire and nurture wisdom for everlasting life in heaven and better life on earth.
‎He thanked them for their efforts in the development of their Parish, urging them to revisit the building plan of their hall and make more effort to ensure the Parish would be at par with its contemporaries.
‎The Chief Shepherd of Awka Diocese, who further thanked the Isuaniocha Christ the king faithful for their support to the Diocese, prayed that his visit would be fruitful in their lives for their salvation.
‎The Bishop, who expressed belief that the votes of Nigerians would count in the forthcoming General Elections, advised the electorate in the South East, particularly Anambra State, to ignore individuals campaigning against an Igbo man becoming a president now.
‎In his remarks, the Christ the King Parish Priest, Rev Fr Jude Nwankwo, appreciated Bishop Ezeokafor for what he described as his fatherly love and support to the Parish.
‎While speaking with Fides, Fr Nwankwo who is four months old in the Parish as Parish Priest, expressed readiness to uplift the Parish to next level.
‎’By the grace of God, we’ll be talking of the dedication of the church. But before that, we’ll erect a tower and a hall, which are the two important things.
‎’When we get them ready, we began to talk of the dedication of the church because it’s long overdue,’ Nwankwo said.
‎He told Fides that the parishes at Urum and Mgbakwu that were carved out from Christ the King’s Parish, Isuaniocha, had dedicated their churches.
‎’So, how can we remain like this? Parents pray that their children will be more successful than them, but not in this regard.
‎’We must wake up from slumber. Within next three years, we’ll dedicate this church to God,’ the Christ the King Parish Priest affirmed.
‎In their address of welcome during the second part of the event, the Christ the King parishioners told the success story of their Parish after its silver jubilee in 2010.
‎’Christ the King Parish, Isuaniocha, has experienced remarkable, spiritual, infrastructural and administrative growth, under the guidance of successive pastoral teams and the leadership of the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor.
‎’Major highlights of this contemporary era included the ordination of Rev Fr Emmanuel Ilodigwe, Final Profession of Rev Srs Virginia Ebele Ezeani, Elizabeth Oranusi, Nneamaka Maduka, as well as Theresa Okoye, and completion and blessing of the magnificent Mother of Perpetual Help Grotto.
‎’Today, 500 of our children received the fullness of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation.
‎’Our Christ the King College, Isuaniocha, has grown significantly, currently accommodating a vibrant community of over 500 students,’ the Christ the king parishioners said, among others, and appreciated their guests, for finding out time to come and rejoice with them.
‎Special renditions by St Cecilia Choir of Christ the king Parish, and entertainment by the Altar Girls Association of the Parish, added glamour to the second part of the event, in which the various statutory and pious organizations, as well as zones and individual families in the Parish, took turns to present gift items to Bishop Ezeokafor in support of his episcopal service.‎
