By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
Rev. Fr. Dr. Raphael Azubuike Onyekwelu, the Chaplain to the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has built and donated a Chapel of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State, in loving memory of his late mother, Madam Martina Chimezie Onyekwelu. The Chapel was blessed and commissioned by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, on Saturday, October 31, 2026, after a solemn Pontifical Mass presided over by Bishop Ezeokafor.
The generous gesture by Fr. Onyekwelu stands as a lasting tribute to his late mother, Madam Martina Chimezie Onyekwelu and a significant contribution to the spiritual life of the parish and the Diocese, providing a dedicated place for the faithful to encounter Christ Jesus in Eucharistic adoration.
Addressing the congregation, Fr. Onyekwelu said he embarked on the project as a way of immortalizing his late mother, as well building a place that would provide solemn supplication to God Almighty. “I want the people of my parish to have a place where they can encounter Jesus Christ”, Fr. Onyekwelu who is the second indigenous priest of Amansea said. He took time to thank Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor, whom he described as a caring father. He thanked the over 150 priests who graced the occasion and all the people from all walks of life.
Similarly, he thanked Primus Ugochukwu Odili and Rt. Hon. Dozie Nwankwo whom he said supported significantly in the building of the chapel. He also thanked the governor, Prof. Charles Soludo for all his numerous support and services to the state. “The governor is a man who listens and he is humane”, Fr. Onyekwelu explained.
Earlier in his homily the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, emphasized the importance of Eucharistic Chapel. He described the Eucharist as the source and summit of everything done in the Catholic Church and that a Catholic who does not appreciate the value in the Eucharist is not a complete Catholic.
He therefore thanked Fr. Onyekwelu for the unique gesture of facilitating the building of a chapel where God’s people will always encounter Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The Prelate stated that with God dwells in the Chapel and He does not hesitate to answer prayers said with faith to Him. He also used the opportunity to admonish Nigerians to think inwardly and ensure that the right things were done during, before and after the election.
Speaking at the occasion, the parish priest of St. Anthony’s Amansea, Rev. Fr. Clement Muozoba, recalled that initially the chapel was started by Uche Ndubisi who could not finish it before he died. The project, according to Fr. Muozoba was abandoned for a very long time, leading to dilapidation of the building.
“Though the money spent in starting an entirely new chapel would have been less, Fr. Onyekwelu agreed to start on the same site, to maintain that history and to honour his mother”, Fr. Muozoba explained. He thanked Fr. Onyekwelu for his good heart and great donation to the parish which he noted would surely uplift the hearts of the parishioners and all who come there to pray.
The occasion attracted an impressive gathering of over 170 priests, religious men and women, government dignitaries and other distinguished guests, including the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, who attended as a Special Guest of Honour; the Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Professor Mrs. Kate Omenugha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Chukwuma Peter Anigbogu of Amansea and other dignitaries.
Speaking, the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Soludo, appreciated the Bishop for his impactful homily and his work in the diocese and the state. He also thanked Fr. Onyekwelu for facilitating the project. “My Chaplain, Fr. Onyekwelu is one of the smartest, most committed Reverend Fathers I have ever met”, Mr. Governor said. He therefore thanked the bishop for allowing him to serve as his chaplain.
Blessing, prayers, group photograph, speeches, exchange of pleasantries, interactions formed the highlights of the event.
