…Administers the Sacrament of Confirmation and Blesses Fathers’ Rectory
By Deborah Chinyelum and R.A Yakubu (Wise)
His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, has paid a pastoral visit to Blessed Iwene Tansi Parish, Ebenebe, for the confirmation of candidates and opening of the Rectory.
Bishop Ezeokafor who visited the parish, August 30, 2025 stressed the need for love in the Church. During his homily, he said that being part of the Church was greater than being part of ones biological family.
‘The water of Baptism is thicker than the blood of birth. As you are born in a family, after Baptism, you enter another family. You enter the family of Christ,’ he elaborated. He went further to say that the family in the Church was a glimpse of how heaven would be as it was the family of God here on earth.
He told them to love the Church, adding that when they loved the Church, they would be hungry to see the Church move forward. According to Bishop Ezeokafor God created the world out of love and even when man went astray, he sent his son, Jesus, to save the world, and Jesus, out of love for humanity, accepted to die for their sins. He described this as the greatest expression of love, even as he emphasized that it was important to have love for the Church. Having love and understanding towards the Church would help you to follow Christ well.
The Bishop recalled the suffering of Christ; His prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane for the cup to pass away from him, while maintaining that God’s will be done.
Bishop Ezeokafor therefore charged the Congregation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, noting that whoever was part of the body of Christ should be prepared to carry their cross; even as he exhorted them to follow the teachings of the Church.
The Bishop appreciated the 118 confirmation candidates f and spoke about laying a good foundation for children. He said that the reason children got involved in vices was because they had not been given proper training and charged parents not to leave the training of their children to the school or Church as they can only offered help.
The bulk of the training of children rested on the parents and charged parents Bishop Ezeokafor said to allow their children be involved in church activities, explaining that doing otherwise meant they were pushing their children to the world.
He appreciated the parish for their work so far, including the completion of their Rectory, comparing the present structures with the structure in place the last time he had visited. He praised Mr Linus Williams Ifejirika (B-lord) in absentia, and everyone who had contributed so far, while stating that there was still room for improvement as there were still many things to be done.
The prelate asked everyone to contribute their own quota, noting that nothing was too small, just as he said nobody should look down on themselves but should rather do according to their capacity.
‘Let it not be left for one person alone, and nobody should be a spectator. All hands must be on deck,’ he stated.
Bishop Ezeokafor spoke about the Anambra State Burial Law enacted in 2019 and told the Church to abide by the laws, pointing out that the law was not made by him, but by the state for their own good, and to relieve them of unnecessary expenses made on funeral rites.
He asked that the Church to support the Bishop’s work in Awka Diocese, and help build Peter University, apealing to those who had made promises to keep their promises. He pleaded that parents take training their children seriously.
The Parish Priest, Fr. Christian Okafor, appreciated the Bishop for visiting the Parish a second time. He also thanked the Bishop’s entourage, Fr. Charles Ndubisi (the Chancellor); Fr. Everistus Iheanachọ (the Bishop’s Secretary); Fr. Constantine Okoli (the Assistant Secretary); the Dean Fr. Tony Mbọnu; as well as the Diocesan M.C.
He also appreciated the Catholic Women’s Organization (CWO); the catechists; Fides Media; and everyone present.
During an interview with Fides the Parish Priest, Fr. Christian Okafor, said that the Bishop’s visit meant a lot to the Parish, as he looked forward to positive fruits from the visit. He also said the Bishop’s visit afforded some of the parishioners the opportunity to see the Bishop as it was their first time of doing so.
Mrs Leticia Ozor, a member of the CWO, Ebenebe Deanery, told Fides that she was full of joy for the visit, while hoping that the visit of the Bishop would strengthen the faith of some whose faith had weakened.
There were award presentations and dance performances as the event drew to a close.
