By Chinenye Dike
On the 9th of February 2025, the St. Ann Parish, Ndiagu Amaechi, Maryland, Enugu, held the dedication ceremony of its new church building, the blessing of their grotto, parish hall, and office. The event, which began with a Holy Mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Calistus Onaga with Very Rev. Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie, the diocesan chancellor, and other priests concelebrating, witnessed a large gathering of parishioners, guests, and well wishers.
In a homily by the Bishop, he emphasized on faith, unity, and commitment. The homily, titled “Oneness and Faith Commitment,” reflected on the significance of the church as a place of worship and a symbol of God’s presence.
His Lordship acknowledged the extraordinary achievement of completing and dedicating St. Ann Church within one year and eight months, making it one the fastest-built churches in Enugu Diocese.
He commended Rev. Fr. Arinze Madu for his hard work and dedication to making sure the church was completed in a short time highlighting that it is a rare occurrence for a particular priest to begin the foundation, complete, and dedicate a church. This success was attributed to the diligence and support of the parishioners.
The homily centered on Jesus cleansing the temple, where he drove out traders and declared, “Destroy this temple, and I will rebuild it in three days.” The Jews misunderstood this statement, as they believed in the physical temple as the dwelling place of God. However, Jesus was referring to his death and resurrection, teaching that true worship should be in spirit and truth rather than being confined to material structures.
Bishop Onaga pointed out that the church serves multiple roles: a Place of Worship, a Symbol of Faith, a House of Sacraments – the place for Eucharistic celebrations, baptisms, confessions, and marriages, a classless assembly, and a Center for Spiritual Growth, where sinners reconcile with God and receive grace and mercy to carry on their faith journey.
His Lordship further, distinguished between traditional churches (notable for their elaborate architectural designs and long-term construction) and functional churches (built quickly and efficiently for practical worship). The Bishop praised St. Ann for constructing a functional church within a short period, ensuring that worshippers had a place to serve God.
The Bishop reminded parishioners that the church is their responsibility and should be maintained with care. He urged the congregation, especially the mothers, to ensure cleanliness in the church. More importantly, he stressed that each individual is a temple of God and should strive to remain spiritually pure.
In a welcome address presented by the Vice-Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council, Chief Aaron Agwata, he expressed immense joy and gratitude for the occasion, stating that the dedication of the new church marked a significant milestone in the spiritual and communal life of the parish.
Agwata recalled that St. Ann Parish was established in January 2011 by Bishop CVC Onaga, with Rev. Fr. Richard Okafor as the first parish priest. He noted that Fr. Okafor’s leadership laid a strong foundation for the parish, setting a standard of growth and development before his transfer in 2016. He further stated that Rev. Fr. Josephat Nwatu took over in 2016 and served until 2020, contributing immensely to the progress of the parish.
Speaking on the present leadership, he reported that the parish had been under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Arinze Madu since 2020. He commended Fr. Arinze’s leadership and dedication, emphasizing that his tenure had brought remarkable progress. Under his administration, the parish had witnessed significant infrastructural development, including the construction of a parish house, the establishment of a chapel, the construction of a church at the Outstation, building of a pipe-born water project for the community and the creation of two new Mass centers. Most notably, the completion of the new church building in less than two years was highlighted as a testament to the unity and determination of the parish community.
Chief Agwata acknowledged the contributions of parishioners, friends, and benefactors, stating that their financial support, prayers, and voluntary efforts had been invaluable to the success of the project. He extended special appreciation to Rev. Fr. Arinze Madu for his tireless efforts and to Bishop CVC Onaga for his guidance and encouragement. He noted that the bishop’s decision to send Fr. Arinze to the parish had been instrumental in achieving these great milestones. The parishioners presented gifts of appreciation to the Bishop welcoming him to their parish.
In conclusion, he expressed hope that the new church would serve as a place of worship, fellowship, and community service for generations to come. He prayed that St. Ann Parish would continue to be a beacon of faith and unity. The ceremony ended with prayers and blessings for the continued growth of the parish.
His Lordship expressed appreciation to the parish priest and parishioners of St. Ann Parish and urged them to be dedicated and lead good lives.
The highlights of the event were the signing and presentation of the Church certificate, the blessing of the grotto, the blessing of the parish hall and parish office (named after the former parish priests) , and the confirmation of about hundred candidates.
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