Bennett Iwu’s grand children immortalize him with feast of St Patrick
By Everest Ezihe, Ahiazu Mbaise
Chief Bennett Iwu, the Onyekuma 1 of Umuokirika in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State died 17 years ago at the age of 96 years as a great philanthropist and ardent believer in the ideals and virtues of Saint Patrick, a fifth century Romano-British christian missionary and Bishop of Ireland, popularly known as the ” Apostle of Ireland” and a Patron Saint of Catholic christian faith.
Iwu a veteran of the second world war, was a man of many parts and philantropy personified with an inordinate passion in hosting and celebrating the feast of Saint Patrick’s, his role model.
Thus, in 1944 while serving at the war as a trained nurse in Naples, Italy he became the first young man to ever donate two pounds two shillings to St. Patrick’s School Umuokirika Ekwereazu in today’s Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State and consolidated his love and progress of the church and the school by further donation of an Atlas Map of the world, pump and football to the famous school on arrival from the war in 1946.
It’s pertinent to recall that, before this philantropic icon joined his Creator and ancestors in March 2007, the same month his ideal Saint is been celebrated globally, he persistently unleashed his Philanthropic gestures to the annual celebrations of his cherished Patron Saint Feast especially at his ancestral parish, St Patrick Catholic Parish, Ekwereazu Ahiazu Mbaise.
However, as if it was a will, but for the sake of sustaining one of the ideals of their father and grand father who showered them with fatherly love, since the demise of the deceased, his 8 children and now his 30 grand children have taken the annual responsibilities of an improved hosting and sponsorship of the feast just to immortalize their father and grand father.
Last Sunday was 2024 celebration of the Feast of St. Patrick and as expected, the grand children of late Chief Bennett Iwu, the Onyekuma 1 of Umuokirika took it upon themselves and invested some millions of Naira in organizing, hosting and celebration of the Patron Saint at St Patrick Catholic Parish, Ekwereazu Ahiazu Mbaise.
The church witnessed unprecedented attendance even though the program began with 8 am Mass with a sermon from the Biblical books of Jeremiah 37: 12-14, Hebrew 5:7-9 and John 12 vs 26 and was officiated by Rev. Fr. Valentine Anyanwu, the Priest in residence who extolled the virtues of the Patron Saint.
Anyanwu cautioned against the mixture of catholic believes with pentecostalism and enjoined the congregations to be foolish in things of God by sowing seeds of commitments in protection of Christianity as a religion like their forefathers did, using late Bennett Iwu as a reference point.
He also advised them on the need to do good always noting that man is accountable to all his deeds and there’s an everlasting life with God even as he criticized wickedness and stingness.
Adding his voice, Rev. Fr. Ethelbert Uwadoka, the Parish Priest while thanking the congregation for their faith and attendance, also applauded the children and grand children of the deceased for their persistency in sponsoring the feast .
Uwadoka announced that the grand children sent in one million Naira for the church hall project, took responsibilities for the sponsorship of the Parish Secondary School debate, football competitions among primary schools, exhibition of cultural dances, parades, athletics and entertainment of all and sundry, prayed for God’s abundant blessings upon them.
The service was melodious and spirit filled as the choir displayed angelic voices that thrilled the congregation into jubilation and happiness.
Earlier Mr. Cajetan Iwu, the third son of the deceased and an astute politician noted that St. Patrick Feast is synonymous with his late father who started hosting and sponsoring the annual feast since 1946 till his death.
The young Iwu also said that his siblings in appreciation of their father’ immense contributions to humanity and his love for the Patron Saint immediately after his burial resolved as a family to immortalize him by sustaining the passion of continued sponsorship of the annual event, but since 5 years ago there have been a turning point as the grand children took it up to a higher pedestal.
He commended the grand children for their labour of love and unity, just as he reassured of his family everlasting commitments to the sponsorship of the annual feast.
One of the grand children, Mr. Tochi Iwu, (Ochinanwata) described his grand father as a man who saw Saint Patrick as a motivating figure and an ardent philanthropist that served as a father figure to the fatherless.
He canvassed the need for peace, love and unity of purpose in Umuokirika as one of the things his grand father strived for.
Highlights of the church service were second collection, cutting of cake of blessings, lightning of candles of grace and unveiling of the Saint’s statue.
