Umuohiagu Catholic community honours Mike Agu, others
From Ndidi Ihejeto, Owerri
St. Michael’s Catholic Parish Umuohiagu in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State has specially recognized and honoured some of her parishioners who were christened Michael, in memory of the patron saint of the new parish, Archangel Michael.
The epochal recognition took place on the occasion of the Feast day of St. Michael 2020 held Sunday 04th October, 2020.
The event featured a mini fundraising programme to assist in the completion of the ongoing church building.
Notable among those recognized and honoured is Ikenga Mike Agu, a shipping magnet based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State who was formally decorated as “Michael of St. Michael’s, Umuohiagu.”
Others include; late Elder Michael Ekeimo (post humous) represented by his son, Comrade Fidelis Ekeimo, Mike Uju Madu (represented by his mother, Lolo Ngozi Uju Madu, Mike Anukwu(former President Catholic Youths Organization) of the Parish, Michael Charles Madu, Mr Mike Amadi, Little Michael Maduocha, Michael Anyahuru and a serving seminarian at the parish, Michael Okigbo from Umugwuma in Owerri West LGA of Imo State.
Decorating Ikenga Agu with a customized Chasuble and a golden Sword, the Parish Priest of St. Michael’s Umuohiagu, Rev. Fr. Oscar Unakalamba, described the recipient of the award as a worthy parishioner and indefatigable supporter of the parish.
Fr. Unakalamba explained that the special recognition accorded to the chief recipient and the others was the church’s own way of appreciating them for taking the name ‘Michael’ as well as their unflinching faith in Christ Jesus as devoted Catholics.
According to him, Mike Agu has since inception of the parish continued to play immense role towards building the church through his unceasing generous donations to the parish and stations under her.
He prayed for God’s continuous guidance and protection for him, other honorees and the entire Catholic faithful in the parish as well as Umuohiagu Community at large.
Delivering his homily earlier during the Holy Mass, Rev. Fr. Uche Jude-Thaddeus charged Christian’s to eschew avarice, wicked tendencies and ingratitude stressing that evil actions bear grave consequences here on earth and the life after.
The priest who is an indigene of Umuohiagu prayed for love, peace, unity, progress and development in the community while urging the new communicants and honorees to remain steadfast in faith and defend the vulnerable in society like Archangel Michael.
Speaking also, chairman of the Feast Planning Committee, Chief Uju Madu, thanked the special guests and honorees for gracing the august occasion to support the building project.
He declared that the feast provided an ample opportunity for the rival factions in the community to reconcile and come together for progress and development.
Responding on behalf of the other honorees, Ikenga Mike Agu thanked the organizers and the parish for appreciating them as bearers of the name of the church’s patron saint and assured that they would continue to live up to the name by always supporting and defending the Parish.
Prominent among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were; Okenze Ken Agbiriogu, represented by Chief Ignatius Njoku and Chief Alex Anaemeje, Chief Gab Nwosu, his wife, Dr Matthew Nwogu, HRH Eze Geoffrey Okoro, Chairman Ngor Okpala Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief Lawrence Ugochukwu Achinihu and others too numerous to mention.
