50 Years Anniversary: Abakaliki Catholic Bishop Wants Another Diocese Created In Ebonyi
The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Chukwu yesterday advocated for the creation of another and a new Diocese in the State and appealed to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria(CBCN) to speed up the process.
Bishop Chukwu noted that the Abakaliki Catholic Diocese has produced several parishes since its creation in 1973 and was due for a new Diocese.
Bishop Chukwu made the disclosure at the St.Theresa Cathedral, Abakaliki the state capital during the golden jubilee celebration of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki.
The celebration which was a gathering of who is who in the State also witnessed the presence of Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, the Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, former Governor, Martin Elechi, Chief Edward Nkwegu among many other personalities.
Bishop Chukwu expressed that concern that it was only Ebonyi State in the whole of South East that is still have only one Diocese and urged the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, (CBCN) to create a new Diocese in the state to bring the church closer to the people.
“We have had so many parishes created, when are we going to have a new Diocese created out of Abakaliki Diocese?. Abakaliki Diocese is the only one state Diocese in the whole of South East. Anambra has five Dioceses; Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Aguleri.
“Enugu has three Dioceses; Enugu, Nsukka and Awgu. Imo State has four Dioceses; Owerri, Orlu, Okigwe and Ahiara. Abia State has two Dioceses; Umuahia and Aba. Only Ebonyi has one Diocese.
“So, I challenge you the Catholics in Ebonyi to pray about this today and I want to say it before the President of The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, (CBCN) at this Mass, that we need help, we need a new Diocese here.
“If I want to go to Pastoral visit at Ishiagu. I will drive for 1 and half hours, that’s a long distance. But if we have an additional Diocese, it will bring the church closer to the people.
“I want to thank the CBCN for all the efforts they have already made towards the materialization of this intension but we like them to put more firewood to the fire. So, that’s an intension and I want you to pray about it toady.
“Something happened yesterday at the Ochudo Centenary City. The Governor and his Cabinet and a cross section of our priests gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of a big church building. The ground we prepared by my predecessor and the regimes of Chief Martin Elechi and David Umahi but it is under the current government in the state that the dream is going to become a reality.
“It is going to be a 6,000 capacity church. Archbishop Ugorji calls it a Basilica, its not just a big church. So, we just want to put down a prayer that the good Lord may provide all the help needed for the speedy completion and realization of that project”.
In his speech, Governor Francis Nwifuru expressed happiness on the growth in the Diocese and urged Priests of the Diocese to represent the image of the Diocese at all times the way the Bishop of the Diocese and his Predecessor are doing. ENDS
