It was jubilation galore as the entire Catholic community of CKC Parish Umuoke Obowo, friends, well-wishers far and near, in-laws and other relations, trooped out in their numbers, Sunday, June 30, 2013 and cheered the conferment of “Ezinna Merit Award” to four deserving CMO members of Christ the King Church Umuoke Obowo namely: Chief Martin Nwenwe, Chief Ferdinand Okonkwo, Chief Ambassador Patrick Amadi and Mr. Sylvanus Ikoro.

Recipients of Ezinna little Award from CKC Umuoke Obowo pose with Parish Priest pix pg 7

Introducing the candidates to the entire faithful, ‘Ugwunna’ title holder, Chief Vincent Maduforo, acknowledged the doggedness of the awardees in church affairs and in the progress of CKC Parish Umuoke in particular, maintaining that it was on account of their proven virtues as Catholic fathers, that the parish CMO decided to accord them deserving honour of ‘Ezinna Nwere Ugwu’ in the church.

Sir Silas Ibewuike (KSJI) invested the awardees with their emblem and crucifix after the priest’s blessing.  He enjoined them to maintain the ‘status quo’ as they have become ambassadors of the parish.

Delivering the homily during the Eucharistic celebration, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Onyenaucheya, reflected on the day’s readings and commended Elisha’s action as basic for all the faithful.  He narrated how immediately Elijah’s cloak fell on Elisha, he (Elisha) took on the armour of Christ in spreading the gospel of the Lord and abandoned all other earthly concerns.  Elisha became very faithful and unrelenting.

The priest admonished the people of God to allow the spirit of God to rule their lives and to heap their treasures in heaven where termites and maggots cannot touch them.  He frowned that people in the world today are scuffling with greed, avarice, covetousness and envy and warned: “what would it profit a man, to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?”  He reasoned that it is better for man to be God’s material as Elisha exhibited than to be worldly as heathens who do not know God.

In appreciation for the honour done to them, the awardees and their families including friends, made handsome donations for the upliftment of the parish church.  They also promised to invigorate their proactive roles in the Catholic Church as a way of encouraging the faithful to do their bit.  The exercise was followed with group photographs and entertainment outside, immediately after the Holy Mass.

Speaking to our correspondent the 1st son of Ezinna Patrick Amadi, Mr. Anthony, expressed gratitude to God for the honour the church accorded his father as ‘Ezinna Nwere Ugwu’.  He said that nobody was in doubt as to his scaling the height in the Catholic Church as his childhood ambition was to become a priest hence his entry into the seminary.  Having not achieved that aim, their father went on; he decided to be a devout Catholic. “I and my siblings are happy to witness this event in his lifetime and wish him more grease on his elbows,” he concluded.

A veteran journalist and radio broadcaster of fame, Mr. James Uwaleke of Radio Heartlands Owerri (a.k.a. Olu-oha), was one of the son-in-laws who graced the occasion with his presence and excited the audience with his graceful speech.

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