St. James Catholic Parish Amawuhie-Ubomiri in Mbaitoli LGA, has been inaugurated by His Grace, Most Rev. A.J.V. Obinna, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Sunday, February 9, 2014 amidst pomp and pageantry.

The two-day pastoral visit which began with the arrival of the Archbishop witnessed a tumultuous crowd who gathered at Akwakuma junction to welcome the chief shepherd.

Arriving the parish, the prelate had an interactive forum with the parishioners and ended it with Benediction.

The event’s grand finale on the following day started with a solemn Eucharistic celebration where the chief shepherd formally installed  Rev. Fr. Lawrence Ogazi as the pioneer parish priest, swore in the Parish Pastoral Council and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to about 353 candidates.

Delivering a homily, Archbishop Obinna called on Christians to avoid acts that will portray them in bad light and urged them to worship God in spirit and in truth to earn eternal life.  He expressed satisfaction at the good works and level of both spiritual and infrastructural developments in the parish.  He commended the spirit with which the people exhibited by completing the parish rectory on record time.

Addressing the confirmation candidates, the Archbishop advised them to shun all forms of idolatrous practices like Osu/Diala segregation, cultism etc., and see one another as brothers and sisters who have been redeemed by the Blood of Christ.

In a welcome address presented at the reception  by the Parish Council, the Chairman, Engr. Flavian Nwamuo traced the journey of the parish from the time it started as a Catholic centre under Emekuku in 1915 and was upgraded to station in 1948 when Christ the King Mbieri was made a parish.  It remained so till St. Mary’s Ubomiri was made parish in 1981.  From 1981 to 2010, St. James remained a station.  With the elevation of St. James to parish statue, which now has four Catholic centres, the Chairman said the parish is waxing stronger and they have promised to work hard to be the best so they are poised to celebrate the centenary anniversary in 2015 in grand style.

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