Archbishop Obinna lays foundation stone of Annunciation Catholic Centre

The Foundation Stone of the permanent building of Church of Annunciation Umuguma in Owerri West LGA, Imo State has been laid. His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri who laid the Foundation Stone on Thursday, April 3, 2014 also blessed the newly completed Marian Grotto and Chapel at the occasion. The prelate who commended both the priest, Christ faithful as well as the council, saying: “We are co-workers with God charged to carry out his work in humility”. In his homily at the end of the readings, Archbishop Obinna recalled how French and Irish missionaries brought the gospel of Christ to Igboland amidst a lot of hardship.  He enjoined present day…

Imo Specialist Hospital still under lock and key – Strike paralysis immunization

-Govt ignores workers Two weeks after workers of the Imo State Specialist Hospital Umuguma, New Owerri embarked on indefinite strike, the hospital has remained under lock and key, with the State Government looking the other side. The health workers downed tools on February 24 over non-payment of salaries for eight months among other issues. When our reporter visited the hospital on Wednesday, March 5, the hospital was still locked. However, many patients, including mothers who brought their children for polio immunization where seen in their large numbers hanging around. While sympathizing with the striking workers, the nursing mothers regretted Government’s nonchalant attitude to their plight. Apart from the specialist hospital, other health organizations in the…

Workers shut down Imo Specialist Hospital Over 8 months salary debt, Relations evacuate patients

 Workers of Imo State Specialist Hospital  Umuguma, New Owerri on Monday Feb. 24, held a peaceful demonstration over non-payment of salaries for eight months. The workers who blocked the gate of the hospital for several hours carried several placards depicting their grievances. Some of them read: ”Pay us our salaries and its arrears” ”No pay No work”, ”Enough is a enough,” etc.  After the peaceful protest, the workers left for their various homes, thus kick-starting an indefinite strike. In a resolution the workers reached before embarking on the peaceful demonstration, they regretted government’s insensitivity to their plight and insisted that they can no longer work without payment. In the resolution which was made available to…

St. Thomas More Church end 2013 harvest in style

It was indeed a successful outing for the Priest-in-charge, the Pastoral Council, the 2013 Harvest and Bazaar Committee and the entire members of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Special Jurisdiction, Area E, New Owerri, when it recently rounded-off the 2013 edition of its annual harvest and bazaar ceremony tagged: “Harvest of Faith” with pomp and pageantry. Recalling that the journey to this year’s Harvest of Faith took off shortly after the Committee Chairman, Mr. Cajetan Nwogu, his Co-Chairman, Hon. Sebastine Nwokeji and other Sub-Committee Chairmen and members had been duly inaugurated earlier by the priest-in-charge, Rev. Fr. Dan Anyawu in a concelebrated Mass with term of reference aimed at making the enlarged committees achieve desired…

Claretians Celebrate Family Day in Owerri – Superior harps on humility

The premises of the Claretians Headquarters, East Nigeria Province, New Owerri was agog on Sunday October 27, as the Congregation celebrated her Family Day and Feast of their father founder, St. Anthony Mary Claret.   The celebration brought together, Many Claretian priests, Rev. Sisters, Rev. Brothers, Lay members, benefactors and benefactresses including students and staff of Claretian schools in the province.   The occasion coincided with a thanksgiving Mass in honour of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary popularly known as the Claretians.   In his homily during the Mass held in the ultra-modern St. Anthony Mary Claret Chapel, the Provincial Superior, Very Rev. Fr. Simeon…

OWERRI: Widow-donor rewarded at Church Harvest

It was a grand moment of encouragement, motivation and kudos to the Holy Trinity, when on Sunday, October 27 an old widow, who pledged N4,000 to purchase a broiler for her parish priest during Youth Harvest, went home with a big turkey.   As the sale of life chicken formed one of the agenda for this year’s Children/Youth Harvest at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish Word Bank, New Owerri, a poor widow was moved to pledge N4,000 to purchase one for the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ijemaru.   It was interesting to recognize that the said widow never thought of a public attraction as she whispered her intention while on her seat to the youth…

Archbishop Obinna commends LSM – For empowering 500 widows, building Women Development Centre Owerri

The Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri has commended Ladies of St. Mulumba, Nigeria for putting smiles on the faces of 500 poor widows. Archbishop Obinna made the commendation when he visited the Women Development Centre, New Owerri, a project of LSM, Nigeria. The prelate said he was happy that the Ladies were considering the plight of the less privileged in society and commended them for the material donations and empowerment. The Archbishop also thanked the women for extending the empowerment to two widows through the Eu-Care programme of the Owerri Archdiocese and appealed to other organizations and well-to-do individuals to also come to the help of the increasing number of the marginalized,…

Two Claretians take final step – As 14 make first profession

The 2013 First and Final Professions of the Claretian Missionaries, East Nigeria Province took place at the St. Anthony Mary Claret Chapel, New Owerri, Sept 8. The solemn ceremony was presided over by Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Nwobi (CMF), Provincial Superior assisted by the Novice Master, the Prefect of Formation and several Claretian Priests and Deacons. In his homily at the Mass, Fr. Nwobi reflected on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and called on Christians to use the gifts positively to help humanity instead of using them negatively to people, multiply evil and steal both private and public funds. He regretted that materialism is the order of the day in the world today as…

Hon. Victor Mere and neglect of World Bank Estate

I am compelled to express my accumulate displeasure once again on the poor state of development in world Bank, New Owerri, most especially in Area L and Site and Services. Shortly after the swearing of his Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha in May 2011, I dispatched an open Letter to him in one of the national tabloids congratulating him on his emergence as the executive Governor of Imo State and at the same time represented the repined and defective minds of the people resident in World Bank, New Owerri on the state of basic amenities, particularly in the areas of Electricity and Roads. I equally appealed to his Excellency to come to their rescue. But pathetic…

Lack of Portable Water in Imo

In most countries, Government is the main provider of clean, safe and portable water to the people, who in turn pay a small fee as water bill..  Here in Nigeria, it’s a different story. This essential commodity, second only to air, is still a luxury. Just as with electricity, people are compelled to generate their own water by sinking boreholes in their homes and offices. Right now in Imo State, the average person cannot get water except they have access to a borehole. The days of villagers gathering at a public tap to fetch water are evidently gone. Face2Face made a random check in Owerri to see if there’s still a public stand pipe anywhere…

Imo State Government set to Privatize Water

Plans have reached advanced stage to privatize water distribution in Imo State. According to Government this is the only way to revamp the ailing Water Board and solve the endemic water woes in Imo. Commissioner for Public Utilities, Public Safety and Youth Empowerment Hon. Dr Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, who made the disclosure in an interview with The Leader said a buyer has been identified and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOD) soon to be signed. “We have been able to get three companies; we have interviewed them and been able to take one. So right now, we are trying to sign the MOU. Very soon the MOU will be ready and we will hand over the keys…

Claretians get three new priests, five deacons – Bishop harps on discipline, obedience

It was jubilation galore at the Claret House, World Bank Estate, New Owerri as friends, relations and well-wishers besieged the new Claret Chapel to witness the ordination of three priests and five deacons, Saturday, July 6. The Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma presided over the ordination ceremonies. In his sermon, Bishop Ukwuoma reminded the candidates that God has a purpose for choosing them to be instrument in His service, stressing that they are no longer the same persons they were before as they are now alter Christus, another Christ. He reminded them that a priest has no private life as his life has become public.  Similarly, some of his rights have…

St. Mark’s Parish, New Owerri celebrates Feast of Patron

The 2013 feast of St. Mark the Evangelist has been celebrated by St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Federal Housing Estate, New Owerri, Imo State on Sunday, April 28.   The celebration started with a Holy Mass presided over by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. Mark Njoku, assisted by his Curate, Fr. Paschal Onyeneke, the Priest-in-Residence, Rev. Msgr. Marcel U. Ibe, the Chaplain of Holy Rosary Hospital and past Curate of St. Mark’s Parish, Fr. Chinedu Egejuru and Rev. Fr. Dr. Joe Enyiaka.   Delivering a homily during the Mass, Dr. Joe Enyiaka pointed out that God, who in the Old Testament seemed far away from humanity and who the prophets went to appeal to on…