One of the most beautiful Edifices in Sub – Saharan Africa gradually springs up in Anambra state, Nigeria
~ As Our Lady Of Assumption Catholic Cathedral Nnewi Nears Completion.
Friday, 21st January 2022, will remain indelible on the minds of all the Catholic faithful in Anambra State, as His Lordship, Most Reverend Hilary Paul Odili Okeke (Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese), celebrates 75 years of God’s goodness in his journey of life. The event takes (took) place inside the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral building in Nnewi.
It was a day set out to mark and celebrate the Birthday of the Bishop and the Cathedral, comprising several parishes, decided to make the occasion a memorable one by holding a First Mass at the newly constructed Altar of God that is strategically located inside the expansive Cathedral building.
The solemn occasion which elicitated memories as well as feelings of nostalgia amongst the clergy and the parishioners, especially those that recalled their individual and collective efforts of contributing monies at their various parishes, until the holy man of Anaedo got the nod of “carry-on” from God, to singlehandedly take over the Cathedral building and deliver a beautiful edifice for Him (God).
Little wonder the Senator insisted the previous engineers put down the roof on two occasions despite the huge expenditure on him, personally, running into millions of Naira, because they couldn’t resolve the then nagging jigsaw on using the present suspended roof as opposed to fixing pillars inside the building hall which the Senator strongly objected to.
Today the Cathedral’s roof is strategically suspended in a dome-like imagery that is magnificent to behold.
Indeed many, outside the shores of our Lady of Assumption Catholic Cathedral Nnewi’s sphere of coverage, may not understand, but that poor and elderly widow in the village out there who had (before EbubeChukwuUzo took over the project) once contributed her “widow’s mite” would, because she dreamt of this day. The sight of the 80% completed Cathedral building elicites so much nostalgic feelings from such individuals.
Looking at the face of the young Igbo warrior that I call the Holy Man of Anaedo, as I cobble together these thoughts using my writng pad as we journeyed together in the bussiness class of a brand new Air Peace Airbus, one couldn’t help but marvel at the type of covenant that he has with God, which is what drives most of his actions, including his other humanitarian activities, coupled with his love for the poor and down-trodden in the society.
Quoting Senator Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah today Friday January 21, 2022 …. “God, thank You for giving me the grace to come this far in building a befitting Cathedral for you. I know you will see me through till the final stage and completion of this project as I continually draw strength from Proverbs 23:18, which reminds us that …. surely there is a reward, and the expectations of the righteous will not be cut short.”
And the children of God; shout ….. Amen!!
May God’s name be praised …
© Comr. Odezugo ChukwuNonso
( Reporter )……..
