Catholic faithful at St Thomas Catholic Church, Amuvi, Arochukwu was in a celebratory disposition recently as it bid its longest-serving, out-going parish priest, Rev Fr. Kizito Mgbemere farewell. The mood of worshippers in the church on that Sunday June 9, 2024 was fluctuating between happiness and eager expectation of a big, joyful occasion to subdued contentment and outright sadness that it would be difficult to correctly read people’s real impressions. However, as time got nearer to the start of the send-forth segment of the ceremony, discussions in hushed tones and occasional audible ones revealed that a major event in the parish was in the offing. For catholic faithful who are used to the pastoral care of priests that usually don’t last more than three to five years, it is understandable why the exit of Fr. Kizito, after almost a decade in service, would be a source of concern to many. Having established robust relationship with individuals and groups, and managed the parish over the long period with various achievements and innovations, it was obvious that his departure would have devastating psychological impact on many parishioners. The new parish priest, Fr. Anthony Nwogu, ably assisted by the parish council had put together a short but very rich ceremony to mark the eventful tenure of Rev Fr Kiziti, who shall be proceeding to the United States of America on further studies.
In a short by nicely written farewell address, the secretary to the parish council, Mazi Linus Nwagba started by noting that ‘it is with gratitude to God Almighty and with mixed feelings that we have gathered here today to say farewell and thank you to our amiable and ome na nwayo parish priest Rev. Fr. Kizito Chukwuemeka Mgbemere who has left this parish for further studies overseas’. The statistics reeled out from the address revealed that St. Thomas parish since its dedication by Most Rev. Dr. Lucuis Iwejuru Ugorji, the Arch Bishop of Owerri province on February 2006 had been pastored by the following priests: Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Matthew Kalu 2006 – 2011, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Nwankpa 2011 – 2015, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Gabriel Ogbuagu Okoko – Administrator June 2015 – September 2015, before Rev. Fr. Kizito Chukwumemeka Mgbemere – 2015 – 2024 All the priests understandably did well in their pastoral ministries and left major footprints after their tenure. Fr. Kizito arrived St. Thomas parish in late September 2015 and held his first parish council meeting on 6th October, 2015. He structured his strategies to tackle his pastoral duties and vowed not to leave St. Thomas parish the way he met it. According to many parishioners, he embraced his pastoral duties with vigour through – homilies, adoration and benediction, catechism classes, sick visitation, children evangelization, retreat for various groups, sodality Saturday, celebration of valentine and children’s day activities, amongst many other programs.
Our correspondent learnt that all these boosted the spiritual and social life of the parishioners and gave room for converts and also the dampened minds to come back to the fold. Popularly described as Father, ome na nwayo and Fr. Project, we understand that he left indelible footprints or giant strides on infrastructural development in the parish. Fr. Kizito’s tenure as the parish priest witnessed many projects, including completion and furnishing of the new presbytery, St. Thomas bakery and confectioneries, purchase of land by CMO home and abroad for future development, purchase of cooking utensils, plates, spoons etc. by CWO, home branch for hire, purchase of parlor dressing materials by CWO, flooring of church and fathers house premises by CWO, building of fence to demarcate fathers house from the church premises and the building of parish secretariat and also conveniences. Others include, the building of a mini hall and carving out of a social centre, the building of Marian Groto, the CMO, CWO and CYON training and empowerment, snailry, etc. In addition, the St. Thomas parish choir was reformed through his ingenuity by employing a FIRST CLASS graduate from University of Nigeria Nsukka that studied music who nurtured the choir and brought it up to standard.
According to the parish council secretary, these achievements were possible because of the humble disposition, manner of approach and ability to galvanize the people to work to the glory of God. His ecumenical approach towards other denominations in Amuvi community was said to have endeared him to many non-Catholics who assisted with the parish projects. Even pastors of other denominations in Amuvi unanimously appointed Fr. Kizito Coordinator of their monthly or bi monthly prayer meetings. At the deanery level, he was said to have made the parish proud while through his instrumentality, the parish spurred up other parishes in the Deanery and Diocese to increase the number of cows they used to give during Cathedraticum. According to the catechist, in the deanery, first position does not elude St Thomas, Amuvi and even in the Diocese St Thomas always achieved outstanding position. The chairman of CMO, Mazi Anthony Ochiabutor, on behalf of the entire parish wished Fr Kizito well in his future endeavor in the vineyard of the Lord.
According Mazi Edward Enyi Okoro, CMO Secretary, the good spirited people of Amuvi community, philanthropists, men and women of good will, home and abroad will continue to miss amiable Fr Kizito because he touched the lives of almost every family in Amuvi with his benevolence. The new parish priest, Very Rev. Fr Anthony K. Nwogu, obviously still dutifully studying the environment was full of appreciation and praises for the out-going priest even as he calmly, occasionally took control and coordination of the ceremony. Soft spoken and obviously a thorough bred servant of God, it was evidently clear that the send-forth ceremony provided a best learning opportunity for him to pick tit-bits that would stand him on a good stead to effectively engage with his flock as his tenure commences. The chairman of the parish council, Sir Emmanuel Okoro, in his vote of thanks appreciated everyone that made the ceremony memorable.
It would be recalled that St. Thomas Catholic Church, Amuvi which hitherto operated as an Out-Station became a full parish under the diocese of Umuahia. This was sequel to the ceremony of 2nd January, 2006 when His Lordship, the bishop of Umuahia diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji blessed and dedicated the new church and proclaimed its parish status in line with established Catholic principles. Since June 13th, 1990 when St. Theresa’s Parish, Amankwu was created out of St. Paul’s Parish, Ututu, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Amuvi existed as an out-station under St. Theresa’s parish. The Amuvi Station whose history commenced with the building of the first primary school in the community in 1955, St. Thomas Primary School, overtime became a vibrant community with potentials for greatness. It was equally blessed with the services of several dynamic Revered Fathers whose efforts greatly impacted on its historic growth and development. The commendable work of the pioneers culminated in the purchase of a permanent site and erection of a modest church building. However, in the late 1990s, it became obvious that the capacity of the church needed to be expanded and the building modernized. Also, the building of a presbytery was identified to be very significant in this process as residency of a priest is a condition precedent to granting of parish status.
Actual re-building program of the church, including purchase of a plot of land for the presbytery, started in 2001. Since then, the church tasked itself and availed the goodwill of numerous benefactors to realize both an ultra modern church building with full compliment of a baptistery, chapel of adoration, etc and a Reverend Father’s house. The Church Building Committee got a tall order from the Local Church Council, so worked relentlessly to actualize the dream. The tempo of activities took an upward swing with the arrival of Rev. Fr Hyacinth Kalu as Parish Priest in May 2002. Following the significant efforts made at completing the entire project, the parish priest initiated a program of dedication of the church in October 2005 to further motivate the community towards finishing the remaining work. Accordingly, he constituted a six-member Central Coordinating Committee with two major terms of reference – to complete all outstanding works at the church and presbytery including internal furnishing and to plan, organize and execute a befitting dedication ceremony on Monday January 2nd, 2006. The Committee mapped out elaborate strategies and partnered with individuals and groups and achieved the objectives.
To the glory of God, on Monday 2nd January 2006, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Amuvi, Arochukwu became a full-fledged parish under the Diocese of Umuahia, thus commenced journey with distinct identity in the universal church of Christ under the Holy See. According to the Dedication Committee Chairman, Engr. Goddy Ijeoma, we shall remain grateful to God for this special gift of our time especially for finding ourselves worthy to witness the epoch event. Professor Chris Aniche Okorafor, a staunch member of the Dedication Committee/Coordinator, Enugu Zone noted that the event marked a watershed in the growth of the church in the community, especially given its very humble beginning. The Secretary, Dedication Committee, Mazi Azubike Okoro observed that the successes recorded were indicative of what potentials and possibilities that lay ahead. The amiable and soft-spoken Fr. Kizito whose usual smiling face at times betray a shy disposition was greatly loved, so shall be missed by most parishioners. In his appreciation speech, he expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to be part of the history of St Thomas Catholic Church, Amuvi, and particularly for the many achievements and opportunities which his tenure enabled, including attainment of a doctoral degree. The love between him and the people was evident from the hugs and picture sessions after the send-forth ceremony. Most people expressed gladness that his exit is a promotion and a higher service in God’s vineyard and personal development. This is wishing the new parish priest, Rev Fr. Anthony Nwogu, a pleasant stay in Amuvi and hoping that he would find his flock helpful enough in his ministry to enable him set new records that would uniquely set his tenure apart in the humble history of the parish.
