The Catholic Women’s Organization (CWO) is a statutory group of the Catholic Church instituted as body of Christian formation of women, and as an arm of the laity.
It was initiated by Late Archbishop Charles Heery as a lay apostolate Organization -organization of women led by women, with the objectives of uniting all catholic women to have one medium of expression in the internal and external matters of the church especially in areas that involve their faith, gain converts by example of Christian living, love and service to neighbors and for onward education of women towards uplifting them politically, socially, educationally and morally. Several attempts have been made to create awareness of the women’s responsibilities in the church, and through this body, the Catholic women organization have done a lot and is now seen and recognized as a formidable establishment within the Catholic Church.
Awka Diocese was created from Onitsha Archdiocese on 10th November, 1977 with Late Archbishop Albert Obiefuna as its pioneer Bishop. C.W.O Awka Diocese was afterwards inaugurated on 15th July, 1978 under the leadership of the Director, Mrs. V. V. I. Okoye. Mrs Okoye was the founder of CWO in Onitsha ecclesiastical province and was pioneer of C.W.O in the whole Eastern Nigeria.
At the inauguration, the Late Archbishop Obiefuna appointed Lady Barrister Regina Okafor who was then the first Deputy Director of Onitsha Archdiocese as the pioneer Director of CWO, Awka Diocese, while Msgr. Prof. J.P.C. Nzoniwu was appointed the first chaplain and spiritual adviser, with Rev. Sr Eunice Atsu as the first sister adviser.
It is worthy of mention that there had been Catholic Women groups which were older than the CWO. Some of them include :Saturday Nkwo meeting, meeting of Christian mothers, St Anne and ‘Uka Oye’.
CWO, Awka Diocese was guided by the constitution of Onitsha Archdiocesan C.W.O. This constitution was received as a Bye-law in 2014. According to the constitution, membership of C.W.O is open to every woman who is a member of the Catholic Church. Her Motto is Apostolate in Unity, Justice and Love.
At the inception of C.W.O Awka Diocese, it operated under the zonal structure as approved then by Francis Cardinal Arinze in 1972. Later, it expanded into the station, parish and diocesan levels. In 1998, the Diocesan C.W.O extended to the deanery level and was adopted on Pentecost Sunday, 11th June, 2000 under the Late Bishop Simon Okafor. On that day, eight new deaneries were added to the existing seven to make them fifteen and on October 18, 2011, eight new deaneries were created by his Lordship, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor which brought the total number to twenty-three.
Thus, Awka Diocese which began with eighteen parishes and five zones in 1977 grew to 172 parishes, seven chaplaincies and twenty-three deaneries. But with the creation of Ekwulobia Diocese in 2020, and the exodus of C.W.O members of the diocese, Awka, the mother Diocese reduced to 108 parishes and thirteen deaneries.
This brought into office the new Director of Awka Diocese, Lady Sabina Ndigwe in October, 2020.
The CWO Awka Diocese has so far seven Directors in succession namely: Late Lady Regina Okafor, Dr. Mrs Ego Uzoezie, Lady Pauline Ndibe, Mrs. Anne O’martins, Chukwuma Apollonian, Lady Theresa Azodo now the Director for Ekwulobia Diocese CWO and the incumbent.
The history of CWO Awka Diocese cannot be complete without mentioning her achievements so far. Their achievements are much felt in the churches to the extent that the men believe and confess that without women, the Catholic church in the country would not be what it is today. Some of these achievements include spiritual upliftment of members, heavy financial donations in church building projects, upliftment of the poor, the needy, the orphans and inmates of different custodial facilities.
We give thanks to God our father and to our mother, Mary for the fact that the Catholic Women Organization, Awka Diocese has much blessings too numerous to recount as an organization in 45yrs.
To celebrate this auspicious occasion, all roads will lead to the grand finale of the Awka Diocesan CWO Triennial Convention and 45th Anniversary Celebration which is scheduled to hold from tomorrow Thursday 17th November to Saturday 19th November, 2022 at Cana House and St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka. The convention features singing competitions, investiture of over one hundred life members and award ceremonies and thanksgiving mass. Both events will be officiated by the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Reverend Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor.
Written by NGOZI ANAGOR
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