As His Excellency, Most Reverend Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, marks his seventieth birthday anniversary, it is fitting to glorify God for his life and for the many blessings he has lavished on him. This birthday anniversary offers us among others things the opportunity to reflect on his life and his ministry among us.

 

In a small village of Ifite Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State, a child was born to late Mr. Raymond Enukebe and Mrs Veronica Nwasinwa Ezeokafor on 13th September 1952. This child was named ‘Chukwuemeka’, which represents the words used by David in psalm 107:1 to express a gratitude to God for his goodness and mercy. From that day, the child became indeed a symbol of God’s blessing to his family and to all around him. It was with these sentiments of thanksgiving and gratitude, being animated by the apostolic zeal of st. Paulinus that prepared him for vocation to sacred priesthood. After his primary school at St Anthony`s Nanka and in 1959 he moved to All Hallows Seminary Onitsha. He distinguished himself from the seminary, such that his one-year apostolic work was spent at the Archdiocesan Secretariat Onitsha, with the then Archbishop of Onitsha, His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze. The young Chukwuemeka studied philosophy at the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Philosophy Campus, Ikot Ekpene now St Joseph`s Major Seminary Ikot Ekpene between 1976-1979 where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from pontifical Urban University Rome. After his theological studies in Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu from 1980-1983, he obtained Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Pontifical University Rome.

 

The same apostolic zeal which enabled St. Paulinus, an Italian missionary priest, to convert North Umbria to Christianity, helped young Paulinus in his general disposition as a priest. He was ordained a priest on 30th June 1983 by the pioneer bishop of Awka, Most Rev AK Obiefuna. After few years of pastoral experience, he was sent to Rome to study moral theology at Pontifical University of Santa Croce, where he obtained licentiate and doctoral degree in Moral theology.

 

Coming back to Nigeria he served as Rector of St Dominic Savior Seminary Akpu (1996-2006), Rector of St John Bosco Seminary Isuaniocha (2006-2007). On 20th January 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the auxiliary bishop of Awka. On 28th April 2007, he was consecrated a bishop by Archbishop Renzo Fratini, the then Papal Nuncio to Nigeria. When the episcopal see of Awka became vacant, he was appointed the Apostolic Administrator of Awka diocese. On 8th July 2011, he became the substantive bishop of Awka diocese.

 

As we celebrate the seventieth birthday of Most Rev. Ezeokafor, we celebrate a worthy son of Ifite Nanka and an ambassador of Catholic Diocese of Awka.

 

This year the bishop also celebrates the fifteenth anniversary of his Episcopy. Indeed, it has been 15 years of excellence. Within these few years he has dedicated a record breaking number of churches. Under his watch, the diocese has fared well and the faith blossomed like the Lebanon cedar. He has recorded many landmark achievements including Reconstruction of Retreat and Pastoral Centre, Okpuno and Building of Peter University Achina\Onneh which is the climax.

 

To mark the event, yesterday Tuesday, 22nd November 2022, the Bishop visited a hospital, motherless babies home and custodial centre all in Awka while today, Wednesday 23rd November, 2022, will be the Bishop’s Day with students and young people, where he will empower one hundred and eleven youths from across the diocese while later in the evening will be book lunch and gala night.

 

Tomorrow, Thursday November 24, 2022 will be the Birthday celebration Mass by 10am at St Patrick’s Cathedral Awka.

 

Our prayer for our Lord Bishop is God’s wisdom, grace and strength as he continues to labour in the vineyard of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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