By Chinwendu Uzoatu

IT WAS a moment of joy and celebration as the community of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Awka, appreciated some priests, religious and a retired catechist that served meritoriously in the parish, and said welcome to their new vicar, Rev. Fr. Paschal Nnajiofor.

Those appreciated include the priests, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Umezinwa, Rev. Fr. Roland Victor Okoli, Rev. Fr. Clement Igwegbe, Rev. Fr. Micheal Obi, the nuns, Rev. Sr. Mary Christiana Mariette Nnadozie, Sr, Gloria Akanegbu and a retired catechist, Mr Patrick Mgbakogu.

In his remarks to kick off the reception event after mass, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Francis Oranye, with excitement thanked them for honouring the Parish’s invitation to join the community in Mass celebration, once more, after their remarkable stewardship.

He said; ‘’we are happy that you are here. It is always good when brothers and sisters come together, work and appreciate one another with joy. It is good to say ‘thank you’ for a work well done.’’

On his part, Rev. Fr. Umezinwa commended the parish for the grand honour, expressing that his period of service at St Thomas Aquinas Parish as a Priest-in-residence was intense and prayed God to reward the community.

He said; ‘’my stay in St. Thomas Aquinas Parish was very engaging. The three years felt like seven years. It’s a very big community. It gave me a challenge. I like to minister to both small and great. St. Thomas Aquinas was a unique experience for me. Every time I came to preach, I felt inspired, and among other things, a lot of parishioners remember me for that. God anoints the words to have effect on the people and I give Him all the glory. My stay here was brief, but good. I miss St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.’’

The Rev. Fr., Prof Umezinwa further informed that if not for his appointment as Vice Chancellor of Peter University, he would have still been in St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.

He also commiserated with the parish on the recent death of one of her catechists, the late Mr Alphonsus Nwaka. Noting that death is the way of all mortals he called on God to receive the dead.

On their parts, the Rev. Frs. Igwegbe, Obi and Okoli extolled St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and said that it is a lively community where one enjoys the Mass because of the active participation of the parishioners.

Rev. Fr. Nnajiofor thanked members of the parish for warmly welcoming him. His words: ’’After my nine months experience, so far, in St. Thomas Aquinas. I can surely describe it a a good place. I am happy to be here. It’s an environment that challenges you to work.’’

Sr. Mary Christiana Mariette, on behalf of her colleague, Sr. Mary Gloria had these to say; “we say thanks for calling us. We are one family in Aquinas community. The gospel is on. Thanks for your good heart. We did everything together with love. Testimony is still on about Aquinas. We are in Imo State now to do greater job as we did in Aquinas.’’

The retired catechist, Mr Mgbakogu narrated that his service in St. Thomas Aquinas Parish from 1998 – 2023 was excellent and prayed God to continue to bless the community.

The Parish Social Welfare Committee Chairman, Chris Njoku explained the essence of the event, thus: “We called them to appreciate their services to the parish and also wish them the best in their future endeavors.

“Among them is the Parish Priest of Christ the King (CKC) Quasi-Parish, the newly created parish from St. Thomas Aquinas, Rev. Fr. Okoli. We pray the new parish to expand and grow spiritually