The Catholic Church in Ugbokpo began with Fr. Dodson in 1975 as the parish priest of St. Luke's parish, Amoke with only a few Catholics who came to settle at Ugbokpo. These include Mr. Gabriel Aleyi and his family, Mr. James Eigege Otokpa and his family. Mr. Ochani and his family, Mr. Gabriel Anifioyi and his family. Others are Mr. Sunday Enokela, Mr. Elaigwu who was the Headmaster of L.G.E.A. primary School Ugbokpo, Mr. Ojile, a court official, Mr. Peter Okwu and James Ogwuche, KSJ who, then, was a young lad, later became a service conductor and Church Leader.
Before the coming of the Catholic Church to Ugbokpo, Methodist Church had come and captured the area. Up till the present period, the indigenes of Ugbokpo are largely Methodist while most of the Catholic members are non-indigenes of Ugbokpo. Very few others are converts from Methodist Church. The Igbo traders who settled at Ugbokpo for business boost the Catholic with their supports.
THE CHURCH AS AN INDEPENDENT MISSION
The trajectory and the metamorphosis of St. Paul's catholic, Ugbokpo to Ss John and Paul's Mission,
Ugbokpo was on the occasion of the feast of St. Luke on 18th October, 2004 when His lordship, Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi created it as a Mission with Fr. Moses Ikpe whom was the parish priest of St Luke, Amoke, and Msgr. Samuel Ehatikpo was the Dean of Adoka Deanery.
The Mission comprised of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Ugbokpo and St. John's Chaplaincy, Amoke (St. John secondary school, Amoke). St. John's Chaplaincy was created earlier with Msgr. Samuel Ehatikpo as the first chaplain. In 2004, the Chaplaincy was merged with St. Paul's Catholic as a Mission to complement each other. The merging was meant to ensure the survival of St. John's Secondary school, Amoke with support from the Church at Ugbokpo on the one hand. On the other hand, the chaplaincy provided accommodation for the priest-In-Charge of the Mission.
The vision of the Bishop was realized with the booming of St. John's Secondary School, Amoke and the growth of the Catholic Church in Ugbokpo. Fr. Joe-Mary groomed the New Mission until it was formerly inaugurated on 23rd April, 2005 by His Lordship Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, the Bishop of Otukpo Diocese. Since then, The Mission had been growing progressively.
Since the creation of the Mission, the following priests had worked here:
- Fr. Joe-Mary Oche
- Fr. Anthony Ochojila
- Fr. Denis Ujah
- Fr. Francis Atama
- Fr. Samuel Odeh, VC
All the priests who worked here made immense contribution to the growth of the Mission. The pioneer priest-In-Charge, Fr. Joe-Mary Oche set up the administrative structure of the Mission with Mr. Nathaniel Oluma Audu as the first Laity Council president (2004-2010). The current president, Mrs. Rebecca Edeh was elected in 2010 and has been working very hard.
Fr. Anthony Ochjila started the New priest's Residence. Fr. Denis Ujah continued the project. Fr. Francis Atama brought the building to roofing level in collaboration with him.
THE CHURCH AS A PARISH
following the pastoral visit to Ss John and Paul's Mission, Ugbokpo and St. Luke's parish Amoke respectively and upon series of consultant with different sectors of the Diocese in respect of the inundating request for creation of parishes, the Diocese deemed it fit to restructure Ss John and Paul's Mission, Ugbokpo and St. Luke's parish, Amoke. The areas of St. Luke's parish, Amoke covered by zones of St. Agnes, St. Rose of Lima, St. Maria Gorretti, Ss. Perpetua and Felicity, and part of St. Agatha were detached from their mother parish and merged to Ss John and Paul's Mission, Ugbokpo, which in turn, together are erected into a parish of Ss John and Paul.
This has its center at Ugbokpo. This came to effect from 1st October, 2013. The parish's feast day is October 1st: the solemnity of our Lady Queen and Patroness Nigeria. Fr. Agbo Ochoche Philemon, who was the priest-in-charge of the Mission, was appointed the parish priest of Ss John and Paul's parish, Ugbokpo. Two catechists; Philip Owoicho and Samuel Olofu were given to the new parish from St. Luke's parish Amoke for effectiveness in the pastoral work. Mr. Isaac Ogbu is now the chairman pastoral council.
The new parish is blessed with these seminarians:
- Innocent Owoicho
- Stephen Ofugocho
- Lawrence Adanu
- Adija
- Akpanta
- Akpete
- Alaja
- Asaba
- Ataganyi
- Benin-Ochumekwu
- Igoro
- Ijaha-Ibele
- Ijaha-Ikobi
- Ijege
- Ikobi-Center
- Imana-Ikobi
- Imana-Ochekwu
- Inyapu
- Jos-Akpete
- Ochichi-Aji
- Ochichi-Ogili
- Ochumekwu
- Ojecho
- Okpakachi
- Ologba
- Oloke-Ikobi
- Olojo
- Omelemu
- Opanda
- Ugbobi
- Ugbokpo
CONCLUSION
We have had a tourist's trip through the occasion of history of Ss John and Paul's Parish, Ugbokpo. Indeed, what is so striking about the thirty-nine-years period since its inception is the extent to which it has suffered so many of the same misfortune. After the euphoria of the advent of Catholicity into this place, the Church faced some obstructions, and ambition faded (much of the land has been taken by individuals, government and in part, the host community). May the good Lord succour us with abounding wisdom to continue to work in His Vineyard!
No comments:
Post a Comment