From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
The Catholic Bishop of Abakiliki Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Chukwu has called on the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to facilitate the process for the creation of a new diocese in Ebonyi State. Bishop Chukwu said that the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki has produced many parishes since its creation in 1973 and is due for a new diocese. He stated this on Thursday at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki, during the golden jubilee celebration of the Catholic Diocese. Some Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, Governor Francis Nwifuru, former Governor Martin Elechi and many other personalities attended the event.
Chukwu lamented that it was only Ebonyi State in the whole of South East that has only one diocese and urged the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria(CBCN) to create a new diocese in the state to bring the church closer to the people.
“We have created so many parishes but if we are to have a new diocese out of Abakaliki Diocese is still unknown. “I want to thank the CBCN for all the efforts they have already made towards the actualization of this intension but I want the Catholic faithful to commit this intension in prayer, so that it will materialize,” he said.
He stated further: “Something happened yesterday at the Ochudo Centenary City. The governor and his cabinet and a cross section of our priests gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of a big church building.
“The ground was prepared by my predecessor and the regimes of Chief Martin Elechi and David Umahi but it is under the current government in the state that the dream will become a reality. “It is going to be a 6,000 capacity church. Archbishop Ugorji calls it a Basilica, it’s not just a big church.
So, we just want to put down a prayer that the good Lord may provide all the help needed for the speedy completion and realization of that project.”
In his remarks, Governor Francis expressed happiness on the growth of the diocese and urged the priests to represent the image of the diocese at all times just the way the bishop and his predecessor are doing.