History

The Catholic Church and indeed Christianity made its first footing in Obowo in Amuzi Ikenanzizi as far back as 1913 with the arrival of the first white missionary priest Late Rev. Fr. D. Walsh, who was on a mission to seek permission from Late Chief Korieocha Madukwe (Traditional ruler) of Umulowu Amuzi to establish catholic church in his area of jurisdiction. The inflexible, fierce looking yet amiable chief was amazed by the courage and endless approaches of the young priest who bothered him beyond his expectation. He became full of admiration for the indefatigable priest and had no option than to concede to his request.

The Lion-hearted chief gave his permission to establish the church in his compound and he had a handful of converts. Subsequently, a portion of land was given by to the Reverend father for his missionary work at Umulowu Amuzi Obowo.

Guy Consequently, the first church building cum school (thatch house) was built at Umulowu Amuzi Obowo. Among the first converts was late Mr. James Onwunali who was baptized on the 25^th of August 1918 and later became the clan chief of Obowo. Others were Joseph Anyanwu and Stephen Umunnakwe who were baptized on 6th November 1920 (Oparah 1989).

As time moved on, many others were converted and baptized in Catholic Church. Pushed by their zeal to have Catholicism entrenched in Amuzi, many of them trekked down to the catholic mission in Emekuku to be wedded in the church. Some of these enthusiastic soldiers of Christ from Amuzi were chief Gabriel Ugwu, Mr. Stephen Onyiriagwu, Chief Joe Nwagwu, Mr Samuel Enyioko, Mr John Nwachukwu, Mr Michael Adigo, Mr Francis Ezigbo, Mr Moses Ohaka, Joseph Ogu, Paul Korie, Micheal Emefu (all late now) to mention but a few.

Fired by the zeal not to let the seed planted by his late uncle chief Korieocha to wither, late chief James Onwunali relentlessly carried on the struggle of ensuring that the catholic church and indeed Christianity got a foothold in Obowo. To have the church centrally located and make it more expedient to have more converts, the church was later moved to the present site of St. Mary’s Parish Amuzi. The church later extended to Umuekwele Alike, Umuezigwe (church Ebelebe) and other parts of Obowo.

The traditional affinity and paternal love that pervaded Ikenanzizi then was so indivisible that in 1948 the parish church was built at Amuzi while the father’s house was built at Alike since Ikenanzizi then was regarded as one entity and the centre of Obowo. However, after the civil war, Fr. Fitz Gibbon the parish priest then deemed it convenient to have a new church building close to the father’s house at Alike. Consequently, the mother church at Amuzi became a station while the new church at Alike assumed the status of the main parish.But then , there were some people from umuezigwe who were already regular at worship right from immaculate heart Alike down to St Mary’s Amuzi, and all they saw and  participated in were preparatory to the birth of CKC Umuezigwe. Such men included; Mathias Anyanwu, Wilfred Anyanwu and Philip Konkwo. Also through the 1950 , 60’s, 70’s and early 80s, included People like  Paul Azubuike, Joseph ughalagba, Jerome Anyanwu, Ben Otuonye and Paul Onuh. Furthermore, names like Cletus Ebisike, Fredrick Anyanwu, Fidelis  Anyanwu, Vincent Nwokafor, Fredrick Okafor and Isidore Eboh all were well known names from umuezigwe.

Origin of CKC Umuezigwe in Amuzi

In the year 1983, umuezigwe already filled with men and women of faith,, was carved out as an out station Umuezigwe from Immaculate Heart Parish Obowo by Monsignor Donatus Abiamiri. The creation of the station can be traced to the ugly situation (death in motor accident of many abled bodied sons of Umuezigwe all over the country) that pervaded Umuezigwe community that year. As a result of this, some sons, and daughters of Umuezigwe led by Mr. Oliver Ibekwe ran to Rev. Fr. Donatus Abiamiri for intercessory prayers, Fr. Abiamiri advised them to seek the face of God through Novena Prayers.  Umuezigwe people resolved to embark on 40 days of the novena prayers and masses, the people of Umuezigwe made a promise/covenant with God Almighty that should the incessant death in motor accident stop they would continue to worship Him and repeat the novena annually. God answered their prayers. It was as a result of this covenant that the need to help them keep their part of the covenant that made Monsignor Abiamiri to create an outstation church in Umuezigwe and pronounced henceforth Umuezigwe shall from that day be called “Ala Nso”.

In 1984, Rev. Fr. Okonkwo Felix who took over from Monsignor Donatus Abiamiri told the parishioners in one of the Sunday masses that he saw in the handover note given to him that Umuezigwe has been an outstation church but no other details as to location and name was given to him.

At the end of the mass, he asked the people of umuezigwe to wait for a brief meeting. During the meeting, he called for suggestions as to name that can be given to the station. Some people suggested names, after a brief prayer session lot was cast, the name CKC suggested by Mr. Jude Ebisike was chosen. Rev.Fr. Okonkwo Felix officially pronounced the station “Christ the King Church Umuezigwe Amuzi”. After the pronouncement, Umuezigwe people laid a foundation of a church building at Oriezigwe primary school and built a church up to lintel level. With the creation of Okigwe Diocese in 1981 from the Old Umuahia Diocese and the need to have more parishes to propagate the gospel of Christ in the new Diocese, St. Mary’s Station became a parish designate under the leadership of Rev.Fr. Stephen Onuoha around 1985 and CKC Umuezigwe continued as station under St. Mary’s Parish. The need to ensure the growth of a new parish and its subsequent inauguration into a full-fledged parish almost brought activities at CKC station to a halt though Sunday masses were given to the station at irregular intervals. Rev. Fr. Stephen Onuoha later handed the mantle to Rev. Fr. Martin Onyebuchi shortly before the inauguration of the parish in 1986. Rev. Fr. Simon Okeke who took over from Rev. Fr. Martin Onyebuchi saw the need to rekindle the light at CKC station, so he started given regular Sunday masses at the station then moved him to nickname the station Bethany” (the village where Jesus lodged after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Mark 11:1-11). After the exit of Rev. Fr. Okeke, activities in the station phased out until the arrival of Rev.Fr. Val Njoku in 2004 leading to the dilapidation of the then ongoing church building at Oriezigwe primary school. In 2005, Rev. Fr. Val Njoku suggested the need for a permanent site for the church rather than using the school for masses since most of the time, it discomforts the pupils especially during morning masses. The people of Umuezigwe led by late Nze Livinus Enyioko (with some leaders of thought like Chief Emma Korie, late Ichie Ferdinand Azubuike, late Nze Jude Ebeh, late Nze Vitus Nwokorie, late Nze Ray Okafor, Mr. Peter Ogbonna, late Mr. Raymond Enyioko, Mr. Titus lhesinulo, Mr. Columba Ibekwe to mention but a few) in agreement land owners unanimously mapped out the present site of the church as the permanent site of the church as the permanent site for the parish (then station). Precisely, on the 19^th of March 2007, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Solomon Amatu blessed the site. On that same day, some sons of Umuezigwe led by Nze Desmond Ojunkwu and Hon. Ben Egelamba presented a life cow and other items to His Lordship as mark of appreciation for coming to bless the site. On the 1^st of January 2008, a launching ceremony under the chairmanship of Eze Dr. Chris Adigo (then traditional prime minister of Okwunezigwe) was organized for the building of the worship place at the new site. The mass was officiated by Rev. Fr. Stephen Uba, the then principal of St. Theresa’s comprehensive secondary school Ikenanzizi, while Mr. Ifeanyi Mba was master of ceremony. However, the aim of that fundraising was not realized because of some court cases bordering on ownership of some parcels of land at the site.

In the year 2010, rainstorm blew off the school hall use as mass centre, as such masses were celebrated outside at the mercy of harsh weather conditions. In May 2012, Mr. Titus Ihesinulo, Mr. Longinus Onuh and Mr Udochukwu  Nwordu with the consent of the station council made a delegation to Fr. Val Njoku to allow the station to do a mini fundraising to put up a roof over their heads at the new site which he granted. Mr. Oliver Ibekwe moved a motion that the church should be moved to the new site without delay since the parish priest had granted our request for building a worship place at the new site, it was seconded by chief Eddy Anyanwu who pledged to provide canopies for masses for five weeks. It was adopted and a delegation was sent to the parish priest to intimate him of the decision to move to the new site. On the 27^th day of May 2012, the church moved from Oriezigwe primary school to the permanent site and the fundraising took place the same day. The mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Stanley Ibeh, who also served as the master of ceremony.

After the mass, Eze Chris Adigo addressed Umuezigwe catholic community on the need to have a building committee set up immediately. Consequently, a building committee led by Mr. Udochukwu Nwoduh was set and inaugurated the same day, other members of the committee were Mr. Eugene Iwu, Mr. Cornelius Ibekwe, Mr. Tobias Nwokoji, Chief Eddy Anyanwu, Mr. Peter Ibe, Mr. Christognus Ibekwe and Mr. Leo Ugo. Work on the site commenced two days after the inauguration of the committee under the supervision of Engr. Bruno Ibe. While the building work was going on, masses were celebrated outside. After the five weeks Engr. Eddy provided canopies elapsed, Mr. Anthony Adigo continued to provide seats and canopies free of charge for masses until the church was roofed in August 2012.

When Rev. Fr. Louis Nwankwo took over from Fr. Val Njoku in October 2012, he saw the need to have the station strengthened, and he immediately granted the permission for morning mass to be celebrated every Tuesdays and Wednesdays of the week and all days of obligation of the church. He also called for instituted the various solidarities and statutory bodies of the church at the station level and ensured that election/selection of their various executive. Some of the leaders who emerged from the selection/election processes were Mr. Columba Ibekwe (station council chairman and CMO president), Mrs. Caroline Enyioko (CWO President), Lolo Justina Nwokorie (choir president), Miss Tochi Ibe (Mary league president), Master Philip Udunwa (Altar Boys/Girls president), among other excos. This in no small measure helped the station to grow.

CKC Umuezigwe was officially elevated to the status of a Parish-in-Building on the 12^th of October 2016 by His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Solomon Amamchukwu Amatu, Catholic Bishop of Okigwe Diocese, with Rev. Fr. Valentine Ojiegbe as the first priest/ builder and later parish priest.. Before then the people of Umuezigwe met and appealed to their sons to help provide temporary accommodation for the priest. From October 2016 to 2020 when the Rectory was completed, the priest lived in Mr. Sampson Anyaegbu’s house.

Upon arrival to CKC, the young and energetic Fr. Val hit the ground running by prompt completion of the windows and electrification project ongoing in the church before he came. He also promptly conducted elections and inaugurated the parish council led by Nze Desmond Ojunkwu, CMO led by Mr. David Ihekoronye, CWO led by Mrs. Catherine Adigo, CYON led by Mr. Sabinus Ogu and other solidarities. He went further to inaugurate the 2016 harvest committee led by Mr. Udochukwu Nwoduh and charged them to use the harvest to raise funds for the building of the parish Rectory, during the harvest, the parish honoured HRH Eze Dr. Adigo, Mr Bede Anyanwu and Mr. Sampson Anyaegbu as the pillars of strength of the parish for their various contributions towards stabilizing the parish while recognising too later, Chief Emma Korie, Surveyor Dr Remigius Agoha, Pa Cletus Ebisike, Ezinna Titus Ihesinulor and Mr Columba Ibekwe,  pillars too for their contributions for the growth of CKC so far.

Immediately after the harvest, the parish setup a building committee for the Rectory with Mr. Longinus Onuh as the chairman. On Saturday the 25^th of February 2017 foundation laying ceremony for the Rectory was performed. Subsequently, a fundraising ceremony was organized was organized to raise funds for the building of the Rectory with Mr. Henry Anyanwu as the chairman of the occasion. It is worthy of note that the youths of Umuezigwe came out in their numbers to dig the foundation of the Rectory free of charge. To the glory of God, the parish Rectory was completed on record time and is adjudged one of the best in the Diocese and even Owerri ecclesiastical province. Within the last six years, the parish has been taking care of both the health and spiritual needs of her parishioners and beyond through her annual free health outreach and spiritual crusade to mark the annual forty days covenant novena prayers and to celebrate the feast of Christ the king. To ensure the continuation of free health outreach programme, the parish acquired land for building an ultra-modern CKC clinic which is greatly supported by Mr. Bede Anyanwu, Mr. Emeka Ibe, Rtd. Gen. Ikechukwu Okeke, Mr. Francis Amaechi with their friends and a host of others that cannot be mentioned  but not forgotten.. The foundation of the CKC clinic was also blessed by His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Solomon Amatu, the catholic bishop of Okigwe Diocese. CKC Umuezigwe has produced four indigenous Reverend fathers, four Reverend Sisters, many seminarians, and aspirants. A total of 322 Christians and 21 couples have been baptised and wedded in the church respectively from 2016 till date. We will not also forget to mention some of our daughters married out but have always showed up to keep CKC moving high of whom we have recognised as Ezinwanne nwere ugwu who include; chief Mrs Christi Ordu, Ezinne  Fidelia Maduforo, Mrs Adamma Amaefule, Mrs Philomena Nwagwu and Ezinne Mrs okonkwo Bengoodman.

Brief History of Okigwe Diocese

The missionaries evangelized the present Okigwe Diocese from two wings namely: Adazi in Anambra State and Emekuku in Owerri (lmo state). While Okigwe North was evangelized from Adazi, Okigwe South was taken care of from Emekuku. Consequently, they created two Missions: Holy Cross Mission, Uturu (1912) and St. Columbas’ Mission Nsu (1917). From these two Missions, the Catholic faith sprouted and began to grow into what we have today as Okigwe Diocese. The Church in the zone continued to grow from strength to strength under the able leadership of Bishop A. G. Nwedo of Umuahia Diocese. On January 24, 1981, His Holiness Pope John Paul II carved out Okigwe zone from Umuahia Diocese and elevated it into a diocese of its own. Most Rev. Anthony Ekezia Ilonu who was appointed by the Holy Father as the pioneer bishop was consecrated on March 29, 1981. Bishop A. E. Ilonu diligently pastured this diocese for 25 years. Briefly before his retirement, the then Auxiliary Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu was appointed the Coadjutor Bishop of Okigwe Diocese on July 16, 2005. Bishop S. A. Amatu took over as the diocesan Bishop of the diocese at the retirement of Bishop Ilonu on April 22, 2006, and was installed on July 1, 2006. The diocese is currently blessed with 120 parishes, 29 parishes-in-building and 9 chaplaincies. She has 504 priests, 167 major seminarians and 509 minor seminarians. Serving in the diocese are 36 Religious Men and 207 religious’ women of different religious congregations. The diocese is dedicated to Our Lady, Immaculate Conception.