The Parish of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Bodo City, in Gokana local government area of Rivers State, headquarters of Bodo deanery, played host to the catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Camillus Etukudoh and other Catholic faithfuls.
The event which was the first of its kind, took place on Sunday March 25, 2012, at the St Patrick Church premises at Bodo City, Gokana, marked the 80 year Anniversary of the establishment of the Catholic Church in Bodo in 1932.
It was the grand finale of the week-long celebration of the 80th anniversary of the introduction of catholic to Bodo land. The address of welcome was read by the Parish vice chairman, Sir. Pius Vulasi on behalf of the Parish Priests of St. Patrick’s and St. Brigid Bodo.
Very Rev. Fr. Abel Agbulu, CM & Rev. FFrancis Tete, x-rayed the growth of the catholic faith in Bodo and indeed the entire Ogoni land. They further informed the Bishop that Bodo alone has produced 18 priests and over eight Rev. Sisters.
They requested therefore that a convent which was to operate in Bodo before the civil, war be returned; that the headquarters of one of the new dioceses to be created and sited in Bodo.
During the occasion the chapel of Adoration and the St. Aloysius prayer garden were blessed and commissioned by the Bishop.
In his response, the Bishop said the convent be restored to Bodo immediately and that the sisters will pack in as soon as their houses of residence are ready.
On the Diocesan creation, he remarked that Bodo is already a diocese but that the canonical procedures have to be adhered to from the provincial Bishops to the catholic Bishop conference to the Papal nuncio and the Papacy. He thanked the people of Bodo for their great faith saying “you are the highest of the world, you are the salt of the earth.
One of the highlights of the occasion was the launching of the book, “The History of the Catholic Church in Ogoni land” Co-authored by Mr. Ignatius Piegbara and Mr. Peter Kedei. The book was reviewed by Dr. Joe Vipene.
The Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Bodo in his vote of thanks appreciated the priests who left their various parishes to be with the Bishop on this epochal visit and particularly very Rev. Fr. Denis Tegbee the first Fruit of the missionary of Rev. Fr. O Connoy in 1932. He also thanked the diocesan chancellor very Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Manu, the Bishop’s secretary, Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Dedua, Msgr. Charles Agu, PH Diocesan Catholic Education Board Chairman, Rev. Frs. Jude Sorgia Edward Patta, Innocent Nagbi, Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Edem, Fr. Emenike Emuhi CM, Fr. Raphael Kpeden, Fr. Rufus Achilika, CSSP.
He finally thanked the planning committee headed by Rtd. Justice P.B. Akere for their tremendous sacrifice. ###
-Pius Dukor
