The Parish Priest and Parishioners of St. Francis Catholic Church, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, Rivers State have ended their 2013 feast celebration of the Parish Patron Saint, held at the church premises.
Speaking with The Newswriter shortly after the event, the Parish Priest, Rev. Monsignor Dr. Emmanuel Maru described the event as a day that was set aside to celebrate the patron saint of the Parish, St. Francis of Assisi, which takes place every 4th of October, as being celebrated.
Maru used the medium to commend Mr. Francis Murray Bruce one of the awardees and parish benefactors.
He further lauded the giant strides of his predecessor and one of the awardees, Rev. Msgr. Dr. Charles Agu, the Pioneer Parish Priest of St. Francis Catholic Church, Rumuokwuta.
Responding on why he decided to build on the legacy that was left behind by Msgr. Agu, Dr. Maru opined that he was called to the service of God and humanity and the need for him to contribute his quota to ensure that St. Francis remains in the league of fastest growing Catholic Parishes in Rivers State.
The Parish Priest noted that his character of changing the way things are when he met them, as exhibited in his former parish, motivated him to interlock the Church Premises, put up a “Grotto” in conjunction with the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) of the Parish, built structures and carried out other renovation jobs in the parish to provide a conducive learning environment for pupils of the parish and working to provide a befitting Hall for the need of the Parish.
Msgr. Maru disclosed that the 12 awardees were among those that have shown commitment and unrelented support to the development of the church. He, however, enjoined parishioners to emulate and live the life of their patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, adding that they will continue to pray for the parishioners in order to remain a loving and caring family, which they are known.
Responding, the chairman of the feast day celebration, Engr. Joseph Duntoye, commended the Parish Priest and the entire Parishioners of St. Francis for such an opportunity given to him. He urged other parishioners to continue to show commitment to the service of God, believing that theirs will come at the appointed time.
While Mr. A.O. Peters who had received several awards in the parish, attributed those honours to commitment and dedication to the service of God, he lauded the duo of Msgrs. Charles Agu and Emmanuel Maru for their selfless strides to the development of St. Francis Parish.
Mr. Johnny Muoneke, chairman , Planning Committee of the Patron’s Feast day celebration 2013 in his remarks thanked fellow parishioners and the awardees for their support. He noted that it was a difficult task to select 12 awardees out of a whole number of persons in the parish, adding that those awarded were well deserved.
He further complemented Msgr. Agu and Maru, describing them as God sent to St. Francis
Blaise Elumezie
