The birth of the the catholic church could be traced back to 1919 with the coming of late Rev. Fr. C.T. Mac-Nnamar, accompanied by his renowned teacher/catechist late Mr. Martin Kwazu of Aguleri.
Fr. C. T Mac-Nnamar was succeeded by late Rev. Fr. J. A Farrell and Rev. Fr. S. Delong in 1921. In 1922 Fr. J.A Farrell opened a school of mud wall which he named St. Joseph school, Anaku, now Community primary school Anaku.
In 1936, late Rev. Fr. Joseph Delany was sent from Aguleri parish and late Mr. Joseph Ifeanya was to be the first indigenous catechist/Headmaster of the school. There was also missionaries sent in towards the end of 1936 to facilitate the evangelization in the person of late Monsignor William Obelagu who worked along side a German priest Rev. Fr. Urbane (1937-1939). Other priest from Aguleri Parish in the persons of Rev. Fr. Mynor Edward Ahaji(1946-1949), Blessed M.C Iwene Tansi and his vicar Rev. For. Clement Ulogu, and Rev. Fr. Lihane took over.
In March 24” 1954 wind of change and evangelization blew Akiyi from St. Joseph’s Aguleri of the Archdiocese of Onitsha to Aku in the then Enugu diocese.
In 1960 Holy Cross Akiyi Umulokpa was carved from Aku parish which included Ayamelum catholic stations. This was under the shepherdship of Mgsr. Rapheal Eze(1960-1962). Mgsr. Rapheal built the first two classroom block of which one serve as the church.
Rev. Fr. Eze was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Flanny (1963-1966). Akiyi was captured by the Nigeria soldier in 1966 during the civil war and the parish was not functioning at that time. In 1967-1970 the church sent Rev. Fr. Moses Orakwudo Cssp and Rev. Fr. Capt. Cyprian Charles Ikeme(1970-1971).
At that time there were agitation and delegates were sent by Ayamelum people to Bishop G. M. P Okoye of Enugu and Ifite Ogwari was granted a parish with Fr. Benjamin Mbata as the first resident priest.
Rev. Fr. Charles F. Ukagha took over from Fr. B. Mbata in 1983-1986 and finished the skeleton of the present church building at Anaku. Rev. Fr. Evaristus Nwamadi came in 1986 and during his time, the first indigenous priest in Anaku Rev. Fr. Paul C Nnanna was ordained at Anaku by His Lordship Rev. Dr. MU. Eneja the then Bishop of Enugu Diocese, he helped the creation of Omor parish and Rev. Fr. Ambrose O Azigah (1990-1994) became the first parish priest of Omor parish in 1990. Anaku was included in the new carved Omor parish. Rev. Fr. Martin E Ozioko 1994-1995 came in as the second parish priest of Omor parish comprising Omor, Anaku, Umumba and Umerum communities. Rev. Fr. Wilfred Odoh was sent in to take over from Fr. Emeka Ozioko in 1995 and stayed till 1997 and handed over to Rev. Fr. Joseph Ugwuanyi who left in 1998 and happened to be the last priest from Nsukka Diocese.
In September, 1998 pope Johnpaul II granted that Ayamelum can be moved to Onitsha Archdiocese according to their demands. Handover was done on 25 November 1998. In December 1998, the Archdiocese sent in Rev. Fr. Paul Obiaga to take over from Rev. Fr. Joseph Ugwuanyi and he became the first parish priest from Onitsha Archdiocese to be the first parish priest of Omor after our sojourn for about forty four (44) years in Enugu/Nsukka Dioceses. In 2001, a vicar in the person of Rev. Fr. Patrick Okwumuo was posted to Omor parish to assist Rev. Fr. Obiaga.
Rev. Fr. John Amechi Omutah replaced Rev. Fr. Okwumuo as the vicar At this time agitation to become a parish mounted by Anaku catholic station started receiving attention. Fr. Paul Obiaga helped in actualization of the dream and in 2004 Anaku parish was created and it was the first one-town parish in Ayamelum. Rev. Fr. Maurice Okechukwu Abasilim became the first parish priest of Anaku. Rev. Fr. Maurice Abasilim handed the baton over to Rev. Fr. Bedemoore Nnadozie Oblekezie in 5 September 2009. Rev. Fr. Bedemoore N. Obiekezie made numerous achievements, and in 2014 he handed over to Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Okechukwu Mba who stayed only eleven months and handed over to Rev. Fr. Raphael Odike.
st. joseph’s parish, Anaku
