The present day St. William’s parish Nkwelle was an outstation of St. Augustine’s parish Umuoba, Anam. It was not until 1977 that it was made a parish by Archbishop Francis Arinze. Rev. Fr. Jude Okafor was Appointed as the Pioneer parish priest that same year.
Since the inception of the parish, the population of the faithful amount up to three thousand persons.
The following have worked as Parish Priests since its creation:
1. Fr. Jude Okafor: 1977 to 1978
2. Fr. Micheal Ezeabasilim (Late): 1978 to 1981
3. Fr. Nicholas Akwanya: 1981 to 1982
4. Fr. Micheal Azike: 1982
5. Fr. Hilary Muotoe: 1982 to 1988
6. Fr. Denis Nwafor (Late): 1988 to 1993
7. Msgr Mathew Obiukwu (Late): 1993 to 2010
8. Fr. Jude Okolo: 2010 to 2020
9. Fr. Cletus Edelu: 2020 to 2023
10. Fr. Callistus Akorah 2023 to date.
The Parish is divided into the following WARDS:
a. St Peter’s
b. St Michael’s
c. Holy Family
d. St Catherine’s
e. St Joseph’s
The Parish has an estimated population of two thousand people, and celebrates the following Masses every Sunday:
1. 6am and 10am Masses in the Parish centre.
2. 6. 30am m at Holy Spirit Outstation.
3. 8:30am at St. Mary’s outstation; and at Christ the King outstation and 10.00am at St. Catherine’s outstation.
St. William’s Catholic Church Nkwelle Ezunaka was dedicated on 2nd October 2016.
Outstations: St William Parish has the following outstations:
1. St Mary’s outstation
2. Christ the King outstation
3. St Catherine’s outstation
4. Holy Spirit outstation
St Mary’s outstation began around 2016. It is located at Otakwii, Nkwelle Ezunaka. It is a hilly estate by the left as one moves towards Nsugbe from Nkwelle ‘Y’ Junction. They have a place a place of worship sitting at the parcel of land bought and fully paid for by the outstation. It is populated by many low income earners and very few rich people. The area is still a developing area. People are still moving in gradually. The outstation has an estimated population of five hundred people.
Christ the King outstation started on the solemnity of Christ the King in 2020. It is located at Ezinkwelle, Garden City Estate. There is a temporary structure sited on a borrowed land used for worship. The area is still developing and as such the population is still poor but is growing rapidly with an estimated population of seventy to hundred people.
Schools: The parish has two primary schools – Ezunaka primary school (St William’s Primary School) located in the church compound and hilltop primary school located along the road. They are both returned primary schools. The Parish has also a newly established secondary school that has only JSS 1.
Major Events of the Year 2023
1. Saturday, 28th October 2023: Elections of societies and associations at the parish level
2. Monday, 30th October 2023: Elections of statutory bodies at the parish level
3. Saturday, 4th November 2023: Bakhita Deanery Elections
4. Monday, 13th November 2023: Parish Council Election
5. Sunday, 26th November 2023: Eucharistic Procession on the Solemnity of Christ the Universal King
6. Saturday, 9th December 2023: A day of community rosary with the Diocesan Bishop, Most Rev. C. Denis Isizoh
7. Monday, 15th January 2024: Inaugural Bakhita Deanery Meeting, conducted by the Dean, Very Rev. Fr Callistus Akorah.
Parish Pious Societies: legion of mary, our lady of perpetual help, tansi solidarity, st. anthony’s society charismatic renewal, mother of perpetual help, sacred heart, Block rosary crusade
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Callistus AKORAH
In Residence: Msgr. Nicholas AKWANYA
In Residence: Rev. Fr. Peter OKOLO
Associate Vicar: Rev. Fr. Oscar OKOLI, HFFBY
