Two Catholic Spiritan Missionaries, Rev Frs Joseph Emile Lutz CSSp and Francis Home, who had arrived in Onitsha in a steamer from Brass, together with other members of their team, sowed the seed of Catholic faith that blossomed all over the Eastern Nigeria in 1885. Due to waterway movement, naturally, Onitsha was the main gateway. In 1888, Ogbuanyinya Onyekomeli Idigo -a prominent titled man from Aguleri, invited them to open a missionary base in his hometown, Aguleri. Following this request, the Apostolic Prefect, Joseph Lutz, Rene Pawlas and Joseph Reiling, founded a Christian village on December 3, 1891. This same day, the church in Aguileri was formally proclaimed a parish. Soon, the missionaries set out to work. And within a short period of time some devout Christians and fervent catechumens left their villages and came to build their huts in clusters around the parish house. Among these settlers, were the people of Igbariam, who, out of fear for their invading neighbouring Achalla, had fled their hometown as refugees to sojourn in Aguileri for 9 years (1888 – 1897). Prominent among these refugees was a man known as Okonkwo Ngangah Uyaelumnuo (nicknamed Igaliga). He was the first among his people to get in touch with the missionary fathers. As such, he also enjoyed the privilege of undergoing the catechumenate together with some members of Idigo family and was finally baptised with the name Christopher on December 3, 1891.
However, in spite of the hospitality enjoyed by Igbariam people in this foreign land, they always nursed the strong desire to return home. And so, having made the necessary arrangements with the missionaries on home travel logistics, the people of Igbariam led by Fr Francis Xavier Lichtenberge and his colleagues were brought back home on the feast day of St Anthony of Padua (June 13, 1897). Upon arrival, the first Holy Mass was celebrated at Obi Ngangah in Ifite village. From there, the mission first moved to the village square, and later, to the present site at Ogbaru area where a piece of land was donated by Umuaneke family of Oguiguetiti village. Good to note that this family later received another piece of land in exchange from Igbariam community at a place called Alicheluoku. With time, the Catholic community began to grow from strength to strength. In 1909, the church at Igbariam, which until then had remained a functioning outstation of St Joseph’s Parish, Aguileri, was proclaimed a full parish with Rev. Fr Charles Vogler as the first priest in charge.
The new parish priest arrived in Igbariam with Fr Joseph Shanahan CSSp on January 18, 1909 and assumed duty. In 1912, the Parish established St Anthony’s Teachers Training College. This school handled the training of Catechists and teachers for the third class certificate. The following persons
were the pioneer students: Late P.H. Okolo, William Onuchukwu, Patrick Anekwe, Charles Nduaguba and H.R.H, Igwe R.R. Olisa of Ossomala. Upon his demise and subsequent
burial at the cemetery in Aguleti, Fr Vogler was later succeeded by Fr Douvry. The mission was strongly affected by the Second World War in 1914, and such aftermath problems as lack of adequate staff from Europe, compelled the authorities to shut it down in 1922. Other factors bordering on lack of acceptance by the people and high level of paganism also became a huge setback for the missionaries, who found it extremely difficult to minister to the people.
Despite the challenges being faced by the missionaries in Igbariam, the church authority still found the existing building that previously housed the trainee teachers and their Instructors good enough for use as a seminary. Consequently, St Paul’s seminary which had already taken off in Onitsha in
1922 was moved to, and officially opened at Igbariam, on 29th July, 1924. It was a junior and senior seminary combined and had Rev. Fr William O’ Donnel, CSSp as its first Rector. Rev. Fr Charles Heerey succeeded Fr O’Donnel as the second Rector and was assisted by Fr Philip O’Connor. By this time, the number of students had increased from six at Onitsha to twelve at Igbariam. Six out of these twelve were later ordained priests. In 1925, Mr Michael Twene Tansi was admitted and was later ordained a priest in 1937. There was a little adjustment in the teaching staff when the Rector, Fr Charles Heerey was elevated to the office of the coadjutor Bishop to Bishop Shanahan of Onitsha in 1926, Rev. Fr Richard Daly was appointed his successor and the third Rector with Fr Finnegan as his assistant. As God would direct, this seminary could only last for a short period of time. Due to heavy presence and menace of life threatening mosquitoes, sun flies which kept the visitors uncomfortable,and coupled with unbearable unacceptable and hostility of the townspeople already mentioned above, the church authority was forced to move St Paul’s seminary back to Onitsha beside St Charles’ Training College with Fr Dennis Kennedy as the fourth Rector in 1929. Unfortunately, this magnificent building that housed the fathers and students was completely razed down at the instance of the missionaries.
Again, feeling the need to re-establish the lost mission as well as bring the frustrated missionaries back to their home soil, Igbariam people began sending delegations to Archbishop Charles Heerey in Onitsha. And so, it was agreed that part of the conditions for re-nurturing that mission was that the people must promise to rebuild the Fathers house razed down when the missionaries left in frustration. The house was rebuilt in 1954 and in 1950, St Anthony’s Catholic school which had lost its standard six status as a result of the squabbles regained it. But it was not until October 12, 1981 that Igbariam regained its Parish status and a resident parish priest in the person of Rev. Fr Bernard Okoli. The parish was officially reinaugurated by the then Archbishop of Onitsha, His Grace, Most Rev Francis Arinze (now a Cardinal) on May 15, 1982. The re-established parish had Nando town as its out-station. Currently, Igbariam Catholic Mission has two Parishes with two main churches, namely: St Anthony’s Church, Igbariam town (dedicated in 2020 by Bp. Denis Isizoh with Fr Benedict Udeogwu as the parish priest) and Holy Trinity Church at Farm Settlement
(formerly an out-station of St Anthony’s but later raised to parish status in 2004 by Archbishop Valerian Okeke with Fr Raymond Alpunonu as the first Priest in charge). The following priests have officially ministered as Parish Priests or school administrators in Igbariam:
1. Rev. Fr Francis Xavier Lichtenberger
2. Rev. Fr Joseph Shanahan
3. Rev. Fr Charles Voglar (1st Parish Priest)
4. Rev. Fr Douvry
5. Rev O’Connor (1st Rector of St Anthony’s College)
6. Rev. Fr O’Sullivan (2nd Rector of St Anthony’s College)
7. Rev. Fr William O’Donnel (1st Rector of St Paul’s Seminary)
8. Rev. Fr Charles Heerey (2nd Rector of the seminary and later Archbishop of Onitsha)
9. Rev. Fr Dick Daly (Assistant Rector of St Paul’s Seminary)
10. Rev. Fr Dennis Kennedy (the fourth Rector of St Paul’s Seminary)
11. Rev. Fr Bernard Okoli
12. Rev. Fr Dr Victor Ifeanyi
13. Rev. Fr Dr Henry Emekwue
14. Rev. Fr Michael Ndive
15. Rev. Fr Edwin Emeli
16. Rev. Fr George Ekwunife
17. Rev. Fr Clement Nwankwo
18. Rev. Fr Celestine Chigbo
19. Rev. Fr Benjamin Ikeji
20. Rev. Fr Cletus Okoye
21. Rev. Fr Martin Emeli
22. Rev. Josaphat Nzekvesi
23. Rev. Fr Benedict Udergwu
By all standards, the Catholic faith is still doing well in Igbariam town despite huge challenges posed by paganism. The number of Baptisms and other sacraments recorded every year is very encouraging. Also, the strategic efforts made through catholic education in primary and secondary schools owned by the parish are good steps in the right direction. To the plory of God, the old St Paul’s Seminary, Igbariam has just returned last year thanks to the vision of the incumbent Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Aguieri. With the foundation stone laid on January 25, 2024, the young seminarians, now swimming at Aguieri, are expected to come and live in Igbariam whenever their new house under construction is completed.
parish priest: Rev. Fr. Peter Ejike OKAFOR
