Introduction
The history of St Augustine’s Parish Umuoba-Anam is a history of the Catholic Church in the entire area covered by Anam, Nzam and Olumbanasa (Ega-Oja) in the present Anambra West and Anambra East Local Government Areas.In their quest for evangelization, the Christian (Catholic) missionaries came to Nigeria with the Gospel on one hand and formal education on the other hand with the formal education being among other good reasons a helping tool in enhancing the expected communication with the people for making possible evangelization and conversion.
Umuoba-Anam is one of the eight villages of Anam. Anam is composed of Iyiora, Nmiata, Umuoba, Umueze, Oroma, Umukwu, Umudora and Unuemwelum and is located in the riverine with River Niger on its West, bounded on the south by Anambra River (Omambala), on the North by Odeke in Kogi State and in the East by the Anambra River, with Umuoba-Anam as the only village of Anam located in both Anambra East and West Local Government Areas of Anambra State.
The location of Umuoba-Anam in both Anambra East and West brought Umuoba-Anam and the entire Anam and their neighbouring Nzam and Olumbanasa Communities into close contact among themselves on one hand and also with the Umuoba-Anam environs of Aguleri and Umueri in the upland on the other hand.
This central location of Umuoba-Anam and its proximity, mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence among Umuoba-Anam, Aguleri, and Umueri made it easy for the Catholic Church to extend its evangelization to the riverine areas of Anam in 1912 when Rev. Father Joseph Shanahan set foot for the first time at Oda-Anam. Before this time, Rev. Father Pawlas had made a distant survey of Anam Area en route the Anambra River from the boat which took him to Odene Aguleri in 1895.
The Christian Village known as “Ugwu Ndi Uka” in Aguleri was the centre of Christian life throughout the area known today as Anambra East and West, some part of Oyi and Ayamelum Local Government Areas of Anambra State as Aguleri was the place at which the Catholic missionaries settled and from where they extended their administration and evangelization activities to the aforementioned areas.Given the fact of the nearness of Umuoba-Anam to the Christian Village, Aguleri, some prominent people of Umuoba-Anam joined the early Christians of Aguleri.
Early Christian Converts and Education
Recordable history of education in Umuoba-Anam began in 1912 when Mr P. O. Ugbagu got baptized as a school boy at St Joseph’s Catholic Mission, Aguleri. Few others followed including Late Mr P.A. Okeke, Late Mr Henry Agbata and Late Mr J.O. Okafor. Their influence was not felt because they lived far away from the people under Igwe R.A. Idigo II of Aguleri, during the reign of the Warrant Chief Paul Onwuoku Chibogu of Umuoba-Anam of blessed memory.
Actual education and evangelization started in 1934 when Messrs Francis A. Ugbagu, Victor Ogolo Ekwealor and Anthony C. Anizor were enrolled in St. Raphael’s Infant School, Aguleri. From this date there was a steady flow of pupils and Christian converts up to date.
In 1936, a school block was put up for Umuoba-Anam in the premises of St. Raphael’s Infant School, Aguleri. It had dwarf mud walls and thatched roof. It had a population of over 80 pupils. One Mr Nwangwu of Nteje was the pioneer teacher. The school collapsed due to disinterest in funding formal education of their enrolled pupils by their parents who were not yet converted into Christianity from their traditional religion and as the people were then opposed to communal payment of the school fees as it was generally felt that the (white) missionaries were using education of the children in schools as a subtle way to ensnare them into becoming Christian converts. This was during the time of Rev. Fr Joseph Delaney, the Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Catholic Mission, Aguieri of which Umuoba-Anam was an integral part.
The Christian converts were school children and some traditionalist adults who religiously embraced the Christian faith as the Way, the Truth and Life which Christ himself is, as their fear was the alleged harassment by witches, semi deities and other diabolical agents. All these converts in time became both powerful and progressive in education and evangelization of the people.
Late Mr. Joseph Morba the father of Late Headmaster Philip Morba was the first home convert of Umuoba-Anam followed by some other converts as Mr Germanus Anago, Lawrence Madubuko, Thomas Ndive, Paul Anide and host of others. These early converts were harassed by members of the then predominantly traditional religious community of Umuoba-Anam. As a result, some of them fled to Iranawa in present day Benue State. Of course, they still maintained regular contact with those converts at home for the spread of Christian evangelization. Four characters – prominent leaders: Ogbuevi Anizor Ameke (Idenyi), Ogbuevi Muomwuba Okoye, Ogbuevi Ogolo Ugbagu and Ogbuevi Obadiegwu Okoye were hand in gloves with Late Msgr. W.E. Obeleagu and the early converts working for the sustenance of education/revival of community school and free primary education in Umuoba-Anam. Their hard work materialized in 1944 when free education was introduced in Umuoba-Anam. It should be noted that the four prominent leaders involved in these scheme were all worshippers of traditional deities.
How was the programme sustained? Whenever the community was hard up, Late Msgr Obeleagu solicited financial help from these four persons who paid privately to him in order to prevent sending the children out of school. When the community paid to the priest, he secretly paid back the loan to them.
In 1952, Rev. Fr F. Mills, the school Manager of Aguleri Parish registered a school for Umuoba-Anam. The school known as St Augustine’s Catholic School was built at \( \textit{1lo} \) (public square) Umuoba-Anam now in Anambra East. While there was growing effective influence in education of pupils, the seed of Christianity was firmly sown along by the Late Rev. Fr Joseph Delaney and watered and nurtured to maturity by Late Rt Rev. Monsignor W.E. Obeleagu the first native clergy in Aguleri Parish.
The Birth of the Parish
The aspirations of the people in education and embracing of the Christian religion were translated into solid effect in 1967, by the birth of St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Umuoba-Anam. The event that led to the birth of this Church was initiated by the death of one Mr Joseph Okoye Agbogu of Umuoba-Anam in 1964. The events that took place during this time might be God’s plan of creating more parishes out of Aguleri Parish. It was the repealing of the age long custom of the two Christian communities (Umuoba-Anam and Aguleri) by the refusal of Aguleri Christians to allow Umuoba-Anam Christians to bury their dead Christian brother – Mr Joseph Okoye Agbogu in the Christian cemetery, Aguleri as was hitherto the practice. As a result, Umuoba-Anam applied for a separate outstation and it was granted in 1964 by the Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Catholic Church Aguleri.
Furthermore, Umuoba-Anam applied for a separate Parish/Church. The application letter to this effect was sent to His Grace, Dr Charles Heerey, the Archbishop of Onitsha, on 28th December 1964 and was signed by Messrs. P.O. Ugbagu, P.O. Anekwe, P.A. Anizor, T.N. Nneke and Anthony Okafor.
Later, Rev. Fr Kevin McArdle, the Umuoba-Anam Development Council (Mmeghe) and the converts led a campaign to convince the community to remove their shrines located around the public square for the St Augustine’s Primary School building to be transferred to the site of the present St Augustine’s Church in order to allow space for the Parish House in the offing. The erection of the school building met with very strong opposition from pagans particularly from juju priests who planned to wage war against the Christians in Umuoba-Anam. After passionate appeal to them had failed, the Christians led by Mr Phillip Morba, Simon Anekwe, Paul Anekwe, Raphael Odili, Aloy A. Adigwe, Moses Chife, Lazarus Muonwuba and Charles Osakwe met Rev. Monsignor Obeleagu on the issue. A meeting of the community and Monsignor Obeleagu was summoned immediately and Monsignor Obeleagu attended and spoke to the elders.
During the meeting, well-meaning youths (Christians and Traditionalists) joined the Christians against the wish of pagan elders in urging that the five shrines of the five quarters (villages) that made up Umuoba-Anam be removed. The four prominent elders already mentioned secretly supported the project. Others worthy of mention include: Chief P.O. Ugbagu, Anthony Okafor, Thomas Nneke, Peter Anizor, George Okoye and a host of others. Consent of the elders was received and the juju of the quarters were removed from the sites and carried away by their respective owners and the five single storey buildings housing the five shrines of the five quarters were razed to the ground in the presence of Rev. Msgr Obeleagu. It was an epoch-making event as Umuoba-Anam on that very date removed all their shrines from the Ilo and relinquished the _llo_ to the Catholic Church in the presence of Rev. Fr W.E. Obeleagu. This news of the struggle to lay a solid foundation for the Catholic Church in Umuoba-Anam quickly reached the Catholic Secretariat in Onitsha and this great gesture by Umuoba-Anam highly impressed the then Archbishop of Onitsha Dr. Charles Heerey, CSSp. Approval was given in 1967 to the application letter of 1964.In April 1967, St Augustine’s Catholic Mission Umuoba-Anam was created an independent Parish by the Late Archbishop Charles Heerey and the Parish took off on a sound note.
This new Parish was thus the first Catholic Parish in Anam and comprised all the communities in Anam, Nzam, Inoma and Olumba-nasa (Ega-oja). From available records, Rev. Fr. Lynch was already assisting prior to the posting of the first Parish Priest Rev. Fr Sheehan and the Parish had started having new converts.
The first to receive the Sacrament of Baptism in the Parish was Innocent Chukwudi Okonkwo, a native of Umukwu nam followed by Damian Okafor Chukwuemeka from Nibo
and Francisca Ebele Anaebonam from Awkuzu, all baptized by Rev. Fr Lynch. On the 17th day of June 1967, when Father Sheehan had taken over as the Parish Priest, Gloria Nneka Anekwe became the very first parishioner of Umuoba-Anam to be baptized in the new Parish. Able Parish Priest Rev. Fr Joseph Shanahan was the pioneer Parish Priest in 1967. He had a very brief stay and left that same year because of the Civil War and was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Alfred Edekobi (1967-1970), a lover of his flock. Fr Edekobi was close to the people, uncertainties of the Civil War notwithstanding. He was to visit them in their farms, challenging the unprecedented high flood.
In 1970, at the end of the Civil War, he was transferred, Rev. Fr Joe Nwibegbunam (later Monsignor) came in 1970, he was foreeful and effective, he successfully welded the worshippers of traditional deities and those of Christ to build a magnificent Christian Church/the St Augustine’s Catholic Church edifice.
A rare feat! The foundation stone of the Church was laid by His Grace, Archbishop Francis Arinze (now Francis Cardinal Arinze) on 24th April 1973. It was during the sermon at foundation stone laying of St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Umuoba-Anam that His Grace then made a prophetic and vivid description of Anam people as “an Elephant that was asleep… when it wakes up, it pulls down all obstacles on its way”. This prophecy is now daily fulfilled in all the communities in Anam. To God be the glory!
The curates that worked in the Parish during his tenure included Rev. Fr John Oraemesi (1972 – 73), Rev. Fr D. Sokei (1973 – 74), Rev. Fr Simon Amateze (1974 – 75), Rev. Fr Mark Ezeamaechi (1975 – 76), Rev. Fr Philip Chinyere (1975 – 76) (worked at Nmiata), Rev. Fr Christopher Ngene (1976 – 77), Rev. Fr M. Okpala (1977 – 78) (worked at Nmiata), Rev. Fr Ralph Nwankwo (1977 – 78) (worked at Nzam).
Special mention must be made of the people who helped in various ways to make the Church building project a resounding success. They include: Engr. Okoye (once, the Igwe of Ifitedunu) who supervised the project; Late Chief S.N. Okonkwo (Igwe Alor) who supplied most of the materials (rods), Chief P.C. Nwazojie of Abagana who supplied the blocks; and Sir Joe Nwankwu who provided both materials and financial support – now all, of blessed memory.
In 1979, Father Joe Nwibegbunam (1970 – 1979) was succeeded by Rev. Fr Anastasius Chikwendu Akpunonu (1979 – 1983) who re-designed and renovated the Church building. He also built an annex to the Father’s residence. He was succeeded by Fr. Michael Onyekachukwu now (Msgr) (1983 – 1989) who completed the Church project (ceiling painting and electrification). He also expanded the Parish Sunday Masses from one 9:00 am Mass to three Masses namely: 6:00 am Mass, 8:00 am and 10:00 am.
Rev. Fr Onyekachukwu was succeeded by Rev. Fr Augustine Nduka (Kajis), the Silver Jubilee Parish Priest who worked relentlessly from (1989 to 1995) and transformed the Parish into a resplendent Silver Jubilee phase.
Rev. Fr Peter Nwanekezie took over the baton from Fr. Kajis from (1995 to 1999). His achievements in Umuoba-Anam were tremendous like those of his predecessors but suffice it to mention a few. Fr. Nwanekezie worked to deepen the faith of the parishioners and their number through his zeal in conducting Nkuzi nke okwukwe and ending it with Benediction every Sunday. He also gave the Parish its very magnificent and outstanding posture by building the Belfry/Tower. The Angelus bell from the Tower is heard not only in Umuoba-Anam but the environs and greatly promoted dedication to the Angelus prayer and also encouraged time consciousness among the parishioners in attending Masses and prayers in the Church. Fr. P. Nwanekezie was succeeded by Rev. Fr Paul Onwughalu.
Rev. Fr P. Onwughalu led his parishioners well in Umuoba-Anam from (1999 to 2002) with great love and did not fail to conduct morning Masses and Sunday Masses even during the most trying period of Aguleri/Umueri/Umuoba-Anam crises that ensued in 1999. Fr. Onwughalu reconstructed the chapel of Perpetual Adoration in the Parish to its present shape and was succeeded by Rev. Fr John Uzuakpundu.
Rev. Fr John Uzuakpundu (2002 – 2004) continued with the rehabilitations necessary in the Parish for both the spiritual and material lives of the parishioners to restore the sanity and sanctity lost in the unprecedented crises which seriously affected the members of the three communities especially the Christian folk.
Rev. Fr Gabriel Ogbaji (2004 – 2008) took over from Fr. Uzuakpundu. He initiated the project of restructuring the church building, and the statue of the patron saint of the Parish – St Augustine of Hippo was raised during his tenure, donated by Chief Sir & Lady Emmanuel Oguegbunam (KSM).
Rev. Fr Andrew Izukanne (2008 – 2014) came, saw the initiative for the reconstruction of the St Augustine’s Catholic Church building, went into action when the Parish was in a complete state of financial, moral and spiritual disabilities caused by the 1999 crises and with the omnipotent help of God and mutual co-operation of the parishioners, the Parish embarked on the onerous task and executed it within a record time, though not conclusively completed. He was succeeded by Rev. Fr Peter Okolo.
Rev. Fr Peter Okolo (2014 – 2016) continued the renovation of the Church building notwithstanding the challenges posed by the economic recession at the time. He contributed his immense quota to the work and dwelt moreover on the spiritual reformation of the Parish without lacking in the required pace on the work at hand. He is mostly remembered for his truthfulness and insistence on orderliness in doing things in the Parish and he is popularly known as Eziokwu Bu Ndu.
Finally, the dawn of the Golden Jubilee of St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Umuoba-Anam ushered in the required, able, God-sent, good planner, administrator, indefatigable, great achiever and Golden Jubilee Parish Priest, Rev. Fr Clement Aghadinuno who took the bull by the horn and faced the remaining work in the Church building as well as the tedious preparation for a Golden Jubilee and has left no stone unturned in spite of time constraints and other challenging circumstances to make the Golden Jubilee the reality that it came to be.
Other curates (Parish Vicars) that worked in the Parish between 1979 and 2017 are:
Rev. Fr Michael Onuchukwu, 1999 – 2002;
Rev. Fr Celestine Aniofor, 1995 – 1999;
Rev. Fr Peter Obiaga, 2002 – 2004.
The Catechists that worked in the Parish include: Mr Anthony Uyanwa of Nteje, Mr Clement Okechukwu, Messrs. Samuel Ogbose and Mr Anthony Uyanwa B. (Catechist of Umueze Anam outstation) and Mr Gabriel Onyeukwu – the Golden Jubilee Catechist.
The above accounts are just a cursory statement of the endeavors and achievements of the individual Priests at St Augustine’s Parish, Umuoba-Anam as could be easily recollected by fast memory. But God who called them to work in His vine-yard and who has continued the good work already in them will continue to give them the spiritual and material graces they need to bring it to the good end especially their good works not mentioned. May the Lord also give eternal repose to the souls of all the Priests, religious and lay faithful departed who have helped in the service of God and humanity in St Augustine’s Catholic church.
It should be noted that the first Church building project was executed by the joint efforts of both the Christian and traditionalist communities of Umuoba-Anam through the good rapport existing between the Parish Priests of Umuoba-Anam and the town leadership – the Umuoba-Anam Development Council (Mmeghe) and Otu Mmuo Umuoba-Anam. This mutual and peaceful co-existence situation is of a rare kind in Anam and in Igbo land in general.
Growth
Umuoba-Anam Parish had five outstations, Nmiata Anam, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Nzam, Oroma-Etiti Anam and Nsugbe. Those outstations were later inaugurated as separate Parishes–Nmiata Anam (1972), Nkwelle Ezunaka (1975), Nzam (1978), Oroma-Etiti Anam (1981), Nsugbe (1981), Umueze Anam (2003). Umuoba-Anam Parish also recorded other developments/achievements that took place during its motherhood of the above outstations, namely:
Brothers of St. Stephen Novitiate, Nkwelle Ezunaka (1974).
The Monastery at Nsugbe (1975).
Maternity/Hospital, Nmiata.
Immaculate Heart Sister’s Convent, Nmiata (1979).
Father’s House, Nzam.
Church building project at Nsugbe took off under Umuoba-Anam Parish.
Vocations
It is providential that Umuoba-Anam being the first Parish in Anam and the mother of all Parishes in Anam, Nzam and Olumbanasa (Egoja) areas should also be the first to produce a Priest of God from the area in the person of late Rev. Fr Michael C. Ndiye who was ordained in 1981 and the first woman religious of Anam, Rev. Sr Mary Philip Morba (IHM) (1960). Both are now Late.
To the glory of God, after the sudden and heart – rending death of the third year theologian, to have been the second priest of Anam – Mr Simon Udenze Chife in August 1981 vocations in Umuoba-Anam seemed to lose the expected pace until the 9th Priest of Anam another indigene of Umuoba-Anam was ordained in 2004 in the person of Rev. Fr Paul Ikechukwu Nwanegbo and Rev. Sister Maria Paracleta Anekwe (SJS) had made her solemn profession in 1992.
Umuoba-Anam was blessed with another Priest Rev. Fr Udoji Julius Onyekwe of Aboegbu Umuoba-Anam Independent Station, and his sister Rev. Sr Philomena Chinyere Onyekweli has also become the first Religious Sister of the Independent Station Aboegbu Umuoba-Anam.Fr. Charles Chibogu of the Dominican Order was the fourth Priest of Umuoba-Anam Parish to be ordained at Ibadan, July 20, 2019 after some fifteen years of the last Priestly ordination in the Parish. It was a great joy!
Administration
The first Local Church Council (LCC) was inaugurated in 1967 with Charles Osakwe as Chairman. Other members included Messrs. Francis Egwuoba, James Okeke (late), Philip Morba (late). Series of administration have followed and only later, the Chairman of the Parish Council, Fr. Clement Aghadinuno with Chief Emmanuel Oguegbunam (KSM), Vice-Chairman I, Mr Julius Mmeh (KSM) Vice-Chairman II and Mr Innocent Ejike Morba, as the Secretary (2016 – 2021). Others, Mr Vitus Udealor and Mr Frank Anatogu respectively as the Vice-Chairmen I & II; Barr. Austin Anizor (Secretary), Mr Innocent Anijah (Assistant Secretary) and Mrs Juliana Nwattah (Financial Secretary) with Fr. Clement Aghadinuno as the Chairman (2022 – 2024).
Further Developments
St Augustine’s Parish, Umuoba-Anam since inception in 1967 has continued to grow further in developments in all its ramifications, viz:
Annual Retreat to date 2024
Special Faith promotions
Youth promotions
Socio-cultural promotion and Facilities provision and creation.
Between 1967 and 2024 are the following records of Pastoral Visits to the Parish and for confirmation by the Archbishops, Bishops or their representatives:
First Pastoral Visit: Most Rev. Dr. Francis Arinze, now Cardinal – for laying of the foundation stone of the Parish Church, 1967.
Second Pastoral Visit: In that visit same Archbishop, F.A. Arinze, confirmed the first candidates ever of the Parish, March 14, 1971.
Third Pastoral Visit: Archbishop F.A. Arinze, confirmed 209 candidates, 17-04-74.
Fourth Pastoral Visit: Archbishop F.A. Arinze, confirmed 231 candidates, 06-12-77.
Fifth Pastoral Visit: Archbishop F.A. Arinze, confirmed 235 candidates, 11-05-80.
Sixth Pastoral Visit: Archbishop F.A. Arinze, confirmed 302 candidates, 27-03-83.
Seventh Pastoral Visit: Archbishop Most Rev. Prof. S.N. Ezeanya, confirmed 203 candidates, 22-03-87.
Eighth Pastoral Visit: Archbishop, S.N. Ezeanya, represented by MsgrE. N. Otteh, confirmed 222 candidates, 03-06-90.
Ninth Pastoral Visit: Bishop E.N. Otteh, confirmed 135 candidates, 19-12-92.
Tenth Pastoral Visit: Bishop E.N. Otteh, confirmed 65 candidates, 29-04-95.
Eleventh Pastoral Visit: Archbishop Albert K. Obiefuna, confirmed 370 candidates, 13-04-97.
Twelfth Pastoral Visit: Archbishop A.K. Obiefuna, confirmed 150 candidates, 14-01-2001.
Thirteenth Pastoral Visit: Archbishop A.K. Obiefuna represented by Very Rev. Fr J. Nzekwesi, confirmed 284 candidates, 31-07-2005. Fourteenth Pastoral Visit: Archbishop Most Rev. Valerian
M. Okeke, confirmed 282 candidates, 02-06-2013. Fifteenth Pastoral Visit: Bishop Most Rev. Denis C. Isizoh, confirmed 197 candidates, 31-12-2017. Sixteenth Pastoral Visit: Bishop Denis C. Isizoh, confirmed 85 candidates, 18-04-2021.
Parish Great Milestones
First: the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Parish, marked in 1992 with Rev. Fr Augustine Ndukaji as the Parish Priest.
Second: Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Parish, Sunday 31st December 2017, with Fr. Clement Aghadimuno as the Parish Priest.
Third: Solemn Dedication of St Augustine’s Parish Church, Umuoba-Anam, 2018 by Most Rev. Denis C. Isizoh, Auxiliary Bishop of Onithsha Archdiocese, with Fr. Clement Aghadimuno as the Parish Priest.
Other Important Developments
Special Faith Promotions: Constant Sunday Evening Instructions, Teach – Learn and Do – faith programmes (TELEDO); Holy Hour/Adoration, Penitential Hour/Service, Choir & Music Exercises extra etc.
Socio-cultural promotions: Band drills, excursions for all Parish groupings: CMO, CWO, CYON, CBO, CGO & HCA-for socials.
Cultural programmes: Cultural Week for culture study in relation to the Faith, Traditional Dances – Nkpokiti and Atilogwu.
Youth Promotion: Seminars, skills acquisition programmes, provision of and practices on varia sports/games equipment/facilities, prayer sessions etc.
Facilities creation, other provisions: Provision of parish sacramentals shop etc.; parish mini-clinic facility; varia sports/games facilities etc. Other creations include: Parish Church in and out facelifts with the Grotto of Our Blessed Mother, Lady of Perpetual Help Statue, The Pieta, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Sculpture works top-frontage of the Parish Church, Giant Statues of the Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles; and mention special here of the SS Monica and Barnabas group of the faithful that constantly keeps the Parish Church and its surroundings clean, to the glory and honour of God!
The Parish, also is now the Headquarter of the St. Kizito Deanery of the now Catholic Diocese of Aguleti, with the Parish Priest, Fr. Clement Aghadinuno as the Dean, 2024.
St Augustine’s Catholic Parish, Umuoba-Anam inaugurated in 1967 has celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2017.
Sources
1. Subcommittee for History, Catholic Church in Umuoba-Anam, St Augustine’s Parish, Umuoba-Anam marking 50 years. (See the Brochure for the celebration, Sunday December 31st, 2017).
2. Brochure Pastoral Visit, Sunday 18th April 2021 to St Augustine’s Parish, Umuoba-Anam.
3. Redactor: Fr. Clement Aghadinuno (Parish Priest).
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Paul NWANKWO
