St John Paul II Parish, Blessed Maryland Estate, Oyolu 3-3 started as a ward of St Theresa’s Parish, Mba Farm 3-3 in 2006 by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr Jude Oboshi BSS. Chief & Mrs Joachim Nwokedike, a community leader and an early settler in the estate donated part of their compound to the Ward for pastoral activities. With a place secured for the nascent Ward, the Laity Council, CWO and CYON were formed. Pioneer officers were Mr Anthony Umeh and Mr Ilechukwu Nweze as Chairman and Secretary for Laity Council, Mrs Patricia Nwogu and Mrs Ngozi Okafor as Chairlady and Secretary for CWO, and Mr Festus Chukwuebuka Osizigbo as Chairman for CYON. The CMO was formed in 2008 by the instrumentality of Mr Samuel Igbodiekwu, its Caretaker Committee Chairman.
In 2009, the CMO and CWO held their first elections that brought Mr Samuel Igbodiekwu as the substantive Chairman. Mr Dede was elected the Secretary but was soon replaced by Mr John Alioko, while for the CWO, Mrs Maureen Igbodiekwu and Mrs Felicia Obianyo were elected President and Secretary respectively.
Masses were celebrated at Johnpaul Ward once a month, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr Jude Oboshi, started celebrating Masses at the Station on a fortnightly interval, in view of the reaming population of Christ’s faithful, to this approval was given to the Ward leaders to source and procure a plot of land at all costs. With the population of Christ’s faithful increasing and the logistics involved in celebrating Mass at the Ward coupled with obvious human and vehicular distractions, there was clarion call for a better accommodation with enough compound to shelter the growing population. Interestingly, Chief & Mrs K.C. Obidum’s house became ideal, thus Station was moved to their compound.
However issues like road accidents and long distance trekking, mostly among the elderly and children made Chief Malachy Arinze and Bro Uche Ike appealed to the Archdiocesan Secretariat to come to the aid of the Outstation by approving St Theresa’s Parish to develop it. In February 2010, His Grace Most Rev Dr. Valerian Okeke, sent Rev. Fr Dominic Obielosi to come and oversee the situation at Johnpaul Station. It was a double barreled joy for Christ’s faithful in seeing the Station moved to a better accommodation and the Archdiocesan Secretariat coming to assist St Theresa’s Parish to develop the Outstation.
Rev. Fr Dominic Obielosi during his short stay of one month ensured that Mass was celebrated within this short period at the Station every Sunday. Also he established the first Local Church Council (LCC) comprising of Chief Malachi Arinze as Vice Chairman, Mr Osita Enendu as Secretary, Mr Lambert Okoli as Acting Catechist, with Chief Joachim Nwokedike, Chief Sir B.K.E. Nwokeforo, Bro Uche Ike, Mr Samuel Igbodiekwu, Mrs Maureen Igbodiekwu, Mrs Apollonia Anyaoha, Late Bro Jude Mary Ibeneme and Mrs Josephine Ede as members. Further more he formed the Land Acquisition Committee made up of Chief K.C. Obidum as Chairman, Mr Osita Enendu as Secretary, with Chief Joachim Nwokedike, Chief Sir B.K.E. Nwokeforo, Bro Uche Ike and Chief Malachi Arinze as members.
In March 2010, His Grace Most Rev Dr Valerian Okeke elevated the Outstation to an Independent Station and appointed Rev. Fr Emmanuel Ndubuisi BSS the Chaplain of the Independent Station. The collaboration of the Land Acquisition Committee and Fr. Emmanuel Ndubuisi, took the Church from Chief K.C. Obidum’s house to the present location on Sunday, 5th December 2010. Rev. Fr Aloysius Agba celebrated Mass on that day. Same day upon the request of some members of the LCC, the Chaplain Rev. Fr Emmanuel Ndubuisi, formed the Works Committee comprising of Mr Christopher Egu as Chairman, Chief Vincent Okafor as Vice Chairman, Sir Raphael Akulue as Secretary, Chief K.C. Obidum as Treasurer, with Late Mr Livinus Mmaduadichie, Mr Michael Umeh, Mr David Okafor, Mr Ifeany Ikeagu and Mr Mattias Attamah as members. The committee finished their assignment within the shortest possible period.
On Thursday 7th July 2011, an adhoc committee on the formation of Christian Communities was formed and led by Mr Osita Enendu and Chief Malachi Arinze, based on their recommendations on the formation of Christian Communities. The Chaplain Rev. Fr Emmanuel Ndubuisi officially announced the creation of the four basic Christian Communities, namely St Benedict, St Basil the Great, St Kizito and St Augustine. Pioneer leaders of the communities were: (1) Mr Christian Muokwelu – Chairman, with Ms Chinwe Mmadubueze as Secretary for St Benedict Community. (2) Chief Sir BKE Nwokeforo – Chairman, with Mrs Chinwe Okoye as Secretary for St Basil De Great Community. (3) Mr Ifeanyi Ezeonuoha – Chairman, with Engr Amobi Enyi as Secretary for St Kizito Community. (4) Bro Uche Ike – Chairman, with Mrs Ngazi Okoye as Secretary for St Augustine Community.
On 19th October 2011, His Grace Most Rev Dr Valerian Okeke appointed Rev. Fr Raphael Anene as the Administrator of St Johnpaul II Independent Station. With the baton of faith graciously transferred to him, Fr Raphael as he is fondly called immediately commenced the strategic development of the Independent Station. He immediately extended and improved the temporary church building and formalized St Augustine as an Outstation.
On 17th September 2012 Fr Raphael established St Johnpaul II Nursery/Primary School and on 9th October same year created Our Lady of Assumption Community in Enu-Ovove Layout Phase II as community. He immediately established a Mass centre at the community for Christ’s faithful in the community, thus making it the second Outstation.
On 27th April 2014, His Grace Most Rev Dr Valerian Okeke on an ordinary visit blessed a Modern Chapel of Adoration sponsored by two Christ’s faithful Messrs …… and …… under the strategic development initiative of Fr Raph. His Grace also laid the foundation stone of the new Fathers House. Later at the reception held that evening His Grace announced the upgrading of the Independent Station to a full Parish with Rev. Fr Raphael Anenye as the parish priest.
August 2015, saw the election of new leaders at statutory bodies and some of the communities and societies, the reconstitution of the Parish Council with Mr C.O. Anyadufu as Vice Chairman.. The new leaders included Mr Uche Ndibe, Sir Alloy Offodile, Mrs Ngozi Anyadufu, Mrs Chidi Okoli, Mr Frank Ihekandu and some old ones as members. Anyadufu as Chairman, Doctrine of the Faith Committee with Chief Sir B.R.E. Nwokeforo as Chairman, Apostolate of Marriage & Family Committee Mr Lambert Okoli as Chairman, Apostolate of Consolation Committee Mrs Maureen Igbodiekwu as Chairperson, Harvest & Bazaar Committee Sir Clement Mbamalu as Chairman, and School Management Board Sir Amaechi Makasi as Chairman. However, following pressure for constitution of JDPC in the Parish, the Apostolate of Consolation was enlarged and changed to JDPC with Bar J.C. Akpudo as Chairman and Mrs Maureen Igbodiekwu as the Vice Chairperson.
On 7th October 2015 St Johnpaul II Parish became a mother parish as her hitherto St Augustine Outstation was made an Independent Station and later on 12th March 2016 upgraded to a full parish. Between the year 2012 and 2016, St Johnpaul II Parish under Fr Raph procured ten plots of land, six in the Parish while four are in the then newly created St Augustine Parish.
On 10th April 2016 the Parish held its first pastoral visit by the Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev Dr Valerian Okeke on his first pastoral visit. History was made as more than 400 people received the Sacrament of Confirmation for the first time in St Johnpaul II Parish. His Grace also blessed and formally opened the new Fathers House as well as the giant three storey building and general facelift at our Nursery/Primary School, the Parish Main Access Road Entrance Gate with Security House built by the Parish as part of our parish’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Blessed Maryland Estate.
October 2016 saw the following events, Rev. Fr Peter Ometa posted to the Parish as the first Parish Vicar, the building of St Johnpaul II Secondary School, admission of students and classes commencing at the school with JS 1 and 2 during the ……/…… school calendar year.
On 13th June 2017, additional four basic Christian communities, thus bringing the number of communities in the parish to seven. The seven communities are: St Benedict with Mr Christopher Egwu as Chairman, St Mary with Mr Chukwuma Umeh as Chairman, St Basil with Mr Emmanuel Nnabuenyi as Chairman, St Valerian with Sir Anthony Adibe as Chairman, St Kizito with Mr Chigozie Obiako as Chairman, St Peter with Mr Ifeanyi Ezeonuoha as Chairman, St Patrick with Mr Augustine Azunna as Chairman.
On 15th August 2017, the Parish hosted His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments on his maiden visit to the Parish. His Eminence on arrival celebrated Mass and blessed the Grotto of Our Lady of Fatima built by the Parish CWO under the leadership of Mrs Ngözi Anyadufu as President with Mrs Childi Okoli as Secretary.
In September 2017, there was a change in administration as the Archbishop His Grace Most Rev Dr Valerian Okeke appointed Rev. Fr Jude Muokwe the new Parish Priest of St Johnpaul II Parish while a befitting sendoff for Fr Ralph and Fr Peter was held.
February of 2018, saw the initiative of procuring more plots of land for the Parish, constituting of the Building Committee for the Parish, while in October 2019, Fr Jude in collaboration with the Committee started the construction of a new hall for the Parish, notwithstanding the COVID 19 havoc.
30th September 2023, there was a change of administration with Rev. Fr George Nze Muoba as the new parish priest. He marked this change of power with the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, followed with a three-day prayer programme. There were zonal (basic Community) and parish level elections as directed by the new Diocese of Aguleri. The new Parish Council meeting was inaugurated on 19th November 2023. The parish celebrates five masses every Sunday with evening instruction and Benediction. So far the Parish is doing its best.
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Patrick BOSAH
In Residence: Rev. Fr. Anthony IDIGO
In Residence: Rev. Fr. Franklin OKAFOR, HFFBY
