The coming of Christianity to Umueje could be traced back to the advent of the United African Company (UAC). Around 1936, Fr. Joseph Delaneyvisited from AguJeri parish to the community.
As a Mass Centre under Nsukka, Umueje community was entrusted to the pastoral care of the priests that were based in Aku, St. James Parish. The priests who served then included Fr. M.U. Eneja (1952) and Fr. Dennis O’Keefe, who was popularly called “Fr. Monk” (1952-1953).
St. Anthony’s Ifite-Ogwari was later created and, when umueje came under the jurisdiction of Onitsha Archdiocese, it became a mass centre under St. Anthony. As time passed, umueje became an outstation of St. Anthony Ifite-Ogwari.
It was in December 2006 that Archbishop Valerian Okeke created St. Joseph’s Parish, umueje, and appointed Fr. Peter Egwuonwu as the first parish priest. Fr. Peter celebrated his first Mass in umueje at the Community Primary School on the 16th of January 2007. He worked hard for the growth in faith.
Fr. Peter was succeeded by Fr. Damian Obi (2009-2014). Various constructions took place within this period such as: the rectory; the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration; the grotto of our Mother of Perpetual Help and the grotto of St. Joseph, as well as a nursery school. The church saw growth within this period. The Chapel of Perpetual Adoration and the rectory were blessed by Archbishop Valerian Okeke on Saturday, 24th April 2010. Worthy of note is that the rectory and the Adoration Chapel were made possible because of support from Dr. Boniface Emengini. The third parish priest was Fr. Augustine Ogbunuko (2014-2016). Fr. Augustine is remembered for the monthly Rosary procession and the Thursday Holy Communion to the sick. It was at this time that the parish sank a bore hole and erected overhead water tanks for the rectory.
In October 2016, Fr. Vincent Ogbatue became the fourth parish priest. It was during his time that Most Rev. Denis Chidi Isizoh made his first Pastoral visit to the parish. Fr. Vincent sustained and gave new energy to the spiritual life of the parish. He is remembered for his Thursday evening Eucharistic Adoration, the installing of an electric bell and the printing of the harvest banner. Fr. Philip Oyjogu (2022-2023) became the fifth parish priest in October 2022. His stay was a short one but during this time, he added new energy to the existing pastoral and spiritual life of the parish. During his short stay, part of the church roof was blown off by a strong wind. Fr. Philip rose to the occasion and saw to it that the roof was repaired. Friar Michael Nkwocha and Friar Tarasius Anyamene (Parish Vicar) came to St. Joseph’s in
October 2023.
Pious Societies : charismatic renewal, st. Anthony society, legion of mary, blue army, Block Rosary crusade, infant Jesus society, divine mercy