The Church Structure and History

History of the Church in Emuhu

Before the advent of Christianity in Emuhu, the people worship ‘AKI’. (A deity).The church in Emuhu started in the 1930 around Idumu – Abba. The first preacher was Mr Amiebor Richard who worked with the white at Sapele. There he was preached to and became a convert. He in turn preached to the people of Emuhu. As the number of converts was growing, they built a hut as church building and later a mud house. Then, Nwokoro Richard was the Catechist and Ogwu Peter the head Christian. After awhile Rev Fr Paul Emechete came to celebrate the first Mass in Emuhu in the same year - 1930.

In the early times, the pagans were more in number. The Christians were persecuted with imprisonment with the accusation that since they do not follow tradition, there were likely to commit immoral acts in the afternoon. Then a fellow Christian at Agbor-Obi who was similarly persecuted and got reprieve there pleaded with the king to intervene as the Christians at Emuhu were not doing any of the accusation brought against them.

The church grew gradually when Rev Fr Charles Burr brought a Catholic Primary School (St Luke’s Catholic Primary School) in 1942. Yet the pagans would not allow their children to go to school or attend Mass. But there was a great increase in the number of converts after the total eclipse that took place in 1947. In fact, the whole community ran to the Church for them to die in the Church.

The current Church building foundation was laid in the year 1974 and Emuhu was under Sacred Heart Catholic Church Umunede. In 2000/2001, Rev Fr Charles Uganwa the then Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Umunede sent his two assistant - Rev Frs Augustine Abude and Julius Ijekeye to Emuhu to develop the station further for her independence. The presence of these two but energetic priests prepared the station for the fulfillment of this dream for St Luke becoming an independent station as they would tirelessly worked to build the people up into the culture of morning Masses which has now alimented in a resultant habit of improved attendance in the morning Masses by the people.

In 2001, Bishop Emmanuel Otteh of blessed memory declared St Luke Emuhu as an independent station with Mbiri as her out station. Rev Fr Paschal Nduka was the first Priest In-Charge. In 2004, Fr Paschal was transferred out of Emuhu and Rev Fr Jude Onyebadi became the Priest In-Charge. Fr Jude Onyebadi worked hard for another three years and was transferred out of Emuhu. Fr Anthony Chinakwe came in. It was on record that he was the first priest to reside in the priest rectory even when not completed and left in 2008. In 2008, Rev Fr Augustine Abude in his second missionary journey came to Emuhu as the priest in-charge and assisted by Rev Fr Solomon Moweta. Fr Abude was transferred out of Emuhu in 2009. At the exit of Fr Abude, Fr Solomon Moweta became the priest in-charge. During his time, a lot of physical and spiritual developments were achieved. Fr Solomon Moweta was transferred in 2012 and Rev Fr Isdore Igwekaile a pastorally minded priest came in. He is the present Priest In-charge.

Emuhu has produced three priests – Late Rev Fr Kenneth Elue (the first priest of Emuhu), Rev Fr Victor Ibude and Rev Fr Emmanuel Aziken OP.

Our head Christian is Pa Joseph Atoi while Madam Veronica Okwueze is the mother of the Church.

 

Mbiri Station: A brief History of St Anthony Catholic Church Mbiri

St Anthony Catholic Church Mbiri which is an out station os St Luke the Evangelist Independent station in Issele-Uku was founded by Pa Anthony Okoh of blessed memory in the year 1931. The Church first started in his father’s place Pa Okoh Ehima. With few converts he had, they met the Obi – Obi Alekwe1 who gave them land along Ikeze road, Mbiri. They struggled to build a Church with a mud. As members continue to grow, they demanded for a primary school where their children will be able to acquire primary education. So a primary school was established in the Church premises in 1953 with Pa B N Mabata of Blessed memory as the first headmaster of the school. The name of the school was St Anthony Catholic Primary School, Mbiri now known as Oke Primary School Mbiri.

Rev Fr Paul Emecheta in 1932 celebrated the first Mass in Mbiri. The Church has been able to produce three priests in the diocese of Issele – Uku. They are: Rev Fr Alexander Nwennearizi, Rev Fr Patrick Ojobu and Rev Fr Charles Mary Onochie who were ordained Catholic priests in 1997, 1999 and 2011 respectively.

The first head Christian was Pa Anthony Okoh, who was succeeded by Pa Paul Edaye; followed by Pa Francis Ojobu all of blessed memory and pa Felix Isabor who is currently the head Christian.

The church has been able to build a house for a catechist, a multi-purpose hall and is now building a rectory.