Catholic Church marks 140 years in Eastern Nigeria as Peter Obi salutes missionary legacy

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By Madu Obi

The Catholic Church, at the weekend, marked 140th anniversary of Catholicism in Eastern Nigeria at Onitsha, with thousands of faithful gathering to mark the historic milestone in the life of the Church.

The celebration took place at the Field of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, where worshippers honoured the legacy of the early missionaries and reflected on the enduring impact of the Catholic Church in Nigeria over the past 140 years.

Nearly all the bishops from dioceses within Onitsha Province, attended the ceremony. The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Michael Crooty, who represented the Holy Father, Pope Leo, presided over the Mass, during which some candidates were ordained deacons.

Francis Cardinal Arinze was present, as well as his younger colleague in the College of Cardinals, Ebele Cardinal Okpaleke, who is the Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese, was also present.

Speaking after the Mass, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, described the anniversary as a moment to “look back with gratitude and look forward with hope.”

Obi praised the early missionaries, including Rev. Fr. Joseph Lutz, Bishop Joseph Ignatius Shanahan, and Archbishop Charles Heerey, for laying the spiritual and educational foundations of the Church. He noted that their sacrifices remain the seed of a faith that has continued to flourish across generations.

He also commended successive leaders of the Onitsha Archdiocese - Cardinal Francis Arinze, Archbishops Stephen Ezeanya and Albert Obiefuna, and the current Archbishop Valerian Okeke - for sustaining the Church’s significant contributions to education, healthcare, and social development.

Highlighting the Catholic Church as the largest provider of social services in Nigeria after the government, Obi said its schools and hospitals have shaped countless lives.

A proud product of Catholic education himself, Obi added that the values of discipline, integrity, and service continue to guide him. He congratulated the Archbishop, clergy, and faithful of the Archdiocese and prayed for God’s continued blessings on their work.

Special Adviser to Peter Obi on Media, Mr Valentine Obienyem, described the event as a truly successful testimony to the leadership of Archbishop of Onitsha, His Grace, Valerian Okeke, adding that anything he leads never fails.

Obienyem said: "His organisational strength and his ability to identify and deploy the right people for any task are remarkable. To his purpose, he gives his thinking with a mind that is clear, inventive, and restless - counting nothing done if anything remains to be done.

"He brings men to identify with his vision by persuasion. When he preaches, one is always stirred by his flowing eloquence. His knowledge runs deep - in history, as when he speaks on topics like jubilees; in liturgy, when he explains the significance of church dedications; in philosophy, as a seasoned lecturer in ethics; and in theology, where his understanding is thick and profound."

According to Obienyem, Archbishop Okeke is evidently a goal-getter, noting that he does not delay once he sets his mind on achieving something.

"The speed and excellence with which he executes projects arise from the fact that he thoroughly conceives them long before they appear to the public. He is, in every sense, a Renaissance man.

"If you have visited the Holy Family Village at Amansea, Awka, you would understand this. The first time I saw it, I thought the scale of investment there could have launched a university. Yet Archbishop Okeke gave no sign that such an institution was in the works—until suddenly Shanahan University emerged, and in a short time, it secured approval for Medicine and Law.

The celebration of 140 years gives us yet another opportunity to appreciate such men who labour tirelessly in the Lord’s vineyard with vision, discipline, eloquence, and ecclesiastical commitment.

It reminds us that the growth of the Church, education, and society is the product of such steadfast leadership, thoughtful planning, and enduring faith. In reflecting on this milestone, one cannot help but be inspired to emulate such dedication in our own vocations, whether in service, scholarship, or leadership.

Truly, the legacy of Archbishop Okeke and the missionary pioneers continues to shape generations, proving that faith in action transforms both people and communities", Obienyem added.