Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Preaches Godliness, Repentance
By Church News
The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Fr. Lucius Ugorji, has advised Christians to imbibe the doctrines of Godliness and repentance for the forgiveness of their sins.
On Monday, Rev. Ugorji said this in his homily at the Maria Assumpta Catholic Church, Owerri, during the funeral service of Very Rev. Fr Michael Ajuruchi, the first Catholic priest from Amakohia-Uratta autonomous community in Owerri North Council Area of Imo state.
Taking his first reading from the book of Daniel Chapter 12 verses one to three, Ugorji urged Christians to repent and do good works.
He added that “only those who sincerely fear God will be saved and have their names in the book of life”.
He urged younger priests to emulate Ajuruchi, whom he described as “a devout servant of the Most High God whose faith and belief in the church and Christianity were never in doubt.”
A former Catholic Bishop of Umuahia and Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Lucius Ugorji was appointed the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Diocese this year.
The announcement was made by Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi, Apostolic Nuncio (Representative of the Pope in Nigeria) during the ongoing First Plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja.
With the appointment, Ugorji replaced Archbishop Anthony Obinna who has been in that position since March 26 1994.
Ugorji described the archbishop emeritus of the province, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, as an erudite, zealous and consummate missionary who made great sacrifices for the growth of the province and the church as a whole.
The archbishop submitted that Obinna left a shoe big enough for anyone to fit into, but maintained that he was coming to the headship of the province with his own ‘customized shoe’.
In December 2020, he resigned from his position as chairman of the Governing Council of Imo State University, Owerri.