Catholic Archbishop Visits Unical

THE SECOND PASTORAL VISIT OF HIS GRACE MOST REV. DR. JOSEPH EDRA UKPO THE METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP OF CALABAR ECCLESIASTICAL TO ST. PAUL’S CATHOLIC PARISH, UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, WAS A TREASURE THE FRESHMEN CHERISH. UCHEGBU STANLEY 400 – LEVEL OF ACCOUNTING REPORTS.

The members of St. Paul’s Catholic Parish, University of Calabar which comprises the Archdiocesean Chancellor and Communication Expert, Very Rev. Malachy Ephraim and Rev. Fr Lens Ojorgu, the Parish Priest Rev. Francis Obong, the Assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Julius Adah, the Vice Chancellor of the university Prof James Epoke, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Administration Prof Austin Obiekezie and Prof Simeon Utsalo, Staffs, Students, Parents and Guardians, Children, Benefactor and Benefactresses, were very much excited and delighted to welcome His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.) Joseph Edra Ukpo, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Calabar to their Parish.

The pastoral visit marks the end of Easter Sunday. Many parishioners, especially the freshmen on campus see the visit as a lifetime opportunity to know their Archbishop while the old students, the visit offers them a rare opportunity to knew him more and perhaps interact with him while raising issues about their spiritual lives.

In his welcome address, the Vice President of Laity Council Prof Chris Nwamuo described the Archbishop’s visit as a historic one in the month of May with three significant.

According to him, the first significant was how the holy spirit descended on the apostle on the Pentecost day and instill in them the spirit of joy, peace, courage, patience, boldness, inspiration and the language to spread the Gospel of salvation to humanity while the second was that it is a month of special adoration for our blessed mother Virgin Mary and lastly, the declaration of 11th October 2012 to November 23rd 2013 by Pope Benedict XVI as a year of Faith for the Catholic Church. He narrated the history of St Paul’s Parish and the efforts of the parishioners to build a befitting place of worship as Solomon did and lastly saluted the courage, commitment and steadfastness of the very active and responsive members of the Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students who cheerfully subject themselves to deprivation in their effort in contribution towards the building the walls of Jerusalem in the University of Calabar.
The Holy Mass was celebrated by His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Ukpo. The first reading of the day was taken from Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 while the second is from St. Paul to the Galatians 5:16-25 and lastly the Gospel from John 15:26-27;16:12-15 and the congregation expressed its response to the words with Ps 104 which tallies with the purpose of the celebration.

The Archbishop in his homily, described the Pentecost Sunday as the Sunday celebrated every 50th day after Easter sunday to mark its end, the day the Holy Spirit of God descended on the twelve apostles and they began to speak different languages. He equally described the sacrament of confirmation as the process of receiving the Holy Spirit and putting it into practice. He condemned the altitudes of the suicide bombers known as Boko Haram and described its activities as type without the peace of Christ.

Following exhortation by the Archbishop, not less thirty candidates received the sacrament of confirmation which they were sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The event was followed by Cathedraticum where varies items including funds were presented to His Grace by the parishioners.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Francis Ekanem said that, “it is proper that the Archbishop visits members of his flock annually to remind them that one of the foundation of Christian faith is an encounter with Christ as well as the event of the Pentecost, because Christ, the Pentecost and the church must lead people out of the desert, towards friendship, love and life in abundance.








1 Attached file| 111KB

Archbishop with the newly confirmed candidates.jpg

View SlideshowDownload