EXCITEMENT AS NSUKKA CELEBRATES NEW BISHOP

By Emmanuel Nzomiwu/Enugu
Speaking on the preparations for the ordination and installation of the new bishop slated for Thursday July 4, Nwodo said immediately after they got the announcement of his appointment, the priests of the Diocese converged to formally establish the ordination and installation, general committees and sub-committees.
According to the two-time Minister, these committees have since sprung to action, and have met for about three times since the inception in April this year.
Beyond the planning for successful ordination and installation programmes, come July 4, 2013, he said, they were overseeing the renovation of residences for the new bishop and the Bishop Emeritus, which made their target budget well over N300 million.
“The Finance Committee has been saddled with the responsibility of raising funds for these events. However, in keeping with Igbo proverbial expression that beauty starts at home, the General Committee has constantly tasked itself in this regard. The members of this General Committee have donated generously. We have made extensive trips to meet with some governors who have given their commitment to help us.
“We have reached out to Nsukka people living in different parts of our country to respond to this call. Several luncheons have been planned in this regard. For instance, we have lined up luncheons at different locations: on June 16, one will hold at Nsukka; on June 20, there will be one at Abuja; on June 22, there will be another at Port Harcourt; and on June 23, we will have another in Lagos,” Nwodo said.
He beckoned on all Nsukka people to respond to this call, irrespective of their political, social and religious differences, saying that they expected them to donate generously to this project that has brought most of them together.
Nwodo noted that the new bishop is an international figure, having lived in Rome for two decades, adding that he has made amazing contact with friends and colleagues who would certainly be here (in Nsukka) for his ordination and installation. He disclosed that the consecrating Prelate would be His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop of Nsukka, while they were expecting about 50 bishops from the Conference of Nigerian Bishops and probably, over 1,000 priests and other religious people from Nsukka Diocese and beyond.
He said they were also expecting some ministers, senators, governors, commissioners, members of the House of Assembly, local government chairmen, councillors, eminent indigenes of Nsukka and about 5,000 lay faithful of Nsukka Diocese and beyond. He described the ordination and installation ceremony that would hold at St. Theresa’s Cathedral Nsukka, as an event no one should miss.