CATOL for dedication Saturday May 6, 2017

The Primate and Metropolitan, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has given his approval for the Ultra modern Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of Our LORD (CATOL) Owerri, to be dedicated on Saturday, 6th May, 2017


This was disclosed by the Anglican Bishop of Owerri, the Rt. Rev. Cyril C. Okorocha PhD, while speaking at the special mid-week service held at the Chapel of St. Marks, the Evangelist, Bishop's Bourne, Anglican Diocese of Owerri, to mark the Ash Wednesday for the year 2017.

Bisshop Okorocha, further disclosed that the dedication ceremony, which will be performed by the Primate, would have, in attendance, the entire members of the House of Bishops, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

According to the Owerri Diocesan, four newly elected Bishops, sequel to the Church of Nigeria Standing Committee Meeting held at Abeokuta, Ogun State,-last week, would be consecrated here in CATOL Owerri on Sunday, May 7, 2017, after their retreat with their wives, which has also been scheduled to hold here in Owerri within the week, prior to their consecration.

Speaking on the 2017 Ash Wednesday celebration, Bishop Okorocha, who urged Christians to re-examine themselves, to make sure that they are still in faith, noted that, we are now in an age of what he described as "easy-believing Christianity", stressing the need for everyone to constantly examine oneself, to ascertain if one is doing the right thing, otherwise to repent instantly.

On the Clerics, the Prelate noted, that we, these days, need Pastors who would say: "look at me" to their congregations, arguing that, when the seed is a good seed, and you sow it somewhere, God will make sure it does not die.

He used the occasion to eulogize a visiting Bishop at the service, the Rt. Rev, Andrew Igenoza, the Rector of the Crowther Post Graduate School of Theology, Abeokuta, Ogun State, for his good deeds at the institution.

In his own comment, the visiting Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Andrew Igenoza, asked the people at the Chapel, to use this period of lent, to read the word of God. to direct their prayers, in order that they pray according to the will of God, as weil as intercede for other people, adding that, to persistently pray for yourself alone, not only renders the prayer meaningless but also shows a lack of love and care for others.

Ash Wednesday, he said, is a time for Christians to see themselves as sinners, and therefore seek repentance before the Lord, pointing out that, as Christian parents, they should discuss and teach their children the word of God, especially in this digital age and time, so as to be able to catch them young.

Earlier in his sermon, the conductor of the special Eucharist service, and the Cathedral Administrator, Venerable Dr. Akajiaku Chukwuocha, noted that Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten period should be a period for all to focus our attention unto the Lord, and a period for self-withdrawal and appraisal, as well as a time to be more faithful and fruitful before God.

In view of the worsening economic situation in the country which has brought about increased hunger and starvation on the people, the CATOL Vicar, warned people to be more careful when going to the bank, as a good number of young men that cluster around the bank premises these days, he warned, are not there to obtain banking services, but to plan how to rob unsuspecting customers at the bank.

Several testimonies of God's grace featured at the service.