Ekwulobia Gets Catholic Diocese As Pope Appoints Governor Obi’s Ex Chaplain Auxiliary Bishop

Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Jonas Benson Okoye as auxiliary of the Diocese of Awka, Nigeria. That odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports may be the beginning of establishment of a new diocese in Anambra. The Catholic Church in Anambra has three dioceses including Onitsha , Awka and Nnewi and has concluded every arrangement for dioceses of Aguata with headquarters at Ekwulobia and diocese of Ihiala with headquarters at Ihiala.
The bishop-elect was born in Kaduna, Nigeria in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1992.


odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports furtehr that Ex Governor Peter Obi had visited the Pope few weeks ago and the auxillary bishop was his Chaplain for 8 years. 

He studied theology and canon law at the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, and holds a licentiate in canon law from St. Paul's University, Ottawa, Canada and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome.

Fr. Okoye has served in a number of pastoral roles, including vicar of St. John's Parish, Ezinfite; priest of St. Peter's Parish, Oko; defender of the bond at the ecclesiastical tribunal of Awka.

He was also the deputy judicial vicar of the diocese of Awka; and priest of the Immaculate Conception Heart Parish, Ekwulobia.

He is currently priest of the parish of St. Matthew, Amawbia, judicial vicar of the diocese of Awka, judge of the interdiocesan ecclesiastical tribunal of Onitsha, and president of the Nigerian Society of Canon Law.

Obi congratulates new Auxiliary Bishop of Awka 

The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has congratulated the newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Diocese, Monsignor Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye.
Obi said he was not surprised at his appointment since he was, according to him, qualified by any positive parameters that usually inform such appointments.
“Monsignor Jonas Benson Okoye was my Chaplain for the entire period I was the Governor. Besides being grounded in canon law and biblical exegesis, he is a practical soul capable of both spiritual and physical work in the vineyard of the Lord. He is one priest that the Holy mass is not a routine matter, but an opportunity for renewed  spiritual encounter with God and an opportunity to teach and impact knowledge on the faithful. He usually take his preaching to theological roots that left us exposed to spiritual truths but often  amazed at his uncommon grasp,” Obi said.
Obi who reminded the Bishop-elect that his appointment is more of a challenge, urged him to join hands with the hard working Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Dr.Paulinus Ezeokafor in pastoring the flock of Christ in Awka Diocese. He expressed confidence in the Auxiliary Bishop, describing him as an already tested and trusted person.
Pope Francis on Friday named Fr. Jonas Benson Okoye as auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Awka. The bishop-elect was born in Kaduna on 25th January 1963 and was ordained a priest on 29th August 1992. He holds a Master’s degree in Theology and Canon Law from the Catholic University of West Africa, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria; a Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada; and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome.

Obienyem’s View
I count it as a blessing that two of my "old" teachers in the Seminary have been elevated to the Episcopate.
The first, Bishop Peter Okpaleke has already been enthroned. Bishop Okpaleke taught us Government and was very eloquent.
The newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Awka, Msgr Jonas Benson Okoye also thought us. OSTENDE was in our class. As the labour master, he did not tolerate idleness and always faced his work with the fierceness of two enemies met face-to-face in war. Msgr carried the same zeal to wherever he worked that today his appetite for work is not in doubt.
odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports further though Msgr has some temper, which sets on fire a readily combustible nature, but he so tamed it that all those surplus energy are now devoted to work. Visit the places he worked before and his work will speak for him. He does not so much solicit for money at places he worked, the congregation were moved to support him because they saw what he did. Few months as the Parish Priest of St. Mary, Awka, the place has changed a lot.
As a young Seminarian, when he was our teacher, he wrote a book entitled " Abortion and Euthanasia, the Crime of our Day." Because of the natural inclination to my first love- philosophy- I devoured the book and learnt about Austin Fagothey ( Right and Reason) ensoulment as enunciated by Thomas Aquinas, Euthanasia, principle of double effect in ethics, trimester of pregnancy and related terms.
As was customary those days, I jotted some arresting phrases and quotes from the book some of which were his definition of abortion as the "expulsion of the foetus from the womb before its independent viability". I think it was in that book that I read what reads like this: " freedom is self control and the ability to free the soul from the pangs of irrational desires", and that " freedom defines man's place in the hierarchy of material beings", etc, etc
As my old teacher is elevated to the Episcopacy, we assure him of our prayers and support.

Courtesy the Afro News, Obienyem’s facebook account and the Sun