By Sunny A. David, Awka
Rev. Fr. Joshua Obiekezie MSSCC has been commended for his impactful pastoral ministry and humanitarian contributions during his five-year service at St. Charles Lwanga Parish, Okpoko, Onitsha.
Fr. Obiekezie, popularly known as “Oberenwa Jesu,” is a member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He was ordained a Catholic priest on July 8, 2021, by Bishop Michael Ukpong, then Auxiliary Bishop of Umuahia and now Bishop of Umuahia Diocese.
He began his assignment at St. Charles Lwanga Parish on August 20, 2021, where he served as Assistant Parish Priest, Principal of St. Charles Lwanga Secondary School, priest in charge of sacraments, coordinator of Thursday Parish Adoration and chaplain to several church groups.
His five-year tenure was characterised by initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of families, supporting education, assisting the sick and helping vulnerable members of the community.
Among his notable interventions was the annual Free Mass Wedding programme, organised from 2022 to 2025 to assist couples who could not afford the financial demands associated with church weddings to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Fr. Obiekezie also maintained regular visits to hospitals and orphanages and supported annual palliative programmes for parishioners and other residents, with donations from Orange Drugs.
In the education sector, he offered scholarships to students and parishioners struggling to pay school fees, while also facilitating external support for the parish and its school.
One significant intervention came from Chief Evans Emesim Okwumereze, founder of the Okwumereze Empowerment Foundation, which awarded scholarships to 35 students from Okpoko. The scholarship covered their education from first year through graduation, alongside monthly allowances.
His contributions to church activities also received recognition during the last Chrism Mass at Iyiowa Region, where Archbishop Valerian Okeke commended him for making his sound system, Adoration singers and instrumentalists available for church programmes without charge.
Beyond his formal priestly responsibilities, Fr. Obiekezie’s ministry therefore extended to practical assistance for families, students, the sick, orphans and other vulnerable people within the community.
As he concludes his assignment in Okpoko, beneficiaries and supporters say his five years of service will be remembered not only for his pastoral duties but also for the lives he touched through his humanitarian and community-focused initiatives.
