By Sunny A. David, Awka
The Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, recently blessed the newly renovated Blessed Virgin Mary’s statue located inside Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, (COOUTH) Amaku, Awka.
Blessing and commissioning the statue, the influential and charismatic Bishop expressed gratitude to God for His mercies and grace and also for instilling in the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of COOTH, Sir. Dr. Basil Nwankwo and the wife, the spirit of respect for the mother of Jesus Christ, noting that there were too many benefits in honouring and respecting the Blessed Virgin Mary.
‘I am delighted to be here today. I feel so happy seeing Our Mother Mary’s statue wearing a new look. I thank Sir Dr. Nwankwo and family for the will-power to embark on this project. You all will benefit from the blessings accompanying the renovation of this statue. I also thank COOUTH’s management for this.
“We do not worship Mary, we honour her. She is the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot do without her. There is so much to gain while honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let me also remind us about the efficacy of saying the rosary. It is a powerful tool,” Bishop Ezeokafor exhorted.
Responding, the CMD, Dr. Nwankwo, thanked the Bishop for coming, noting that he was motivated by the intervention of Mother Mary in his life and that of his family.
The Chaplain of Divine Mercy Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Justin Ezechukwu, was on ground to receive Bishop Ezeokafor and his entourage
Our correspondent reports that the general hospital refurbished alongside the statue in the wake of the creation of Anambra State was commissioned by the Military Administrator of Anambra State, Navy Captain Joseph O. Abulu, on Friday, 18th October, 1991.
