By Vincent Ujumadu
The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi has insisted that the contributions of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to the construction of the recently dedicated Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral in Nnewi were duly acknowledged and not ignored.
The clarification followed controversy generated by comments attributed to one James Okoye, who alleged that the church failed to recognise Ubah’s contributions during the cathedral’s dedication ceremony.
Reacting to the claims, the Publicity Chairman of the Cathedral Dedication Committee, Rev. Fr. Hyginus Aghulor, said the diocese fully appreciated the immense contributions of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and other benefactors towards the completion of the cathedral.
According to him, the church had, for months, prepared prayers for the dedication ceremony in which benefactors were acknowledged and deceased contributors remembered, including Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and Ajulu Uzodike, both of whom were members of the cathedral building committee from the outset.
“The Bishop of the Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye, mentioned Cardinal Francis Arinze, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah and others during the service,” Fr. Aghulor said. “Dr. Ubah was also mentioned on page 10 of the dedication brochure and referenced extensively on pages 7 to 9.”
He, however, clarified that while the late senator was a major benefactor to the diocese, he neither singlehandedly built the cathedral nor initiated the project.
Fr. Aghulor further explained that contributions to the church are not made for public acclaim or the engraving of names on monuments, noting that the church’s tradition is to continually pray for its benefactors.
“People who give to the church are giving to God, not to the Bishop or priests, and appreciation is a continuous spiritual process,” he said.
He added that, so far, more than 20 churches had been built by individuals within the diocese without any form of public immortalisation.
“As at the last count, 20 churches have been built by individuals in the diocese, and none of them has been immortalised with monuments,” he said. “The church, however, has its own way of honouring benefactors across its 147 parishes.”
Fr. Aghulor stressed that recognition within the church differs from practices in government, noting that gratitude for contributions to God’s work transcends ceremonial acknowledgements.
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