By Austin Ogwuda
LATE Diokpa Albert Ogwuda of Umu-osume, Obodogba, Okpanam in Oshimili North local government area of Delta State was among 25 others who bagged award for meritorious service.
The award to these deserving awardees was part of the activities marking the celebration of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the creation of the Parish.
On hand, was the Bishop of Issele-Uku Dioceses, The Most Reverend Dr Michael Elue who, personally presented the awardees with beautifully designed plaques.
Eleven of the awardees are living while fifteen others were posthumous.
In his message, Bishop Elue said that the day was set aside to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Parish, which has witnessed tremendous growth both in infrastructure and spiritually.
The award presented posthumously to late Diokpa Albert Ogwuda was received on behalf of the family by one of his sons, Evangelist Austin Ogwuda, former State Correspondent, Vanguard Newspapers in Asaba and presently the Publisher of an Online newspaper, The Town Hall Media.
In his remark, Austin Ogwuda thanked the Catholic community for digging into its archive and found late Pa Albert Ogwuda as one of the contributors to the growth of the church especially at the initial stage.
Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Committee, Patrick O. Okenyi in a brief history of the Parish stated that “in 1973, St Michael the Archangel Parish was created by His Lordship Rt Rev. Dr. Anthony O. Gbuji the first Bishop of the Diocese of Issele-Uku and now Bishop Emeritus of Enugu Diocese.
“The three major challenged of the new Parish were human capital development in God’s vineyard, evangelization and infrastructure.
“It is pleasing to note with thanksgiving to God that the community produced ten Priests, two in Diaspora and two Religious (Sisters) between 2000 and 2022”, he stated.