By Joseph Odoekwu KSM
The Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has dedicated a ‘Miracle Church’—SS Peter & Paul Catholic Parish, Umuonyealiugo, Ihitte Isi Mbieri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The church is remarkable as the first parish in the Owerri Archdiocese to be fully built and completed within an 18-month period.
The dedication, which took place on Friday, December 19, 2025, during a 10am Mass, offered all an opportunity to learn how the historic edifice was built by an 81-year-old man, Dee Nath Nwosu, as a thanksgiving to God following his kidnapping and eventual release.
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Speaking during his homily, the Archbishop, who expressed amazement at the magnificent structure—now a visible testimony to the expansion, growth, and development of the Catholic faith in Nigeria—said he never imagined he would return so soon to dedicate the church.
“I wouldn’t have believed that this church could be built within a period of 18 months if not for the fact that I saw the plan of the building when it was brought to me for approval in 2024, and here I am today dedicating the church in 2025,” Archbishop Ugorji started.
“I was thinking the bishop who would come after me would be the one to dedicate this church after I approved the plan last year, but it is not so now. So I say thank you, Lord; take glory and honour,” he added.
“We thank God for the life of our brother who was kidnapped before he was released and eventually showed appreciation to God for sparing his life by embarking on this elephant project. We also thank and pray for the kidnappers who eventually released him, for they gave him the opportunity to fulfil this task to the greater glory of God.”
The Archbishop further noted that the church would have taken several years to complete if it had depended solely on contributions from parishioners.
“This church would have taken years to build if we had depended on proceeds from market women and workers, but an unfortunate situation which once put everyone in a sad moment has now helped to facilitate the building of this structure to the glory of God,” he said.
Archbishop Ugorji reminded the faithful that God can use unpleasant situations to manifest His glory, explaining that even delays caused by challenges such as a flat tyre could be divinely orchestrated to save lives.
While speaking on the need to maintain the serenity of the church as a place of worship—despite its location within a market area—the Archbishop charged all to respect the sacredness of the edifice.
“For this structure to be completed in 18 months, it means a lot of people did not sleep. Even though the church was built in a market place, the church must not be turned into a market,” he warned.
“Anyone who turns this church into a marketplace will be whipped by Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel, when the people turned the temple into a market place.”
The highlight of the event was the invocation of the Decree of Elevation, in accordance with Canon Law, by which SS Peter & Paul Catholic Station was elevated to a parish by the prelate. The Archbishop formally presented the Certificate of Elevation to Rev. Fr. Wisdom Offurum, who was also elevated from Administrator to the first Parish Priest of SS Peter & Paul Catholic Parish.
In his remarks, Rev. Fr. Offurum thanked the Archbishop for the historic visit, describing it as one that would remain evergreen in the hearts of the parishioners. He described the rapid transformation of SS Peter & Paul Church as a success story rooted in the foundation laid by the Emeritus Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. A.J.V. Obinna, who assisted in acquiring the land and elevated the church from Station to Special Jurisdiction. He also thanked the Dean of Ogbaku deanery, Rev. Fr. Valentine Ibe, who has always been very supportive towards the actualization of the event.
Fr. Offurum later told our correspondent that he was deeply grateful to Dee Nath Nwosu and his family for making the building of the church possible. He recalled that during the dedication of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Akwakuma, he had envisioned that the next dedication would be SS Peter & Paul Church.
“I had faith it would come to pass, even when there was no structure on ground,” he said.
Speaking with our correspondent, the 81-year-old benefactor, Dee Nath Nwosu, recounted his ordeal and fulfillment with deep emotion.
“I had a meeting with my children in 2024 where we discussed how we could support the building of SS Peter & Paul Church. One month after that meeting, I was kidnapped,” Nwosu said.
“When I was held captive, parishioners of SS Peter & Paul organised rosary processions and prayed consistently for my release, while my three children negotiated with the kidnappers. The kidnappers did not torture me for one day, though I saw them torturing others.”
“They even called me ‘Papa’, and that was the first time anyone had ever called me by that name. The atmosphere both in the church and in my village was like mourning, as if someone had died,” he added.
“But I want to thank those who kidnapped me, because if they had not kidnapped and released me, this church might not have been built in 18 months.”
According to him, “After my release, I spoke with my children, and we agreed that the money gathered for my release should be used to build the church. If I die today, I will die a very happy and fulfilled man, because we now have a conducive church for the worship of God.”
Several other stakeholders who spoke with our correspondent described the dedication as historic and spiritually uplifting.
The Chairman of the Parish Council, Comrade Kingsley Owuama, said parishioners were filled with joy and renewed enthusiasm.
“This will go a long way in strengthening our faith. We are happy, and we have received Christ today. We are also looking forward to celebrating a memorable Christmas in our new church,” he said.
On the planning of the dedication, the Chairman of the Dedication Committee, Chief Ihesinulo Mbadiwe (Esq.), commended the Parish Priest for assembling capable committee heads. He expressed satisfaction with the successful execution of the programme, noting that the team worked under divine grace despite the short planning period.
Reflecting on the history of the newly elevated parish, Sir Francis Udunna (KSJI), the second Station Council Chairman, recalled that SS Peter & Paul began with just 15 members in 2012. He thanked the Emeritus Archbishop, Most Rev. A.J.V. Obinna, for his visionary leadership, which helped the community remain focused on the church’s development.
The Catholic community of Umuonyealiugo, Ihitte Isi Mbieri, Mbaitoli L.G.A., has finally heaved a sigh of relief. With the elevation and dedication of the parish, they will now enjoy full access to the sacraments within their vicinity, a dream conceived, nurtured, believed, and ultimately fulfilled.
