Speaking to
Journalists on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 in Lagos, the nephew to the priest, Hon
(Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe, congratulated his uncle for upholding the catholic
faith and being a pillar of the church in Achina community.
“It is a
welcome development, his life in our family, the life of Achina Community and
the life of the Catholic Church, it is not easy to attain the golden age in a
particular profession or vocation. Despite the fact that Rev. Fr. Mike entered
seminary as an adult, he was a civil servant based in Lagos, and all of a sudden
he decided that he would be a Catholic Priest, despite the fact that his
parents were pagans, he summoned the courage and the Catholic Training Centre,
All Hallows Seminary Onitsha graciously admitted him, from there he ascended
till he became a priest.
“Since then
he has been doing the job he chose to do. He brought in the experience he has
in the civil service, combined it with the vocational training, that is why he
excelled. But he is on the quiet side, but he is thorough, very unassuming, he
doesn’t play to the gallery, not materialistic and very disciplined. In short,
his character and behavior is synonymous with cleanliness,” Umenzekwe said.
Hon. Umenzekwe disclosed that Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ndukuba Umenzekwe-Azike is the type that works underground for the benefit of his community. “He is the type that works underground, unannounced. He helped so many people in our town and beyond to get admitted into the seminary, a greater number of them are today retiring from priesthood, people he trained. Even in creation of parishes and all that, he worked underground to make sure that various parishes we have in Achina today came to limelight. In other parishes he has worked, his footprints are there. First he served at St. Mary's Church Osumoghu; St. Mary's Catholic Church Nnokwa; worked at Nkwerezunaka; St. Teresa Catholic Church Obosi; Osumenyi; St. Pius X Seminary Akwukwu; St. Joseph Catholic Church Aguleri; St Mary's Catholic Church Ukpo Centre Nnewi; St John The Cross Egbo Nnewi; among others.
“You see, he is among the class of Reverend Fathers that believe in having their Sutan and their footwear, he is among those that believe in being mobile to do their work whether it is bicycle, motorcycle or anything. He is among reverend fathers that believe in the efficacy of prayer, leveraging on the assistance of our blessed mother Mary. He is among the reverend fathers that believe in the sanctity of the Eucharist, the body of Christ. If you go to catechism class through him, it may be difficult for you to pass, not that he is wicked but he must make sure that you must understand the teachings and injunctions of the Catholic Church.”
Hon. Umenzekwe disclosed that the event will be
semi low key. “The celebration is going to take place on the 21th April, 2024,
at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Achina, in Aguata Local Government Area
of Anambra State. The Mass is billed for 9:30am, we expect church leaders and
numerous guests will be there, including the laity and faithful. The entire catholic
church is expected to be there.
“It is what I may call semi low key, in the
sense that the celebration was being planned for November, 2024, but the Reverend father for reasons best known
to him and the church authority, which I don't want to go into, they called us
last week and said the celebration has now been shifted forward on the day he
was ordained. So that made us to start making contingency arrangements. Again
considering his age and strength he is close to 90, if I am not mistaking, so
we decided to do it, and decided to concentrate on very necessary things. After
the Mass, he would retire to the family compound and entertain the guests,
various types of music will be on standby to entertain the guests, and there
will be enough to eat and drink,” he said.
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