On Saturday, 11 April 2026, the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara witnessed the solemn blessing of the Grotto of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Jude’s Parish, Egberede/Eziala, an enduring gift generously donated by Barr. Emmanuel Njoku for the spiritual benefit of the faithful of the Parish and beyond.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the bishop of Ahiara Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Simeon Okezuo Nwobi CMF, with clergy, religious, and lay faithful in attendance.
In the homily, the Rev. Fr. Dr. Protase Ogechi Anyanwu, reflecting on the theme of the “impossible,” observed that the celebration, occurring within the Octave of Easter, bears a particular theological coherence, since the Resurrection itself, once beyond the horizon of human expectation, stands as the abiding testimony that the action of God is not constrained by what appears final; he further recalled the apostolic witness of St. Jude Thaddeus, steadfast in his labor and long invoked by the faithful in moments of distress, and encouraged all present to seek his intercession with confidence, especially in circumstances in which human effort reaches its limit.
The parish priest, in his vote of thanks, welcomed the bishop and expressed gratitude to the donor, assuring him of the prayers of the community.
The celebration continued with the formal unveiling of the grotto, followed by a lecture on the relevance of devotion to St. Jude in contemporary society, as well as moments of cultural and communal festivity.
The Diocese expressed profound appreciation to the donor, noting that the grotto will serve as a center of pilgrimage and earnest prayer for the faithful within and beyond the Diocese.
