The atmosphere in St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Itu, was one rife with profound joy, prayer, and thanksgiving on Saturday, May 9, 2026, as seventy-six candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation during the maiden pastoral visit of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, His Lordship, Most Rev. Simeon Okezuo Nwobi, to the parish.
The pastoral visit, which commenced a day earlier, comes not merely as an episcopal routine but as a deeply interactive encounter between the Chief Shepherd and the people entrusted to his care. Parishioners presented the life and activities of the community to the Bishop, while the prelate, in a gesture that reflected both pastoral diligence and fatherly concern, personally engaged the confirmation candidates in a remedial exercise to ascertain their readiness for the sacrament.
The solemn Eucharistic celebration drew priests, religious, and a large gathering of the faithful who assembled to witness the candidates publicly affirm their faith and receive the strengthening gifts of the Holy Spirit.
In his homily, Bishop Nwobi reflected on the docility of the Apostles to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, observing that the same Spirit continues to animate and sustain the Church in every age. He noted that the celebration was not simply ceremonial but a spiritual moment intended to deepen and strengthen the faith of the Christian community.
Addressing the young confirmands with fatherly warmth, the bishop urged them to remain steadfast in prayer, attentive to the Word of God, and faithful to the life of the Church, reminding them that they represent both the vitality and the future of the Christian community. He equally challenged parents and guardians to embrace with renewed seriousness their sacred responsibility of transmitting the faith to succeeding generations.
“Confirmation is not a bus stop but a flashpoint in our journey of faith,” the bishop stated as he emphasized that the sacrament renews and intensifies the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.
He further exhorted the candidates to continually seek divine grace through prayer so that the faith sealed in them through the sacrament may mature into a steadfast Christian witness.
Meanwhile, the Parish Priest and Dean of St. Augustine’s Deanery, Ezi-West, Rev. Fr. Anthony Ezekwe, welcomed the bishop and his entourage and expressed the joy of the Parish community at the historic visit. He assured the bishop of the parish’s continued loyalty, cooperation, and commitment to the growth of the diocese. A formal address on behalf of the parishioners was presented by the Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mr. Linus Onyemachi.
In his concluding remarks, Bishop Nwobi commended the parishioners for their warmth, devotion, and active participation in the life of the Church. He also expressed gratitude to the parents and guardians of the confirmands for presenting their children for the sacrament and encouraged them to preserve faithfully the Christian heritage entrusted to them.
