The Birth of Catholicism in Egede Community Brief historical background of St. Cyril’s Catholic Church Egede in Udi LGA of Enugu State.

Introduction:

The history of St. Cyril’s Catholic Church Egede could be traced to the word of God in, Matthew 13:31-32, “The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is smaller than all other seeds, but once it has fully grown, it is bigger than any garden plant”. The above parable explains the success story of the birth and growth of God’s kingdom on earth which is manifested in the establishment of St. Cyril’s Catholic Church Egede. As the Gospel spread, the church of God increases in number from Europe to Africa, down to the lower Niger, to Onitsha to Eke region, to Okpatu and then to Egede community. It may be necessary to point out that when Christ came on earth to redeem mankind the Roman Empire had reached the extreme limits of its power. But before then, Empires of the Greece and Macedonia, Egypt and cartage, had reigned supreme but were reduced to small provinces. The pioneers of discovery (Portugal and Spain reigned) in the 15th and 16th centuries (1400-1600). In the “age of discovery”, opened various trade routes which at the same time enhanced the efforts of the First sets of missionaries (The Franciscans, Dominicans and Jesuits) to reach out to pagans and got them converted (through out the territories controlled by the Empires of Portugal and Spain). Actually, the Portuguese were the first European nation to send missionaries to Africa in 1415 (in the Cape). These missionaries were basically Roman Catholics. In the Late 15th century, Portuguese traders and missionaries began arriving in West Africa, First in Mauritania (1442), Guinea-Bissau (1446), The Gambia (1456), Sierra-Leone (1460), Ghana (1471) and in the Bight of Benin in 1475. In 1503, the king of Fetu led many of his Chiefs/People to baptism at the coast, in the kingdom of southern Nigeria). Education of the people in these places mentioned was entirely left to the missions already being established. Unfortunately, due to the coercive labour and tax exaction, racial discriminations, authoritarian polities, and economic exploitation from the Portuguese government, there from the host communities that compelled the Portuguese missionaries to leave Africa in the middle/tail end of 17th century, however very few of Portuguese missionaries continued.
The Birth of Catholicism in the Lower Niger (ONITSHA PROVINCE)
The ecclesiastical circumscription known today as the catholic Diocese of Enugu was part of a vast territory then referred to as the Lower Niger, which became an outstation of Gabon Diocese in 1885 (CF. Celestine A. Obi (ed,): A hundred Years of Catholic Church in Eastern Nigeria; Onitsha: Africana Exp Publishers, 1985). Probably, as the Portuguese missionaries left Africa, the Irish and the French missionaries took the centre stage in propagating the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in Africa down to the Lower Niger which was an out station of Gabon Diocese (as earlier mentioned). The pioneer missionaries (all French, two priests and two brothers) who arrived Onitsha in December of 1885, brought the Catholic faith in the Lower Niger (otherwise referred to as South Eastern Nigeria). These missionaries were led by Fr. Joseph Lutz whose efforts in winning souls for Christ paid off, as Pope Leo XIII in recognition of his teams’ effort, raised the territory to the status of an Apostolic Prefecture in 1889, and promoted him (Fr. Joseph Lutz) as the first Apostolic Prefect of the new territory. As time progressed, Reverend Fathers Joseph Reeling, Rene Pawlas, leen Lejeune, and Bishop Joseph Shanahan took the mantle of leadership of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Lower Niger in successive and respective order. However, in September 20, 1905 Bishop Joseph Shanahan Became the Fifth successor of Fr. Joseph Emile Lutz as the Apostolic Prefect of the Lower Niger.

Birth of St. Paul’s Parish Eke
The discovery of Coal in Enugu in 1909 is believed to have drawn attention to the city, and the missionaries led by Bishop Shanahan was not left behind in seeing a golden opportunity in sowing the seed of faith among the people there. Bishop Shanahan, sent Fr. Joachim Correia (who was at that time the only Portuguese on mission) to survey the possibilities of setting up a Catholic mission in Enugu (Cf. M. O Eneasato (et al): The advent and Growth of Catholic Church in Enugu Diocese; Onitsha Jet Publishers Nigeria Ltd, 1985, P.27). In compliance with the instructions of Bishop Shanahan, Fr. Correia made contact with Chief Onyeama N’Eke (whose powerful position and influence provided virtually all that was needed for the Catholic faith to thrive). Chief Onyeama was the Paramount Chief of Eke, and was at that time about the most powerful and influential man in the area/region. It is worthy of note, to state that Chief Onyeama had earlier invited the church missionary society (CMS) to Eke but was later disappointed when he discovered they were making use of local instead of foreign language in their instructions/teachings. Chief Onyeama desired something better, and that informed his prediction for the Catholic missionaries to take the place of the CMS. Again, Chief Onyeama had gotten enough information about the successes of his counterpart, Chief Idigo of Aguleri, whose invitation of the Catholic missionaries to his territory brought him a lot of fortune. With this conviction, Chief Onyema sent messengers to Aguleri with an express invitation to the Catholic missionaries. His request received a positive response as Catholic mission in Aguleri, sent Fr. Aloyse Muller to Eke in 1914 (Cf. M. O Eneasato (et.al); op cit, P.28) In 1915, a mission school was established at Chief Onyeama compound, as a result of a mission welcome of Fr. Muller by Chief Onyeama and Eke community. In 1917, Chief Onyeama had issued orders to all the chiefs under him to build schools in their respective domains/towns. As this directive was receiving positive response from the Chiefs, Chief Onyema had also resolved to visit Onitsha the same year to directly negotiate with Father Superior, Bishop Joseph Shanahan, for a priest who will be resident in his domain. His request was granted, and later the same year Rev.fr. Joachim Correia arrived Eke to stay with Eke people a thatch house built for Joachim Correia was later renovated to accommodate other missionaries coming after him. The mission at Eke became the centre where they travelled far into the hinterland, moving as far as Nsukka, Abakiliki, Awgu, Markurdi and Ogoja (all of which have become autonomous dioceses). Actually St. Paul’s Parish Eke was created in the year 1918, under the leadership of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, and Rev Fr. Joachim Correia as the first parish priest. The Eke mission remained the mother mission until the erection of St. Patrick’s Station, Ogbete which became a parish in 1933. As Enugu emerges the seat of power of the regional government, and being more central and more accessible from other parts of the territory, the centre of activities shifted from Eke to Enugu.
The Birth of Holy Family Parish Okpatu
It is very pertinent to state here that St Cyril’s Parish Egede which was in St Paul’s Eke as an out station from 1918 to 1962, also remained an out station of Holy Family Parish Okpatu from 1962 (when Okpatu mission was created) to 1991. Rev. Fr. Glade was the first parish priest of Holy Family Okaptu, while Mr Patrick Ugwu from Okpatu became the first catechist of the parish.
The Birth of St. Cyril’s Catholic Parish Egede
In response to Chief Onyeama’s decree (that all Chiefs under his Jurisdiction must build schools in their areas), Ozo Ekwueme Ikpa (the warrant Chief of Egede) established St. Kevin’s Primary school Egede sited at the out skirt of Amozalla Egede village near Ugwuagbudu) in 1918. Also, in 1921, another primary school was opened at umuanum village, by Ozo Ezeoha Aguvuzu (the warrant Chief of Egede then). With these developments, Egede community already embracing the Catholic faith and the western education. Actually, as these schools were opened, teacher-catechists were appointed, among other things to interprete the white man’s Language as well as preach to the locals, the gospel without charge in Egede, the pioneer Teacher-catechist was Mr. Valentine Omalike, a native of Abatete in todays Idemili LGA of Anambra State). However, the two primary schools opened in Egede were later merged to form St. Cyril’s primary school, with Mr. Joseph Egesi a native of Oyofo Oghe, as the first headmaster as well as Teacher catechist. Mr. Egesi stayed from 1928 to 1933, before Mr Maurice Amu from Eke (1933 to 1936), and Louis Ezekwu also from Eke (1937 to 1940). The early priests admired Egede being one of the most loving and friendly out stations when Fr. Vincent Davey at Eke requested some planks/woods for the construction of his residence, Enugu) were the first to respond, and this won them Holy Mass every first Sunday of the month (a Legacy kept till she got a parish in 1991). This was huge trekked to attend Sunday Masses at St. Paul’ Eke, and Holy Family Okpatu, then. Apart from the long distances trekked by the new converts/devout Catholics, there were aggressions/attacks from juju priests and other elders who considered themselves as the custodians of the people’s culture and traditions. These juju priests and elders couldn’t bear the conversion of their adherents to new religion (Christianity). The missionaries were not exempted in these aggressions/attacks. Theirs were made worse by the prevalence of malaria fever and other diseases. At that time, “the tropics remained the grave of the white man,” due to malaria fever ravaging them. On September 21, 1991 St. Cyril’s Catholic Church Parish Egede was created by then Bishop of Enugu Diocese, His Lordship Michael Eneje (Late), with Rev Fr. G. C. Oleri as the first parish priest and Mr Ferdinand Onuorah as the first catechist (Late). The new Parish recorded tremendous growth, both in Faith and numerical strength of new converts. All the organs of the parish were functioning effectively. It was then that Egede Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) built the parish house a gigantic storey building, well fenced, within a record time. A Parish car was bought as well by the parish. The new parish had very active pious organisations, like – Legion of Mary, society of St. Vincent De Paul, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, St. Anthony’s Guild etc.

The following out stations were already in place-

1. St. Jude’s Station (Umuanaeke)

2. St. Peter’s Station (Umuanum)

3. St. Anthony Station (Amozalla Uwani)

4. Emmanuel’s Station (Umuokpala)

5. St. Joseph’s Station (umuezenevu)

6. St. Theresa Station (Amozalla Uwenu)

7. St. Paul Station (Umuovu)

INDIGENOUS PRIESTS/RELIGIONS
Many years before the creation of St. Cyril’s Parish Egede, Egede community had recorded many ordinations of their sons and daughters as priests and religious. Notable among them was Rev. Fr. Innocent Ihemalolu Egbujie, who became the first indigenous priest in the whole of what constitutes the present-day Enugu and Awgu Diocese, as he ordained in 1954 for then Onitsha Arch. Diocese. Also Rev Sr. Mary Ikechukwu Amadi became the first professed Religious on July 1971. Let us state all of them in Chronological order- Priests-
1. Rev. Fr. Innocent Ihemalolu Egbujie – 1954

2. Rev. Fr. John Osinachi Amadi – 1974

3. Rev. Fr. Lawrence Ododile Agu – 1979

4. Rev. Fr. John Ifunanya Amuji – 1980

5. Rev. Fr. John Chidi Nwafor – 1988

6. Rev. Fr. Edwin Agu – 1989

7. Rev. Fr. Andrew Egbegolu – 1996