By Fintan Ibegwam

The Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, His Lordship, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Uguorji, is celebrating his Episcopal Silver Jubilee today.
Born on January 13, 1952 into the Ugorji family of Umuakali Naze in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, Young Lucius attended St. Thomas Primary School, Kano and St. Michael Primary School, Umuahia. He later passed the entrance examination to Immaculate Conception Seminary, Umuahia for his secondary school education.

Bishop Ugorji said his interest to seek admission into the seminary and desire to become a priest, started when his father, a railway staff was transferred to Umuahia from Kano. He registered as a mass server at St. Finbarrs Parish and came under the influence of his Parish Priest, Rev. Father John Phyam and other Holy Ghost priests which deepened his religious life at the age of 12.

After his secondary education at the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Umuahia in 1979, Ugorji proceeded to study Philosophy and Theology at the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, and was ordained a priest at St. Finbarrs Catholic Church, Umuahia, on April 16, 1977.

Ugorji’s first assignment as a priest was to work as Secretary to the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Gogo Nwodo and at that time, he also ministered to a community known as Umuopara Catholic Community and a parish, now known as Assumpta Parish.

He said: “Öne of my significant experiences as a young priest was being given the assignment to begin the construction of the Cathedral, Mater De Cathedral, Umuahia in 1978. It was a tedious task to accomplish.

“At that time, money was very scarce. The estimated cost of the Bill of Quantities for the total construction was N500,000. The first amount I withdrew from the bank for the construction was N10,000.

“When I took the money from the bank, the branch manager thought I was crazy to carry such huge amount without police protection. I was given an armed police escort to accompany me to my residence. With that amount we were able to begin the initial work on the site and today we have a very large and magnificent cathedral.”

Consecrated the Bishop of Umuahia on July 1, 1990, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji’s big challenge was his territory which was dominated by mostly protestant churches – the Presbyterians, the Methodists and the Anglicans. This challenge made him develop deep interest in Ecumenism, in order to develop a good relationship with leaders of all these churches.

“I was the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Abia State Chapter for 12 years, from 1993 to 2005. That office gave me a unique opportunity to bring our separated brethren to ecumenical dialogue and joint action,” Bishop Ugorji said.

For achievement in the last 25 years, Bishop Ugorji said: “God has been very gracious to the Diocese in the area of expansion and consolidation. Today, we have 66 parishes as against 23 in 1990. We also have 174 priests in contrast to 33 in 1990. Just as the number of our priests has increased, the number of the lay faithful in the Diocese is also increasing.”

Some of the friends of the Bishop also commented.

The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu congratulated the Bishop on his Episcopal Silver Jubilee and said, “Your Lordship, we thank and glorify God for sustaining you this far in his Vineyard as a good Shepherd of his flock.

“It is no exaggeration that your 25 years as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia is replete with outstanding giant strides in the spiritual and physical growth and development of the Diocese.”

Engr. Emeka Udokporo, Pastoral Council Chairman, Catholic Diocese of Umuahia said: “Bishop Ugorji is a great man of God and an accomplished administrator, Umuahia is blessed to have him as their Bishop. He has excelled in the establishment of hospitals, schools, farms and training of priests in Nigeria and abroad.’’

In her own remark, Lady Victoria Ezeocha, President, Catholic Women Organisation, Umuahia Diocese, said: ‘’The qualiities of Bishop Ugorji are, personal relationship with God as evidence to his love for prayers, his generosity, ability to work with others and respect for other people.