Thousands of faithful gathered in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria, on Wednesday, January 14, to witness the solemn dedication of the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral in the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi.
The dedication, described as a landmark event, marks a historic milestone for the local Church, celebrating decades of faith, service, and communal effort.
The ceremony was presided over by His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, one of Nigeria’s most respected church leaders and drew over 100 arch/bishops, including Cardinal Peter Okpalaeke and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, as well as senior clergy and religious leaders.
Government officials, including former Governor Peter Obi and current Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, were also in attendance, alongside thousands of Catholic faithful who filled the cathedral and surrounding grounds with joyous celebration.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, established on 28 November 2001, serves the northern portion of Anambra State and a predominantly Catholic population estimated at more than 680,000 across over 100 parishes. The cathedral now serves as the spiritual and administrative heart of the diocese, hosting major liturgical celebrations, ordinations, diocesan gatherings, and community events.
Most Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye, Bishop of Nnewi since 2022, expressed gratitude to God and the Catholic community for bringing the cathedral project to fruition. He thanked the clergy, lay faithful, and benefactors for their support and called on all to embrace the cathedral as a beacon of faith, hope, and community renewal.
The dedication ceremony featured processions, liturgical prayers, and Scripture readings, emphasizing the cathedral’s sacred purpose, while speeches highlighted the collaborative efforts that made the construction and completion of the cathedral possible.
The event has been hailed as a defining moment for the Diocese of Nnewi, reinforcing its spiritual identity and serving as a tangible symbol of the Church’s growth, unity, and commitment to serving the faithful in Nigeria.
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