Sen. Victor Umeh gifts poor Cameroonian community a new church edifice

IN PRAISES TO GOD FOR GIFT OF A NEW CHURCH BUILDING, I THANK SEN DR. VICTOR UMEH, THE DONOR.

By Rev. Father Felix Ezeaka

As a Nigerian priest on Catholic mission in Cameroon, I was posted to work in a rural poor community, Nkimichi Manfe.This community is not just materially poor but also war torn. I met a people willing and desirous to serve God in truth but lack resources not just to build their church but to feed themselves.

Coming from Nigeria where there is relative wealth and strong Catholic family. I took a journey back home to solicit for support for my parishioners. My quest for support took me to friends, old friends, priests, government officials, my former parishioners etc. Then I met Hon Ilokolobia Cornelius, my former parishioner at St Simon’s Catholic Church Ukpo. Cornelius as a brother joined me in this journey of faith and introduced me to a man he calls leader. That man is Senator Dr Victor Umeh, Ohamadike. Senator Dr Victor Umeh, a Catholic Knight and a compassionate leader took interest in my plight at the very first meeting. Senator Dr Victor Umeh saw with me the pictures of my parishioners celebrating holy mass in mud house called church building. He saw the helplessness of a willing christian community devastated by war and ridden in poverty. He wondered how I as a Nigerian priest formerly living in comfort zone could stomach such poverty in good faith and commended the work of God. And he pledged to stand with us.

Truly Sen Victor Umeh didn’t make empty promises. Shortly after I returned to Cameroon after my visit to Nigeria, I called the Senator and he quickly asked that I clear a new land where he will help us erect a new modern church building for my parishioners. It sounded like a joke or a dream but Sen Victor Umeh had meant every word he uttered.

My dear people of God within one month Sen Victor Umeh sent in the first money for the church project to start. We quickly cleared the ground and commenced a new church building. Stage by stage we continued till we finished the church project within months completely financed by Sen Dr Victor Umeh and family.

Today my people and men of good will, that church building of St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Nkimichi Mamfe will be blessed in Cameroon by the Archbishop and Apostolic Administrator of the Mamfe Diocese, His Grace Andrew Fuanya Nkea. The diocese and my parishioners are eternally grateful to Sen Dr. Victor Umeh, his wife Lady Prisca Umeh, the Umeh family, to my friend Ilokolobia Cornelius and all the people of God whose prayers and goodwill has brought this joy and a place of worship to us.

We give all praises to God Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth. We pray God to assiduously bless and uphold Sen Dr Victor Umeh and his family.

Source:ABS