CBCN President celebrates last Mass as Bishop

By Rachel Kogi, CSN

Ahead of the installation of the newly appointed Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, scheduled for Thursday, June 23, 2022, His Grace on Tuesday, June 21celebrated his last Mass as Bishop of Umuahia.
In his homily at the Mater Dei Cathedral, Umuahia, he admonished Christians to abide by the Tenets of the Golden Rule in their relationship with others, emphasising the need to be mindful of how they treat fellow human beings.
The Prelate reminded the faithful: “If you want to be treated with dignity, treat others with dignity. If you demand for justice, extend justice to others. If you want to be fairly treated, treat others with fairness. This is the golden tenet of the Bible.”
He expressed profound gratitude to the clergy and laity of Umuahia for their immeasurable support and cooperation during the three decades of his apostolic assignment, specifically thanking the Senate Chief Whip and former Abia Governor, Sen. Orji Kalu, and others, dead and alive, for their immense support to him during the construction of the gigantic Mater Dei Cathedral.
It was a period of recollections as Archbishop Ugorji recounted his experiences and achievements ever since his ordination and installation as Bishop of Umuahia on July 1, 1990. Significantly, the Bishop’s Seat was also sealed during the Mass.
The day culminated with a lively farewell ceremony attended by Priests, religious, Catholic faithful within and outside the diocese, dignitaries from Abia State Government House as well as the Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Umuahia Archdiocese, Most Rev. Chibuzo Opoko.
It will be recalled that Archbishop Ugorji was doubly elevated on March 6, 2022 as the Archbishop of Owerri and CBCN President. He is expected to formally assume his new assignment at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri following his installation on Thursday, June 23 while he also remains the Apostolic Administrator Sede Vacante, Catholic Diocese of Umuahia.