OUR VISIT TO OKOTI-ODEKPE,
AND ONITSHA
ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

On December 5, 2016– Nearly 500 community members from Okoti-Odekpe, their chiefs, and worshipers from surrounding parishes gathered to observe as Bishop Denis Isizoh, Archdiocese of Onitsha, blessed the site where the planned Catholic League Medical and Mental Health Hospital will be built. Anambra State Governor Willie Obianowas invited to lay the symbolic foundation bricks, thereby acknowledging the strong support for the planned hospital by all key groups.  The property was donated by local community chiefs to facilitate construction of a much-needed Western-style hospital for the poor.

The Catholic League for the Poor of Nigeria, Inc., a non-profit organization recognized by the IRS with 501(c)(3) status. Our capital fund raising campaign is to pay for the design and construction of the hospital.  The facility is destined to provide the highest quality medical and mental healthcare for the poor and after it is built will be run by the Archdiocese of Onitsha.

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Fr. John Ugobueze and Francisco Agraz met with the Most Reverend Valerian M Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha, in the Chancery to brief him about the status of our fund-raising efforts for the Catholic League Medical and Mental Health Hospital.

FrJohn-Archbishop Okeke-FAgraz
4-DEC-2016, with The Most Rev. Valerian M Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of the Region

Here are pictures of the historic event that occurred December 5, 2016.

Unveiling of plaque 1
Bishop Isizoh invites key visitors to help in the unveiling of the monument and plaque commemorating the blessing and ground breaking ceremony.
Governor -5 - Crowd_res (25)
Parents brought their children
Governor -1_res (21)
Support for Governor Willie Obiano
Dias - Governor Obiano with priests
Bishop Isizoh with Fr. John Ugobueze
Bishop Isizoh, Onitsha, checks the program for the ceremony with Fr. John Ugobueze, from Houston, Texas
Ceremonial brick laying by Governor Obiano
Governor Obiano invited to lay the first ceremonial bricks for the hospital building.
Praying before ceremonial brick laying
Prayer and blessing of the ceremonial brick laying
Okoti-Odekpe-Dec-2016-7_res (37)
Archbishop Blessing - 12_res (15)
Bishop Isizoh blessed the community.
Archbishop Blessing - 11_res (14)
Blessing the official monument.
Archbishop Blessing - 10_res (13)
The plaque was designed by local artisans in honor of our fund raising efforts.
Archbishop Blessing - 9_res (12)
Archbishop Blessing - 8_res (11)
Unveiling the monument and plaque
Archbishop Blessing - 7_res (10)
Archbishop Arrives - 5_res (2)
Okoti-Odekpe-Dec-2016-15
Okoti-Odekpe-Dec-2016-300
Artwork for the plaque was inspired by our US organization’s corporate seal.
NIGERIA CATHOLIC LEAGUE LOGO SEAL
Our Corporate seal and Logo.
Okoti-Odekpe-Dec-2016-21
Many pastors from Onitsha attended the event
Okoti-Odekpe-Dec-2016-18
Local and regional chiefs
Fr. Ignatius, a local pastor of a parish within the same local government area where the property is located, has been helping Fr. John in preparing the property site. Here, in this video, he explains how the wall was built to protect the property