About Us

The quasi Parish started as a Basic Christian Community Centre known as St. Stephen BCC, sometime in 2012. This BCC gave the members of the church the opportunity to come together every Monday at 6 p.m. to share the word of God together. It enhanced spiritual growth of members, we were also able to enjoy community and family closeness as people of God.

However, the people of God continued to pray for more blessings from God. Our prayer was answered. Our then parish priest, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Onwudiegwu called up Mr. Freddie Esezobor and requested that he informed members of the BCC and other community members that a mass station would start at the center.

Then finally the station church first mass was celebrated on the 3rd of March, 2013. Mrs. Helen Irabor-Esezobor was appointed as the first Church Council Vice Chairperson, late Mrs. Rita Ogha and Mr. Sunday Adetola were both secretary and assistant secretary respectively with Mr. Patrick Arabono as Financial and Mr. Esezobor as Treasurer.

The church started under an open space without a roof nor structure. Few weeks afterwards, we started renting canopy to shield the priest and few chairs for members. The membership started increasing, which led to renting of more canopies and chairs. The host family provided their garden table and chairs, mat as altar floor and their dinner chairs as the priest altar chairs.

Mr. Freddie Esezobor, Mrs. Charity Okoro and late Mr. Patrick Udom were the first ushers that we had. The lectors were comprised of late Rita Ogha, her daughter junior Rita Ogha, Mr. Jude-Mary Igwuebike, Mr. Sunday Adetola, Mrs. Helen Irabor-Esezobor and her daughter Rita-Helen Irabor-Esezobor.

The choir was comprised of Madam Maria Ozodigwe, Mrs. Agnes Ossai, Patrick Irabor-Esezobor, Mrs. Ebele Ozodigwe, master Williams, Master Vincent and late Josephine Okohue as choir master.

The growth in membership spurred members to start donating more items needed by the church, such as lectern which were donated by Captain Emeka and Mr. Uche Okoro at different times. The Parish priest Very Rev Fr. Michael Onwudiegwu and his associate Rev. Fr. Godwin Eduke, constructed a batcher which provided shade for members.

In 2013, the first station harvest was organized and coordinated by Mr. Jude-Mary Igwuebike. The following year, 2014, St Anthony feast was celebrated in a big way, Mrs. Helen Irabor-Esezobor was the Chairperson, Planning Committee of the feast Day celebration.

Through the collective efforts of the CMO (with Mr. Jude-Mary as the Chairman), CWO (with late Mrs. Nwanti as the President) and CYON (with Mr. Solomon Okohue as President), the church was able to purchase the church land and construct a batcher.

On the 12th of March, 2018 the station church formally relocated from Mr. and Mrs Irabor-Esezobors' compound to its permanent site.

The station church experienced a massive growth within a short space of time to become a Quasi Parish in 2021. This was brought about through the cooperation of the dedicated Priests who have served in the parish: Rev. Fr. Michael Onwudiegwu (Founder of the station), Rev. Fr. Godwin Eduke (his associate), Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Okafor and his associate Rev. Fr. John Ukwa, and our Dean/Parish priest Rev. Fr. Martin Nweaze.

The creation of the Quasi Parish brought our present Priest-In-Charge, Very Rev. Fr. Williams Ajulo, who arrived on 24th March, 2022. He met us under a batcher, with water entering the church as the church is surrounded by swamp.

Despite finding less than ₦500,000 in the church account, Fr. Williams used his ₦1 million send-forth gift from St Michael parish Ketu to buy filling sand to block the church surrounding and prevent water from entering the church hall.

Our Parish Priest's selflessness is remarkable - personal cash gifts from friends for his birthdays and priestly anniversaries are always requested to be paid into the church account for church projects. A priest of almost 23 years and in his early 50s, he does everything himself due to the parish's financial constraints.

His aspiration is to complete the Parish Priest House before his successor comes, ensuring future priests won't have to live outside the church premises as he currently does.