The Early Beginning of the Outstation.
In the Year of Our Lord 2010, a divine spark was lit on the eastern edges of Enugu. It was a spark ignited by the adventurous spirit of Rev. Fr. Polycarp Chukwumaijem Okafor, the youthful and dynamic Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Parish, Golf Course Estate, GRA, Enugu. Driven by missionary zeal, Fr. Okafor crossed the Ekulu River and the ever-busy Enugu-Onitsha expressway, venturing into the then-isolated Greenland Estate RCC Quarters in Trans-Ekulu.
There, he discovered a scattered community made up of Green Roof, Brown Roof, and the Upstairs Estate opposite the Oshimiri EEDC office. With a visionary eye and a shepherd’s heart, Fr. Okafor united these neighborhoods into a single outstation under Holy Spirit Parish, naming it St. John the Beloved Apostle Outstation. The inaugural Mass was celebrated on Sunday, March 14, 2010, at 7:00 a.m.
The Emergence of the St John the Beloved Parish, RCC under Nkwo-Nike Deanery
In January 2017, St. John the Beloved Apostle was canonically erected as a full-fledged parish. It was during the Catedraticum in 2016 at Holy Ghost Cathedral, that the Lordship, Most Rev Dr C.V.C Onaga, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese graciously elevated the promising station to a full fledge parish to be domiciled in Nkwo Nike Deanery because it’s across the Onitsha-Enugu express being the major boundaries between Enugu Deanery and Nkwo Nike Deanery. The parish exists at boundary parish between Enugu Deanery and Nkwo Nike Deanery
The Town of the Parish and Boundary Delineation
St John the beloved parish RCC is located inside Green roof section of Greenland quarters of RCC, Trans-Ekulu Enugu, under Enugu East LGA of Enugu State. The parish principally is made up of Green Roof tenants, Brown Roof tenants, RCC face 1 and the people living in the neighborhood. The parish has boundaries at northern part with Blessed Iwene Tansi Parish face 6 demarcated by the Mike Torey rood, at East with St Mary Trans Ekulu, at west with St Theresa Parish Ugbo-odogwu and at south with Holy Spirit Parish Golf Estate GRA. The parish has four zones. St John the beloved zone, St Anthony zone, St Polycarp zone and All Saints zone. The first Parish Priest, Fr John Mary Ibeh worked in the parish from 2017 to January 31st 2020. February 1st 2020 saw the arrival of the new Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dr Anthony Owoh. The present tenure is still actively functioning.
The structural development of the Parish.
The foundation laying of the parish church was done in 2018 under the leadership of the pioneer Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Johnmary Ibe, whose tenure laid the structural and spiritual groundwork for what was to come. He completed the building of the small parish house and the furniture equipping of the Parish House for conducive habitation of the Parish Priest.
A New Era of Transformation:
The Arrival of Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Tochukwu Owoh. A new chapter began on February 1, 2020, with the arrival of Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Tochukwu Owoh as the Parish Priest. His tenure ushered in a season of rapid development, deep pastoral reorganization, and spiritual renewal. Through his tireless leadership and the support of a dedicated pastoral team, the parish witnessed monumental progress.
Under Fr. Dr. Anthony Owoh’s guidance, the following major projects were undertaken and completed:
- Reorganization of the Parish administration and structures, streamlining ministries and lay leadership for effectiveness and unity.
- Completion of the main church building, lifting the structure from its foundational phase into a fully finished place of worship.
- Construction of the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration, a sacred space for silence, prayer, and Eucharistic devotion.
- Building of the Grotto of Mary Undoer of Knots, offering a spiritual sanctuary for intercession and reflection.
- Construction of a spacious basement Parish Hall, to accommodate meetings, events, and community life.
- Final completion and furnishing of the Parish House, now standing as a dignified residence for clergy and guests.
This extraordinary progress culminated in a historic moment on April 11, 2021, when His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Valentine Onaga, the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, came in person to dedicate the parish church—a moment of joy, grace, and fulfillment.
Parish Priest of Mother Parish Holy Spirit Golf Estate G.R.A Before Emergence
- Fr. Polycarp Okafor
- Victor Ubaka (The parish gained Autonomy under Rev. Fr. Victor Ubaka)
PIONEER PARISH PRIEST
Rev. Fr. Johnmary Ibeh Pioneer Parish Priest
Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Owoh First Parish Priest
OUR MISSION
The church’s mission is to cultivate a Christian community that is spirit-filled, caring for one another as Christ cares for his church. Actively engaging in spreading the message of Christ and the Church, and Building a strong, cohesive, and compassionate community of faith, anchored on the teachings of christ, the Bible and the Sacraments.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to have a spiritual sanctuary, a place of prayer, reflection and inspiration for those seeking God.
Spiritual Sanctuary: To foster deeper spiritual understanding and connection to God for all members.
Active Evangelization: To work in cooperation with the Church authorities for the effective spread of the Gospel and the conversion of sinners.
Community Support: To build a supportive community where members can grow spiritually and provide mutual temporal and spiritual assistance.
OUR VALUES
The Parish subscribes to the values of the Catholic Church; faith, love, family, compassion, service, truth, justice, forgiveness and hope.