Brief History of St. Patrick's Catholic Church Omunwei, Igwuruta, Rivers State

St. Patrick 's Catholic Church Omunwei, Igwuruta, Originated from St. Anthony's Parish, Igwuruta, during the tenure of Rev. Fr. Vincent O. Cornell and the diocesan leadership of Bishop GMT Okoye, the first Bishop of the Port Harcourt Diocese. During the civil war, the church faced significant setbacks. In the aftermath, it was nearly forgotten as members joined nearby churches. Only few dedicated members would trek 3km to St. Anthony's Parish.

In 1984, Rev. Fr. Hallow's appointment as Parish Priest marked a turning point. Through his dedicated pastoral care and a house to house apostolate, assisted by prominent Parishioner Chief Pius Amadi, the church was revitalized. Chief Puis Amadi played a crucial role in acquiring land for expansion. However, the growing church faced challenges, including the devastating Omuolu community conflict, which forced the church to relocate. Worship services were temporarily held at Chief Puis' compound until a new site was secured. Despite subsequent conflicts, the church persevered.

Under Rev. Fr. Ambrose's leadership as Parish Priest of St. Anthony, St. Patrick was eventually established as a distinct entity, renamed in recognition of the impactful work of the St. Patrick's Missionaries. On the new site, Rev. Fr. Peter Good luck Deebom, under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Clement Dekoo, oversaw the completion of the church structure, roofing the previously uncompleted building. The church was elevated to a Parish on September 19th, 2024, through the approval of Bishop Camillus Etokudoh, (the then Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Now Bishop Emeritus).

Rev. Fr. Lawrence John N. Dukue (Ph.D) was appointed as the first Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Catholic church. Under his leadership, the Parish has experienced remarkable growth. Moving from having one mass on Sundays and one mass a week to three masses on Sundays and daily masses on weekdays. He also introduced Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, regular confession times, office hours and significant increase in sacramental participation.

Special Thanks goes to; Rev. Fr. Paul Zorbari, the Parish Priest of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Igwuruta, by whose effort St. Patrick was made a Parish, Rev. Fr. Callistus O. Igwe, Rev. Fr. Ambrose Bani, Rev. Fr. Raphael Kpeden, Rev. Fr. Felix Kumanwee, and all St. Patrick's Missionary Priests.