A Patriarch's Name Endures: Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre Dedicates Main Auditorium to Archbishop Patrick E. Ekpu
In a memorable ceremony at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre in Benin City, the facility's main gathering space was officially named in honour of the late and much-revered spiritual leader, The Most Rev. Dr. Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, Archbishop Emeritus of Benin City.
The dedication ceremony was led by the current Archbishop of Benin City, The Most Rev. Dr. Augustine O. Akubeze, and was attended by a host of dignitaries, including the Chancellor, Deans, priests, religious, and a broad representation of the laity, such as the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), and the various Knighthood Orders.
The Dedication Ceremony
The event commenced with the formal Welcome of the Archbishop and dignitaries and an Opening Prayer.
Rev. Fr. Raphael Anoje, Director of the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, delivered a warm welcome address. He recounted that the Centre was originally envisioned and founded by Archbishop Ekpu to serve as a venue for the Bishop's Conference of Nigeria. It has since flourished, becoming a leading hospitality and conference centre in Edo State while faithfully maintaining its foundational Catholic Identity.
With the permission of Archbishop Akubeze, the main Auditorium was formally named in honour and memory of the late Patriarch. The proceedings included the Blessing of the building and the official Unveiling and naming the Auditorium.
A touching highlight was the Plant a tree ceremony led by the Archbishop, an act that acknowledged Archbishop Ekpu's love for nature and aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals for biodiversity. As Rev. Fr. Anoje noted, this exercise was a profound expression of unity, oneness with nature, and fidelity to Christ's Apostolic teachings, resonating deeply with Archbishop Ekpu's episcopal motto: "UT UNUM SINT" (That They May Be One). The ceremony concluded with announcements and the FINAL BLESSING.
The Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre: A Hub of Faith and Hospitality
The Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, located along Airport Road in Benin City, is a significant institution within the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City. The Centre is named after Most Rev. Dr. Patrick Joseph Kelly, S.M.A., who served as Bishop of Benin City from 1950 until his retirement in 1973, and whom Archbishop Ekpu succeeded.
Before becoming the Pastoral Centre, the site was the initial location for the Saint Maria Goretti Girls' Grammar School when it was founded in 1959. Today, the Centre serves as a key administrative and spiritual hub. It provides:
- Accommodation and Conference Facilities: As noted by the Director, it remains a foremost hospitality center, hosting various religious and secular events.
- Archdiocesan Offices: It houses various secretariats and offices for diocesan activities.
- Meeting Grounds: It is the primary venue for meetings of the clergy, religious, and lay organizations across the Archdiocese, fulfilling Archbishop Ekpu's original vision for a major conference venue.
Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu: A Flowing Timeline of Service
Patrick Ebosele Ekpu was born on October 26, 1931, in Uromi, and his path to the priesthood began when he moved from Esan to Benin City on December 16, 1942. He received Baptism on June 12, 1946, and began his training in the minor seminary in Benin City on January 20, 1950, before moving to the Minor Seminary, Oke Are, Ibadan, in January 1951. His major seminary studies began in Benin City on September 1, 1955, and later moved to Ibadan in February 1957. He received the Minor Orders over several years, including tonsure (June 28, 1961), porter and lector (June 29, 1961), exorcist and acolyte (June 28, 1962), and became a subdeacon (June 29, 1962) and deacon (January 27, 1963). The culmination of his formation came when he was ordained a Priest on July 7, 1963.
His rise in the Church hierarchy began when he became Coadjutor Bishop on November 21, 1971, and he then succeeded Bishop Kelly to become the Substantive Bishop on July 5, 1973. A man of vision, he founded the Sisters of the Sacred Heart (SSH) in April 1975 and promulgated the decree for the erection of the Knighthood of St. John in May 1990. The Diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese, and he became the first Archbishop of Benin City on March 26, 1994, receiving the Pallium on June 26, 1994, and being formally installed on July 23, 1994. After decades of dedicated service, he became Archbishop Emeritus on November 21, 2006. He died on August 6, 2024, at the age of 92, and was buried at the Crypt of Holy Cross Cathedral, Benin on August 22, 2024.
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