Joy at Quintuplets’ Baptism

by CNS · May 5, 2021

Father Canice Enyiaka baptises Chimdi Eze as she is held by her godmother Vera Okoye at St. Matthias the Apostle Catholic Church in Lanham, Md., April 25, 2021. (CNS photo/Andrew Biraj, Catholic Standard)

When Patricia Eze jokes, “I have a full house,” she is not talking about a poker hand.

On June 25, 2020, she delivered quintuplets at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Those five babies – Chimdi Louisa, Chimezie Lauren, Chinanu Lisa, Sopulu Basil (the only boy) and Chisom Leslie – are believed to be the first set of quintuplets born in the hospital’s 58-year history, according to Holy Cross Health.

Patricia and her husband Basil Eze, both originally from Nigeria, are also the parents of a 5-year-old daughter, Chinna.

Their family marked a special milestone April 25 when the quintuplets were baptised at St Matthias the Apostle Catholic Church in Lanham, Maryland exactly 10 months from the day they were born.

Patricia and Basil Eze, left, the parents of the quintuplets baptized at St. Matthias the Apostle Catholic Church in Lanham, Md., are joined by their babies and godparents April 25, 2021. (CNS photo/Andrew Biraj, Catholic Standard)

Father Canice Enyiaka, also from Nigeria, baptised the babies as they were held by five godmothers, most of whom wore headdresses and colourful traditional African dresses. “Today it is my pleasure to present to you the newest members of this Catholic community, the quintuplets,” said the priest, who repeated their names, as the congregation clapped and cheered.