… Calls for Authentic Living of Priestly Life
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, has ordained eight new priests for the diocese, charging them to maintain an authentic living of the priestly life, even as he charged the government of the day to ameliorate the hunger in the land, reports Fr Robert Anagboso.
On Saturday, 21 July 2024, in a well-attended concelebrated Ordination Mass which took place at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka; Revs. Paul Akabogu (Obeledu); Elias Obikwelu (Aguluzigbo); Victor Ejie (Mbaukwu); Damian Chibueze (Agulu); Anthony Okoyeatu (Enugwu-Ukwu); Paschal Omaga (Aku); Lawrence Akwuba (Ifitedunu); and Kingsley Igboanugo (Neni), were all raised to the Order of the Priesthood by the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Ezeokafor to the joyous boisterous cheers of the entire congregation.
Delivering the Ordination Homily, Bishop Ezeokafor charged the young ordinands to live a life worthy of their vocation to the priesthood. ‘The fundamental life of a priest,’ the Prelate admonished, ‘is to live a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. These are the three evangelical counsels, otherwise known to us as vows.’
The Bishop added that the most difficult of them was the vow of obedience; because, according to him, one must conform to the teachings and authority of the Church, even if one felt that one’s ideas were wonderful. ‘It is only the Church that can give you a go ahead order to implement your ideas,’ the Bishop said.
Clarifying a number of issues, Bishop Ezeokafor noted that the new generation and priests were always enthusiastic to do new things in new ways, inasmuch as he acknowledged that the trend was an expected one. He however said, ‘As you enter into this ministry in young age with energy and vigour, remember that there are those already there before you for the past 50, 40, 30, 25 years.
You must look up to them for proper guidance and direction. The Church already has set down rules, principles and certain ways of doing things; let your new thoughts and learning not deviate from the Church’s long standing principles. Always submit to the teaching authority of the Church and obey your superiors in all good things,’ Bishop Ezeokafor concluded.
On the vow of poverty, Bishop Ezeokafor charged the new priests to read and interpret the signs of the times, noting that those signs were really not good.
He said, ‘People are going through untold hardship and suffering. Many people do not afford for themselves what they give to us as priests; but they provide them for us because of their faith in God, in the Church and love for us priests. Do not abuse the good will and generosity of the faithful by a sordid life style of materialism and show of superiority.’
In the same vein, Bishop Ezeokafor called on the government to consider the hardship in the country and make policies that would benefit the ordinary man on the street.
‘There is hunger in the land,’ the Prelate said, calling for all hands to be on deck to eradicate the hunger. He charged the government and decision makers to cut down the cost of governance, so that there would be more resources for the masses and workers, even as he acknowledged the increment in the Minimum Wage. He insisted that the government should do better.
Ending his admonition with the vow of chastity, Bishop Ezeokafor maintained that the vow of chastity was not simply the absence of marriage in the life of a Catholic priest, as that, according to him, was already taken for granted.
‘You should live in such a way that you will not be like the man who says ejina mma m bee nkita, kama nye m ka m were eze tabie (someone who despises dog meat to the extent of not allowing the use of his knife to cut the meat, but is very glad to use his teeth to cut the same dog meat) That is a contradiction in terms and practices,’ said the Bishop.
He urged the ordinands to be aware of what they were undertaking and live according to the dictates of their state of life, always relying on the grace of God.
