. . As Nise Catholic Community Receives Newly Ordained Priest, Celebrates Final Professed Sisters and Silver Jubilarians
By Uchechukwu Enem
On 22nd of December, 2019, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Dunu, a Silver Jubiliarian Priest from Nise Community, charged Catholic Faithful to learn to start doing the impossible. He made this statement at St. Felix Catholic Church during the reception of 12th indigenous Priests from Nise, Rev. Fr Henry Onyekachukwu Chiafor, SAC; Final Profession of Srs. Felicia Obianuju Ewenike and Ancilla Chinaza Akpagu and Silver jubilee celebration of Rev. Fr. Sylvester Dunu and Rev. Sr. Maureen A. Ejiofor of Jesus.
Using his experiences for 25 years as a priest, he narrated so many challenges in priesthood and how God has helped him. For the Religious Sisters, he told them to remember the vow of poverty, obedience and celibacy they took during their profession.
He thanked God for the gift and growth of the Catholic Community in Nise. He prayed for those who departed without enjoying the fruits of their children. He reminded the newly ordained priest of his role as a priest of God.
Fr. Onyekachukwu has his Primary education at St. Anthony Nursery and Primary School, Nkpor, where he had the zeal to serve God. Fr. Henry studied Computer Science while he stayed with Fr. Sylvester Dunu. He was successfully admitted into Society of the Catholic Apostolate popularly known as Pallottines. Fr. Henry started his postulancy in 2010 with eleven brothers and was among the five brothers who were chosen to go to South Africa in 2011 to continue their novitiate. He graduated with an excellent result Baccalaueat Canonique from Salesiane University, Rome. He was ordained 14th December, 2019 by the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr. Denis Isizor.
Sr. Maureen A. Ejiofor of Jesus was introduced into Block Rosary, Mary League Girls Association and Altar Girls at a tender age. She had her primary education at Community Primary School, Nise and had her secondary school education at St. John of God Secondary School, Awka. She joined the Little Sisters of Jesus in September 13, 1989 and had her first profession on May 12th, 1994. She made her final profession on the 23rd November, 2003.
Sr. Ewenike had her Primary Education at Aunty Mary Grace School, Abakpa, Ogoja, Cross Rivers State. She had her Secondary School at Model Secondary Commercial School, Utugwang Obudu at Cross Rivers in 2004. She obtained her National Certification in Education (NCE) in 2008 at Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe. She joined Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy in 2008 and had her First Profession on 25th May 2013 at Ahiaeke Generalate Umuahia and had her final profession on 25th May 2019 at Mater Dei Cathedral, Umuahia, Abia State.
Sr. Akpagu, was born into a staunch catholic family and felt a calling to be a Catholic nun through her strong devotion to pious societies. Sr. Ancylla joined the Congregation of Sisters of Jesus the Savour on 24th January, 2008. She served in Aba, and Sagamu before she enrolled for nursing programme at Our Lady of Lourdes Nursing School, Ihiala. On 21st day of September, 2019, she had her final profession.
At the reception ground, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Antony Obi, welcomed all to the event and thanked them for their time to celebrate with the celebrants. The Nise Catholic Community gave a Toyota Corolla to Fr. Chiafor to enhance his priestly ministry while other societies presented gifts to other celebrants at the event.
