The Catholic Bishop of Umuahia,Most Rev Lucius Ugorji, has charged the newly ordained priests in the diocese to among other things,pursue their call to serve God with all zealousness, forsaking their personal ambitions.
Bishop Ugorji who stated this in his homily, during the 30th Episcopal Ordination anniversary as a Bishop and the ordination of six deacons who successfully passed through the seminary, said the newly ordained priests should be Eucharistic in their Priestly journey, by always uniting themselves in prayers with God as their source of power, renewal and rediscovering of their new phase with Christ.
The clergy said the priests should desist from pursing their personal ambitions but go the extra mile in their service to Christ and the church.
Interacting with journalists shortly after their ordination, Rev.Fr. Emmanuel Okoro, thanked God for the privilege given to him to serve.
According to him, Priesthood comes with alot of responsibilities that cannot be accomplished without the grace of God.
Rev. Fr. Okoro prayed God to make him and other newly ordained priests to be faithful to the call of God in their lives.
Rev. Father Jude Chukwuemeka Ameachi, expressed gratitude to God that his years in the seminary was not in vain.
According to Fr. Ameachi, he was prompted to go into the seminary eleven years ago because of the call of God upon his life. He said the call was so strong that he could not ignore it.
The Priest revealed that the secret to overcome the challenges in priesthood is being prayerful and committed to the assignment given to you, urging other priests to maintain openness,serve God diligently and pray for His grace if they muat succeed in the journey.
Fr. Amaechi further promised to give his best to the service of God, pledging to always pray for the massive salvation of souls all over the world.
Some of the attendees, Mr Nnamdi Okoro, congratulated the six priests who made it to ordination,prayed God to give them the required grace to serve Him, even in the face of adversity.
Mr Okoro said he is most grateful to God that his younger brother,Rev Fr. Emmanuel Okoro was among the Priest ordained, urging parents as well as guardians to always allow their children choose career for themselves, especially when it is in a good direction.
For High Chief Uchechi Amaechi, the Father to Rev Fr. Jude Amaechi, thanked God for the feats recorded so far by his son, adding that God who saw him through the seminary to become an ordained priest in Catholic church,will grant him the grace to overcome higher temptations.
However,Mr Chekube Chukwu, Ezinna Marcel Okoro and Mr Louis Ngwuka, in their separate speeches, all prayed for God’s wisdom upon the newly ordained priests,to take the tasks ahead of them diligently.
Those ordained as priests include, Rev
Emmanuel Ogadinma Okoro, Rev Amaechi Jude Chukwuemeka.the Rev Emmanuel Nkemjika Uzoigwe, Rev Steven Nwaneri ldika among others.
