By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye,
Most Rev. John Afareha of Warri diocese, Priests, Religious and faithful of the Catholic diocese of Warri on Saturday, November 9, 2019 came out in numbers to celebrate and glorify God in honour of some of her priests who have served the Lord faithfully in his vineyard.
In a Mass presided by the bishop, he congratulates Very Rev. Fr’s. Gabriel Ewarewa and Isaac Aganbi who clocks 40 years in the priesthood. The bishop also congratulates seven other priests who are celebrating their 25th priestly anniversary and prayed God to keep them in their priestly vocation faithfully.
The duo of Very Rev. Fathers Gabriel Ewarewa and Isaac Aganbi celebrates their fortieth years in the priesthood, while Very Rev. Fr’s. Bernard Olagba, Magnus Alim who clocked Twenty Five in 2018, joined their brother priests, Very Rev. Fr’s. Emmanuel Erhoma, Oliver Offor and Ambrose Onyewuchi who clocks Twenty Five in April 2019 to celebrate their silver jubilee priestly ordination anniversary.
In a homily delivered by the Chaplain of St. Paul Chaplaincy, Delta State University Abraka, Rev. Fr. John Mark Ikeke, Ph.D, he expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the gift of the Catholic priesthood in the life’s of the clergies who marked their fortieth and twenty fifth years in the Catholic priesthood.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Ikeke thanked God for the grace upon their lives and reminded the celebrants that it is the Lord that chose them but not the other way round. In his words; ” I choose you, you did not choose me”.
He noted that it was God that called of them to be priests, prophets and kings to minister in his vineyard.
He added that priests are chosen from among men and ordained to be with Christ and to lead his people, as a result of this, every priest of God must not neglect his duties which he is ordained for.
On the challenges of sexual abuse, criticism, doing of pastoral works in critical terrain as well as harsh economic condition, loneliness, attending to lay faithful whom are most times difficult, Rev. Fr. Dr. Ikeke said only the grace of God can keep, protect and direct a priest to serve such number of years. He called on the faithful to be prayerful and always commit the Catholic priesthood into the hands of God as every priest needs their prayers.
He congratulated the clergies for holding on to the Catholic priesthood despite all the huddles, challenges, pains and stress while ministering to Gods people.
The academic don however called on the lay faithful to always support their priests and the church and remember them in prayers as priests are not an angel but human who are chosen from among men.
High points of the celebration was a special thanksgiving offered by the celebrants and joined by family members, friends, well wishers, Catholic faithful and their parishioners. There was also a refreshment after the Mass.
In another development, the diocese of Warri will on December 7, 2019 ordain to the Catholic priesthood five of her deacons to the order of the Catholic priesthood. They urged catholic faithful to pray for them and as well troop out to celebrate with them.