The number of Catholic priests serving in the Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria has ordained 23 new priests on 10 August. That has surpassed 400 priests in the diocese.
In a message delivered at the end of the ordination, the Bishop of Nsukka, Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, expressed his gratitude and joy at the increasing number of priests serving in his diocese.
“I must apologize to all the priests in Nsukka who are not in the shrine. With today’s ordination, we are now 417 priests in this diocese,” said Bishop Onah during Mass at St. Theresa’s Cathedral. “Now you understand why some of you for the past 10 years have not been able to lay hands on your newly ordained brothers because if all of us were laying hands, we would still be doing it.”
“But in the future, we will find a way to allow as many of you as possible to exercise this gesture,” the bishop said.
In his homily, Bishop Onah issued a warning about the use of social media platforms in a priest’s ministry.
“There are certain places priests should avoid, certain websites they should not visit, certain apps they should not download and certain networks they should not interact with. Even their attire should reflect their sacred calling,” he said.“As priests, you must discern where you go and what you do. You must remember that you are clay vessels carrying a precious treasure, and you must guard it carefully,” the bishop added.
Bishop Onah reiterated the importance of priests living lives that reflect their sacred calling, not only in their ministry, but also in all aspects of their conduct.
“Priests are called to stand between the people and God, to offer prayers on behalf of the Church and to transmit God’s message to the people. While the temptation for priests to become activists is great, their true vocation is to be men of prayer, guiding the faithful in holiness,” said the prelate.
He also highlighted the global context of their calling, reminding the 23 deacons who were ordained to the priesthood that they belong not only to their local diocese, but to the Catholic Church throughout the world.
“Although each priest is ordained for a particular diocese or religious institute, each priest belongs to the Catholic Church and to the whole world. From this moment on, his personal ideas, his interests and his charisms will be placed at the service of the Word of God,” he said.
Drawing parallels with the prophet Jeremiah, who was called to prophesy to the nations, Bishop Onah urged the new priests to see their mission as one that transcends borders and to be prepared for the difficult tasks ahead.
“As long as you are faithful to this mission, you have nothing to fear. In Christ, the roles of pastor, priest and prophet are combined, and your brothers and friends are now taking on this responsibility,” the bishop said.
Bishop Onah, who has headed the Nigerian diocese of Nsukka since July 2013, told the newly ordained priests that they are now “deeply transformed and configured to Christ.” He reminded them that the grace they receive through ordination equips them to fulfill their sacred duties.
The new priests “will lead people away from sin through baptism, reconcile them through the sacrament of penance, strengthen them in Christ through the Eucharist and heal them through the sacrament of anointing. Satan will not be pleased with their work. Therefore, they must be cautious, aware of their fragility as clay vessels and how precious is the treasure they carry,” said Bishop Onah.
The prelate told the 23 new priests that they are not the “result of an accident, no matter what science suggests. Every human being is a unique expression of God’s love, unique and irreplaceable.”
Bishop Onah asked the faithful to support the new priests with prayers and to allow them to exercise their ministry without interference.
He also expressed his gratitude to “the families, the parish communities and all those who contributed to the formation of these young people, recognizing the collective effort required to prepare them for their lifelong commitment.”