Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
The 1994 Priests’ set of the Catholic Diocese of Awka and the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia (CADEK), on Friday, August 20, 2021, celebrated their 27 Years Priestly Anniversary amid thanksgiving.
Leading in the concelebrated Anniversary Thanksgiving Mass at at Archbishop A.K. Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno (ABAKORPACCO), Awka South LGA, Anambra State, the Vocation Director, Catholic Diocese of Awka, Rev Fr Paul Mary Chukwukebe, thanked God for his grace, guidance and sustenance on all the members of the set for the 27 years they had spent in the sacred Catholic priesthood.
Recalling that they were ordained for the Church on Aug 20, 1994, the visibly delighted Rev Fr Chukwukebe, appreciated God who he said, had kept twenty four of them alive till date, and sustained them in their various areas of apostolate.
In his homily, the parish priest of St Theresa’s Parish, Nibo, Rev Fr Sylvester Dunu, tasked his brother priests and all Christians on life of strengthened faith in God.
Rev Fr Dunu, who based his reflections on the readings of the Friday, encouraged his brother priests to remain committed to their apostolate while in Bethlehem, and not to move about in search of ‘bread’, the difficulties and hiccups notwithstanding.
Fides gathered that ten priests out of the twenty-four 1994 priests’ set who were in the country, attended the mini anniversary celebration.
Among those that attended were Vocation Director, Catholic Diocese of Awka and Rector, St John Bosco Seminary, Isuaniocha, Rev Fr Paul Mary Chukwukebe; the Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia (CADEK), Rev Fr Lawrence Nwankwo; Director, JDPC, CADEK, Rev Fr Sabastian Anokwulu; Chaplain, CMO, CADEK and Parish Priest, St Anthony’s Parish, Ikenga, Rev Fr Peter Nwankwo and Parish Priest, St Theresa’s Parish, Nibo, Rev Fr Sylvester Dunu.
They also included Parish Priest, St Patrick’s Parish, Awgbu, Rev Fr Romanus Ezisi; Parish Priest, St Joseph’s Parish (UNIZIK Temp Site), Awka, Rev Fr Nnaemeka Ezeokeke; Parish Priest, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Uga, Rev Fr Chukwuma Ofojebe; lecturer, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Rev Fr Jerome Madumere and a formator at Pope John Paul II Major Seminary, Okpuno, Rev Fr Paschal Paul Okeke.
Other members of the set were Rev Fr Godwin Okoye, Rev Fr JohnMark Agulefo, Rev Fr Hyacinth Nwankwo, Rev Fr Francis Oranefo, Rev Fr Joseph Ejim, Rev Fr Ernest Nwankwo, Rev Fr Joseph Odiegwu, Rev Fr Hyacinth Anaekee, Rev Fr Adolphus Chukwuka, Rev Fr Hilary Okpalaji, Rev Fr Anthony C. Ike, Rev Fr Christopher Eze, Rev Fr Jude Uba and Rev Fr Mike-Steve Ezeatu.