Adazi-Enu Catholic Community Equips Two Priests for Optimal Performance

…As Duo Increases Number of Indigenous Priests to 24

By Chioma Ndife

The Catholic Community in Adazi-Enu, Anaocha LGA, Anambra State, has equipped her two priests, Rev. Frs. Anthony Chisom Chukwudi and Paschal Ezeilo, with all vital requirements needed for them to function effectively in their various places of assignment.

The two priests were empowered for optimal performance through the car gifts, vestments, Mass boxes and some house hold utensils which the Catholic community presented during their reception in the community.

Fides gathered that the reception of the new priests was organized on 17th July sequel to their successful ordination held on 15th July at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi by the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye.

Speaking to Fides on what inspired them into the Ministerial priesthood and their special area of apostolate, Fr. Ezilo said he was an ardent member of Altar Knights Association and Block Rosary Crusade all through his primary and secondary school days.

He said those engagements rekindled his desire for the Catholic priesthood. That made me to enroll in the seminary after my secondary school education at Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha (DMGS)

‘Honestly, I feel highly elated at the Goodwill of the entire Catholic Community of Adazi-Enu which remains my hometown.

‘I am particularly so passionate about the youth apostolate and that of the Block Rosary Crusade. It will form the core of my apostolate and by the help of God, I will execute effectively other responsibilities which the Church may assign to me or deem me fit to carry out,’ he stated.

In his words, Fr. Chukwudi said, ‘I was inspired by the comportment of my parish priest when I was among the altar servers. The way he treated us was kindly and quite emulating. His prayer life was edifying.

‘I am really happy because the journey which began since 2005 was fulfilled on 15th July, 2022. It was never an easy one, but I thank God we have been called into the ministry to begin the real work of Christ, our Master.

‘I have been called to minister to the people of God and I pray that God gives me the graces that will be sufficient to carry on with the duties to be assigned to me dutifully and diligently. Thus, whatever God has for his people will be theirs through the instrumentality of me, his unworthy minister,’ he concluded.

The Parish Priest of St. Dominic’s Adazi Enu, Rev. Fr. Peter Chikelue, in his congratulatory message urged the new priests to live beyond the expectation of their vocation, noting that they had chosen the better path like Mary in Luke 10: 42.

For his part, Fr. Emma Achuke of St. Patrick’s Parish, Adazi Enu, thanked God for calling the two sons of Adazi Enu into his priesthood.

Earlier in his homily at the First Holy Mass, Rev. Fr. Dr Gerald Ejimbeonwu, admonished the newly ordained priests to imitate Jesus Christ, the High Priest who was able to identify with his people in every situation. He advised them to always come home and identify with their community by sharing in their joys and sorrows always.