By Ononye VC
There was an atmosphere of joy,fulfilment and gratitude to God as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Reverend Valerian Maduka Okeke on Saturday ordained 20 new priests to join the Onitsha Archdiocesan presbyterium.
The ordination took place at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity,Onitsha with friends,relatives of the new priests,well wishers and personalities from diverse backgrounds in attendance.
Recall that Trinitas reported earlier that Abatete community in Idemili North local Govt Area,tops the list with 5 candidates,followed by Nnobi community in Idemili South local Govt Area with 3 new priests.
Other communities celebrating the gift of new priests are listed as follows;
Ogidi 2,Agulu 2,Ideani 1 and Eziowelle 1.
Others are,Uke 1,Onitsha 1,Umudioka 1 and Umuoji 1.
The names of the Reverends who were ordained priests are,
Rev Ifechukwu Ezekwe(Eziowelle)
Rev Kingsley Okaro(Uke)
Rev Celestine Anyaduba(Abatete)
Rev Aloysius Okoye(Ogidi)
Rev Jude Ojekwu( Ideani)
Rev Kenechukwu E Okpala(Nnobi)
Rev Samuel Chinemerem Nwankwo(Agulu)
Rev Daniel Somtoo Enedo(Abatete)
Rev Cyril Chinwendu Ononye(Onitsha)
Others are,
Rev Cyprian C Nwafor(Abatete)
Rev Jude T Obidike(Umudioka)
Rev Augustine Onyedikachukwu(Umuoji)
Rev Andrew E Okolo(Abatete),Rev Paschal Ezeudenna(Nnobi),
Rev Clement Chiemelie Ojukwu(Nnobi) and Rev Godwin Elonwa(Abatete).
Also on the list are,
Rev Augustine Obi(Agulu),Rev Gabriel Aroh(Ogidi)Rev Anthony Anojulu (Awka-Etiti) and Rev Chisimdi Ezeoke (Awka-Etiti).
The ordination came as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke is celebrating his 43rd year anniversary of priestly ordination.
The Archbishop was ordained a priest on July 11,1981 at the then Holy Trinity Cathedral,now Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity,Onitsha by His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze,the then Archbishop of Onitsha.
He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha on November 28,2001 and consecrated Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha on February 09,2002.
According to records,he became Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province on September 2003.
He is a member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
The Archbishop’s Episcopacy has no doubt turned around the fortunes of the Archdiocese to greater heights such that he sustained the tempo of the heritage and achievements of his forebears,the early missionaries.
His achievements in spiritual and material growth of the Archdiocese is unquantifiable.
This is evident in his great interest in advancement of excellence in education for the youths and the future generation,an idea that has birthed the Shanahan University.
The Archbishop’s strides and commitment to charity for the less privileged and youth development is equal to none.
Some of the numerous achievements of the Archbishop include the monumental Family Youth Village at Amansea Awka,the Radio/TV Sapientia,Onitsha,Oluchukwu Micro-Finance Bank and Oluchukwu Oil and Gas.
Others are,upgrading of the Borromeo Teaching Hospital and Waterside Hospital with state of the art equipments and partnership with foreign donors,School of Nursing and Midwifery and erection and rehabilitation of dozens of mission schools across the Archdiocese.
In his 43rd priestly anniversary message of gratitude to all on his social media platform on Thursday July 11,2024,the Archbishop said,
“Today is the 43rd anniversary of my priestly anniversary. I humbly request you to thank God with me and for me, as I also entrust myself to your prayers. Kindly pray for me that God’s grace may always surround me, to continue being the source of blessing to the people of God”.
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