By Ononye VC
A new set of priests have emerged in the Archdiocese of Onitsha.The new priests were ordained last Saturday,8th July 2023 at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity,Onitsha,by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,most Rev Valerian Okeke.
The Basilica church premises was agog and colourful with many priests,religious and faithful in the mood to welcome the new priests to their fold.
Chancellor of the Archdiocese Very Rev fr Dr Prudentius Emeka Aroh in an interview congratulated the new priests and Archbishop Valerian Okeke and expressed joy that the ordination was successful and spiritually uplifting.
In his own comment, President of the Catholic Lawyers Association, Archdiocese of Onitsha,Barr Azubike Anazor expressed his joy and hailed the new priests on their chosen vocation.
He also congratulated Archbishop Okeke for his giant strides and provision of infrastructure within the dioceses.
Record of the ordination made available to Trinitas showed that the 16 Reverends who were ordained priests came from various local government areas under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha.
The record showed that Awka-Etiti, Eziowelle,Nnobi and Onitsha have two candidates each while other towns like Oraukwu,Ojoto,Abatete,Nkpor-agu and Uke have one candidate each.
In thesame vein,Umunnachi,Ezinifite and Ideani towns have one candidate each.
Names of the candidates ordained are,Rev Sylvester Chisom Afudoh,from Oraukwu,Rev Peter Ifeanyichukwu Areh (Onitsha)Rev Jude Ugochukwu Ezeji (Ojoto) and Rev Arinzechukwu Valentine Ezumezu (Abatete).
On the list also are Rev Anthony Ikegbunam (Eziowelle),Rev Kingsley Chukwuebuka Jibuaku (Eziowelle)Rev Joseph Okechukwu Nnanyelugo (Nnobi),Rev Remigius Nwangwu (Nkpor-agu) and Rev Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu Nwankwo (Uke).
Others are Rev Aloysius Okeke (Nnobi),Rev Chukwubuikem Okongwuigwe (Umunnachi),Rev Charles Chibueze Okonkwo (Ezinifite) and Rev Michael Chukwuemeka Okosa(Ideani).
Rev Henry Onyebuchi Osakwe (Onitsha),Rev Emmanuel Tobechukwu Oyi (Awka-Etiti) and Rev Francis Mary Chinechelum Udeaja (Awka-Etiti).
Trinitas will bring details of the ordination in our subsequent editions.