By Ononye VC
It was a joyous moment full of pomp and paegentry as the St Mary’s Catholic Parish,Inland Town Onitsha and the Onitsha indigenous Catholic Community organised a grand reception for Rev Fr Cyril Chukwunenye Ononye,a native of Onitsha from Mgbelekeke kindred,who was ordained a catholic priest on Saturday 13th July 2024 by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Reverend Valerian Okeke alongside19 other priests at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity,Onitsha.
The sagacious priest in charge of St Mary’s Catholic Church,Inland Town, Onitsha,Very Rev Fr Johnbosco Okafor (aka Nwakibie),championed and mobilised all concerned with the support of members of the ordination committee led by Sir Dubem Mbanefo.
The grand reception was done at the church premises after Rev Fr Cyril Ononye celebrated his first Holy Mass assisted by some of his brother priests.
The mass was colourful and well attended with representative of the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty,Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe,Ndi Ichie Onitsha,Otu Odu society,Agbalanze society and the great family members of the Mgbelekeke kindred of Onitsha.
Members of the knights of St Mulumba,the CWO team led by the Onitsha Archdiocesan CWO Director,Dame Dr Ngozi Nwanosike,members of the Onitsha indigenous Catholic community,Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity led by Sir Azubike Odunze(Tata)and News Editor of Trinitas Newspapers, Archdiocese of Onitsha,Sir Victor Ononye and various church and village groups added colour to the event.
The Parish Priest Very Rev Fr Johnbosco Okafor,who is also the Vicar General of the Archdiocese expressed gratitude to the Archbishop of Onitsha for successfully ordaining 20 priests which included Rev Fr Cyril Ononye,describing it as a rich harvest.He also thanked all those who made the ordination of Fr Cyril successful including Onitsha indigenes at home and in diaspora.
Highlight on the occassion was cutting of the ordination cake and presentation of a brand new car and other gifts to Rev Fr Cyril Chukwunenye Ononye.
