A total of seven Deacons were on Sunday ordained Priests by the Anglican Bishop of Onitsha Diocese, Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo at All Saints Catheral church, Oniitsha, Anambra State.
The priests were, Rev. Alexander C. Anyanebechi, Rev. Odigonma J. Eze, Rev. Emmanuel C. Ibe, Rev. Chijioke E.Nweke, Rev. Prince K. Ndubuisi, Rev.Uchechkwu N. Nzegwu and Rev. Dr Christian Umeanwe.
Nwokolo who presided over the Trinity Ordination with the assistance of more than 15 archdeacons, reminded the priests of the need to abide by their oath of office.
He said, “You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor.
“You are to preach, to declare God’s forgiveness to penitent sinners, to pronounce God’s blessings, to preside at the administration of holy baptism and at the celebration of the mysteries of Christ’s Body and Blood, and to perform the other ministrations entrusted to you.
“In all that you do, you are to nourish Christ’s people from the riches of His grace, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in life to come”.
The prelate had during stages of the rite of the ordination, made the candidates take some oaths of allegiance to God and to the church, just as they declared they were neither homosexuals, bisexuals nor members of any secret cults.
Earlier in his sermon titled, “You are My battle axe”, the retreatant, Ven. Dan Uche called on the ordination candidates to always make themselves available for God’s use by surrendering themselves totally to God and His purposes.
Uche, of the Basilica of St Andrew Onitsha, also urged the priests not to disappoint their families nor the church but to be true battle axe of God.
“God wants to use you as His battle axe but you ought to first, prepare your hearts for the call. Whenever you are ready for God’s work, He will equip you with the necessary tools,” he stressed.
