OBOSI Catholic Community over has rolled out their drums in celebration of their son and brother, Revd Fr. Stanley Anyaoku, who was among the 21 newly ordained Priests by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Revd Dr. Valerian Okeke.
Fr. Anyaoku, from Okuno Umuota village, Obosi, Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State is the 11th Obosi indigenous Priest and the 3rd child of his parents, Chief Johnson and Mrs. Anna Anyaoku.
The event was heralded with a first solemn mass of thanksgiving by the new Priest, held at St Theresa’s of the Child Jesus Parish, Obosi.
In his homily, the Manager, Christ the King College, Onitsha, Revd Fr. Charles Okwumuo, called on the people to repent from their sins.
He advised them to submit totally to the will of God while asking the new Priest, to shun materialism and depend solely on God for assistance as man will always disappoint him.
Also speaking, the oldest indigenous Priest of the community, Revd Fr Emmanuel Nwabude charged Obosi Catholic Community to support, encourage and redirect their children towards serving God and interceding for Priests.
At the reception ground, the Chairman on the occasion, Barr. Hyacinth Muoghalu, while describing Obosi Community as privileged, said their son was among the twenty-one Deacons ordained out of the two hundred that were supposed to be ordained by the Archbishop.
He commended his parents for their support and prayed God to grant him wisdom while discharging his priestly duties.
The Secretary, Ordination Committee, Mrs. Kate Emodi, in a welcome address, appreciated God for granting them the eleventh indigenous Priest, six years after the last was ordained in the order of King Melchizedek, a Priest forever.
In separate interviews, the parents of the new priest, Chief and Mrs. Anyaoku, who were visibly filled with joy and gratitude to God for their son’s chosen vocation and successful ordination went down the memory lane of their son’s seventeen years in the seminary, which according to them was peaceful as they were never invited for any misconduct and asked him to remain focused in his service to God and humanity.
Responding, the new Priest, Revd Fr Anyaoku, expressed gratitude to God and to the Archbishop as well as to all that saw to the success story of his ordination and promised his continued prayers and supplications for them.
Others who spoke to our correspondent were the Parish Priest of St. John Parish Obosi, Revd Fr Chukwueloka Nwachukwu and Mrs. Stella Okoye among others.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of car gift to the priest by the community, cultural dance and cutting of cake.
BY SUNNY A. DAVID
