2nd priest

     The eAtire Catholic Com‑         EarNer, the indigenous par­                priest, Chief Uba told him that

munity orSt. Joseph Parish             ish priest Rev. Fr. Jonathan           the life of a priest is a vigorous

Awara in Ohaji/Egbema                 Ezenwoke appealed to Chris‑         one. He advised him to be

L.G.A. of Imo State . celebrated      tians to help the new priest in        prayerful and depend more on

the ordination of their second   the material needs that will aid       the grace of God than human

                                                           him in carrying out his duties,

indigenous priest, Rev. Fr.               "the soul needs tfii'body''to            advise.

Samuel Chimaroke Offurum,                                                                    Chief Uba who is also the

                                                       mr4t 4 complete braing",','he         Chairman of the P . arish I Laity

on Sunday August 4, 2002.              said.

     Pelivering the homily, Rev.           ‑The Chairman of the ordi'‑       Council, reminded Fr. Offlurum

Fr. Paddy Nw6keogu ex‑              nation, committee, Chief               of the need to pray constantly

                                                                                                            for those who helped him at7

plained to the celebrant that           Columba Uba revealed that the

he has been ordained for the           ordination of their secondin‑         tain priesthood and urged him

                                                                                                            to base his lifeon that ofChrist

spread of the gospel of Christ,        digenous priest is a climax of         .

which the . people hunger and         expectations of the Awara             in simplicity and holiness.

thirst for.                                        people.                                              It could be recalled that.

     The homilist also hinted to            He expressed theirjubilation       Awara Parish was carved out

him of the ups and downs of           saying "we are proud I because         of Umuagwo Parish in 1982

priesthood. He maintaine'O            we've been able to make it af‑        by His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr.

that in the cause of discharg‑          ter so many years".                        mark Unegbu (Emeritus).

ing his duties, he would meet               I Chief Uba called on their           They had their first indigenous

wretched, stinking, smelling,           sons in the seminary to be pa‑       priest who incidentally is the

rich and clean people that are         tient and to persevere in their        present parish priest of Awara,

eager to hear him preach, but          journey to the priesthood. He        Rev. Fr. Jonathan Ezenwoke

will also turn against him when       pledged the support of the             ordained in, 1991 and like a

he preaches on what they do.          parishioners to any seminar.          reoccurring decimal, their sec­

     Fr. Nwokeogu advised the           ian that needs their help. The        ond priest Fr. Samuel Offurum

new priest to be alert and                Chain‑nanalso stated the de‑          was ordained 2 , 002.

watchful to overcome the               . sire of their people to have a .     Four choirs, St. Joseph's

temptations that will come his        strong representation in the           Ububo‑Elua, St. Mary's Obile,

way and ‑cautioned him never         clergy; "two is not enoug . h for I          St. Peter's Assa and St.

to be reluctant in giving the            a town like Awara that needs         Xtopher's Choir Awarra sang

people of God whatever he             the services of indigenous'              the Mass,

has, assuring him that the mira‑      priests in the conversion of pa‑         A car and complete Mass

cle Of multiplication will con‑        gans . and animists in our com‑      Box were given to Fr. Offurum

tinue, once he feeds the faith‑         munity.                                          by the parish council to help

ful.                                                     Congratulating the new              him in the service of God.