IT was all joy and excitement as the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka welcomed 23 new priests last weekend.
The ordination ceremony, which took place at St. Theresa’s Catholic Cathedral Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, was presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Reverend (Prof) Godfrey Onah.
Among the newly ordained priests were four members of the 2012 class of St. John-Cross Seminary, Nsukka, known as The United Comrades.
The new priests are Rev. Fr. Bernard Chinedum Ezeh, Rev. Fr. Kingsley Kelechi Onyishi, Rev. Fr. Hilary Chinaza Ugwu, and Rev. Fr. Valentine Chimamkpa Ugwu.
These four priests were part of the seventy-four students who began their journey to the Catholic priesthood on September 20th, 2006. Out of the seventy-four students admitted into the seminary in 2006, only twelve have made it to the final line so far.
The ordination of the new four priests brings great joy as they join eight other members of The United Comrades who were ordained Catholic priests in 2023.
The eight priests ordained last year include Rev. Fr. Charles Nnadi, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ogbonna, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okeze, Rev. Fr. Fidelis C. Asadu, Rev. Fr. Gerald Asogwa, Rev. Fr. Kingsley Onyishi, and Rev. Fr. Peter Obodoechina, all for the Nsukka Diocese, while Rev. Fr. Henry Onah was ordained for the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja.