The Catholic Diocese of Enugu gathered in a powerful show of faith and unity at the Holy Ghost Cathedral Arena for the annual Chrism Mass. This sacred liturgy serves as a profound moment of thanksgiving for the gift of the priesthood and underscores the role of the Bishop as the father of the priestly family.
During the celebration, the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Ernest Obodo delivered a homily that touched on the dual nature of the priesthood. He reminded the congregation that while all baptized Christians share in a common priesthood, the ministerial priesthood is a specific calling for those ordained through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Bishop Obodo spoke with great candour about the reality of being a priest. He noted that priests are human beings chosen from among the people to evangelize and bring the Good News to the poor. Because they are human and prone to mistakes, he made a heartfelt appeal to the faithful to constantly offer their prayers and support to their priests rather than judgment.
A central part of the liturgy was the consecration of the sacred oils that will be used across the diocese in the coming year:
The Oil of Chrism for ordinations.
The Oil of Catechumens for baptisms.
The Oil of the Sick for the anointing of those in physical or spiritual need.
Beyond the spiritual walls of the Church, the Bishop addressed the pressing challenges facing the nation. He expressed deep concern over the government’s failure to secure lives and property, calling for urgent and lasting solutions to the insecurity and senseless killings affecting innocent citizens. However, he also took a moment to commend the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his transformative work in the state, urging everyone to keep our leaders in their prayers.
The Mass reached its climax with the blessing of the oils and the moving moment where the priests of the diocese stood together to renew their priestly vows, recommitting themselves to the service of God and his people.
