The annual Priestly Ordination of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, in Imo State has come and gone, but not without leaving a landmark that will continue to be a thoughtful memory in the hearts of not only those that graced the religious occasion but the Orlu Catholic Diocese Christendom.
Reason is because the Orlu Diocese, last Saturday, August 18, 2018 elevated seventeen men into the position of Roman Catholic Priests.
The Priestly Ordination was performed by the Local Ordinary of the Diocese, His Lordship, Bishop Augustine Tochukwu Ukwuoma, concelebrated by the Bishop Emeritus, Gregory Ochiagha, and host of other priests.
The climax of the whole exercise was the involvement of twin brothers, Reverend Fathers; Emmanuel and James Nwokeji from Orsu Local Government Area of the State, that chose to live a celibate life.
The involvement of the twin brothers from St. John’s Church Amannachi, of Orsu LGA attracted the attention of many.
They are from the family of Late Chief James Obiajulu Nwokeji, and Mrs Cecilia Nwokeji.
A family of nine children, five girls and four boys, while the twin priest brothers are the 7th in the lineup.
Trumpeta newspaper gathered that the newly ordained Frs., Emmanuel and James attended St. Michael’s Nursery/Primary school Ihioma, later entered into Bonus Pastor Seminary Osina where they had their Junior Secondary education.
They proceeded to St. Mary’s Seminary Umuowa where they excelled with flying colors in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination Council, WASSCE, in 2006.
While Fr. Emmanuel did his one year apostolic work at the Catholic Secretariat, Bishop’s House, Orlu, the twin brother, James was retained at St. Mary’s Seminary Umuowa for his apostolic work.
It was learnt that both attended Custos Ecclesia Seminary. While one had his Philosophy training at Seat of Wisdom Seminary Owerri, the other was sent to Seat of Wisdom Seminary Umuahia.
In a telephone conversation with Trumpeta correspondent, one of the twins, Fr Emmanuel described their ordination as the will of God.
He narrated that the race from the onset has been simultaneous, which makes it a vocation.
He said, “if it was not a vocation, I think either my brother or I would have dropped on the way, but we didn’t, because the passion, the interest and to do God’s will remain an integral part of us. It is simply the Will of God”.
Commenting on the inspiration behind their resolve of joining the priesthood, he said, “Well, in every vocation, there is an internal motivation, and we were not coerced by any person to enter into the seminary. It is our will. We took the entrance together, collected money from our parents that we want to enter into the seminary, from there, we started. At the end of it all, we discovered it is the will of God. That is where our interest, our joy, and focus has been”.
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that Reverend father Emmanuel and James Nwokeji are the second set of twin priests that are ordained in the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, after Frs. Martin and Marcel Okonkwo in the year 2007.
-TRUMPETA-
