Be connected to the poor, Catholic Bishop tells newly ordained priests
Bishop Ajang (middle) laying hands on the new priests
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia
The Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Lafia, Most Reverend David Ajang has said that the current economic crises in Nigeria warrant that priests should be close to, and provide effective pastoral guidance to the poor in the society.
This is because identifying with the needy is not just the hallmark of the gospel, but will also keep such people away from crimes.
This was the charge given by the Bishop at the ordination of four new priests in Lafia on Thursday.
“The priest must be connected to the poor. To say that Nigeria is in the midst of an existential crisis is to say the obvious. For most people, especially the young ones, the situation has never been this bad. The twin-policies of the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira have made things worse. The resultant effect is that the inflation rate is at a 28-year high. Food inflation is at 49 percent and the exchange rate of the naira is at an all-time high of N1,647” he noted.
He added that the grim situation implies that only the courageous can go to the market as a large number of the people are poor.
The rampaging poverty, he stated, is compounded by the 9-day electricity blackout in Northern Nigeria, including Nasarawa State.
He said these challenges imply that people are struggling and resorting to any means, including crime, to stay alive, couple with government’s inability to find solutions to these problems.
The situation, Bishop Ajang noted, provides a unique opportunity for the clergy to deepen their relationship and care for the ordinary people under their pastoral care. “I say to you, my dear sons [new priests], the church from time immemorial, has been following the example of Jesus, who, gave his life for us, has always stood for the poor and those at the fringes of the society. The challenges these days, will call for specific dedicated charity in the parishes. Therefore, note that your apostolate as a priest will not be complete without the deliberate bias for the poor in the society. You must take care of the poor.” He also implored them to support the needy to feed and stay alive.
Bishop Ajang called on the priest to be stoic in the impartation of the Catholic teaching.
To this end, he called on the priests to make clear, the Church’s position on some vital spiritual posers like; mortal, venial sins, Christian practices like baptism as well as social issues like conception, IVF, among others.
He identified lack of clarity on these issues as the reason for the misrepresentation among Catholics when the teaching on such issues, and individual or group interpretation of the message.
Bishop Ajang reminded the ordinance of the importance of preparing their messages well before meeting their congregations.
He frowned at the practice of haphazard teachings and lack of clear path to continuity on doctrinal matters.
He advised them to hold on to sermons which encouraged a steady flow of Christian in a non-linear manner than homilies which are based just on a given theme, sometimes without connection to the next theme.
Four deacons, including Ibrahim Wayima, Godwin Ovey-Joseph, Michael Gbavorh and Richard Emeka-Chukwu, having completed their studies at the seminary and diaconate ordination, took the rites and were ordained by Bishop Ajang at St. Williams Cathedral, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
