Bishop Dunia Ordains Eight Deacons

The Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most Rev. (Dr.) Gabriel G. Dunia has ordained eight deacons for the Diocese at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Auchi. They were: Adoghamhe Reginald, Attashie Sylvester, Odia Christopher, Anavhe Thomas, Okodugha Kingsley, Onimhawo Gregory, Osikwemhe Simon and Oregbemhe Aloysious.

Delivering his homily at the mass which coincided with Divine Mercy Sunday, the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese who noted that the mercy of God is also known as the love of God that is inestimable, stressed that the inestimable love of God for mankind was revealed in many passages of the Bible, adding that it is God's will to shower mercy upon His creation and pointed out that everyone gathered at the mass because of the mercy of God as they are available witnesses of God whose mercy never ends.

Continuing, the Shepherd of souls reiterated that, it is because of the mercy of God that they will continue to exist and affirmed that it was the abundance of the love of God that He sent his son Jesus Christ to be with man and added that Jesus in his life time on earth had love for sinners and sinners in turn found friendship in him through their repentance.

Further, the Bishop stressed that the Divine Mercy of God is everywhere as Jesus Christ has instructed that all should be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect and enjoined all present to pray at all times for God to grant them the grace to do the right thing so as not to fall prey to wolves which he attributed to man.

The prelate advised the newly ordained deacons to obey the hierarchy of the Church pledging obedience and respect to the Bishop, the priest and all ordained men of God and charged them to strive to lead the lay faithful to perfection and salvation. He tasked them to obey and remain united with the Church, pray always and follow the path of Jesus Christ to become authentic witnesses to the will of God both in good and bad times.

The Bishop enjoined all present to continue to encourage those who are called by God to minister to them.

In his vote of thanks, the Cathedral Administrator Rev. Fr. Valentine Anaweokhai who appreciated God for making the ordination possible, commended the Bishop Most Rev. (Dr.) G.G. Dunia for accepting to raise the eight brothers to the order of deacons.

Speaking further, Fr. Anaweokhai appreciated all the priests present, deacons from the Dioceses of Uromi, Issele-Uku and Archdiocese of Benin City for attending the ordination and praised the effort of the parents of the ordained for accepting to give their children to the service of the Lord.

Also, he commended the knights and ladies, lay faithful, Cathedral Choir and all those that has supported the Bishop in training seminarians and called for more support for the Bishop to enable him train more seminarians for the Diocese.

Highpoints of the mass was a thanksgiving procession by the newly ordained deacons accompanied to the altar with their families, friends and parishioners.