By Chika Obi
The Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, has described priestly ordination as a divine calling through which God sets apart faithful men for the ministry of His Word and Sacraments, while announcing that 11 deacons will be ordained on July 19, at the Basilica of St. John’s Anglican Church, Fegge, Onitsha.
The Diocese, in a statement, said priestly ordination is firmly rooted in Holy Scripture and carried out in accordance with the Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) to prepare ministers for preaching the Gospel, administering the Sacraments and strengthening the Body of Christ.
It explained that the ordination rite is built around three key commitments: the Profession of Faith, through which ordinands publicly affirm their belief in the Holy Scriptures; the Priestly Vows, committing them to a life of prayer, faithful preaching and sacramental ministry; and the Oath of Canonical Obedience, by which they pledge loyalty to the Bishop and uphold the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Church.
According to the Diocese, the high point of the service is the Laying on of Hands, during which the Bishop, assisted by priests, invokes the Holy Spirit upon the ordinands and commissions them into priestly ministry.
It added that the presentation of the Holy Bible, Paten and Chalice to each newly ordained priest symbolises the authority and responsibility entrusted to them to proclaim the Gospel faithfully and administer Christ’s Sacraments.
The Diocese further announced that the diaconate ordination of 11 candidates will take place during the service.
It stated that the Bishop on the Niger, the Rt. Rev. Owen Chiedozie Nwokolo, JP, FITH-PUA, will officiate and admit the candidates into the sacred ministry of the Church in accordance with Anglican tradition and practice.
Chika Obi is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
