The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City witnessed a joyful and solemn celebration on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, as eight deacons were ordained to the Catholic priesthood at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Mission Road, Benin City.

The Priestly Ordination Mass, presided over by Most Rev. Donatus Ogun, OSA, Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, brought together clergy, religious, seminarians, family members, friends and faithful from different parts of the Archdiocese to celebrate the gift of eight new priests to the Church.

The newly ordained priests are Rev. Michael Ejim, Rev. Cornelius Ezetoha, Rev. Paul Anosi Musa, Rev. Aloysius Chukwuemeka Nweke, Rev. Emmanuel Obiasogu, Rev. Emmanuel Okon, Rev. Victor Chinedu Onwukaike, and Rev. Paul Miki Umeh.

The ordination marked the culmination of years of spiritual, academic and pastoral formation and was celebrated with thanksgiving to God for the gift of vocation.

Priesthood: A Total Commitment to Christ

In his homily, Most Rev. Donatus Ogun, OSA, reminded the newly ordained priests that the priesthood is fundamentally a profound relationship with Jesus Christ and a total commitment to His mission.

Using the imagery of marriage, the Bishop described seminary formation as a period in which the seminarian grows in his relationship with Christ, while priestly ordination represents a deeper commitment to Christ and His Church.

He urged the new priests to make Christ the centre and primary concern of their lives, stressing that their ministry must flow from a genuine and daily relationship with the Lord.

According to him, the priest must continually seek to understand what Christ wants of him and faithfully carry out that mission.

Called to Be the Voice and Hands of Christ

The homilist challenged the new priests not merely to seek spiritual manifestations or external displays, but to become authentic instruments through whom Christ speaks and acts.

He reminded them that Christ continues His mission in the Church through the Apostles, Bishops and priests, particularly through the threefold office of Teacher, Priest and Shepherd.

As co-workers with the Bishop, the newly ordained were encouraged to embrace their ministry with humility and dedication, remembering that priesthood is fundamentally a call to serve the People of God.

“To serve is to reign,” the Bishop reminded them, emphasizing that priestly authority must never become an opportunity for domination or self-glorification.

He referred to Christ’s own example of service, urging the priests to place the needs of Jesus Christ and His people above their personal interests.

“Alter Christus” — Another Christ

A major theme of the homily was the identity of the priest as alter Christus, meaning “another Christ.”

Most Rev. Ogun explained that through ordination, the priest is configured to Christ in a special way and becomes an instrument through whom Christ continues His saving work.

He particularly drew attention to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. At the altar, the priest does not present himself but Christ.

The Bishop therefore cautioned the newly ordained against turning the celebration of the Holy Mass into a performance.

He encouraged them to celebrate the sacred mysteries with such reverence and holiness that the faithful would encounter Christ rather than the personality of the priest.

“Believe What You Read, Teach What You Believe, Practise What You Teach”

The Bishop further charged the new priests to maintain integrity between their prayer, preaching and personal lives.

He challenged them to reflect deeply on the words they proclaim during the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, particularly the call to forgive others.

A priest, he said, must not preach forgiveness while refusing to forgive, or proclaim Christian values that he himself is unwilling to practise.

He gave the new priests a simple but profound principle for their ministry:

Believe what you read.

Teach what you believe.

Practise what you teach.

He urged them to faithfully transmit the teachings of the Church rather than inventing teachings of their own.

Their preaching, he said, should be rooted in the Gospel and in what they have received through the authentic teaching of the Church.

Evangelisation Beyond the Church Walls

Most Rev. Ogun also encouraged the new priests to embrace modern means of evangelisation, including social media.

He stressed that the priest’s mission of proclaiming the Word of God should not be restricted to the physical church building.

The digital space, he noted, provides opportunities for priests to reach people who may never walk into a church.

However, he cautioned the priests against using social media primarily to promote themselves. Instead, their online presence should become another avenue for proclaiming Christ and bringing people closer to God.

Holiness Must Not Become a Fashion

The Bishop also warned the newly ordained against reducing priestly identity to outward appearances or religious displays.

He urged them to understand that genuine holiness is demonstrated through a life of sacrifice, service, prayer, charity and fidelity to Christ.

The priest, he said, is called to seek out God’s people and bring the sacraments and message of salvation to them, rather than becoming preoccupied with personal recognition or material benefits.

Ministers of the Sacraments

Speaking about the priest’s sanctifying ministry, Most Rev. Ogun reminded the newly ordained of the sacred responsibilities entrusted to them.

Through their ministry, they will help build up the Church, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and other sacraments, reconcile sinners to God, anoint the sick, offer prayers and lead the People of God in worship.

He reminded them that they have been chosen from among the people to represent them before God and to exercise a sacred ministry on their behalf.

The Bishop therefore urged the priests to approach every sacramental celebration with deep reverence and understanding, conscious that they are participating in the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection.

He particularly encouraged them to strive for personal holiness, putting to death whatever is sinful in their own lives so that their ministry may bear authentic spiritual fruit.

Mary as a Model of Priestly “Yes”

The Bishop also presented the Blessed Virgin Mary as an important model for the newly ordained priests.

Reflecting on Mary’s response to God’s call, he encouraged the priests to renew their own “yes” to God throughout their priestly lives.

He reminded them that Mary’s response was a free and trusting acceptance of God’s will.

In the same way, the priests were encouraged to remain faithful to the “yes” they gave to Christ on the day of their ordination.

Every anniversary of their priestly ordination, he said, should provide an opportunity for them to examine their lives and ask whether they are becoming increasingly faithful to the Lord who called them.

A Call to Fidelity and Joy

The ordination ceremony was ultimately a celebration not only of eight new priests but also of the families, parishes, formators, seminaries and communities that accompanied them throughout their vocational journey.

The contribution of the seminaries and formators was particularly acknowledged, as priestly formation requires years of prayer, study, discipline, pastoral experience and spiritual accompaniment.

The new priests were reminded that the joy of their ordination must be sustained by a life of prayer, sacrifice and service.

The faithful were equally encouraged to continue praying for the newly ordained, supporting them in their ministry and helping them remain faithful to their vocation.

The celebration at Holy Cross Cathedral therefore became both a thanksgiving for the gift of eight priests and a renewed reminder to the entire Catholic community that priesthood is ultimately about Christ, service and the salvation of God’s people.

As the eight newly ordained priests begin their ministry, the message of Most Rev. Donatus Ogun, OSA, remains a fitting charge: the priest must not simply speak about Christ; his life, ministry, worship and service must continually point the People of God to Christ.

By Charles Eguavoen