On Saturday, 22nd August 2009, at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Orlu, The Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Toochukwu Ukwuoma raised 12 Deacons to the Order of the Priesthood for the Catholic Diocese of Orlu. This marked his 2nd Priestly ordination since he became the New Catholic Bishop of Orlu.

The ordination mass started exactly at 9: 05 am with the Procession of the Bishop, the Priests, the Deacons and the Candidates for the ordination into the Cathedral. As early as 7: 00 am, a great number of Christ's faithful drawn from all walks of life, were already gathered in the Cathedral for the Mass, the light showers that started very early in the morning not withstanding.

The Mass started, with the incumbent Bishop being the Chief Celebrant and the ordaining Prelate. The Gospel reading was taken by one of the two Deacons ordained in Rome last year, Revd. Cornelius Onwuekwe. This was followed by the Elections of the Candidates for the ordination. It was done by the ArchDeacon and the Diocesan Director of Vocations, Revd. Dr. George Chikata. The candidates were called and each answered one by one and came forward before the Sanctuary. The Archdeacon asked the Bishop to allow the Deacons in the name of the Church to be ordained priests. After proper interrogations, the Bishops accepted them in the name of the Church for ordination to the Priesthood.

In his Homily, the Bishop, Most Revd. Augustine Ukwuoma, expressed gratitude to God for making today a great day in the Diocese of Orlu. He thanked God for the gift of the 12 young men being ordained today for the Church as Priests. He thanked the Ordinands for donating themselves generously amidst the various hardships they endured. He thanks equally the Parents, the families, the teachers, the Seminary formators, the fellow Priests, friends, Benefactors and benefactresses of the ordinands and prayed God to bless and reward them abundantly. The Bishop traced the origin of the Priesthood in the present dispensation back to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest and reminded the ordinands of the responsibilities of the Priest. He stressed that with their ordination, they would be given what has not been given to them before and that they would undergo and ontological change, configuring them permanently and eternally into the image of Christ. He advised them to model themselves to be priests after the mind of Christ. They will suffer after Christ and for the sake of Christ and His Church. He reminded them of the resolve they made at their Deaconate when they willingly accepted to give up every thing for the sake of Christ. He challenged them to be Priests, according to Mother Theresan of Calcutta, who have given God the permission to do with them whatever He wills. They should give themselves completely to Christ in His Church. They should always be mindful of the life of celibacy that vowed to undertake at their Deaconated. It is decision made in freedom for the sake of Kingdom of Heaven. About the Vow of Poverty, the Bishop encouraged the new Priests never to be affraid to live a life of Poverty. Like the Aaron of the present age, they have no inheritance again among their people, but as God promised Aaron and his descendants, He will be our inheritance among the people of God. As one of their primary assignments, they will be sent out to preach and evangelise the People of God. He therefore enjoined them to be courageous enough for the enormous task ahead. Do not strive to tell the people only what they would want to hear, but tell them all that God wants you to tell them. Do not lead the people of God astray with false prophecies and the contemporary abracadabra syndrom. He equally reminded them that a good priest is a bridge providing links to different places. He is a bridge linking the Human to the Divine, linking the people to God and God toHis people. A priest, as a bridge, should be strong enough so as to handle all the trafics that would be matching along it, without any complaint; in order not to break down and get the communication link broken. Priests should be ready to defend and cherish the Priesthood. A Priest is an elder among the people of God. He advised the new priests to harken to St. Paul's injunction to Timothy (1Timothy 4: 12 - 16) and conduct their affairs with honour, prudence and respect and never allow any person to disregard them. A priest should lead the people to God and not away from God. "Do not lead the people of God astray", the Bishop warned the new priests. On the part of the lay faithful, the Bishop strongly warned them to fear and maintain distant relationship with the priests. Priests were called and chosen from their midst and therefore, Priests do not belong to them any more. The lay faithful are therefore advised by the Bishop to pray for and support the Priests in the Pastoral ministry whenever they are approached for assistance.

The ordination rite was concluded at exactly 11: 14 am with the Laying-on of hands by the Bishop and the con-celebrating Priests and the Prayer of Ordination by the Bishop alone.

The Deacons are drawn from the different parts of the Diocese and have been fully incardinated into the Catholic Diocese of Orlu. They have completed their Philosophical and Theological studies and have fulfilled, to a reasonable extent, all other basic requirements for Priestly ordination.

They include: Revd. Christopher Kelechi Ihenetu (from Sacred Heart Parish, Amaigbo), Revd. Samuel Ugochukwu Obasi (from St. Joseph's Parish Amanator), Revd. Emmanuel Nwaoha (from Regina Pacis Parish, Ihioma), Revd. Stanley Onyinyechukwu Nwokeji (from Christ the King Parish, Akokwa), Revd. Isaac Onyebuchi Ogbunachi (from St. Mary's Parish Osina), Revd. Ernest Stephen Chikwendu Ndukwu (from St. Fidelis Parish, Atta), Revd. Chrysantus Chinonyelum Ugorji (from St. Basil's Parish Umuokwe Awo-Omamma), Revd. Stanley-Stephen Chidubem Ohaeri (from St. Michael's Parish Amazu), Revd. Peter Sunday Chidera Anumaka (from St. Mary's Parish Assah Ubirielem), Revd. Cajethan Uzoma Oleghara (from All Saints' Parish Okwuabala), Revd. Alexander Ejike Nwabuo (from Holy Ghost Parish Ihitenansa) and Revd. Agricola Ikechukwu Chioma (from Holy Trinity Cathedral Parish, Orlu). With there priestly ordination, the total number of the Priests of Orlu Diocese rises from 310 to 322.

The Bishop, the Clergy, the Religious, their Biological families and the entire Catholic faithful of Orlu Diocese congratulate them and wish them happy ordination and spirit-filled and fruitful pastoral ministry in the Lord's VineYard.