PRAYER REQUEST. Alfred Okakpu Chukwuemeka It is not enough to be ordained a Catholic priest as I was some years back. To operate or work in the Catholic Church as a priest, I necessarily need the permission of my Local Ordinary (diocesan bishop). This he granted when after my ordination he gives me the faculty to go ahead and work as a priest. Each year, on the day of the Institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood (Maundy Thursday), I renew my priestly promises. In other words, I sort of renew my ordination during the Chrism Mass. Hence, when I travel out of the Archdiocese, wherever I arrive in the Catholic world, I must be asked to present the celebret given to me by my Archbishop. In some cases, I am requested to present a letter of recommendation. These are aimed to ascertain that I am in good standing with the Church through communion with my Archbishop. Again whenever and wherever we gather to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord,the sacrament of the the Holy Eucharist, as a priest of the Catholic Church I necessarily must have to mention the name of the Pope as well as that of my Archbishop or that of the diocesan bishop in whose diocese I happen to find myself at the given time. This is because in doing this, we are not simply deciding to pray for them because they have a rough job. Rather, the whole local church is named in the person of the bishop, and the communion of the local church with all the other churches throughout the world is named in the person of the bishop of Rome. But what if I should reject my Archbishop? Whose collaborator do I become? Who will take responsibility for me as a father? To whom will I annually renew my priestly promises? Whose name will I mention during Mass to remain in communion with the local and universal Church? From whom shall I get the faculty as well as the celebret to operate as a Catholic priest both within and outside my Archdiocese? As if that is not enough, who will ordain our candidates to the diaconate and to the sacred priesthood so that I will always be rest assured that there are younger brother priests coming after me who will continue the work of God among our people? Who will bless the three oils that I need each year for my pastoral work among our people? Who will confirm all these children in the faith? These and many many other questions are going through my head at this moment. Please friends, hold me and my brother priests in your prayers always so that we may remain faithful, the difficulties not withstanding , to our priestly calling. Than kyou and God bless you as you do this!!
Posted on: Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:58:01 +0000
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