19
Mar, Mar

“When you made your perpetual profession, your congregation approved you definitively as its members for its mission. Now you are selected from your congregation by the Church as ordained ministers,” said Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job, Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, during his homily at the diaconate ordination ceremony of Gerard Tanko and Martins Obasi.

The diaconate ordination of the first two Nigerian members of the Society of St Paul took place in our public chapel at Lagos on 20 August, 2016, the 102nd foundation day of our congregation. As is fitting to this historic occasion, the ordination ceremony was attended by Most Rev. George Dodo, Bishop of Zaria (Nigeria) who is the uncle of Gerard Tanko, Rev. Fr Devassia Puthiyaparambil, the Provincial Vicar, Rev. Fr Saju Illickal, the Provincial Secretary, several priests, religious sisters, many members of the Pauline Family, relatives of the ordinandi and over 500 faithful.

Archbishop Felix Alaba Job, during his homily dwelt at length on the beginnings of our Congregation in Nigeria as he is the person responsible for welcoming us and giving us a home to open our community and mission. He recalled how he was instrumental in bringing not only the Society of St Paul, but also the Daughters of St Paul to Nigerian soil. He appreciated the pioneering role played by Bro. Basil Chennamkulam and other members from various countries who laid the foundation to the Congregation in Nigeria. He did not mince his words while speaking about dynamism and vision of our saintly Founder Blessed James Alberione whom he first met during the Vatican Council II.

The Archbishop reminded the two deacons that they are the dwelling places of the Holy Spirit and therefore they need to seek sanctity every day of their life.  They have now a two-fold responsibility: 1. as perpetually professed Religious, and 2. as ordained minsters of the Church. He congratulated them for being the first two members of the Society from Nigerian soil and reminded them that when they ‘do God’s work, do not forget the God of the work’.

Bishop George Dodo, who concelebrated with the Archbishop, appreciated the two deacons for their perseverance and reminded them of their important responsibility to be strong and enduring foundation of the Society of St Paul in Nigeria. He also stressed the importance of the apostolate of the media of communication in today’s society and asserted that the arrival of the society of St Paul to Nigeria was the fulfilment of a long-felt need and a divine gift.

The entire function was planned meticulously and organized by our parishioners under the leadership of the members of our Lagos community, especially Fr Jikson and Fr Emmanuel and Fr Joe, the Co-ordinator of Formation in Nigeria. True to African culture, the festivities of the day, which included food and beverages, music and dance, continued throughout the day, until it was late evening. The presence of three Provincial Councillors: Frs Devasia, Saju and Johnson added greater significance and importance to the occasion. Congratulations and prayerful wishes to our new Reverends Martins and Gerard!