The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, has urged Catholic priests to deploy their calling in serving God and humanity and to embrace contentment.

Mr Kaigama also advised priests not to feel jealous of colleagues assigned to parishes that are believed to receive generous Sunday offerings of rams, goats, and other gifts from parishioners and others.

Mr Kaigama, who offered this advice during the celebration of Christian Anieke’s 25th anniversary of priesthood on Sunday, urged priests to accept the responsibilities of their assignments as God’s chosen path for them.

“Whether you are a priest serving in the prison to serve prisoners, teaching, or others, and you don’t enjoy what the priest in the parish enjoys because of every Sunday’s offerings, don’t be envious. If your vocation is education, be committed to it and don’t envy the priest who is getting the goat and ram and all that.

“That is where God has called him to be. So, do not be saying, ‘how I wish I were in his position’. Do exactly what God has asked you to do,” the archbishop said.

He recalled the period before the cardinals chose a new pope (following the passing of Francis), explaining that both people and the media speculated that the next pope would come from certain regions.

“In spite of all the speculations and the names they put forth, Pope Leo XIV emerged: a man that people did not know much about,” he added.

The clergyman also encouraged the priests to serve diligently and remain prayerful, noting that whether publicly or in solitude, a priest’s identity endures.

“This is in accordance with the order of Melchizedek and the gift of the priesthood is so unique that even the most powerful president in the world does not have the power you have,” he said.

Thanking God for Mr. Anieke’s life since his ordination 25 years ago, Mr Kaigama lauded the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Callistus Onaga, for appointing him as the head of Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu.

He extolled Mr Anieke’s tremendous work and transformation at the university through his internal and external connections, diplomatic contacts, and creativity. He said this has brought significant development to the university and its affiliated institutions, demonstrating that Anieke takes his mission very seriously.

Governor Peter Mbah commended Mr Kaigama for his deep and insightful homily, explaining that the Catholic Church moulded him. The governor lauded Mr Anieke’s integrity, selflessness, and unwavering dedication to education.

Mbah emphasised that education is the foundation of robust human capital development and a cornerstone for progress, describing it as the bedrock upon which every society’s future is built. This belief informs his significant investments in education.

He said he has a responsibility to equip children in Enugu with the right skills relevant to the 21st century and the workplace, which would help eradicate poverty.

“We are celebrating an administrator par excellence and an educator priest who is shaping lives, nurturing communities, and working for our common good,” Mr Mbah said.

(NAN)