‘Guard against pull- down syndrome’

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ayodeji Alao, who becomes the first priest to come out from the parish, was ordained a priest by the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, together with five others and a deacon on Saturday, 18th July, 2009 by Most Rev. Olatunji Fagun, the bishop and his co-adjustor bishop, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye. In his […]

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ayodeji Alao, who becomes the first priest to come out from the parish, was ordained a priest by the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, together with five others and a deacon on Saturday, 18th July, 2009 by Most Rev. Olatunji Fagun, the bishop and his co-adjustor bishop, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye.

In his sermon, a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Gideon Olugbami, from Ilorin Diocese, said Christians should guard against the pull him down syndrome of religious leaders.

He said: “a good number of the people preoccupy themselves with speaking ills of the priests by assassinating their character”

Father Olugbami called on the people of God not to touch the anointed of God and do His prophets no harm, but urged the people to pray for their priests and support them in the task of evangelization and saving souls for God.

Father Olugbemi pointed out that the people should be mindful of the fact that the lives of priests were hinged on the charity of the people of God, adding that the people must be mindful of their financial and material demands for them.

Olugbemi said: “You are a servant, not a dignitary in the Lord’s vineyard, hence, be reminded that God is your possession, not the world. You have received this unmerited grace without charge, you must give without charge.

“You may not always be happy in this vocation you have embraced. You may even have cause to ask about the authenticity of your call to the sacred priesthood. But, I beseech you, my brother, whatever it is you do not do when you are happy, never embark upon when you are in crisis.”  According to him, contemplating on marriage at such a point is not a remedy, because married people even go through worse situations.

“I, therefore, make it bold to say that this vocation which you have embraced is at variance with all other vocations and professions of the world, because of the vital roles it performs in the spiritual life of the people of the world.”

In his speech at the reception, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. George Ajana, said the priesthood was a great vocation which the priest takes upon himself from the people to lead them to God.

Ajana called on his parishioners to pray for the new priest and others in the priesthood to be steadfast always.

He described the reception as a memorable day in the history of the parish.