The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mba, has called on Nigerians to emulate the sense of selflessness, hard work and excellence of the Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Enugu Diocese, Reverend Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji.
This was the same moment when Pope Francis praised the pastoral work and spiritual zeal of retired clergy.
He gave this advice on Wednesday during a Mass to celebrate the Episcopal Golden Jubilee at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Emene, Enugu State.
While congratulating the 92-year-old cleric, Mbaha said Enugu was fortunate to have benefited from Gbuji’s sacrificial and traumatic journey as a priest, and commended the bishop for his lifelong dedication to duty and service. I was grateful.
“On behalf of the government and the good people of Enugu State, together with our Lord, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Most, Reverend Kallistos Onaga, we would like to express our deep gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to the celebrant.
“We must continue to draw inspiration from the life of the priest and his glorious achievements as bishop. The Church and humanity can never forget the great contribution of our Lord to society. Due to his deep knowledge, his lord was never selfish.
“Utilizing various positions, first as a teacher at St. Paul’s Minor Seminary in Benin and later as Principal of St. Paul’s Grammar School in Ebu, Delta State, he passed on his knowledge to young people.
“The Lord continued to carve a path from Ise-Uku to the Diocese of Enugu, where he laid the foundations for initiatives such as Godfrey Okoye University, which today is one of the leading private universities in the country.
“Another example of the Lord’s clear tendency to diligence is the New Evangelization, which earned him the title of Father of the New Evangelization.
“Therefore, on behalf of the government and people of Enugu State, I would like to express our deep gratitude to him for the pioneering role he has played throughout his life and for his continued commitment to the good of the church and society at large. His legacy will continue to inspire us,” the governor said.
In his goodwill message, Pope Francis described Mr. Gubuzi as an outstanding and dedicated servant of God.
“We remember his spiritual zeal, his spirit of evangelization, his active pastoral solitude, and his deep generosity, including his aforementioned zeal for the parish and his outstanding dedication to the clergy and the people of God. ” said the Pope.
In his homily, Cardinal John Onyeikan, Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Abuja, described Bishop Gbuji as a man who was extremely dedicated to building both the church and society, and who was critical of society even during his military days. “It is a rallying point for a peaceful community.” -Presence among priests, religious, and people of God. ”
Meanwhile, in his address, Bishop Gbuji expressed his gratitude to the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rev. Callistus Onaga Most, the clergy, the people of Enugu and others for congratulating him and continued to do his best for the church and society. I vowed to do my best.
The event was attended by a number of political and spiritual leaders, including Labor Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. Former Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime and the Rt. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, 7 Catholic Cardinals and 20 Bishops.
Source: dailypost.ng