It was indeed a fruitful vocation story for the Nigeria Delegation of the Queen of the Holy Rosary and the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV) in general as Rev. Thomas Tyavyar, OMV was ordained priest while Brs Gabriel Adanu Jonah, OMV and Luka Joshua Kaje, OMV were ordained Deacons in the presence of their families and friends on the 28th of September, 2019 at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Useh, Benin City, Nigeria. The Holy Mass, which began around 10:00am prompt was presided over by the Ordaining Prelate, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr Augustine Obiora Akubeze, the Catholic Archbishop of Benin City. Upon the presentation of the candidates by the Vicar of the Delegation, Very Rev. Fr Emmanuel Gusha, OMV, the Archbishop elected the candidates for the Priestly and Diaconate ordination.
In his homily, Archbishop Akubeze began by showing gratitude to the Congregation in general through the Delegate Superior, Very Rev. Fr Paul Ubebe, OMV. Speaking on his encounter with the OMV priests serving in the Archdiocese, he expressed his happiness as he continues to pray for the mission of the OMV in the archdiocese. Addressing the Deacons-to-be, he made them to understand that the work of the Deacon is all about service and one needs a rightful mindset to be able to serve. The Archbishop challenged them to let their hearts on fire with the desire to bring Christ to the needy, the poor, the sick, the lonely and the weak. He admonished the candidates to carry out their ministry in justice and charity. Furthermore, Archbishop Akubeze addressing the candidate for the priesthood, challenged him (Rev. Thomas) to be a servant-leader. He (the Archbishop) differentiated between assets and liabilities; when the priest does what it's expected of him, then, he is an asset but if the priest does otherwise, then, he is a liability. He opined that the ministry of a priest as servant is displayed in his availability. He encouraged the deacon to be always available at his duty post actively waiting for their master to return. And in carrying out their ministry as priests and deacons, they should bear in mind who they represent. Bearing that in mind, he admonished the ordinands with the words of St Paul (2Cor. 4:1-2,5-7) to always preach Christ and not themselves as they are just mere instruments God will use to bless His people. In making reference to the Gospel (Matthew 9:35-38), Archbishop Akubeze said that the Harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few; therefore everyone is invited to pray the Lord of harvest to send out labourers into His harvest. However, the ordaining prelate asked the ordinands not to be ambitious to work in a wealthy parishes but to be open and ready to work in any place they are assigned to. The Archbishop concluded his homily by inviting all present to pray for their priests and religious as he called on priests and religious to be servant-leaders in their respective places of assignments.
On their part, the ordinands expressed their joys as they gave thanks to God and the Congregation in general. Present at the celebration, were the Ordaining Prelate, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, the Delegate Superior, other OMV and Diocesan priests from within and outside the Archdiocese of Benin City, Male and female religious, seminarians, and families and friends of the ordinands. From our statistics, we gathered that over 700 persons attended the ceremony. There was a colourful socials and entertainment of guests after the Holy Mass.

Fr Oviemuno I. Obi, OMV
Director of Communications