By Nwabueze Okonkwo

ONITSHA – NO fewer than 100 Catholic Bishops and Archbishops from within and outside the country weekend attended the consecration of an official of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious in the Vatican City, Monsignor Denis Chidi Isizoh as the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese. The consecration ceremony was performed by the Prelate emeritus of the Inter-Religious Dialogue, Francis Cardinal Arinze.

Performing the ceremony at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Arinze charged Isizoh to use his good offices, as a Bishop ‘’to build the body of Christ for His Church to remain in the unity together with the Order of Bishops under the authority of the successor of Saint Peter the Apostle.’’

Arinze also charged the newly consecrated Bishop to guide the holy people of God in the way of salvation as a devoted father and sustain them with the help of his fellow ministers, the priests and deacons, adding that he should equally guide the faithful by remaining the repository of faith as well as incorruptible, as handed down by the Apostles and preserved in the Church everywhere and at all times.

In his homily, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN and Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, reminded the new bishop that having been admitted into the fold, he had been entrusted with the task of bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel with the ministry of the Spirit and Justice.

Kaigama also reminded Isizoh that the title of Bishop was one of service, not of honour and therefore should strive to serve others rather than lord it over them, which is the precept of the Master Jesus: “ that the greater should behave as the least and the ruler as the servant.”

Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, Uli, Anambra State, Prof. Fidelis Okafor commended Pope Francis for appointing Isizoh to assist the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke in the onerous task of leading the flock in the Archdiocese.

Responding, Bishop Isizoh thanked all the participants for attending the ceremony and urged them to continue to pray for him, adding that since the Pope graciously nominated him as an assistant, as requested by Archbishop Okeke, he would remain loyal to Okeke and be dedicated in the Lord’s Vine yard.