Moniya, Ibadan, December 28, 2025. It was a festal day as the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Claretian Missionaries, Delegation West Nigeria gathered to witness the Diaconate Ordinations of six candidates of African Claretians, ACLA extraction, at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State, South West of Nigeria. What a family celebration of the ACLA family! The occasion was on a Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Four of those ordained are of the West Nigeria while the remaining two are from Cameroon. However, they were joined by three diocesan candidates.
The ordaining Prelate was His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, the Archbishop of Ibadan, who also, within the celebration, officially brought to a close the 2025 Jubilee Year whose motto was “Pilgrims of Hope”. Present at the ordination were the Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job whose grandnephew, Rev. Felix Job, was among those ordained for the West Nigeria. Also present was the Major Superior of the Claretian Missionaries, Delegation West Nigeria, VRFr Augustine Medaiyedu, CMF and many more Claretians, Diocesan Priests and a handful of Female Religious.
Names of West Nigeria Candidates Ordained:
ADJERHORE Ogagaoghene Solomon, CMF
DUNG Mancha Alexander, CMF
EGUNJOBI Tolulope Anthony, CMF
JOB Felix Odunayo, CMF
Candidates from Cameroon Delegation:
CHANGA Ngoukam Styve Blondel, CMF
NGAKOUTOU William Tolbert, CMF
In his homily, VRFr Richard Omolade, a Priest of Ibadan Archdiocese, enjoined all to pray for the ordained deacons in their Ministry of Service in the Church. However, addressing the candidates, he instructed them to build their faith in Christ whom they have chosen to serve in the brothers and sisters. He advised that they live by the Word of God. This fact is reechoed during a very touching rite when they received the Book of the Gospel from Archbishop Abegunrin, who urged them saying: “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose servant you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” They are thus admonished, just like every one of us, never to be hypocrites.
As it is typical in Africa, the event ended with group photographs, cutting of cakes and a very sumptuous lunch.
St Anthony Mary Claret – Pray for Us!
