THE PRIESTLY ORDINATION OF THE 12 CMT APOSTLES.

What a moment of profound grace we celebrate today! On this 5th of November 2025, in the presence of our ordaining prelate, Most Rev. Hilary Dachelem, CMF, we witness the ordination of 12 deacons to the priesthood-the first fruits of the Congregation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (CMT), a joyous day for her Father founder Fr. Prof. Anthony Onyeocha. This is no ordinary event; it is a living testament to God's thirst for souls, echoing the charism of St. Teresa of Calcutta, who dedicated her life to quenching Christ's cry, "I thirst," through service to the poorest of the poor.

In his homily, Bishop Dachelem centered his message on the essential Christian virtue of humility, which he described as the foundation of authentic priestly life and service. He urged the candidates to always remember that the priesthood is not a position of power or prestige, but a sacred call to serve God and humanity with love and selflessness. According to him, humility enables a priest to listen, to love, and to lead like Christ, the Good Shepherd. Without humility, he warned, ministry loses its depth and purpose.

Consider St. Teresa herself: born Gonxha Bojaxhiu, she left Albania at 18, became a Loreto sister, and on a train to Darjeeling in 1946, heard Jesus plead, "Come be My light... I cannot go alone." She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, starting with 12 companions in a simple chapel, growing to thousands serving on every continent. Today, the CMT bears her name and spirit, its first priestly ordinations a "marvel in our eyes," as Pope St. John Paul II described her work. Imagine these 12 men, like St. Teresa's early life, venturing into the shadows of poverty, illness, and abandonment, visiting the dying, comforting the refugee, educating the forgotten. Your founder, Very. Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Onyeocha, has nurtured you as seeds; now that you have begun to bears priestly fruit, be sure to offer your lives as sacrifice for the mission of charity.

The bishop further reminded the newly ordained that priestly life demands constant communion with God through prayer, obedience, and pastoral charity. He encouraged them to be men of the Word, men of the Eucharist, and true servants of the people entrusted to their care. His words served as both a challenge and a source of inspiration to all present.

The entire celebration was one of joy, gratitude, and renewed commitment to the mission of the Church. As the faithful joined in prayers and thanksgiving, there was a strong sense of hope that these new priests would be true witnesses of God’s mercy and instruments of peace. Indeed, the ordination reaffirmed the beauty of priestly vocation and the Church’s confidence in the grace of God working through those who respond to His call.

We pray that the Lord, who in His goodness has begun this noble and sacred work in them, may continue to guide, strengthen, and sustain them in their vocation. May He grant them perseverance, wisdom, and a deep love for His people as they journey in faith and dedication. May the grace of God help them to grow in holiness and service, so that the calling He has planted in their hearts may flourish abundantly. And may their lives bear rich fruits in the Lord’s vineyard, bringing glory to His name and blessings to His Church. Amen.

MOMENT OF PROFOUND GRACE.