Another dimension has been added to avowed rejection of Bishop-Elect of Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Bishop Okpalele, as officiating priests have refused to mention the name of the substantive Bishop during the celebration of the Holy Mass.
Despite the insistence of the Catholic Church hierarchy which ordered the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Okpaleke as the head of Mbaise Catholic Church, the clerics have maintained unshaken resolve on their rejection of the new Bishop.
Our correspondents, who observed masses were celebrated on Mbaise soil since Tuesday last week that Okpaleke was ordained, most of the priests vehemently refused to accord Bishop Okpaleke the universal recognition during celebration of mass. In Catholic Christendom, the names of reigning Pope and a Bishop in charge of a particular Diocese are not only mentioned but recited in each Holy Mass celebrated by priest(s). The exercise is done mostly during the liturgy of the Eucharist where the Saints, Pope and respective Bishop are included by the officiating priests.
In Ahiara Diocese, syncretism is fast gaining prominence with officiating clerics singing different tunes of worship module. At a funeral mass in Otulu, Ahiazu Mbaise LGA last Saturday, the officiating priest (names withheld) while reeling out names in the mass ritual, failed to mention the name of Bishop Okpaleke. After mentioning the name of Pope Francis, the priest instead of following with Bishop Okpaleke namee rather said “other Bishops”.
Same scenario was witnessed in other parishes scattered in the Diocese where the officiating priests either failed to say “other Bishops” or recited that of the Cathedral Administrator, Monsignor Theo Nwalor, who has been holding brief since the pioneer Bishop, VC Chikwe from Mbaise, land died few years ago.
The new posture is raising reactions from some of the parishioners who are jolted by the new development; parishioners are worried that the schismatic traits of the priests may send wrong signals to the entire Christendom as well challenge the sanctity of the Catholic Church.
