Priests, Religious, Others Commend Blessing Of New St Gerard’s Chaplains’ House In Kaduna

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA.

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: Priests, religious and lay faithful in the Archdiocese of Kaduna, have on Saturday lauded the warming/ blessing of the Chaplains’ residence of St. Gerard’s Catholic hospital, Kaduna.

The formal opening/ blessing of the new chaplaincy residence, attracted several clergy, religious, management and staff of the school and hospital among others.

Speaking to Newsmen shortly after blessing the new Fathers’ house, the Dean of Makera Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kha’ah Kure, while thanking God expressed delight for the opportunity to officiate at the event,

” I am delighted that I have been tipped as one of those who are blessed to come and impact blessings on this habitat in which our Chaplains in St. Gerard’s have been given to stay, so that they will be able to find a comfortable place to live in and be able to discharge their duties.

According to him, “where they were living before, is not too wonderful, it is now that they have found a suitable acomodation”

He prayed that the Lord will continue to bless them ( priests) as they stay here, and wished them a happy stay and a real progressive work in St Gerard’s hospital.

Similarly, Very Rev. Fr. Danjuma John Abashiya, described the blessing of new the House, as a very beautiful thing that has happened in the life of St Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, Kaduna.

” It’s a very good thing for the fact that the Chaplains, who have worked here over the years, they have been living under very challenging conditions or situations, the accommodation has not been really good enough; this is very beautiful place, that it is befitting for actually, people who have sacrificed time and energy to bring comfort and succour to those who are sick,

” because if you don’t sleep comfortably or you don’t have a place you can rest well, it will be difficult for you to minister to the needs of others, particularly, those who are sick, instead of bringing them joy, peace and happiness, while carrying your own burden and stress, you can easily impact negatively on them,” he added.

He said” this place looks good, spacious, very airy and healthier, and I want to believe that, seriously, they are going to work better and do better and I will want to thank all those who made this possible, we pray that God bless them abundantly and we are looking forward to other developments that will bring progress and development to this very place.”

In the same vein, the new Chaplain of the hospital, Rev.Fr. Anthony Okelue, feeling humbled and happy, said” I appreciate the effort of our Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kha’ah Kure, for coming yo carry out this very exercise of blessing this new home, I see it as progress being made in St. Gerard’s Catholic hospital and I’m happy it’s not limited to me, any of my brother priests can come and still enjoy the same facility that you can see today even after our stay here,

“I want to thank our Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, who instructed that this place be put in good order and made comfortable for his priests to live in, and the chairman of the management committee, Barrister Anthony Iroagalachi, who took it up from there and followed it up to make sure that this place was well renovated and today we are celebrating it.”

While appreciating the array of Priests, Sisters of our Lady of Apostles, OLA, Medical Director and staff of the Hospital and wellwishers, he said ” Infact I want to thank God for one of our very big priests, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. John Abashiya, he taught me in the minor seminary and major seminary, with some of my brothers here, so am really humbled, I thank God for this solidarity, I pray that it continues for greater impact in the society,

adding ” I feel very happy, I feel honoured, I feel elated, I cannot describe my joy, it’s beyond description, I just pray that God will help us live in peace in this place and in love as well, even as we move on gradually and work.”

On her part, Rev. Sr. Regina Ujah, OLA, a final year student of St Gerard’s College of Nursing, said “We thank God for the gift and opportunity to see that our priests have a comfortable place to live in, so it’s a good thing, because I have been here for the past three years and seeing this renovation is a good one, so that it will also help them to evangelize properly and also live in good and comfortable place, so we thank God for this opportunity,

“we also thank the Archbishop for his support towards the development of this place, a lot has been going on here, we thank God for that, we pray it continues and all will work for the betterment of the people we are serving and for the glory of God” she maintained.

While expressing her excitment, the Hostel Matron of St. Gerrard’s college, Mrs. Mary Kanebut, commended the Archdiocese and Hospital management for the new edifice for priests in the chaplaincy in enhancing their welbeing in preaching the gospel, ” so that it will spread all over the students and all those who will come to the hospital for treatment” she stated.