By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh
On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the Catholic Church of the Ascension, International Airport, was transformed into a vibrant carnival of ordinations, as His Grace, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins ordained six priests and fourteen deacons for the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos. The huge number of a joyful assembly of clergy, religious and laity gathered in worship and to witness twenty men answer the divine call to serve a local church spanning over twenty million people.
Amidst the solemn celebration, Archbishop Martins delivered a deeply didactic and prophetic homily, to remind both the ordinands and the faithful that holy orders are not human achievements or career milestones, but a profound act of divine grace.
Setting the tone for the entire rite, the Archbishop declared that ordination is fundamentally a consecration rather than a promotion; God’s gratuitous gift to whom He choses. Drawing from the call of the Prophet Isaiah, who trembled before the holiness of God before his lips were touched by a burning coal, the Chief Shepherd of the Archdiocese reminded the candidates that their calling rests entirely on unearned divine mercy. “Today, what they receive is not a promotion but a consecration of them by the action of God and His Church… even if you applied to be raised to the ranks of the clergy, the fact is that you were summoned and gratuitously chosen by God for this mission,” he emphasised. Thus, he reminded them that no academic brilliance or personal strength gives anyone a right to the priesthood.
This gratuitous gift comes at a critical juncture in human history, as the Archbishop challenged the new ministers to become sacraments and anchors of hope in a world sdeeply fractured by war, political instability, and natural disasters. Turning his gaze toward Nigeria, the homilist highlighted the pervasive hunger, insecurity, banditry, and homelessness affecting daily life, noting that ministers are called not merely to preach words, but to embody the truth that God remains on the throne. This message of hope extends directly into the civic sphere, where citizens must resist political cynicism and vote-buying. Archbishop Martins urged the faithful to interrogate political aspirants, protect their democratic power, and exercise their franchise according to a well-formed conscience rather than succumbing to temporary material inducements.
To sustain this prophetic mission, the Archbishop outlined the essential spiritual foundation required of the six new priests, emphasising that genuine priestly joy stems from deep intimacy with Jesus rather than material comfort, position, or public popularity. Authentic joy in ministry is born from communion with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a robust prayer life, and total surrender to the Church. He charged the priests to be truly Eucharistic, observing liturgical rubrics with reverence, while exercising great prudence and discernment in choosing their personal friends in order to safeguard their holy calling.
Moreover, the Archbishop reminded the fourteen newly ordained deacons that their order is not a mere period of apprenticeship or waiting for the priesthood, but a distinct call to selfless service modelled on Christ. As men called to be close to the Gospel, they must preach with zeal and adequate reflection, ensuring that their words are matched by tangible action. Their proclamation must be felt in hospital wards, marketplaces, and prisons, so that the poor will feel their compassion and the forgotten are able to touch Jesus through their presence.
The prelate further expressing deep gratitude to the families and friends of the ordinands for their immense sacrifices, while simultaneously offering crucial guidance for the journey ahead. He pleaded with parents and relatives to support the clergy through continuous prayers, rather than subjecting them to undue pressure, unreasonable financial expectations, or demands that could compromise their priestly dignity. Families were urged to allow their sons the freedom to serve God fully, freely, and joyfully as true heralds of grace.
Concluding his exhortation, Archbishop Martins sent the twenty new laborers forth into the world with a strong call to courage and unwavering integrity. “Be men of prayer or else you will be hollow without substance; be men of sacrifice or else your witnessing will be weak and ineffective; be men of obedience for it is in submission to God that true power and authority is found,” he exhorted. Entrusting their lives and ministry to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Clergy, the Archbishop assured his young sons and closest collaborators that the will of God will never lead them where the grace of God cannot sustain them.
