by By Elijah Ugani
It was a boisterous celebration as priests, religious, and catholic faithfuls converged at St. Columba Parish, Idum-Mbube to celebrate the Vicar General (Administration) of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja and Parish Priest of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Ogoja, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Obele Abue as he marks 35th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
The event was a tripartite celebration for Fr. Obele as he marks 35th priestly ordination anniversary, launching of his three books and thanking God for surviving a ghastly motor accident alongside his sister Ms. Monica Abue.
The homilist, Very Rev. Fr. Bob Etta extolled the virtues of the celebrant and reminded him of the common denominator among the prophet.
According to Fr. Bob, “the common denominator among the prophets is that all prophets regretted their call.
The only person who never regretted his call was Abraham”
Fr. Etta posited that “Every prophet must go through a difficult time. He listed prophets who at one point or the other regretted the essence of their existence on account of the trails and persecution they faced to include but not limited to; Jeremiah, Job, Jonah and Elijah.
“As priests, there are going to be very difficult moments and those moments are part of our calling.
“I want to remind father that whatever he is going through, be it frustration, rejection, false accusation or backstabbing, it is not extraordinarily, it is part of our calling.
“Non of us priest is worthy of our calling. Everyone of us sitting at the alter has our negatives and God called us in spite of our negatives”
He admonished the celebrant to be strong in the Lord and that God Almighty is with him till the end of time, and that as he enters the year 2021, he should forgive every person who offends him, and stressed that forgiveness has no limit.
On the apostolic mandate, Fr. Etta called on the Vicar General (Administration) to assist the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Akpan steer the ship of the diocese “The Lord gave you the responsibility to help the bishop, you must do it with every sense of commitment, but remember that the Lord is with you till the end of time”
Fr. Peter Obele Abue was born in the village of Idum-Mbube, Ogoja LGA of Cross River State, Nigeria on April 27th 1958 to the family of Butro Peter Muan Abue (Paramount Ruler of Ogoja) and Ma Clara Elejie Abue, both of blessed memory.
He was ordained a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja on December 28th, 1985.
Fr. Obele Abue obtained a Diploma in Radio Broadcasting, Media Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria (1988), Diploma in Video Editing and Production, School of Telecommunication, Dallas, Texas, USA (1991), B. A. Philosophy from Urban University, Rome (1979), B. D. in Theology from Pontifical Urban University, Rome (1985), M. A. Mass Communication from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA (1994) and a Ph. D. in Development Studies from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA (2006).
He is vested with both pastoral and Development strides with numerous success stories to his credit. He was honoured by the Cross River State with a special award for humanitarian services during the state jubilee celebration, Cross River State @50 in June 2017.
In partnership with Abode for Children, Inc, USA, he founded the St. Joseph Primary/Secondary Schools and a Medical Clinic in Idum-Mbube, Ogoja. Now a property of his home diocese, managed in collaboration with Abode for Children Inc. USA, a nonprofit organization.
He is presently the Vicar General (Administration) of Ogoja Diocese, Parish Priest of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Igoli-Ogoja, Chaplain of the Catholic Women Organization, Ogoja Diocese, Vice Chairman of the Ogoja Diocesan Agric Commission (ODAIP), Chairman of the 3rd Synod of Ogoja Diocese and Chairman of the New University Commission, Ogoja Diocese.
Highlight of the event was the launching of the three books; 1. Remove the stone: Obeying God’s Command to Break your poverty Cycle.
2. Give Them Something To Eat: Essays on Community Empowerment.
3. Light For Our Path: Sunday Homilies. A, B, C, Feasts and Solemnity.
In his vote of thanks, the cerebral Fr. Peter Obele Abue thanked God for the gift of his life and all those who have been instrumental to his apostolate and especially those who have found time from their crowded schedules to identify with him on this auspicious day of his tripartite celebration, and prayed God to grant everyone safe journey back home.
Proceeds from the book launch was to be channelled into St. Columba Idum-Mbube church building project.
