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20 years ago, you were called and ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, you have lived your life in accordance with your vocation and calling.
Fr Ochang is a living testimony of God’s benevolence and magnanimity in the lives of the poor of the poorest in the society.
He is a crusader of ecumenism. He integrates Catholics, Pentecostals and non Christians alike wherever he is sent to propagate the gospel.
Fr Ochang will go borrowing to solve problems of those in need. His parish house is a beheeve of people with different problems who comes to seek succor.
Fr Ochang will raise money during mass for people who are critically ill, who comes to his parish house to seek help. He does not care to know whether you are a Catholic or a Christian, all he cares is that the Church must serve a soul. This attitude of his has converted so many souls to the glory of God.
Whenever you come to visit him, including his brother priests, he struggles to give you fuel. The religious, the seminarians, catechists, his parishioners and all those who comes to him shares in whatever he has.
His vocation, in addition to winning souls for Christ is that of arms giving. He has identified his calling, he is living the life and God readily provides for him to reach out to those in need. He prefers to drive on the road with an empty pocket than to see someone in need and drive pass.
Fr Ochang finds joy when he put smiles on the faces of the destitute, the oppressed, the orphans. He has supported more than 25 young people acquired degrees in various disciplines, and others still counting. He has paid hospital bills to countless number of persons.
Fr Ochang is one of the priests who identifies young people in his place of pastoral assignment, send them to school or to learn a trade.
When you listen to him recite scriptural verses effortlessly at will, you will be tempted to assume that Fr Ochang is one of those that were inspired to write the scriptures.
His melodious rendition during homilies/sermons connects his audience with God. A pathfinder and teacher of the gospel. He is an encyclopedia of grammar. If you want to listen to well structured and coordinated use of grammar in contexts, simply tell father not to speak grammar. No wonder, his brother priests nicknamed him “OCHANGISM”
I encountered Fr Ochang on April 20th 2000. At which time he was still undergoing formation as a seminarian. I cannot forget in a hurry the aura of a good man. He is my friend, mentor, teacher, role model and above all, my spiritual guide. I’m very pleased in the priest he has become today.
Fr has no room in his heart to harbour grudges. Quarrel with him today, if he sees you tomorrow he embraces you with smiles. He uses his open mindedness to disarm his enemies. While others may be busy speaking ill of Fr Ochang, he eulogies those who back stabs him.
I wish this space will be enough to capture a true reflection of this trailblazing apostle of Christ, as his ministry has no doubt convinced many who encounters him without bias that Christ still live amongst us.
Fr Ochang fights witchcraft branding and injustice. Community leaders who suppress their subjects will always have Ochang to contend with. Fr Ochang will make life unbearable for the leaders in that community to a point that such a community will take Fr reactions into consideration while taking decisions. He is fearless and speaks truth to power.
My prayer for Fr Ochang daily is that God grant him the grace to see him face to face, having offered himself as an example of the living Christ.
On this auspicious day of his 20th priestly anniversary, I wish him renewed strength, zeal, determination, the enablement and the auction to function as he continue to propagate the gospel of Christ to all ends of the earth. I wish him many fruitful years ahead, in his apostolic ministry.
The Church in general and the Catholic diocese of Ogoja in particular is very pleased to have you as one of her pastors. The diocese is filled with echoes of your apostolic stewardship.
I want to use this opportunity to request two things from all of you who will come across this piece.
1. Join me in thanksgiving and pray for the ministry of Very Rev Fr Peter Abang Ochang, in his human frailty, kindly pray for and encourage him
2. Make it a point of duty to support Fr Ochang to continue the good works he is doing in reaching out to the poor whenever you have the opportunity (You can do this by reaching out to the poor directly or send your contribution to Fr Ochang).
My thoughts, goodwill and prayer is with you now and always.
Once again, Congratulations and happy birth anniversary to you
Comr. Elijah Ugani
