By Ignatius Soroibe
Expectations are high across Imo State as Fr Alex Okoro celebrates 40 Years Anniversary of his priesthood.
Indications are also rife that many lmolites had to cancel their own celebrations to accommodate the 40th Anniversary of the priesthood of Fr Okoro, who has expressed surprise at the level of solidarity he has been receiving especially, as many people cancelled their own occasions in order to grace his anniversary.
The celebrated Catholic priest said he does not feel that he has done much to deserve such wonderful treatment, except that he has only remained faithful to his priesthood. The Very Rev Fr Okoro also known as Ocean of knowledge in the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, spoke to newsmen on Sunday,
at the Holy Family Catholic Parish, Amauburu Ubomiri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State,
as part of preparations for the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of his priesthood.
He hinted that his relationship with people anywhere he found himself in the service to God and humanity, continues to endear him to people.
The Very Rev Fr Okoro harped on the importance of being gentle and available to the people under one’s care, from the secondary school at Obike to the seminary, he has always maintained a close and cordial relationship with those under his care, adding that some of his ex-students have dedicated their university thesis to him, in appreciation of
the advice and assistance he rendered them while they were students under him.
“I know how many of them I gave scholarship, when their parents could not continue, I take over.
“Two years ago, my students invited me to Houston Texas, and they kept me in a five-star hotel. One of them said to me, Father, without you I would have been where I am today,” Father Okoro recalled.
Speaking further, the cleric said he has done one form of empowerment or the other for his less-privilleged parishioners including those who were at some point homeless or jobless.
“When I was at Emekuku, a woman came, she had a baby in her hand and another. She said father, my husband is dead, they pushed me out of the house. I don’t have any place to stay now.
“I went upstairs and gave her a wrap of N50 notes, it was N5,000. Just a kind of empowerment.This woman went home and started frying akara with that money.
“When I came back from the United States in 2024, this woman visited me at Tansi, and said, Father, I’m that woman you gave N5,000 then . I started frying akara with that money. Today, my son and I, we now have a shelter over our head. We no longer sleep at the market place.
” Father we have bought a piece of land for N2 million at that time.
“Father, we have come to thank you and ask you to continue what you’re doing. You’re a priest of God,” Fr Okoro revealed.
He said all those gestures and many more were some of the factors that have endeared him to people. He admonished people to identify with God in whatever they do. He said he always identified and related with the people, even as he described himself as ” a wound healer.”
Fr Okoro who recalled how he survived Covid-19 and stroke, traced the genesis of his ministry to the fact that he was the only person ordained priest out of 31 persons interviewed alongside with him in those days when there was scarcity of priests. He added that:
“It is not enough to be a priest, but to live it. That’s my philosophy.”
Quoting Philippians 3:13, Fr Okoro who thanked God for surviving stroke ailment said: “I don’t think I’ve already won, but what I do is to forget the past and look forward.”
