The Catholic Bishop of Bauchi, Most Rev Hilary Dachelem, CMF has been urged not to depart from the core values of his congregation, the Claretian Order, and continue to devote his episcopal ministry for the people and the Church entrusted to him as bishop.

The advice was given by Most Rev Williams Anagbe, CMF , the Bishop of Makurdi in his homily at Bishop Dachelem’s Silver Jubilee of his Priestly Ordination held recently at St John’s Cathedral, Bauchi.

Bishop Anagbe reminded his brother-bishop that priesthood is not a carrier or job but a vocation. “Catholic Priests are said to be the most distinguished people in the society but those who God found suitable and worthy for His ministry”, Bishop Anagbe stated.

He stressed that when Jesus calls a priest, he calls him for His service and that that service requires obedience, “those who are so called should have no illusion whatsoever that they are priests because they wanted to be so because God can use any material for His priesthood except those who cannot love and cannot work”.

The homilist noted that Bishop Dachelem’s twenty-five years of priestly vocation have been years of commitment to Jesus and the zealous proclamation of the gospel as well as shepherding the flock entrusted to him as Bishop of Bauchi Diocese.

The Thanksgiving Mass was preceded by a book presentation written by the celebrant titled, ‘The Youth Campanion, Some Typologies’.

Those present at the celebration include, members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Director General of Industrial Training Fund, Joseph Ari, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed and his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Lalong.