Priesthood isn’t Poverty

DR jarlat Uche opara

Goodmorning dear parishioners. I woke up this morning with an aching heart filled with sorrow and disappointment. I have been your parish priest for over five years and can thump my chest to say that none of the church’ money has been misused or used uncounted for.

Look around your parish, the evidence of where your donations, offerings, tithes and contributions are going isn’t blurry. We have tried to be as prudent and accountable as we can be.

It is very sad to say, inspite of all these many think that I live large from the purse of the church.

I want to say this with every sense of humility that as a priest I have a life too to live. I have taste, I have desire and emotions. Priesthood does make one a recluse nor siphon out decency from one’s lifestyle.

I like good shoes, I like good wears. It is my hobby to look good and decent for Christ who I represent. The Christ I represent should be seen in the decency of my dress, in the good fragrance that is perceived around me and in my Godly lifestyle.

To those of you who think that I am living off the parish funds because of my car which many consider flashy , my smart looks and the neatness that is seen around me, should know that I didn’t come from a poor background.

I am blessed with sibblings who are blessed by God and are comfortable in their various endeavours. I am blessed too with friends who are generous with their talents and have not stopped supporting me when necessary.

The good car you see me drive around isn’t from the purse of the Parish. The good clothes and shoes on me aren’t from funds from the Parish coffers. They are gifts from family members who understand what I have left behind to answer this call, making it comfortable through the provision of these basic needs, the least support they could.

Does this deny the fact that there are priests who misappropriate parish funds for personal needs, wants and desires? No! Some misappropriate and use such monies for church projects for personal cravings. This is unpriestly, unchristain and simply theft. Any priest that uses church’ funds not duly appropriated for such personal use, is in the wrong and should stop.

To the congregation, make it a duty that your priests are not in lack for basic needs. A lot of sacrifices they have made, the least you can do is to make their ministry easier by providing them with those basic needs not want for ease of ministry.

I remain your priest. Fada Blunt.