Onaiyekan gave the admonition in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the Chrism Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja, to mark the institution of Holy Eucharist by Jesus Christ.
The Chrism mass is a yearly mass presided over by a bishop at the Cathedral on Holy Thursday and concelebrated with priests from various parishes of the diocese.
At the Chrism mass, there are rites of the blessing of holy oil, consecration of the chrism and renewal of commitment to priestly service conducted by the bishop.
“It is true we renewed our commitments today but we should be renewing it every day.
“At every occasion we keep renewing it and keep asking God to sustain us, indeed, the renewal is not only for priests but also for Christians.
“The constant renewal of priestly commitment is crucial to strengthening evangelism,” Onayekan said.
He said the priesthood was facing the challenge of fidelity and challenge of priests being able to match their ways of life with the model and ideal of the oath they had taken.
“This ideal and model is more than human which means left to us alone we cannot actually succeed but with the grace of God it is possible.
“It is a constant battle,” he noted.
In a sermon, the archbishop urged Christians to fervently pray for the priests all over the world to be faithful witness to the word of God and salvation to mankind.
Three special oils usually blessed at the Chrism mass include: oil for the sick, oil for the Catechumens and oil of the holy Chrism.
Chrism is a mixture of oil made from olive tree with Balsam or Balsam perfume.
Oil for the Catechumens is used for baptism and confirmation while chrism is used for priestly ordination. (NAN)
