FR. RAYMOND HICKEY, OSA, CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD

He was Ordained on Friday, 21st February in Rome, 1960.

By October of the same year he was sent to the Prefecture of Maiduguri in Nigeria, where he obediently and zealously spent 28 very fulfilling years. Almost all his 60 years of priesthood have been spent between Maiduguri Diocese, Yola Diocese, Jos Archdiocese and in the Apostolic Nunciature, Abuja.

He loves Nigeria and her people and has served with very great merit at various times as a parish priest, a historian, a researcher, an archivist, an author, but above all, as a humble and dedicated Irish Augustinian priest.

God bless Fr. Hickey abundantly, refresh his spiritual and physical energy and preserve a special room for him in His Kingdom at the end.

The Church in Nigeria and indeed, all of Nigeria thanks Fr. Hickey for his selfless priestly service. May he remain blessed.

In the special Mass offered by Fr. Hickey today in Jos, for himself and for us, we heartily thank God for all Fr. Hickey has received from the Lord in his service here in Nigeria and for all the Lord has used him to do for Nigeria and the Gospel of Jesus Christ .

Archbishop Kaigama.