Published: October 3, 2024
Johnsonville Township — The Independent Catholic Church of Liberia (ICCL) continues to make strides in Liberia’s religious landscape with the ordination of two new priests.
The ordination ceremony, held at the church’s headquarters in Johnsonville Township, marked a significant milestone in the church’s mission to serve God and the broader community.
On Sunday, September 29, 2024, Reverend Beyan Kolubah from Lofa County and Reverend Philbert B. Nimely from Grand Kru County were ordained as Deacons and Reverend Fathers at the church’s headquarters in Johnsonville Township, Montserrado County. This followed a month-long period of prayers and deliberations led by Bishop Nimely Jarboklay Doyen, the head of the Independent Catholic Church of Liberia.
The ceremony was attended by Monsignor Oliver Larmine Williams, Head of the Orthodox Catholic Church of Sierra Leone (Independent Catholic Church of Sierra Leone), church members, religious leaders, and media representatives.
In his address to the congregation, Rev. Father and Bishop Nimely Jarboklay Doyen emphasized the significance of the ordination, stating that it was not only a landmark for the two newly ordained priests but also for the church’s mission. He urged the new rectors to remain true to their calling and to adhere faithfully to the teachings of the Holy Bible.
“This ordination is part of God’s divine plan,” Bishop Doyen said. “You have been chosen by God to serve His people, and I encourage you to be unwavering in your commitment to the work of the Church and the progress of the society we live in.”
The Independent Catholic Church of Liberia, which grew out of the Father Donyen Ministry Incorporated, has carved a unique path in Liberia’s religious community. The church emphasizes communal life and cooperation for the common good, rejecting the notion of individualistic worship and instead promoting unity in faith.
Father Donyen was once a Roman Catholic priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas, Liberia, where he served as Diocesan Bursar and Cathedral Administrator. His deep love and commitment to the Catholic faith led him to join the Independent Catholic Church in 2015. He was consecrated as the first Bishop of the Independent Catholic Church of Liberia in 2019 and expressed great honor in ordaining the church’s first deacons.
“We believe that Christians are called to grow in discipleship together, bearing witness to Christ and working for justice in the world,” Bishop Doyen said during the ceremony.
He further reminded the newly ordained Rev. Beyan Kolubah and Rev. Philbert B. Nimely that their ordination was not just a title but a calling to fulfill God’s will.
Rev. Kolubah and Rev. Nimely, hailing from Lofa and Grand Kru Counties respectively, expressed their gratitude and commitment to serve, vowing to follow the mission of the Independent Catholic Church and uphold the values of justice, peace, and service to humanity.
The ordination ceremony was also attended by family members of the two new priests, who traveled from Lofa and Grand Kru Counties to witness the elevation of their sons in their spiritual journey.
Despite its separation from the Roman Catholic Church, the Independent Catholic Church of Liberia continues to grow in influence, focusing on promoting justice, unity, and Christian values within the community.
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