Bishop Godfrey Onah of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has urged newly confirmed Catholics to be “healthy cells” that promote church growth, not “cancerous cells” that hinder it.

Onah spoke during a sermon on Sunday at St. Theresa’s Catholic Cathedral, Nsukka, and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation on 967 candidates to mark Pentecost Sunday.

He urged the newly confirmed to emulate Christ’s apostles who, after receiving the Holy Spirit, boldly preached the gospel and bore witness to God even unto death.

“As you receive the Holy Spirit today, God has deposited in you special gifts that will enable you work for God, the church and humanity.

“If after receiving this anointing today and you are not working for God and growth of the church, you have become cancerous cells in the church,” he said

The bishop noted that by receiving confirmation, the newly confirmed had rededicated themselves to God and renewed their promise to be “good soldiers of Jesus Christ” through lives that glorify God.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the mass included a pledge by the confirmed, to follow God all their lives.

High point of the mass was the laying of hands by the bishop, while praying for the candidates  to receive the Holy Spirit and peace.