The New Excos of NIPRELS

At its May Meeting held at the Collegio San Paolo, the Association of Nigerian Priests, Religious and Seminarians in Rome (NIPRELS) bade its outgoing executive farewell and welcomed the newly elected executive.

The meeting began as usual with the celebration of the Eucharist. The Eucharist of the day was most appropriate because it was Pentecost day. During the Mass, the members prayed for the outgoing officers, for a successful meeting and most importantly, for a successful election.

After the Eucharist, the members gathered in a hall for the second part of the day. There were expressions of gratitude and acclamation for the outgoing officers led by Rev Fr Stanislaus M. Okonkwo (the outgoing president who served for two terms) for the great works they have accomplished.

 

On his own part, Fr Stan expressed his sincere gratitude to the Association for the opportunity to serve and for the cooperation, collaboration and support he enjoyed. He also thanked his fellow outgoing officers for all their support.  He implored the members to extend even greater cooperation to the new officers.

 

Finally, it was time to pass the baton. The election was successfully conducted and the following were elected as the new members of the executive for the next two years:

1.       Fr Louis Mary Ocha                        - President

2.      Fr Stan Williams Ede                     - Vice President

3.      Fr George Adikime                          - Secretary

4.      Sr Mary-Sylvia Abii                         - Assistant Secretary

5.      Sr Chiazou Chinwe K.                     - Treasurer

6.      Fr Bitrus Galadima                         - Financial Secretary

7.      Fr Anthony E.                                  - Liturgist

8.     Fr Francisco Mary A. I.                   - Choir Master

9.      Fr Clement Anor                             - Librarian

10.  Bro. Adugba A. Mathias                 - PRO

11.   Bro. Francis Obasi                           - Assistant PRO/Webmaster

As part of the handover process, Fr Stan introduced the new officers to the grand patron of the Association, His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze. He also introduced them at the Nigerian Embassy to the Holy See. The association has always enjoyed the goodwill and support of both the Cardinal and the Embassy.           

 

A PRESS STATEMENT: APPEALING FOR THE SAFE RELEASE OF REVEREND SISTERS PERPETUAL APO, ROSELINE FAMILADE, SISTERS OF ST. LOUIS AND THEIR COMMUNITY DRIVER, MR. ZWUGWA ZIBAI

 

It is already known to the public that two Catholic Reverend Sisters from the Congregation of Sisters of St. Louis, Sr. Perpetual APO and Sr. Roseline FAMILADE with their community driver, Mr. Zwugwa ZIBAI were abducted on Thursday, 12th May, 2016 at about 6:30pm along Ore-Shagamu express road. This sad incident occurred when their vehicle broke down and were waiting for assistance from their associates, who reside at a very nearby site.

In the past few days, the abductors have been making contact with the leadership of the congregation and are demanding a ransom of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000:00k); and all efforts by all those directly concerned to salvage this ugly incident have proven abortive.

Let me say that, the Church is a religious body, whose wealth only lies in her spiritual and human resources; and the Sisters of St. Louis are embodiment of these resources. They devote their lives to taking care of the poor and marginalized especially through the provision of education, healthcare, spiritual care, and social ministries/services in both rural and urban areas of this country.

We therefore call on everyone - the Priests, Religious and the entire lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, all Catholics within and outside the Diocese of Ondo, and the entire nation, to pray for the safe release of the Sisters and their driver. In this month of May - the Marian month, let us commit them into the maternal care of our Mother Mary, who underwent the sorrow of a mother, for three days looking for her lost child, Jesus but was filled with joy upon finding him. We equally appeal to the State authority and the concerned security agencies to intensify their efforts in finding and ensuring the safe return of our Sisters and the driver.

We passionately appeal to the abductors, whom we know surely have human face, to be humane and merciful in dealing with our associates. For the sake of God, the families of these abductees and the less privileged whom these Sisters cater for, we plead for their immediate and unconditional safe release.

We all have a duty to make our country a safe place for all to live. Let us create an enabling environment for safety and protect the lives and properties of one another so that we may all live in the peace God has given us.

Most Rev. Jude Arogundade

Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese

MEETING OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS WITH HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, AT THE ASO VILLA, ABUJA, 2ND MAY, 2016.

AN ADDRESS BY MOST REV. IGNATIUS A. KAIGAMA, ARCHBISHOP OF JOS AND PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF NIGERIA.

Your Excellency,

On behalf of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), we the Archbishops and members of the Administrative Board, the highest decision making body of our Conference are here in person to congratulate you our President on your election as the leader of our great country and to express our solidarity and willingness to collaborate with you and with your administration in which we see hope for a greater Nigeria.

We recall with great delight your speech in February 2015 as a presidential candidate to us, the Catholic Bishops, which had the theme:  "One Nation Bound in Freedom, Peace, Unity and Love”, in which you re-affirmed your commitment towards ensuring that Nigeria remains a multi-religious state where every individual is free to practise his or her religion of choice.

CHURCH-STATE COLLABORATION IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF POST BOKO HARAM NIGERIA.

We commend your efforts in the fight against Boko Haram and against corruption. We encourage that justice be done according to the rule of law, with no sacred cows to be spared. These two monsters which you are tackling pretty well have threatened to destabilize Nigeria and to cripple our national growth and development. Although many people have been killed, many others rendered homeless and are without adequate means of livelihood, we commend you for being quite successful so far in repelling the insurgence from decimating Nigeria by halting its further advance.

Our Conference, using our Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria , CCFN, and our Justice, Peace and Development Commission (JDPC) have been doing what is within our limits to bring relief to the displaced persons. Notably, the Catholic Bishops of Maiduguri and Yola as well as Bishops in other parts of the country have hosted large numbers of Internally Displaced Persons. The CBCN sent a delegation to Cameroun with substantial relief materials to give succor to thousands of Nigerians taking refuge there. Some of our priests are currently residing there with the refugees to give them hope and spiritual/pastoral support. We hope your government and our Conference will continue to collaborate in respect of caring for the displaced persons. So we ask that whatever measures are being put in place by the government for rehabilitation and reconstruction we who have been involved from the beginning will be brought on board to share the concrete experience  we have of what these our brothers and sisters have been going through. We believe that picking up the pieces of the havoc by Boko Haram will require that all hands be on deck. We would like a wider discussion on the issue of our partnership with State Governments in matters of the rehabilitation of the displaced persons and the reconstruction of their communities.

FARMERS/HERDSMEN CONFLICTS AND KILLINGS IN ALMOST ALL ZONES OF OUR COUNTRY.

The Agatu killings, the Nimbo killings and many other killings in Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa, Ondo, Edo, Delta and elsewhere should be seriously investigated, with the perpetrators unmasked and decisively dealt with. Our people cannot continue to live in perpetual fear of attacks by fellow Nigerians with criminal intent. Happily, we understand that you have ordered some investigations into the Agatu and Nimbo killings. For a more permanent peace between herdsmen and farmers in our country, some streamlining is necessary for the good of the cattle rearers in the North and for the welfare of farmers in the South and elsewhere in Nigeria.
 Cattle ranches should be created in states known for cattle breeding, with adequate water and fodder provided and nurtured. Farmland for root crops and other plants should be protected for their specific products in states known for such. This will reduce or eliminate clashes stemming from trespassing. We certainly need these two sectors to supplement our near-total dependence on oil. But the fact that armed attacks and wanton killings have become a national threat, it should be declared an insurgency and treated as such, with the aim of dislodging the insurgents from occupied communities by the security/military operatives.

CHURCH/STATE PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION.

We believe that the national and State Governments have a duty, and in some cases have actually committed themselves by law, to fund the education of all children, from Primary 1 to JSS 3. In fact this is in the Federal New Policy on Education, under the 6-3-3-4 scheme. We wish to humbly remind your administration what you owe to all children, not only those in public schools. We are also demanding that children under our care who are citizens of our great country, in our faith- based institutions should enjoy similar privileges and not suffer any form of deprivation or discrimination because they happen to be in institutions run by faith-based organizations. There was a time when a healthy relationship existed between government and faith-based organizations in running schools and health institutions. Today, all sorts of levies are slammed on our institutions and the children. Instead of supporting faith-based institutions as is done in other countries, we experience what seems to suggest that mission schools are some sort of unhealthy competitors and the students are less Nigerian than those in public schools.  As a way of improving holistic education we plead with the government to generously co-fund education/ health care of faith-based organizations while insisting that high standards be maintained. The government support for non-state actors should be increased against the background that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require broad partnerships and the government alone cannot achieve the vision of the SDGs.

Our Catholic schools are more than private schools in the conventional sense; they are ‘Mission Schools’. The schools were not founded as profit-oriented establishments even if beneficiaries have to pay for services for the provision of quality education and the development of the institutions. Moreover, Catholic Mission Schools are not discriminatory. In addition, some children and wards of parents and guardians who cannot afford such quality education that the Mission schools render are also enrolled at the expense of the Church.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING LAND APPROVAL FOR CHRISTIAN RELGIOUS PURPOSES IN SOME PARTS OF THE NORTH

Your Excellency, we still recall in your speech, your firm commitment towards ensuring the right of Nigerians to their religious beliefs, which includes and not limited to, the right to erect places of worship. We bring to your notice that sad enough, Christians are still unable to erect places of worship in Federal Universities in the northern states. After forty years, Usman Dan Fodio and Bayero Universities, for example, have out-rightly denied Christians access to lands already allocated in the plans for the erection of Churches, in spite of there being so many mosques built by the university authorities. Similarly, it is such a herculean task for Christians to obtain certificates of occupancy to build Churches in some northern States. We urge you to kindly encourage State governments to kindly enforce the freedom of religion enshrined in our Constitution.

 THE ECONOMIC SITUATION: OUR PEOPLE ARE GROANING.
 The harsh economic situation in which our people are living presently is being felt everywhere. In many States, workers are worrying about their monthly salaries, many pensioners are crying for many months for unpaid pensions, while so many self-employed and non-employed persons and family dependents are groaning for their daily meal. As we thank you for the bail-out funds to cushion this hardship in various States, we urge you to ensure that these monies are used mainly to take care of salaries, pensions and their basic human needs.

CONCLUSION: OUR PATRIOTIC ASPIRATIONS AND COMMITMENT

Your Excellency, we are genuinely concerned about turning our country around and committed to helping this government make this happen. The issues mentioned above are nagging areas of concern for us as leaders of the Catholic Church. What we say applies to the Christian community in general. National stability and cohesion remain sore points against the backdrop of the indiscriminate loss of human lives in Nigeria. Life which is sacred is being taken at the whims and caprices of criminals or religiously confused or misguided individuals and groups. It is no good news for us and for our national image that people are kidnapped or killed without the slightest compunction.

Your Excellency, please be assured of our fervent prayers as you and your team struggle to overcome the multi-dimensional challenges facing us in the country. With God all things are possible. We remain optimistic that things can only get better. We are aware that to eat an omelet the egg must first be broken. We pray that the current economic hardships being faced by Nigerians due to the decline in oil prices and based on the desire to reposition things is temporary and hopefully, Nigerians will soon smile, based on the repeated assurances from you. We wish you a happy, peaceful and fruitful tenure and once again, please always count on our support for the common good of our country.

+ I. A Kaigama
Catholic Archbishop of Jos
President, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria
May 2, 2016

A Press Statement from the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka following the Massacre of Innocent Citizens in Nimbo, by Suspected Fulani Herdsmen: STOP THIS MADNESS

«A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: it is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more» (Jer 31:15).

This passage from the Prophet Jeremiah captures the present mood in Nsukka and, especially, in the hitherto quiet and peaceful farming community of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area. When the news broke about the massacre of innocent, unarmed and defenceless citizens of Nimbo in the early hours of Monday 25 April by invading armed militants, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, the first question that popped into my mind was: “Again?” This was because similar stories had been heard from many parts of the country in recent times, including Abbi, another community in our Diocese, also in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area. The news of the attack was soon followed by a flood of human beings fleeing their homes and emptying into the urban centre of Nsukka, many of them scantily clad women clutching only their babies. Wailing filled the air as vans brought in lifeless bodies of persons who were slaughtered like animals for the crime of having been found in their homes or on the way to their farms. Such scenes sent the minds of the older ones back to similar scenes in 1966, when our people had to flee the places they had considered their homes in other parts of the country, as a result of the first ethnic cleansing in modern African history. The big difference now, 50 years after, is that we are being chased out of our homes in our own land, from our own farms, from our Churches, from our schools and from our village markets. As our people say, if a man is pursued from outside, he runs into his house; but when he is pursued from his house, he has no place to run to.

 

The most painful aspect of the Nimbo massacre is that it was announced, expected and executed without inhibition – in broad daylight! The State Government is reported to have made attempts to provide security in the area prior to the incident. But what those who lost their dear ones (especially those little babies now blankly staring into an uncertain future, because their fathers have been senselessly murdered) and all of us want to know is why, as the reports go, the security forces “tactically” withdrew shortly before the attack and why, when they later returned to the scene, there was no attempt to immediately pursue and arrest the perpetrators. At present, nobody can say with certainty the number of those killed, given that more of those who were badly wounded are still dying and some bodies are still being recovered from the bush where the people had been killed while taking refuge. Today, Nimbo is like a ghost town.

 

It is equally disturbing that whereas the invading militants killed and maimed anybody they could find, the only houses they attacked were Christian religious houses. They burnt the house of one Pastor and from there headed straight to the residence of the Caholic Priest, where they attempted to burn the house but could not, since they did not find any petrol in the car and a motorcycle parked there, in the generator, and in the containers. When their attempt to break into the house also failed, they fired gunshots into the rooms, in an attempt to kill all those whom they suspected were hiding inside. And we are forced to ask: If these men were only herdsmen, why did they particularly single out Churches for their attack?

Nsukka people are peace-loving people. Why would anybody single them out for this type of massacre? In the name of God, I appeal to my peace-loving people to please remain law abiding and not to take the law into their hands. But even as I do this, I hear them asking aloud: Are there really any laws in this country guaranteeing the safety of our life and property even in our homes? If there are, is there anybody out there ready to enforce them? Or has this become a lawless country where violent persons can kidnap and kill, rob and rape innocent citizens in their homes, on the road, in their farms, at any time of the day or night, unhindered? How are we supposed to react to these threats to our very survival as a people when the Federal Government, who controls the security agencies, seems unwilling to protect us and the State Government appears incapable of defending us, since it has no control over these agencies? Our young people are asking us why the Police and the Armed Forces of the Federal Government are so swift and sometimes so high-handed in their reaction when unarmed persons march the streets in protest in the South East and so heavy-footed when it comes to stopping the massacre of the South Easterners anywhere in the country, even in their own homes. They are asking whether Boko Haram has actually been weakened or has only been redeployed from the North East to the South East. And we are scratching our heads in vain for the correct answers.

 

While we wait for these answers, we shout a loud and an absolute “NO!” to any form of violence even in the face of this persistent provocation. Reprisal attacks are not the answer. They are wrong; they are unlawful; they are un-Christian. Besides, we should not give the Police and the Army any excuses for adding to our woes, as they are sure to respond rapidly to any perceived form of aggression on our part.

 

We appreciate the position taken by President Muhammadu Buhari on this latest war-like attack on a peaceful community and hope that his directives will be carried out promptly. Protection of life and property of citizens is the primary responsibility of government and every other act of governance would lose its meaning if this was not guaranteed. We are consoled by what the President said. But only concrete actions can lead to the return of normalcy in the community. Nimbo and its neighbouring communities are among the few remaining farming communities in our area and the herdsmen had earlier chased the people out of their larger farms. The rains have just started and they had begun work in the smaller farms nearer to their homes. And even from there too they have now been chased out. It is sad that in these hard times, when many have been crushed by the harsh economic conditions in the country, in addition to the loss of loved ones, many of our people are now homeless and all of us will also face the problem of acute food shortage in the near future.

We call on the Federal Government not only to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the massacre as well as their sponsors and collaborators, as the President has directed, but also to disarm all those who carry assault rifles publicly when they have no permission to bear arms. Some people predicted that Nigeria would be a failed State by the year 2015. All of us heaved a sigh of relief after the general elections and the smooth handover last year. But any further delay in dealing with this and similar cases all over the country may lead those who made that prediction to affirm that its realization has only been delayed not avoided. If these incessant attacks and raids going on in many parts of the country are not stopped immediately, it may happen that by the time our President has won the war against corruption, there will no longer be any Nigeria left for him to govern.

 

We thank Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the efforts he made to prevent the tragedy and for his timely interventions after, without which more lives would certainly have been lost. We expect, however, that he will use the tools at his disposal to prevent its reoccurrence in any part of the State and to find out why, despite his efforts and prior information, the security agents failed to protect the lives of innocent citizens. To our Senator Chuka Utazi, we say “Gbagaa!”, in all the meanings of that word, for what he has been and done for his people during this time of crisis. We also thank the Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase, for promptly visiting Nimbo and for promising to bring those responsible for the massacre to book. But we are forced to wonder whether it does not bother him that some herdsmen in this country are better armed than some of our Policemen. Does it mean that the lives of cattle in some parts of the country are worth more than the lives of human beings in some other parts?

 

The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka is in mourning for her dead children and in pains for the displaced ones. We are also living in fear because we do not know where and when the armed militants will strike next. In the meantime, we shall do what we can to offer some help to the displaced persons, relying on the usual generosity of our people. But we have absolute faith in the abiding presence of God among us. In these difficult and trying times, all of us, especially those who have lost dear ones, should know that God is even nearer to us than we thought. Let us turn to him in prayer, asking him to receive our dead ones in his kingdom and heal our bleeding hearts. We direct that Masses and prayers be offered in all the Churches in the Diocese next Sunday, while awaiting the detailed programme for our prayer in this period which will be announced later. As good Christians, we should, like our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for those who persecute and kill us: «Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing» (Lk 23:34). We also pray for those whose responsibility it is to protect and defend us. We are sure that in no distant time we shall also hear the voice of the Lord saying to us: «Stop your weeping dry your eyes… There is hope for your future after all… your children will return to their homeland» (Jer 31:16-17).

 

Nigeria is a country richly blessed by God with abundant human and natural resources. For decades we have continued to senselessly slaughter ourselves, squander our resources and destroy our environment. We call on all to please stop this madness, so that, as a people, we may realize our full potentials for the benefit of all and to the glory of God.

 

Godfrey Igwebuike ONAH

(Catholic Bishop of Nsukka)

Friday 29 April 2016

Send Forth Party for Mr Basil Okolo of the Nigerian Embassy to the Holy See

The Nigerian Embassy to the Holy See recently held a send forth party for its outgoing Head of Chancery and Chargé d’affaire, Mr Basil Okolo. Members of the Association of Nigerian Priests, Religious and Seminarians in Rome (NIPRELS) were well represented at that event.

The Association will like to thank Mr Basil Okolo for his great service to our country, the Church and the Association. Indeed, he has been a big brother and a dependable friend to the Association. During his tenure at the embassy, he laboured tirelessly to ensure a smooth and effective working relationship between the Embassy and the Association. We are surely going to miss his loving counsel and support. The prayers and good wishes of the Association will be with him now and in his future assignment.

NIPRELS will also like to welcome Mr Stephen Anthony Awuru Esq. who will be taking over from Mr Basil Okolo. We promise him all our cooperation, support and prayers.

 

40th Anniversary of the Priestly Ordination of Rev. Fr. (Prof.) John O. Egbulefu CCE, Founder of the Congregation of Christ the Emmanuel

Very Rev. Fr. (Prof.) John O. Egbulefu CCE, founder of the Congregation of Christ the Emmanuel is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his priestly ordination. This event will take place on the 1st of May 2016 at St. Peters Basilica, Vatican City, Rome. The celebration will start with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Altar of St. John Paul II with a host of concelebrating priests.

Fr. John Okoro Egbulefu, he was born on 19th April 1950 in Ohuru – a village at the suburb of Aba (Nigeria); he was baptised on 30th July 1959 in the Holy Family Parish Church, Amiri – another village near Ohuru by Rev. John Ogbonna; he received the First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation together on 25th Oct. 1959 in the Christ the King Parish Church Aba and under the hands of Bishop Anthony Gogo Nwedo CSSp. He was ordained priest on 1st May 1976 in the Holy Cross Parish Church at Ziril, at the suburb of Innsbruck in Austria, under the hands of Bishop Paulus Rusch, and celebrated His First Holy Mass in that Church the following day. His father’s name is Christopher Egbulefu Njoku and his mother’s name is Christiana Comfort Enekwogu, alias Alozu Nwogu. His father and mother received the sacrament of matrimony under the hands of Rev. John Anyanwu in the same Holy Family Church, Amiri, where himself was baptized. His parents have seven children the first six of whom are male and among whom he is the second.

After his primary school education at the St. Anthony’s Catholic School, Ohuru, from 1956 to 1963, and the secondary school education at the Immaculate Conception Junior Seminary, Umuahia, from (1965 to 1970), he entered the Senior Seminary, first the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu (Nigeria) for his studies in Philosophy (1970/71-1972/73) and in Theology (1973/74), and then the Collegium Canisianum SJ, Innsbruck (Austria) for the continuation of the priestly formation and the perfection of the philosophical and theological studies. Father John got doctorate in Philosophy in University Innsbruck (Austria) in 1979. He transferred to the University of Munster in Germany where he did his doctoral studies in Theology in 1982. From 1984 to 1987, Father John did his post-doctoral studies in the University of Bonn, Germany and in 1989 was then called to the Vatican City by the then Cardinal Josef Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) to teach Dogmatic Theology at the Pontificia Università Urbaniana, Vatican City.

He did his First Religious Profession in the Congregation of Christ the Emmanuel on 8th September 2002, feast of the Nativity of Our Lady in the St. Jude’s Church Ohuru, and his final Religious Profession on the 22nd of August 2007, feast of the Queenship of our Lady, both professions were done under the hands of Bishop V. V. Ezeonyia CSSp.

His other particular activities outside the founding and running of the priestly Congregation of Christ the Emmanuel are of scientific and pastoral nature. The scientific activities stretch i) from teaching of Dogmatic Theology at the Catholic Institute of West Africa in Port Harcourt Nigeria (in the academic years 1984/85 and 1987/88) and at the University of Pope Urban VIII – Pontificia Universitas Urbaniana – in Rome from 1989 till date, ii) to inter-disciplinary scientific Researches and a series of publications (over seventy-two, as at December 2014). The pastoral activities embrace i) preaching the Word of God and preaching retreats, and giving spiritual direction to Consecrated men and women, as well as married and unmarried lay persons, the formation of future priests and the composition of hymns (forty of them as at December 2014) for the choral adoration of God in the Blessed Sacrament.

In 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed him theological expert (Peritus – Adjutor Secretarii Specialis) for the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the formation of priests. In 1992, he was appointed Consultor of the Pontifical Council for dialogue with the non-believers. In 1994, the same Pope appointed him again Peritus for the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Church in Africa. In 1995 he was appointed member of the International Historico-Theological Commission (for the quinquenium 1995-2000) for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000. In 2001 the then Bishop of Aba, Most Rev. Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia CSSp appointed him Delegate President of the first Synod of the diocese of Aba.

 

Diaconate Ordination of Emmanuel Okolo and Joseph Ezemba

Together with the Catholic Dioceses of Awgu and Nnewi in Nigeria and the entire community of the Pontificio Collegio Urbano we announce the diaconate ordination of our brothers and friends: Emmanuel Chigozie Okolo of Agwu Diocese and Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ezemba of Nnewi Diocese.

The ordination will take place on Saturday, 7 May 2016 at the Basilica of St Peters, Vatican City, Rome. His Eminence, Fernando Cardinal Filoni, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples will be the ordaining prelate.

There will be a little get-together and refreshment at the Pontifical Urban University immediately after the Mass.

We are all invited to join our dear brothers at this joyful occasion. Even more importantly, we are invited to pray for them for the grace of ordination.

Monsignor John Akinwunmi Oyejola is the new Bishop of Osogbo Diocese

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointment Monsignor John Akinwunmi Oyejola as the new Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, the Vatican announced on Saturday, April 2, 2016. He succeds, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin who was moved as the Bishop of the diocese to become the Metropolitan of Ibadan Archdiocese, following the retirement of the former incumbent, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job.

Until his appointment, Monsignor Oyejola was the Parish Priest of St Stephen parish, Apaara, Oyo Diocese and also in charge of the proposed diocesan Marriage and Family Formation Centre for Priests, Religious and Laity.

Born at Awe, Oyo, State, on May 8, 1963, the Bishop-elect studied Philosophy and Theology at the Ss Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State; and was ordained a priest of the Catholic Church on October 5, 1991. He holds a Diploma in Humanities and a Masters degree in Pastoral Leadership from All Hallows College, Dublin, Ireland and a Master’s Degree from St. Mary’s College, California, USA, specializing in Marriage and Family Theraphy (2011 – 2013).

His pastoral experience include being a parish vicar, Parish priest, diocesan director of vocations, diocesan chaplain of youths, diocesan director of the Biblical Apostolate, member of Consultors, national director of Religious Educators in Nigeria and the director of the regional Pastoral Institute, Ede, Osun State.

The Episcopal ordination date of the new bishop will be announced later.

Thanksgiving and Sent forth for Rev Fr Dr Anthony Okolo, CSSP

After years of fruitful and meritorious service to the Nigerian/English Catholic Community of Ss Simon and Jude Catholic Church, Rome, the community had a beautiful Thanksgiving / Send Forth for their Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Okolo, CSSp.

Fr Tony, a Nigerian Spiritan Priest has been a generous and loving brother and member of NIPRELS. The body can testify to his loving kindness both to the organization as a body and to its members individually. He is a member in whom we can proudly say that we are well pleased.

This was why a cross section of priests, religious and seminarians gathered at Ss Simon and Jude on Sunday, 3^rd of April 2016 to bid him farewell as he concludes his assignment with the Nigerian/English Community. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated and there were refreshment and colourful entertainment afterwards.

A large number of the Nigerian/English Community were also present at the colourful occasion. They thanked God for the unique gift and person Fr Tony had been to them. They were also sad that he would be leaving them.

We wish Fr Tony Gods favour in his next assignment.

 

 

Priestly Ordination of Rev. Abii Donald Chinomso and Rev. Onumaegbu Charles Munachiso

 

Dearest in Christ, it is with hearts filled with joy that we announce the Priestly Ordination of Rev. Abii Donald Chinomso (PMS)  and Rev. Onumaegbu Charles Munachiso (PMS) of Piccola Missione per i sordomuti.

The ordination will take place on Sunday 10^th of April 2016 by 12:00 noon at Parrocchia di San Francesco D’Assisi e Santa Caterina Da Siena, Patroni D’Italia, Rome.  (Just at the Train Station Trastevere.)

The ordaining prelate will be His Eminence Cardinal Jaoa Brad de Aviz (Prefect of the congregation for the institutes of the consecrated life and Society of Apostolic life)  

As we remember our brothers in our prayers for the grace of ordination, let us prepare to grace this occasion with our active presence and participation.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Nnadozie Eustace Diala, S.C (P.R.O)

Diaconate Ordination of Nnadozie Eustace Diala, SC, the PRO of NIPRELS

It is our greatest pleasure to invite you all to the diaconate ordination of our brother, Nnadozie Eustace Diala, of the Congregation of the Servants of Charity. He is the first from the left in the picture.

Bro. Eustace is the current Public Relations Officer of NIPRELS.

The ordination will take place on the 6th of March 2016 at the Basilica San Giuseppe al Trionfale by 4.00 pm.

Your presence and active participation will grace this once in a life time occasion.

Let us also remember our dear brother in our prayers that God who has called him may fortify him with his graces which are always abundant.

NIGERIAN PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS IN ROME (NIPRELS)

A Communiqué at the End of the First Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Daughters of Divine Love Retreat and Conference Centre (DRACC), Lugbe, Abuja, 13-19 February, 2016

 

THEME: CATHOLIC CHURCH PROMOTING MERCY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PEACE

1.      PREAMBLE

We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, held our First Plenary Meeting of the year at the Daughters of Divine Love Retreat and Conference Centre Abuja, from 13 to 19 February, 2016. Having prayerfully reflected on the issues affecting the Church and our country, we now present our Communiqué.

2.      EVENTS IN THE CHURCH

We pray for the repose of the soul of Bishop Emeritus of Port-Harcourt, Bishop Alexius Makozi, who was buried on 28 January, 2016. May the souls of all our departed bishops and all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen. We congratulate His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze, on his Golden Jubilee of Episcopal Ordination. We also express our sentiments of joy and celebrate with Most Rev. Michael Okoro Bishop Emeritus of Abakaliki, on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee of Priestly Ordination, with Most Rev Francis Okobo, Bishop Emeritus of Nsukka, on his Golden Jubilee as a Priest and Silver Jubilee of Episcopal Ordination and with Nsukka Diocese on its Silber Jubilee. May the Lord continue to bless and strengthen his ministers and his Church, Amen. The 8th World Meeting of Families Celebration in Philadelphia, USA, and the 51st International Eucharistic Celebration in Cebu, Philippines, ended successfully. We hereby invite all to the National Meeting of Families taking place in the Archdiocese of Lagos from 11 to 14 April, 2016.

3.      YEAR OF MERCY IN ACTION

We recognize that mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life (Misericordiae Vultus 10) and a criterion for the credibility of our faith namely, ‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy’ (Matt 5:7). As members of God’s household, beneficiaries of the abundant mercy of God, we must make ourselves credible ambassadors of God’s mercy to our neighbours and to our world.  As ambassadors of God’s mercy, we must rediscover the tremendous benefits of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; live out more fully the corporal and the spiritual works of mercy (Rom 12:8); draw men and women to be reconciled with God and among themselves and inspire them to live fully their Christian faith.  We urge every particular Church in Nigeria to initiate programmes that will promote living this Holy Year as an extraordinary moment of grace and spiritual renewal. We reiterate the incisive statement of Saint Pope John XXIII to the effect that “there can be no peace between people unless there is peace within each one of them, unless, that is, each one builds up within oneself the order wished by God” (Pacem in Terris 165).  We affirm that the human family is fundamental in attaining peace in the society.

4.      THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

We re-affirm the teaching of the Church that the human being is fundamental to the social order. Over the years, the Catholic Church has been at the forefront of promoting social justice. We commend the Justice, Development and Peace Commission and Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria for the good work they are doing. Given the emerging challenges of our time, we urge them to intensify efforts in promoting human rights, conflicts management, elections monitoring and advocacy for good governance. We are resolved in promoting a better quality of life for all, the right to work and the dignity of labour. We equally advocate integral education, poverty alleviation and health care services.

5.      THE STATE OF THE NATION

We recognize the efforts of the Nigerian government, the Military and other Security Agencies in degrading Boko Haram Insurgency, especially in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. Yet, there are strings of attacks in soft targets such as Internally Displaced Persons camps, markets and parks. We encourage the government and security agencies to do all they can to defeat insurgents and prevent further loss of lives. We pray for God’s mercy on all who have died in this war. We equally enjoin government and indeed all Nigerians, to seek alternative strategies towards ending terrorism and thus win them over to our communities. We commend the initiative of the Federal Government towards rehabilitation of the Boko Haram victims. We also urge the government not to lose sight of the destroyed properties of all affected groups including the religious bodies, and request that the composition of relevant committees would include religious leaders in the North East, who are already working hard in this regard.

We appreciate the efforts of the government in fighting corruption. In his Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus, Pope Francis says: ‘Corruption is a grave sin which cries out to heaven for vengeance, because it threatens the very foundation of personal and social life. It is a sinful hardening of the heart that replaces God with the illusion that money is a form of power’ (art. 19). We therefore call on the government to use appropriate legal processes to thoroughly investigate the crimes of the past, transparently prosecute accused persons, and hold the guilty accountable in accordance with the laws of the land. Nonetheless, legal efforts are not enough. We enjoin all to seek positive and effective way forward through our common spiritual and religious values, namely, prayers and spiritual/moral rebirth as basis for repentance, reparation and reconciliation.

We note with dismay the glaring inequality in our society. The poor who have equal rights to benefit from the wealth of the Nation have continued to experience lack of basic human needs. We need to diversify our economy and invest more in grassroots economic infrastructure that promote healthy small/medium scale industry and enterprise. We call on public office holders to ensure that resources meant for national development and common good are used accordingly. This indeed is the goal and end of social justice. We are worried by the intractable culture of conflicts and growing criminality in our society. We all have a responsibility to ensure that no member of the society suffers violence, marginalisation and deprivation. We call on individuals and communities groups to be more vigilant and be proactively involved in ending these crises.

6.      MERCY, NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND PEACE

We recognize the dire need, in our nation, for positive thinking and action towards reconciliation, mercy and peace. Tribal, regional and religious sentiments have held us in bondage for decades. We urge Nigerians to work in solidarity to correct imbalances in resource/power sharing. Proper social security and good governance will engender functional education, employment, health-care, social justice and development, and thus curb corruption, violence, and poverty. In the spirit of restitution and healing of hurts, we request the relevant governments at all levels to return and rehabilitate the schools taken over by the governments after the Nigerian civil war, to their rightful owners, including the Catholic Church.  Also, in the light of divine mercy, we urge the relevant government authorities to exercise their discretions on prerogative of mercy, pardon and amnesty with which they are empowered by the National Constitution in the interest of the common good. This is consistent with the teaching of Pope Francis: ‘Mercy is not opposed to justice but rather expresses God’s way of reaching out to the sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert, and believe’ (Misericordiae Vultus, 21).

7.      PEACE: A TASK FOR ALL

We reiterate the incisive statement of Saint Pope John XXIII to the effect that “there can be no peace between people unless there is peace within each one of them, unless, that is, each one builds up within oneself the order wished by God” (Pacem in Terris 165).  We re-affirm that the human family is fundamental in attaining peace in the society. With a renewed urgency, we  urge all families, especially Christian families, to live up to their expectations as harbingers of peace by shunning violence, building tolerance, creating an atmosphere of love, harmony, and mutual affection among their members. As a Church we shall continue to promote repentance, reparation, reconciliation, justice and peace by preaching the truth of the gospel, by witnessing of life, by strengthening and sustaining our various structures for conflict management and by advocating right order in the Church and the Society.

8. CONCLUSION:  LENTEN SEASON, A TIME OF GRACE

We invite all Christian faithful and indeed all Nigerians, to seek the face of God whose is rich in Mercy (Eph 2:4).  We call on all Nigerians, either as individuals or as communities, to repent of their wrong doing (Joel 2:13) with a firm resolution to change for the better, and amend their ways by making reparation and restitution for their sinful conduct. It is only then that true reconciliation can take place in a spirit of forgiveness which leads to peace and harmony.  We pray that Mary, Mother of Mercy, intercede for us so that we may be worthy of receiving the mercy of God and sharing same with our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Most Rev Ignatius Ayau KAIGAMA                            Most Rev William A. AVENYA

President, CBCN, Archbishop of Jos                       Secretary, CBCN, Bishop of   Gboko

Happy Feast Day to all our Religious Brothers and Sisters from the President of NIPRELS

 

Dear brothers and Sisters.

On this great day in which we celebrate: the world day of the consecrated life, the year of the great jubilee of mercy for the consecrated life and the end of the special year of the consecrated, we rejoice with you all and say 'buone feste'! We thank all our members and indeed all the consecrated men and women who all over the world offer their lives and service for the holistic enrichment of the world. Our prayer is that the Lord who has called each of you may continue to remain with you to guide and sustain you and before you to lead and protect you.

We know that the live you live is not an easy one, yet you have lived it with apostolic courage and faithful trust in divine providence. You have heroically confronted the unknown making leaps of faith day after day, you have patiently born challenges, bruised but not bent, wounded but not worn out, humbled but not succumbed, chastised and chided but not chained! You have been misunderstood, prejudged and misjudged yet you have not given up! The testimony of your steadfastness is the visible increase in the number of the called in our country even today inspite of the meterolic rise of lewdness and propensity for sensual and corporal gratification.

For those of you who live with us here, we see from our encounters with you, great hope even for tomorrow and are greatly encouraged.

 

If the live is that challenging how much more for you who dwell by this "River of Babylon" here in this 'città eterna'. Yet, till this day, you have carried your heads high and not let your shoulders drop. Suffering but smiling! Holding forth like St Paul,  seeking to capture the prize to/for which Christ called you.

Without overstating  the obvious, we simply say that we are proud of you, especially for all your contributions towards the growth of our association. May your labours never be forgotten.

Our congratulations go to you all, our gratitude to your families (biological and religious), and for your different apostolates, goes our appreciation.

 

Congratulations once more! Happy feast day!  Grace filled jubilee! and Blessed moment of Self Re-dedication!

 

May God who began this good work in you bring it to a successful end.

'Coraggio e pazienza!'

Fr Stanislaus Okonkwo

President

For all NIPRELS exco.

Priestly Ordination of Rev. Victor Chibuike, SDV

Dearest in Christ,

It is my pleasure and also an honour to invite you to the Priestly Ordination of Rev. Victor Chibuike Alozie, SDV. Which will be coming up in Nigeria, on Saturday,  6th of February 2016 at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, Imo State. Followed up by his First Solemn Mass of thanksgiving the next day, Sunday, 7th February. Let us join him to make this occasion memorable as he sings with our Lady: “For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name” (Luke 1:49).

You can find here, every information you will need about the ordination.

 

Nnadozie Eustace Diala, S.C (P.R.O)