Owerri
Provincial Bishops cry foul on Terrorism, Kidnapping
Communiqué! STOP THE KIDNAPPING
Episcopal Ordination of 1st Nigerian Nuncio fixed for Nnewi, Sept.
27, 2008
2nd Innocentian National Conference Ends At Orlu
Ahiara Diocesan Ordination, 2008 - Bishop Chikwe cautions against
‘Dibia mentality’
Umuoye People Receive their First Indigenous Priest
St. Anthony's Parish Umunama: 58 Candidates Confirmed
At St. Peter's Parish Okponkume, Bishop Chikwe Confirms 93 candidates
in the faith
St. Dominic's Alumni Celebrate Feast Of St. Dominic
12 Convert to the Catholic Faith as 70 Couples Wed at Our Lady
Of Victory Parish, Amumara
An Address By The Secretary-General Of The Catholic Secretariat
Of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Michael Otto Ekpenyong, At The 70th Birthday Thanksgiving
Mass Of His Lordship, MOST REV. DR. VICTOR CHIKWE, Bishop Of Ahiara Diocese
Homily At The 70th Birthday Of Most Rev Dr. Victor Adibe Chikwe,
At Maria Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral Ahiara, Saturday, July 26, 2008, By Rev.
Fr. Dr. Ralph Madu
Owerri
Provincial Bishops cry foul on Terrorism, Kidnapping
Catholic Bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province have expressed regrets that
despite the divine injunction, as well as government programmes aimed at safeguarding
human lives, there are still threats that degrade and violate human life such
as hijacking, terrorism and kidnapping.
The Catholic bishops, who made their feelings known in an eight-point communique
they issued after their second plenary meeting and signed by the Chairman and
Secretary, Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna and Bishop Victor Chikwe respectively,
also called on the citizenry to respect the sacredness of human life. "We
note with sadness the recent rise of kidnapping in our states. The situation
is alarming not so much by its frequency as by its attendant terror and trauma",
the clerics stated.
In their considered opinion, "kidnapping is sinful, wicked and extortionary",
even as they maintained that the act "ultimately degrades the kidnappers
themselves and makes them inhuman and brutes". They insisted that kidnapping
on grounds of bad governance, lack of social amenities, joblessness or meagre
income, cannot be justified, especially as the end does not justify the means.
Communiqué! STOP THE KIDNAPPING Calling Our People To Respect The Sacredness Of Human Life, A Pastoral Statement issued by the Catholic Bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province at the end of their Second Plenary Meeting held at the Bishop's House, Aba, Abia State, August 12-13, 2008
PREAMBLE
We, the Catholic Bishops of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, held our Second
Plenary Meeting on the 12th and 13th of August, 2008, at the Bishop's House,
Aba, Abia State. After prayerfully deliberating on a number of vital issues
concerning the life of our people, we issue the following pastoral statement:
OUR CONCERN
AS SHEPHERDS
1. Our ministry as Bishops makes us sharers in and dispensers of the saving
mission of Christ which is “to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim
liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free...”
(Lk. 4:18). Anointed for this Divine service, we proclaim, not only God's blessings
(cf. Lk. 4:19) to our people but also denounce all attempts to violate the sacred
and sublime dignity of every human person.
REVERENCE
FOR HUMAN LIFE
2. Every human person is sacred because he or she is created in the image and
likeness of God (Gen. 1:26). It is this divine presence in every human person
that makes him or her priceless, and demands reverence for every human life.
In admiration of the human person, the Psalmist addresses God saying: “with
glory and honour you have crowned him, gave him power over the works of your
hand, put all things under his feet” (Ps. 8:5-6).
Traditionally, our people understood and appreciated this divine origin of life as contained in their principles of ndu ka (life is supreme), ndu bu isi (life is primordial), ndu ka aku (life is greater than wealth) and mmadu ka (man is the greatest of all things). All is rooted in the universal commandment of God, “Thou shall not kill” (Ex. 20: 13).
VIOLATION
OF HUMAN LIFE
3. It is unfortunate to observe that in spite of the Divine injunction and the
teachings of the Church, as well as the programmes of government and civil society
organizations for human promotion, there are still threats that degrade and
violate human life such as hijacking, terrorism and kidnapping.
THE WORRISOME
RISE OF KIDNAPPING
4. We note with sadness, the recent rise of kidnapping in our States. It has
become front page news and prime time news in our radio and television broadcasts.
In families, schools, market places, Churches, Mosques and other gatherings,
people talk about it with anxiety and trepidation. The situation is alarming
not so much by its frequency as by its attendant terror and trauma.
5. Kidnapping is sinful, wicked and extortionary. It ultimately degrades the
kidnappers themselves and makes them inhuman and brutes. Its sinfulness attracts
God's wrath. We want our people to know that kidnapping on grounds of bad governance;
lack of social amenities; joblessness, or meagre income, cannot be justified.
The end does not justify the means.
UNTOLD CONSEQUENCES
ON OUR DAILY LIFE
6. This unfortunate state of affairs adversely affects our already unstable
nation and weak economy. Entrepreneurs waste huge amounts of resources on security
measures than is ordinarily needed. It gives a bad name to our nation. It does
not help the growth of our democracy. It violates the natural law and degrades
the human person. It deters, not only Nigerians abroad, but also foreigners
from visiting our country and investing in it.
CONCLUSION
7. We sympathize with all the victims and relatives of this nefarious act of
kidnapping. We pray God to heal their wounds and restore them. Furthermore,
we thank all those who have rallied to the support of these victims, spiritually,
psychologically and materially. We extend our appreciation to every person who
kindly and insistently safeguards the integrity and dignity of the human person..
8 In addition,
We make the following appeal:
(1) To those with political and civil authority: provide social amenities, create
job opportunities, and strengthen our security outfit.
(2) To abducted persons
and relations: pay no ransom or gratification to kidnappers since this encourages
them to continue in their dastardly act.
(3) To kidnappers:
have a change of heart in order to avoid God's wrath.
(4) To our traditional
leaders and all with relevant information: help the security agents in identifying
kidnappers in your communities.
(5) To the clergy,
parents and leaders everywhere: make our people, especially the youth aware
of the sinfulness of kidnapping.
Finally, we commend ourselves and States to our Blessed Mother Mary.
Given at the Bishop's House, Aba, on this day, 13th of August, 2008.
Signed:
MOST REV.
A. J. V. OBINNA
Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri, Chairman
MOST
REV. V. A. CHIKWE
Bishop of Ahiara, Secretary
For and
on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province
which covers lmo and Abia States and parts of Anambra and Rivers States.
Episcopal Ordination of 1st Nigerian Nuncio fixed for Nnewi, Sept. 27, 2008
There Will
Be An Episcopal Ordination Of Msgr. Jude Thaddeus Okolo On 27th Of Sept., 2008
At Our Lady Of The Assumption Cathedral Nnewi By Francis Cardinal Arinze. On
2nd August, 2008 The Holy Father Appointed Msgr Jude Thaddeus Okolo As The Apostolic
Nuncio To The Central African Republic And The Republic Of Chad. At The Same
Time He Is Appointed Titular Bishop Of Novica, But As Archbishop.
Before His Appointment, Msgr. Jude Thaddeus Okolo Was Counselor Of The Apostolic
Nunciature In Australia. Archbishop-Elect Okolo Was Born In Kano (Nigeria) On
18 December 1956. He Was Ordained Priest For The Diocese Of Nnewi On 2 July
1983. He Has A Doctorate In Canon Law. He Entered The Diplomatic Service Of
The Holy See On 1 June 1990 And Has Served In The Pontifical Missions In Sri
Lanka, Haiti, West Indies (Antille), Switzerland, Czech Republic And Australia.
He Speaks English, French, Italian, German, Spanish And Czech.
2nd
Innocentian National Conference Ends At Orlu
The members of the Innocentian Community nationwide have ended their annual
conference at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Owerri Ebeiri, Orlu Diocese.
Declaring the conference open the moderator of the community, Rev. Fr. Chrysogonus
Okorie OCD said the aim of the annual conference is to promote love of the church
and mankind among the faithful especially now that the teaching of the church
which for centuries have punctuated the life of the church and through which
she has effectively maintained oneness through the ages, stand today endangered
by dissenting forces blowing through the help Pentecostals, fundamentalists
and modernists. “Never as before has the church the need for active Catholics
who know their faith and are willing to share it with others as found in the
witness of life of the Holy Innocents who offered their life for the sake of
Christ”, he said.
Speaking at the conference, a scripture scholar, Rev. Fr. Canice Azuoma traced
some history on the cruel massacre of the Holy innocents as narrated by St.
Matthew in his Gospel to awaken within us the need to be in touch with the tragedies
and suffering that children are experiencing even in our world today.
Other speakers at the conference include Rev. Fr. Christian Azubuike from Orlu
diocese. He spoke on the theme “Road to divine perfection, an example
of the Holy Innocents” and Mr. Polycarp Onwuka who spoke on the theme
“Safeguarding the sacredness of human life and family, a task facing every
Christian”. “He condemned extra judicial killings that have pervaded
our land, the incessant violence involving our youths that result in countless
deaths, all kinds of ways of preventing the birth of children and poor equipment
of our health institutions and centers
The three days event which attracted thousands of faithful and Priests from
over one hundred parishes across the country also witnessed the celebration
of Holy Mass for the 6th year remembrance of the Late founder of the community,
Late Bro. Innocent Chima Okorie and ten years anniversary in the priesthood
of the moderator of the community, Rev. Fr. Chrysogonus Okorie OCD, who is also
a son of Late Bro. Innocent Okorie. Other features at the event included friendly
football match between Lagos/Port Harcourt vs Orlu / Onitsha zones of the community,
candle Light/Rosary procession, opening of a hospital for the sick built by
the community in memory of Late Bro. Innocent Okorie and a Book presentation
on the life and times of Late Bro. Innocent Okorie.
It would be recalled that Innocentian community was founded by Bro. Innocent
Chima Okorie as a religious community of Christ's faithful, comprising of the
following groups; Sons and daughters of Mary, Religious Discussion Club, Priscilla
Memorial Prayer Group and Reparation Prayer Group. These groups were founded
by him during his life time.
After his death in 2002, the groups came together under the name Community of
Mary of the Holy Innocents (Innocentian Community). The general secretary of
the community is Miss Rita Ogudo. Presently, the community she said has a hospital
as a way of witnessing Christ's love and compassion among the sick and the needy.
They have also a Nursery and Primary schools where needs of children and youths
are responded to.
At the close of the conference, the conference secretary, Bro. Sunday Akpuogwu
announced that the next conference shall take place in 2010 as participants
agreed to be organizing it on two year basis. Earlier on arrival, the host Priest
and parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Owerri Ebeiri, Rev. Fr. Julius
Ekwueme welcomed the participants who came from far and near to the conference.
He charged them to be good ambassadors of Christ and the church in their various
parishes and dioceses as a way of immortalizing their founder Bro. Innocent
Okorie who devoted his entire life for the service of the church.
Ahiara
Diocesan Ordination, 2008 - Bishop Chikwe cautions against ‘Dibia mentality’
On Sat. August, 9, 2008, eleven deacons were ordained priests inside the Maria
Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral, Ahiara Mbaise. The event which started at 10 o'clock
in the morning saw a lot of priests, religious and lay faithful in attendance.
Preaching a homily at the mass, the ordaining prelate, Bishop V.A. Chikwe reminded
the deacons that they are called to be fishers of men, to spread the gospel
to the ends of the earth. As good shepherds of the flock of God, they should
be ready to lay down their lives for the sheep as the devil is trying to devour
them today through heresy, unfulfilled vow and power which do not come from
God.
“Today in the world especially in Nigeria our faith is being eroded 'mmiri
abalaa n'opi ugboguru'; pastors should be more careful as many have left the
cross of Jesus Christ for materialism. Our people have derailed in so many ways
as the devil has come to Church to cause confusion, disguising itself as the
'Angel of light' to water down the work of God”, he said.
Today the
devil is no longer speaking Igbo but English in the name of 'Spiritual attack'
which he described as 'Dibia Mentality' of our modern people. As pastor of souls,
he warned them of the glories of this world; power trends of our time, ritual
money, drug peddling, recalling the statement of the chairman of the EFCC that
many of our people today are mad as they try to acquire money by all means.
“All is grabbing, grabbing, grabbing, no sacrifice whatsoever”
As ministers of the word of God and sacrament, they are to preach the undiluted
word of God and not what the people want to hear. “The word of God is
the truth, it is a cross and never easy, it is not an express way”, said
bishop Chikwe. Equally as dispensers of the mysteries of Christ, he urged them
to make good use of their long seminary formation to work well for the progress
of the kingdom of God on earth.
Drawing from the readings of the day, he charged them to be holy, pray always
and make use of the various gifts of the Church to work and uphold the unity
of the Church which is the body of Christ. Turning to the religious priests,
the prelate reminded them that they have double work, as they are not only ambassadors
of Christ and the Church but that of the great Mbaise land (Ireland of Priests)
wherever they are posted. To the people of God, he pleaded with them to help
in the training of priests as the Church needs priests today.
He thanked Ugoeze Nwachukwu-udaku, Mrs. Anna Ugorji who helped in training some
of the candidates who were ordained that day for their generosity while calling
on others who are interested to inquire from the secretariat both as a group
or individual, for full or partial assistance. To the parents of the ordained,
he told them to pray for them while reminding them not be obstacles to their
priestly ministry as they have totally offered their children to God.
Finally, he prayed God to see them though in their work. Five of the candidates
belong to Ahiara Diocese, 5, to the Vocationists Congregation while 1 belongs
to the Servants of Charity Congregation.
Umuoye
People Receive their First Indigenous Priest
The entire Umuoye people in Egbulu Umuhu Enyiogugu in the Aboh Mbaise Area Council
of Imo State have been full of praise and thanksgiving to God for choosing one
of their sons as a priest to serve in His Vineyard. In the Eucharistic celebration
that heralded the reception of Fr. Stephen C. Onyeka S.C. as the first indigenous
priest of Umuoye Community, the priest thanked the almighty God for choosing
him to serve him and humanity in a special way as a priest. Preaching a homily
at the mass during which he presided over, Fr. Stephen said that salvation is
for every body. Every body should try to be saved, it is not enough to be a
Christian and or receive the sacraments every day, it goes beyond that. We should
let justice, good life, fear of God and faithfulness to God to reign supreme
in our lives. There should be no division among the people of God because we
are the light of the world, the priest said.
Continuing, Fr. Onyeka made reference to St. Paul's admonition to Christians
to live good lives through faith, while drawing example from the Canaanite woman
who despite all odds stood by her faith. He therefore urged all to always exhibit
high sense of patience, perseverance in good works as God’s time is the
best. He prayed God to continue to bless them and give them the grace to always
carry their cross.
At the reception held in his honour at Umuoye hall, the entire community of
Umuoye thanked God for elevating one of their sons as a priest to serve in his
vineyard. They expressed their gratitude with many gifts both financial and
material and prayed God to continue to sustain him. There were admonitions from
the people and also from priests who graced the occasion.
Speaking at the occasion, the parish priest St. Paul's Parish Egbelu Umuhu Enyiogugu
Fr. Paschal Ihesiaba thanked God for the gift of the day and also for elevating
their son to the status of a priest of God in the order of Mechizedek of old.
He urged the new priest to always carry out his priestly ministry with utmost
carefulness while praying Our Mother Mary to always intercede for him. In his
response to the people's reception, Fr. Onyeka, thanked them for their support
so far and prayed them to continue to support him with their prayers while promising
his own constant prayers to the people. Among the dignitaries that graced the
occasion were HRH/ Ugoeze I.M. Ibegbulem, Prof/Prof Mrs. Anukam. Many priests
and senior seminarians including Rev. Sisters were in attendance. Other highlights
of the occasion were traditional dances by parish Mary League.
St.
Anthony's Parish Umunama: 58 Candidates Confirmed, As Bishop Exhorts Youths
to be Grounded in the Catholic Faith
Catholic youths have been urged to be well grounded in the faith. The Bishop
of Ahiara diocese, Most Rev. Dr. V.A Chikwe made this call recently during his
5th pastoral visit to St. Anthony's parish, Umunama during which he administered
the sacrament of confirmation to 58 candidates.
In his homily at the mass, the bishop laid emphasis on the need for the youths
to be acquainted with the Catholic faith and shun faithlessness and idolatry
that are speedily taking over our present day youths. This admonition was in
reaction to the inordinate quest for miracles and easy success in life. He also
enjoined the entire faithful to remain steadfast in their faith in God and pray
consistently. He made reference to the Canaanite woman who persevered in her
prayers until God answered her request. The importance of prayers and steadfastness
in the faith cannot be over stressed, the Bishop said.
Continuing, the prelate observed that the Catholic faithful should cherish the
treasure they have in the Catholic Church which is the only Church founded by
Jesus Christ himself. The attributes of this true Church of Christ according
to His Lordship as they are enlisted in the bible are: it must be one, holy,
universal and Apostolic. These are the features which the true Church of Christ
must possess. He therefore called on the faithful, especially the young people
to always learn and get themselves acquainted with the teachings of the Catholic
Church as this will help them to be closer to God and get themselves grounded
in the faith.
The bishop adviced the candidates for confirmation, to always remember that
they are by virtue of the sacrament of confirmation soldiers and ambassadors
of the Church and as such should strive to live up to the demands of the new
position they have assumed, while praying God to continue to strengthen them
in faith.
At the civic reception organized to honour the bishop, the people expressed
delight over the bishops visit to them, and pledged their unalloyed support
to the Bishop in the work he is doing in the Diocese. In their address, the
people through their parish council voiced out their mind to the Bishop both
on the positive and negative developments in the land. The positive developments
include the sinking of water bore hole in the parish rectory, purchasing of
new parish car, building of the parish hall by the parish CWO, and re-roofing
and expansion of the Church including other things too numerous to mention for
want of space. Some of the problems of the people as reeled out by the people
included, an advice on how to raise fund to finance some of the projects in
the parish. They finally thanked the bishop for building St. Anthony's Hospital
in their land and for posting the experienced Hospitaliers Sisters to man the
affairs of the hospital. The people however, concretized their heart felt sentiments
of gratitude to the Bishop with some financial support as well as other food
items.
Making his response to the peoples pleas, the Bishop first of all thanked the
entire parishioners for the warm reception they gave him and their gifts, he
prayed God to reward them abundantly.
Continuing, the Bishop recalled with joy his childhood encounter with the people
of Umunama. According to him, his initial call to the priesthood started Umunama.
He pleaded with all to always strive to give peace a pride of place in their
land and to eschew faithlessness. Furthermore, the bishop requested the people
to support in the development of the St. Anthony's model hospital especially
through land donation so that the hospital will be expanded. In his vote of
thanks, the chairman of the occasion, thanked the bishop for his fatherly advice
to the people and promised to heed to the advice. Other events that featured
to cheer the occasion were the calisthenics and cultural dance presented by
the parish Mary League girls. The event ended with the closing prayer said by
the bishops' secretary Rev. Fr. Tony Ezekwe at exactly 2.30 pm.
At
St. Peter's Parish Okponkume, Bishop Chikwe Confirms 93 candidates in the faith
In accordance with the recent decree by Pope Benedict XVI which prohibits Catholics
from addressing God as Yahweh His Lordship Most Rev Dr. V.A. Chikwe has reiterated
that Catholic faithful should not be heard addressing God with the name Yahweh
either during prayers or during singing. This he said is because the secret
names of the Most High God should not be mentioned by any human mouth. This
pronouncement was made recently during a Eucharistic celebration that marked
his first pastoral visit to St. Peter's Catholic Parish Okponkume Ekwereazu
during which 93 candidates received the Sacrament of confirmation.
In his homily at the mass, His Lordship made the congregation to understand
more the meaning of the Magisterium of the church and the need to hold tenaciously
to our faith as professed by the Apostles. Continuing, the prelate exhorted
them not to doubt the teaching authority of the Church but to embrace it. Were
we meet any confusion we should consult the vicars of Christ here on earth the
priests and bishops and not these charlatans who are compounding people's problems
in the name of performing miracles.
To the newly confirmed, the bishop called to always know that they are the rock
upon which the church is going to be built, they should try as much as possible
to live out the faith by embracing good life and shunning those acts that are
inimical to the future. He finally prayed God to strengthen them in their efforts
to work for God and humanity. The grand reception held in honour of the Bishop
and his entourage by the entire Catholic faithful of St. Peter's Okponkume had
its surfeit of activities from the entire parishioners, but its air were elsewhere.
It was in that wonderful welcome song by the parish youth that officially ushered
in our Lord Bishop and his entourage to the platform. It was in that emotion
packed calisthenics rendered by Lady Chika Eze's tutored Holy Infant Jesus of
Prague Association during which they displayed some quintessential drama and
prayers for the Bishop. It was in that eloquent welcome address by the parish
council that ex-rayed the people's feelings over the Bishops first pastoral
visit to the parish since its creation on September 30th 2006, giving special
thanks to their ever loving and hardworking pioneer parish priest Rev. Fr. Chris
Akuchie (Bekee). It was in the thunderous shouting of “bekee” that
greeted the arrival of Fr. Akuchie to the premises during which other programmes
were heckled to usher in Fr. Akuchie. It was in the sense of awe that swept
through the hall when Fr. Bekee introduced one of their favourite Abigbo songs.
It was in the body language of the people, most of them groups and some individuals
who came forward with one gift or the other to express their heart felt gratitude
to his Lordship for his love to the parish.
It was in those fatherly response and advice given by the bishop to the people
during which he appreciated the people's achievements so far and especially,
to the priests who have worked in their parish since its creation in 2006 beginning
with Fr. Akuchie the Primer Parish Priest and Fr. Festus Enermadu the incumbent
Parish priest for their selfless services to the church. He prayed God to always
bless them and give them the courage and strength to work more as the occasion
joyfully ended with the closing prayer said by Fr. Akuchie and the final blessing
by his Lordship.
St. Dominic's Alumni Celebrate Feast Of St. Dominic
Activities
marking this year's feast of Dominic's were recently held at the old St., Dominic's
school Ezi-East.
Introducing the Solemn Eucharistic celebration that kick-started the whole event,
the Ezi-East zonal Vicar Rev. Fr. Dr. Bernadine Ekechukwu acknowledged the presence
of all that graced this year's feast of Dominic's. He intimated the people on
the importance of the feast of St. Dominic's, he recalled with glee, how festive
the feast used to be during the years back and expressed dissatisfaction at
the way people go about it this days. He therefore called on the youths to make
sure that the feast is rejuvenated.
While delivering a homily at the mass presided over by the Ezi-East zonal Vicar,
and a host of concelebrating priests, Fr. Robert Ihuoma of Stella Maris Parish
Egberemiri stressed the need and importance of prayer in the lives of Christians.
Drawing example from the life of St. Dominic, Fr. Ihuoma said that St. Dominic
prayed consistently, in season and out of season, in faith and in hope for the
conversion of the Albegesian. St. Dominic distinguished himself with such virtues
as; humility, absolute faith in God, patience, and a high sense of tolerance.
The method we use today in praying the rosary was given by St. Dominic Fr. Ihuoma
observed.
Turning to the readings of the day, the man of God admonished the people of
God to emulate the Canaanite woman, who persevered in her prayers to God despite
all effort to dissuade her. He frowned at some Catholics who lose their faith
in God at the least temptation and trial. Fr. Ihuoma went forward to admonish
the youths on the dangers of juvenile delinquency and its consequence. He prayed
them to shun acts that are deplorable and anti-social, such as cultism, armed
Robbery and other social vices. He enjoined them to emulate the life of St.
Dominic while praying God to give all the gift of faithfulness and absolute
trust in God.
Other things that featured during the mass were the offertory processions from
all the parishes in the Ezi-East as well as the certificate of award that were
given to all the Golden Jubilarians of St. Dominic. Their 17 illustrious sons
and daughters were also hnonured at the occasion as an appreciation for their
astute efforts towards the development of the area. Other activities that took
place after the mass to mark the grand finale of the occasion were match pass
and cultural dance competition organized by the CWO. There were also football
matches both male and female finals, presentation of trophies and prices to
deserving teams. The ceremony came to a close with the closing prayers at exactly
6.pm.
12
Convert to the Catholic Faith as 70 Couples Wed at Our Lady Of Victory Parish,
Amumara
It was a historic and a joyous day for the Catholic faithful of our Lady of
Victory's Amumara in Ezinihitte Mbaise Area Council, as the witnessed for the
first time since the creation of the parish in 1947, a wedding of such number.
The wedding ceremony took place on August 15, the feast of the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Church was filled to its capacity as people from
far and near thronged the Church to witness this epochal event. Interestingly,
12 couples out of the 70 that were wedded were Protestants who were touched
by the teachings of the senior seminarian, Rev. Vitalis Akandu who did his apostolic
work there this year. It would be recalled that these couples after accepting
to return to the Catholic faith were baptized and given Holy Communion.
Preaching a homily at the mass that witnessed the wedding of the 70 couples,
the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Honoris Jimanze, stressed the importance of marriage
and the need for husbands and wives to live out their marriage promises. He
urged all to see the sacrament of matrimony as a holy vocation instituted by
God and pleaded that husband and wives should live harmoniously and train their
children in the ways of Christ.
Explaining the mystery of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the congregation,
Fr. Jimanze hinted that the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven
was God's plan to preserve from any stain the womb that gave birth to the Saviour
of the world. He traced the humility of the Virgin Mary from her parents to
the house of Joseph her most chaste spouse. The priest also enjoined Christians
to see the power in the holy Rosary and urged all to always pray the rosary
for the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary on the whole world.
Continuing, Fr. Honoris, exhorted the couples to love each other as Christ loves
His bride, the Church. He maintained that they should make fear of God their
hallmark while praying for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on them
so that they can overcome the temptations that may come their way especially
that of divorce.
At the end of the mass, there was merry making organized by the parish priest
during which they cut the weeding cake one after the other. There were also
entertainments which featured cultural dances and drama presentation. Speaking
at the occasion, the parish priest poured accolades on the senior seminarian
Rev. Vitalis Akandu for making a tremendous effort to ensure that the strayed
Catholics returned to the Catholic faith and to inculcate in the people the
true meaning of marriage and its importance among the people of God.
The entire parishioners of Our Lady of Victory's Amumara joined the parish priest
to heap praises on Rev. Vitalis Akandu for his ingenuity and hard work and for
reorientating the people on the Catholic faith. The occasion was well attended
by some dignitaries including the knights and ladies of the Church as well as
traditional rulers. At the end of the ceremony, the couples were officially
registered in to the CMO and CWO respectively.
An
Address By The Secretary-General Of The Catholic Secretariat Of Nigeria, Rev.
Fr. Michael Otto Ekpenyong, At The 70th Birthday Thanksgiving Mass Of His Lordship,
MOST REV. DR. VICTOR CHIKWE, Bishop Of Ahiara Diocese
Your Lordship,
Most. Rev. Victor Chikwe, the Jubilarian and Chief Celebrant of today,
Your Grace(s),
My Lords,
Very Respected Monsignori here present,
Rev. Frs.,
Rev. Srs,
Royal fathers here present,
Government Representatives,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my immense pleasure to be in your midst today and to join you all to thank God for 70 glorious years in the life of our Chief Shepherd, Most. Rev. Dr. Victor Chikwe, Bishop of Ahiara Diocese. It is indeed fitting that all of us have been able to gather together today to show appreciation, first and foremost to God, as well as to His Lordship, because not only have the 70 years been fruitful, we have been privileged to partake of the fruits of these seventy years in many and varied ways.
Before I continue to read the rest of the address let me say something that strikes me about Ahiara Diocese, the clergy, religious, and the laity. As I was coming from Abuja to Ahiara for the Birthday celebration I prayed that somebody would show me where the famous “Ahiara Declaration” was made. I was lucky indeed because my prayer was answered. My colleague, Rev. Fr. Raphael Madu showed me the historic place and I thanked him for doing just that. But I can tell you that I have seen more than a historic site. I have seen the people who are behind the history of Ahiara, especially the people of God their clergy and religious. Let me use a story to explain my experience of Ahiara people.
A poor Nigerian family won American Lottery in 2000. Instead of flying, the father of the family decided to go by ship to America. To do this he emptied his bank account to buy the ticket. The only food the family had with them for the entire journey was “Bread and Tea.” After 2 days, the little son said to the father, “Daddy I cannot stand this any more. Nothing but bread and tea. Give me some money for real food please.” The father gave him the last 100 naira he had on him and told his son to buy something in the ship's restaurant and eat. The boy came back after 2 ½ hours smiling and very happy. He told the father, “I ate Edikang Ikong, Ukwa, goat meat and Ice cream. I feel good Daddy”. “What?” the father exclaimed. “Did you get all these with just 100 naira?” Oh, no Daddy. The food is free. It comes with the ticket. It is included in our ticket.” That is the story and it reveals something about Ahiara on the occasion of this 70th Birthday celebration of the Chief Shepherd of Ahiara Diocese. What I have seen since my arrival particularly at the football field convinced me that Ahiara Diocese under Most Rev. Dr. Victor Adibe Chikwe may be surviving on “Bread and Tea.” But the Holy Spirit is the “Edikang Ikong, Ukwa, goat meat and Ice cream” that the people of God are enjoying. The Holy Spirit came with the creation of Ahiara Diocese in 1988. He (the Holy Spirit) is part of God's plan for the Diocese. He came as it were with the ticket in 1988. I am convinced that He is behind the great things that Ahiara Diocese has accomplished so far under Bishop Victor Chikwe. At the end of the football match I said to myself “Ahiara Diocese may be very poor in material wealth but very rich in spiritual wealth and power.” I saw a happy, smiling and united people. I saw the young and the old; I saw the traditional rulers and friends from far and near. I saw the clergy, religious and the laity celebrating the life and times of their Bishop. My humble verdict is that Ahiara people love God, they love the church and God continues to bless them.
The game
ended in a one-one draw with a lesson for all, especially for, Owerri Archdiocese
and Ahiara Diocese. Yes there must be competition but we must win in harmony
and solidarity to show the world our identity as the Body of Christ under the
One Shepherd Jesus Christ who has won for us the real victory, the salvation
of our souls. My Lord Bishop Victor Chikwe, I know that left to you, you would
not want any celebration. But the matter is God's own decision. God owns you.
The people of Ahiara own you. Allow us celebrate this 70th Birthday occasion
to the greater glory of God and the salvation of our people.
Jesus Igwe-e!
The people of Ahiara Igwe-e!
Ahiara Diocese Igwe-e!
Bishop Victor Chikwe Igwe-e!
The Clergy and Religious Igwe-e!
The Laity of Ahiara Diocese Igwe-e!
Owerri Archdiocese Igwe-e!
The Catholic Church in Nigeria Igwe-e!
In my humble
position of service as the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of
Nigeria, the staff and I had planned to anticipate this celebration today with
a joint celebration involving His Lordship and his spiritual twin, Most, Rev.
Dr. Felix Alaba Job, Archbishop of Ibadan and the President of the Catholic
Bishops' Conference of Nigeria. It will interest you to know (and for those
who know to be reminded) that these two pillars of the Nigerian Church were
born on the same day, in the same month and in the same year. We had planned
for a double-barreled celebration in Abuja for the 17th of July, to thank God
for them, as well as to thank them, for spending these years productively in
the service of God and man. However, it was difficult to bring those two heavyweights
under the same roof, on the same day.
That notwithstanding, as Simon Peter said at the transfiguration of Christ,
it is good for us to be here. It is indeed good for us to be here, to see fellow
Bishops, family members, friends and well wishers of His Lordship gather together
to share his joy on this great day. It is pleasant to see the good people of
Ahiara Diocese come together to appreciate this great man who has been Chief
Shepherd for the past twenty years. These twenty years have been characterized
by unprecedented growth and development, which has indeed put the Church in
Ahiara on a very firm and solid footing, such that the future can only get better.
On the National level, we are proud to be associated with this servant of God who has put his talents at the service of the growth of the Nigerian Church in various capacities. His Lordship’s present position as Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications underscores his continuing relevance in policy formulation and decision making at the highest level of the Church in Nigeria. Today is a good opportunity to tell you a big thank you, for all that you have been, are and will be to the Nigerian Church. More grease to your elbows!
Scripture tells us that “Our span is seventy years or eighty for those who are strong”. (Ps 89: 10). Your Lordship, from your performance thus far, it is incontrovertible that you are strong. Therefore, I will not be wrong to say that in a sense, life is just beginning for you once again. We have every reason to look forward to, and to expect more and more years of celebration and joy from you. May God continue to bless you with health of mind and body to continue the good work you have already started.
We assure
you of our prayers today and always, and on behalf of us all at the Catholic
Secretariat of Nigeria, I wish you happy birthday and many happy returns.
DIALO! NOONU OH BISHOP CHIKWE!
AD MLTLTOSANNOS!
Homily At The 70th Birthday Of Most Rev Dr. Victor Adibe Chikwe, At Maria Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral Ahiara, Saturday, July 26, 2008, By Rev. Fr. Dr. Ralph Madu
When I received
the invitation to preach at the 70th Birthday of the great person we are feting
today, the Most Rev Dr Victor Adibe Chikwe, the first bishop of Ahiara Mbaise
Diocese; I was tempted to decline the offer with some wonderful excuses including
my recent vacation trip to Germany. But, the true reason is: I dreaded the thought
of the many Bishops and Monsignors, contemporaries and Episcopal colleagues
of our beloved guest of honour present here today, whom I considered far more
qualified both in age and in experience to preach at this remarkable occasion
and milestone. But on second thought, I humbly accepted, convinced that I could
very well venture considering the personal relationship I have (and have shared)
with our honouree. I consider myself privileged to be one of Bishop Chikwe's
spiritual sons, one who had known and lived with him since 1968, at the time
he was barely 2 years ordained a priest having been ordained on April 17, 1966.
Then I was only 12 years old and in Class 1.
Now at the age of 52 and looking back at the 40 years span that I have come
to know him, Bishop Chikwe; I have been privileged to spending significant time
with him living under his watching eyes and guidance, I have personally witnessed
him live the ups and downs of life, and yes I have many memories and experiences
of him.
I have known the then Father Chikwe with the eye of a teenager: as a father's
boy in the then Nigeria-Biafra civil war, as a house boy of a one time Biafran
Army Chaplain of the 64th Brigade Ezinnachi, Okigwe and Ginger Brigade Ofeme,
Umuahia. Having been born and lived in Lagos before the Civil war and having
seen only such White priests as Fr Rice, Fr Kettle, Fr Branif; meeting and living
with Father Chikwe who happened to be the third black priest I had come to know
in my very young life then, after Msgr. Peter Onyebuchi and Msgr. Boniface Nwachukwu,
remain for me an indelible experience. I have known him also with the eye of
a first year senior seminarian when hewas our financial administrator at the
Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu.
Lastly, I have come to know Bishop Chikwe again on very personal levels, still
admiring him and being blessed by his paternal love, care, guardianship and
continued mentoring. First and foremost, he (then Father Chikwe) preached at
my First Mass in 1983. Second, under his pastoral leadership as President of
the Association of Nigerian Indigenous Priests, ANIME, Owerri Diocese, I served
as Secretary of the said diocesan presbyterium. And now, by the Grace of God,
he is the current Episcopal Chairman of the Social Communications Directorate
of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, a directorate I also happen to
be a member in my humble office as the Director of Communications of the Nigerian
Catholic Secretariat.
My dear brothers and sisters, you can now appreciate and see the reason why
I strongly felt that I could venture on this remarkable occasion and celebration
to trace the profile of this devout, humble, very simple, courageous, innovative,
and outstanding and very caring human person, priest of God and now first bishop
of Ahiara Diocese, one who has made rural “bishopricing” at least
in the Igboland, an enviable office and role.
In the religious epic movie, Mohammed-Messenger of God, we see a lot of stunning
desert scenes, intense debates and violent battles. But nowhere do we ever see
the Prophet Mohammed himself. Mohammed is never shown on the screen because
Sharia law forbids his depiction. Sometimes we see his walking stick, but not
the prophet himself. Sometimes he is asked questions but he doesn't say anything
in reply.
How different is the Christian understanding and approach to Jesus Christ very
vividly enunciated by the author of the letter to the Hebrews, “In times
past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets;
In this, the final age, he has spoken to us through his son” (Heb 1: 1-6).
What the author of the Letter to the Hebrews says above is very much evidenced
in the call and mission of Bishop Chikwe to shepherd the flock of God in his
home diocese, Ahiara, where the people through their first bishop have gone
beyond hearing about Jesus the way we heard about Mohammed in the movie; where
people have gone beyond seeing Christ's walking stick or being told that he
is present in the tabernacle of some church but have seen and felt him in their
bishop, a man with a deep sense of the sacred, always available, ever listening
and very caring.
Thus what we are doing today is not a sentimental celebration. It is the expression
of an avowed commitment to give thanks to God for the very many favours and
successful life he has given the Most Rev Victor Chikwe. Thus this is a thanks-giving
service and in every respect so.
At 70, the very first thing that comes to mind, both as celebrant and among
those who celebrate with you is that it is a moment of thanks giving. In addition,
at 70, one is not only celebrating a birthday; in fact, a year in the life of
a 70 year old is usually filled with anniversaries. The 70 year old rejoices
at attaining the biblical full human life span which is three scores plus ten.
At 70, one has had many experiences in life: freedom, justice, fairness, goodness,
passion and their contraries; sometimes in their bounties but also sometimes
in their wretchedness. At 70, one would have developed some interests, but also
overcome so many others. At 70, one has so many stories to tell. A 70th Birthday
is a time to relax. But it is also a time to reflect, to reflect, of, course,
on all the personal blessings; the blessing of the priesthood, the blessing
of the bishopric, success in the ministry, and all the positive impact on the
life of many men and women, etc. etc. A 70th Birthday is also a time for wishes
and hopes, and a time for serious reflection on the privilege of having been
part of a history. It is a time to 'look back and indeed look forward in the
presence of family members, friends and well-wishers in a unique and unforgettable
joy. That is why a 70th Birthday is a challenge of thanksgiving.
At the same time, as the 70 year old gives God thanks for his life, the younger
people pay him tribute. That is to say, a 70th Birthday is an important time
to listen. At 70, one listens as people tell him how he has lived his life and
what be would be remembered for. They want to tell you how you taught them to
work hard and to do a job right; how you taught them to respect authority and
never to talk back; how you taught them the fear of the Lord, which the Holy
Bible says is the beginning of wisdom. They will also remember and tell you
how you taught them to be good and God-fearing priests. They will remember that
you taught them that when life gets hard, they should not just sit idly feeling
sorry for themselves, but that they should instead do what they must do etc.
etc.
Let me quickly point out that 70 years can be a short time or a long time depending
from which point you are looking at it, either from above or from below. Surely
there are some teenagers here for whom a 70 year old is really an old man (Old,
Agadi, Okongwo). Some such people here now might be whispering to one another,
“Anyi amaghi na Dee Chikwe wu di agadi”! But to those older than
he, most of whom are also here, the 70 year old is nevertheless a young man.
Such people would be saying, “Lele, Bishop Chikwe wu di nwata”!
For this class of people, 70 years is like yesterday, come and gone. Did not
a certain famous Nigerian septuagenarian boast that after all, life begins at
70?
However one may look at it, the fact remains that 70 years is no small thing,
especially if you packed so much into it as our celebrant, Bishop Chikwe, has
surely done. What has Bishop Chikwe done all these 70 years? Much! For the first
30 years of his life, the period before his ordination, I have little or no
information. On the remaining 40 years, I have some real information, first
hand information for that matter, which one cannot pretend to exhaust in only
one sermon. Hence, we can only begin to say a little about who Bishop Chikwe
is and what manner of man he is.
As already hinted, I first met His Lordship in 1968. He was then a Biafran Army
chaplain in charge of 64 Brigade Ezinnachi, Okigwe and Ginger Brigade Ofeme,
Umuahia. Fr. Chikwe was then living at the abandoned Ugwaku Ezinnachi Maternity
home not far from the 64 Brigade HQ. I know most of you will now be trying to
imagine our celebrant 40 years ago, a priest in army uniform, riding a Volkswagen
Beetle car and always shuttling between Okigwe and Umuahia war fronts. He was
a very important person in both Barracks and in the neighbourhood, almost as
important as the commanders. Fr Chikwe would instruct and oversee the distribution
of relief to refugees and administer the Sacraments to them. Fr. Chikwe constantly
baptized and administered the sacraments to so many soldiers before they set
off for the battle front and occasionally visited the Attack HQs to celebrate
Mass for them and to hear their confessions.
In all these, Fr. Chikwe showed authentic love, he was very sensitive to their
needs and hurts, he reached out with both material help and psychological support,
and offered friendship and understanding. While to the soldiers he was both
a priest and a colleague, to the refugees and natives he was loving and most
caring father. This is my resume of the wartime activities of our celebrant
that span through the three years of the civil war. I have taken time to give
this account in order for us to better appreciate the Chikwe of the later years.
After the war in 1970, stripped of the army uniform, Fr. Chikwe resumed peacetime
pastoral duties. The rest of his movements and pastoral achievements as, parish
priest of St Joseph's parish, Uzoagba; one of the longest serving parish priests
of Mount Cannel, Emekuku; the Financial Administrator of Bigard Memorial Seminary,
Enugu; Member of the State Education Board Mbaitolillkeduru; Chairman of Owerri
Diocesan Marriage Tribunal; Chaplain of Owerri Diocesan Christian Women Organization;
Chairman of the Owerri Diocesan Music Comission; the president of the Association
of Nigerian Indigenous Priests, ANIME, Owerri diocese; you all know as well
as I do.
AHIARA DIOCESE AND BISHOP CHIKWE
Just as not much can be said about the history of the people of God, Israel,
without mention of the servant of God, Moses, not much can be said of Ahiara
Diocese without reference to Bishop Chikwe. His elevation to the bishopric can
very well be likened to the call of Moses from tending the flock of Jethro,
his father-in-law to leading the Israelites, (Exodus 3-7). It can also be likened
to the call of Gideon from beating out wheat in the wine press to leading the
Israelites out of the hands of the Midians (Judges 6:1-6, 11-24). Both, like
our celebrant, were called to lead their own native people into prominence.
On January 6, 1988, precisely 20 years ago, our celebrant was ordained the first
bishop of Ahiara by the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II in the haloed Basilica
of St. Peter, Rome. Again, I was there as his boy, then from Belgium, to carry
his bag and accompany him through the various offices he had to enter in Rome.
I report here without fear of error that the words of St Augustine from several
of his homilies, have found concrete evidence in the life and Episcopal ministry
of Bishop Chikwe in these 20 years:
In 20 years, Bishop Chikwe has built and helped to transform this rural and
then empty diocese into an enviable place. His Lordship has brought not only
spiritual up-liftment but also development of the whole human person, a holistic
approach to pastoral work into the diocese. His charisma and tireless attitude
to work have aroused lethargic people to action; he has always gingered people
from passivity to enthusiasm. In fact, only people who knew the state the diocese
was at inception can value what is being said at this juncture.
In 20 years, the diocese has grown from 19 parishes to 70. Ahiara Diocese under
Bishop Chikwe, has such a rich variety of both indigenous and foreign priests
as well as men and women religious communities and can boast of having one of
the largest crops of highly enlightened priests in the country. The vocation
boom in Ahiara is such that the diocese is correctly designated as “the
Ireland of Nigeria”.
Bishop Chikwe has been able to begin and bring this magnificent Maria Mater
Ecclesiae Cathedral to this near-completion level that we find it today. I remember
when his Lordship started this gigantic project, he had always believed that
even though the building of the Cathedral might not be completed in one day
but that it would not go on forever. In short, he had always prayed and aimed
at completing it in record time.
What do we then say about the glorious Spiritual Year seminary in Enyiogugu,
what about the daunting pastoral centre cum priests' retirement home in Nguru,
the many schools, convents and health facilities dotting the entire diocese?
He was one of the first to bring telephone services to Mbaise. Ahiara Diocese
established and still maintains the most viable telephone and internet services
in the area. In case you do not know, Dee Chikwe is one of the very few people
in this country that derive more than 90% of their electricity from the solar
energy.
My dear friends, I have been led by all these to summarize my impression of
our celebrant in one word, SUPERMAN. He is a Superman. The movie SUPERMAN is
a modern messianic myth. Superman is a new messiah sent by his father with the
following instruction;
Earthlings can be a great people, they lack only the light.
For this reason I've sent them you, my only son.
The remarkable statistics of the life of our celebrant we have briefly sketched
very clearly interprets his first name, Victor, a conqueror and... Shows how
very much he is brave man, a bulldozer, a pathfinder. It sends a message to
people that there is no such thing as inevitability. From his characteristic
Mbaise trait of toughness and courage we have learnt there are times when a
Christian has to fight like a soldier in war or like an athlete in a contest;
like a person born in poverty or like someone with a handicap. We have learnt
that there are times when we have to be bold, not timid; aggressive, not passive;
daring not hesitant. Thus far, we can see that there are a lot about the celebrant
for which we need to give thanks and glory to God.
However, in the Book EVEREST THE HARD WAY, Chris Bonnington one of the world's
greatest mountain climbers, tells the story of human weakness, the account of
how he and his team climbed the insurmountable Southeast face of Mt. Everest.
At 29,000 feet, Mt Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Bonnington
himself did not make it to the top of Mt Everest. Four of his colleagues did,
but only three came down. He writes;
At 25,000 Ft, you're using the oxygen mask. Every single step takes will power
and the most of your physical exertion. You command yourself to take twenty
paces upward without a rest. Most of the time you make only eighteen before
falling down in snow in exhaustion. This experience recounted by one of the
greatest mountain climbers, compels me, at this juncture, to make a bold statement.
I am going to advise my master, Bishop Chikwe. Generally it is not safe for
an inferior to advise a superior. It is not safe for a younger person to admonish
an elder especially if he is a bishop and the younger one is a mere priest,
Fr ntakiri, like me. But to play safe, I would rather advise him in the name
of the very many people in this cathedral who are older than the bishop, those
who are 70 and above.
My advice, or rather your advice, is that His Lordship should go easy, Festina
lente (Latin), Langsam langsam (German), Nwayo Nwayo (Igbo). Even though a certain
70 year old boasted that life, after all, begins at 70, I have not attained
70 yet, but some people who have clocked it have told me that at that age the
old body is no longer what it used to be. At 70, the one time energetic body
begins to slow down and therefore expects its owner to do the same. The practical
consequences of overtaxing the body at 70 are very staggering. My Lord, your
duty, to your body is no longer optional but essential, at least for the sake
of your flock that love and therefore care for your wellbeing. For as you know,
My Lord, “uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”. Surely the
crown does not weigh less at 70. No! I imagine that it weighs heavier at that
age.
Permit me brothers and sisters to congratulate the Church of Ahiara for yet
another positive development in their life. I congratulate you, the clergy,
the Religious men and women, the laity and in particular the CWO whose national
president is from Ahiara, for organizing this beautiful birthday celebration
for your bishop. Because of the unrivalled love you have for him, you insisted
on having this event in this elaborate manner even when the bishop, in his simplicity,
had requested to have it simple. For the sake of that same love, you have done
a lot for him these 70 years. My appeal is that you continue to support him
with your prayers in the years that lie ahead. The bishop needs also our moral
and material support. He can also manage your criticisms if they are constructive
and not destructive and nasty. In all cases, the Bishop needs our understanding
and good will.
I congratulate each and every one, for all we have been to the celebrant. As
we have come with joy on this feast day of Sts. Joachim and Anna the parents
of Mama Maria, as we have also come in the spirit of St. Paul whose commemorative
year we have just inaugurated, my prayer is that the gift of oneself that is
called for in all these celebrations, urge us to give our lives and our resources
more and more, to the service of God and the Church.
Finally, our dear Bishop, I wish on behalf of all of us present in this cathedral,
also on behave of your many other friends and well-wishers who could not be
at this celebration, to congratulate you on your 70th birthday. Hip! Hip! Hip!
Hip! Hip! May God in his immeasurable richness grant you many more healthy and
flourishing years. Amen. AD MULTOS ANNOS.