Delegation West Nigeria: August 02–13, 2023. The Visit of Animation to the West Nigeria Delegation by VR Fr Manuel Tamargo CMF, the General Econome of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ended with a rekindled hope and renewed energy for GOING FORTH, a better future for the Claretian Missionaries and their various Apostolates in this part of the world. It was truly an August Visit. Cordial, fraternal, purposeful. Truly animating. Thanks to the General Government.
It all began with his arrival on Wednesday, 02/2023, when he was warmly welcomed to the Delegation’s Curia House in Ojodu, Lagos, Nigeria.
Always a man of action, the General Visitor on Thursday, August 03, immediately had a meeting with VR Frs Augustine Medaiyedu and John Paul Achi, the Major Superior and Major Econome of the Organism respectively. Soon after the meeting, he visited the Postulancy House in Ibefun, Ijebu-Ode Diocese, Ogun State.
The third day of his visit on Friday, 04/2023 was heavily crowded. He had a meeting with all the brothers in the Curia House, visited the CMF Water Factory, and thereafter, made for the Claret Academy (School) Ewu-owa in Ikorodu area of Lagos. On his way back to the Curia, he made a courtesy break at St. Augustine’s Parish Ikorodu, where the Claretian Missionaries have been ministering with vigor since early 2000.
On Saturday, August 05, after a brief tête-à-tête with the Major Econome, the Visitor who we affectionately call Padre Manolo, paid an all-important second duty call to the Delegation Communications House, Isolo, Lagos in company of the Superior and the Econome. They were opportunely welcomed by the excited Director/Editor of the Media Activity, Fr Rebecca Marcellinus Igirigi. Manolo had visited the Outfit four years ago, where he blessed the Altar and the Monstrance donated by one of our benefactresses. This event has been posted on our website. (<Click here to read>)
The visiting train moved determinedly to another location from Sunday, August 06 to Tuesday the 8th. Padre Manolo and his Delegation entourage had their Sunday Mass while visiting the Institute of Consecrated Life in Africa, (InCLA), in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Thence, the General Econome went to inspect the Delegation landed property at Lugbe, in the heart of Abuja. In sequence, the two pastoral areas of St Jude’s Zuba and St Dominic’s Kwali, all in the Archdiocese of Abuja, received the Guest.
On the ninth and tenth days of the Animation Visit, precisely, Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th, Fr Tamargo went to the Claretian Theologate in Ibadan, Oyo State where he interacted with the Bursars. From there he went to inspect the CMF Farm in Osogbo, Osun State. Afterward, he checked on the yet-to-be developed landed estate in Ekiti, Ekiti State, within the jurisdiction of the Organism. Thus, he traversed three large states of the South West of Nigeria – in just one day.
The following day was Friday 11. It was the turn of the Parish and Pastors of St Lawrence Saki, in Oyo Diocese, Oyo State, to welcome the August Visitor. What a gracious coincidence that a parish that is adorned in a new nuptial frock for Church Dedication on this August 27 to receive a Visit of Animation as an introductory activity.
The eleventh day of the Visit, like every momentous event winding down, had tight agendas. It was Saturday the 12th. Fr Manuel firstly went to scrutinise the landed property at Lekki, a peninsula in the highbrow area of Lagos. Then, he met with the Delegation Council and concluded the day with a virtual meeting with the Economic Council of the Organism.
Lastly, the curtain draws on the Visit of Animation by the General Prefect of Economy, Padre Tamargo. Having successfully rekindled the light of hope in the young Delegation of West Nigeria he departed Lagos for Rome on Sunday, August 13, 2023.
This visit, reverberates one of the biblical verses very dear to the life, vision and mission of our holy Founder Padre Claret, and which we, his sons memorise with deep spirituality and acclaim with devoted nostalgic echo: “I have come to cast fire on the earth, and I wish it were burning already” (Luke 12:49).
Thank you, Padre Manolo. Tarry not any while to return!
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