How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity (Ps 133:1).
This has been the experience of the Delegation students (41) gathered at the Theology House, Elerumoke, Ibadan, for the annual summer programme since the 28th of August, 2017. This year’s programme has been surnamed: Communication in Community Life’ and anchored by the veteran missionary Rev Fr Marcellinus Rebecca Igirigi, cmf.
It began with a retreat moderated by Fr Victor Ogundipe, O.P, with the central theme: ‘Discovering the beauty of my religious life’ (August.30- September 6). On the 7th of September 20 Claretians renewed their commitment in the religious life while on the 8thof same month Bro. Olufemi Martin made his first commitment and Ameh Paul, cmf, Agada Philip, cmf and Ofuani Jude, cmf made their final professions.
However, the summer programme essentially commenced on September 10. It is spiced by a rainbow of multi-ethnic coloration of students from different parts of Nigeria. Consequently, liturgical celebrations, `…prayers brought to perfection in the Eucharist, which is the sign of unity and the bond of love` (cc. no 12) and other community prayers like daily rosary have been garnished sonorously in about 15 languages. Other schedules include: vitalizing conference (which the Father animator christened ‘Dialogue’), diverse sporting activities to keep the body alert, regular sanitary tasks to keep the ambient youthful and healthy, fraternal dialogues at meals orchestrated in varied tongues all aimed at `preserving the unity of the spirit by the peace that binds us together` (cc. 17).
The enthralling Encounter (using Fr Igirigi’s term for Conferences) reached its climax with short film show and power point presentations of Marketing Mix adapted for the benefits of missionaries in the ‘religious market’. Those summarized the encounter whose catchword was ‘Communication in Community Life’.
Furthermore, this concluding part of the Summer Holiday Programme 2017 was no less loaded with so much quality as it began. We had medical practitioners for health talks and checks. Afterwards we had a picnic, rather, visit to Olumo Rock.
In addition, at those fading hours of the grace-filled activities, Friday, September 29, to be precise, we had the privilege of participating in an intense spiritual exercise that culminated in the Sacrament of reconciliation directed by Fr EkeneUgwoegbu, the resident Pastor of St Gabriel’s Catholic ChurchMokola, Ibadan.
Sunday being October 1, we had a quadruple of celebrations. First, was the 57th Independence Day of our dear country Nigeria, secondly the solemnity of Mary Queen of Nigeria (Patroness of Nigeria), thirdly the official closing of the summer holiday programme and later, a fun-packed socio-cultural soirée within which five of our missionary students celebrated their birthdays.
The Holy Mass, which is the bond of our community life (as echo our holy books), with Fr Rebecca, Cmf as the principal celebrant ended the programme. The commons of the Mass were rendered in our different languages (none was repeated) depicting the unity that exists in our diversity. That alsowas clearly demonstrated in our various traditional cultural paraphernaliaand in the prayers of the faithful (offered in 11 different Nigerian languages: Tiv, Isoko, Ijaw, Igbo, Idoma, Hausa, Igala, Yoruba, Ufia, Urhoboetc).
We are grateful to God, our Blessed Mother Mary and our Holy Father Founder St Anthony Mary Claret for the successful completion of this year’s programme. We thank the Delegation Superior and his Council for this initiative, their support and prayers. It has been roundly informative, soundly educative and broadly entertaining. We are, thus, indebted to the facilitator, the veteran missionary Fr. Marcellinus Rebecca Igirigi, Cmf, for an all-round resourcefulness in a marathon of religious, socio-cultural, intellectual and specifically, missionary voyage. To the Prefect of theologians, Fr Francis Ofoegbu, Cmf, we say ‘thank you’ for your sacrifices – hospitality and availability. We shall come again. No doubt.
To the partakers of the programme, philosophy and theology students of the Delegation, remember, as says Fr Marcellinus, cmf, ‘we came here not to leave, but to live’. Thanks for your attention.
We congregate again next year by God’s grace and Mary’s intercession.
By Samuel Aghedo and Benson Amedu (Programme redactors)