Claretian Missionaries - West Nigeria Delegation

10 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

Hurrah! The Claretian Missionaries West Nigeria Delegation celebrates 10 years of her being raised to the status of an Independent Delegation in accordance with the precepts carefully laid down in the official Documents of the Claretian Congregation. This divine-given joyful event occurred on October 24, 2017, spontaneously, the feast of our Holy Father Founder, St Anthony Mary Claret, the Mystic and Man of Action at St Augustine’s Catholic Church Maryhill, Ikorodu, Lagos.

10 year ago, precisely October 24, 2007, the ground was St Augustine’s Catholic Church (now main Church Hall), Maryhill Ikorodu, Lagos. There, in the presence of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, and populated by a large number of Claretians the official letter from the Superior General Very Rev Fr JosepMariaAbella was delivered inaugurating, therefrom, the elevation of then Dependent Delegation North-West to the status of an Independent Delegation. Very Rev Fr Henry Omonisaye, cmf was the pioneer Major Superior. (We cannot wait for an announcement declaring us a Province.)

Like a pleasant early morning rushing wind, the homily delivered by the seasoned Rev Fr Prof Marcel Onyeocha, cmf, set the roadmap for the constructive ways to tackling the new challenges. After all, he reasoned, a Claretian Missionary is so capable that he is a ten in one personality. In other words, the Claretians in the West are not only capable, they are also trustworthy to bring the good work the Lord has started to a basket full of wheats of salvation.

The inauguration saw also the crucial change in the nomenclature and consequently the juridical delineation of the new-born organism from the North-West Dependent Delegation. At the inauguration, it was christened The Claretian Missionaries West Nigeria Delegation.

However, on the 24th of October, 2017, 10years on, same venue St Augustine’s Maryhill Ikorodu, Lagos, the members of the Delegation gathered again to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Foundation. It marked 10 years of the re-naming and defining of its territoriality from North-West Delegation to West Nigeria Delegation.

Over 35 priests and many more women religious and Lay Claretians were present at the Holy Mass. Right Rev. Msgr John Aniagwu, the Vicar General of Lagos Archdiocese and Episcopal Vicar of IKeja Deanery was the Chief celebrant representing the Archbishop, His Grace, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins who was unavoidably absent.

It was indeed an occasion of immense joy even as our brothers working in different parishes ferried their parishioners to the celebration.

Fr Luke Swem Beba, cmf, in his homily gave a detailed account of how we started and the considerable progress the Delegation has made in areas of governance via formation, apostolate, economy, spirituality, youth ministry, vocation etc. Within the span of ten years, the Delegation has 10 communities, 2 residences in Nigeria and missions in South Africa.

Among the major highlights of the celebration were the presentation of our students from the Claret Comprehensive Academy Ikorodu and the Claret Secondary School Kabba (the latter opened three years ago). Then the unveiling of the CMF Table Water, which was done by the Major Superior, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Mary Onyeayana and Msgr Aniagwu summarized the unrivalled event.

We rely on the continuous intercession of our Mother and Foundress the Blessed Virgin Mary and the steady guidance of our Holy Father Founder, St. Anthony Mary Claret.

[CLICK HERE FOR THE HOMILY]