No good roads. No Electricity. No water. 5am morning Masses. 1.30hrs drive from Benin, State Capital. 30 minutes’ drive from Uromi. Plenty challenges. Full of Hope!
The name is St Francis Catholic Church, Uzea, in Uromi diocese, Esan North-East Local Government, Edo State, Nigeria. It is the newest recorded parish in the entire country. And, for the interest and ‘holy’ envy of pathfinders, the first time the Claretian Missionaries are venturing their missioning activity into an area historically and officially called the Mid-Western Region at the Post-Independence division of Nigeria. Today, the Delta Region.
The pictures on this page demonstrate the joyful celebrations that graced the official opening of our new mission-parish starting with the Holy Eucharist led by Most Rev. Dr. Donatus A. Ogun, OSA, Bishop of Uromi diocese, flanked by our pioneer Claretian Missionaries Frs. Ugwu Ikenga Patrick and Sunday Ogom with other priests early on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
St Francis church is located in a mass green vegetation of the Delta region with a population mostly peasants and local pastoralists. The agrarian nature of this community is a primary factor that heavily influences the socio-cultural and religious life of the Church. For example, the morning masses are as early as 05am in order to permit the farmers pray before launching themselves into the thick but fertile farmlands.
Without doubt, every true missionary would dream of this mission. Happily, the echoes from the pioneer leader of the mission Fr Patrick are appetizing and spirit-lifting. In his own words, the assignment is “challenging particularly as a new mission and due to its remoteness, nevertheless, it is FULL OF PROSPECTS.” We put those words in the capitals because the phrase underpins the real unmistakable character of a Claretian Missionary when tasked. At that very moment when the ‘come comes to become’, Father Claret would insist: “Nothing daunts him, he delights in privation, welcomes work…”
While we congratulate the Delegation for this new mission in an entirely new land, we invite all persons of goodwill to make spiritual and financial budget for these young, vibrant and ready-to-work missionaries Patrick and Sunday as we hand them over to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St Anthony Mary Claret – Pray For Us!
Mission in Indeed! As one of the 2 elders sent to see the place in July 2018, I have no doubt of its flourishing in future than some of the existing missions we have in the Delegation. Stay well dear conferers. Longlive CMF
Good news that uplifts the heart. Frs God is your strength. Mission is part of us and we are part of the mission. Determination and trust and hope are the keys. Bravos
That’s the Spirit of Saint Anthony Mary Claret a Man on fire with God’s love and spreads it wherever he goes. Ride in the envangilization of the gospel of life and may the joy of the Lord be your strength. Congratulations West Delegation Claretian Missionaries, Nigeria
Congratulations to my brothers in the West. It is the way forward. God bless your missions.
May God continue to grant you wisdom and strength to carry out your mission work in the new place. Congratulations!