Sorry I can't post some of the photos which came with this email!
Second Visit To Nigeria
10 June – 07 July 2023
My first visit in Nigeria was in December 2020. Bishop Williamson asked me to visit two priests who
left novus ordo for Tradition. They were requesting conditional ordination. I met them and remained
ten days with them. The following year 2021, they went to Brazil for conditional ordination with
bishop Thomas.
Anaku, Anambra State
I left Gabon on Saturday morning, June 10. The flight to Lagos was nice. In Lagos, I stayed overnight
and the following morning, I went to the national airport for my flight to Asaba, Delta State. When I
arrived in Asaba, I was driven to Anaku, Anambra State. It was a two hour drive.
It was Sunday afternoon and at the priory, they had just finished Corpus Christi solemnity. I was
welcomed by Fr Mike Chigbata and two sisters. The sisters were former SSPX sisters in Kenya. Two
years ago, they decided to join our priests. They have started a new community, Sisters of Boni
Consilii. Later on, Fr Joseph Onuorah arrived from his ministry in another State.
The following day, Monday, the priests organized a formal welcome. They took me around the town.
I was able to see the destructions. There is a land dispute between Anaku and the neighboring town.
From time to time, the dispute becomes violent. Houses, buildings, shops are destroyed. People are
injured and even killed. Therefore there is insecurity in the area.
On Tuesday, we all left Anaku and went to Asaba, Delta State.
Asaba, Delta State
Insecurity in Anaku forced our priests to find a safer place. They relocated in Asaba, Delta State, the capital city. Asaba is a peaceful and middle size town. From Asaba it’s also easy to reach their four Mass centers. They have two Mass centers in Anambra State, one in Delta State and one in Imo State.
In Asaba, they have a new priory and a small Mass center where the sisters live. The chapel there is
dedicated to St Gabriel. They also have young men preparing for priestly vocation. They have a year
or two of probation. They have one Nigerian and one Ugandan in probation. Hopefully in a year or
two, they will be sent to Fr Chazal in the Philippines. We have already two Nigerians with Fr Chazal
for their first year of seminary.
On Sunday 18, faithful in Asaba welcomed me and then I went to Onistha, Anambra State, just across
the Niger River for a second Mass. After Mass, there was a special welcome for me.
Owerre-Ebierri, Imo State
On Saturday 24, I went with Fr Joseph to his mission dedicated to St Michael. He started it two years
ago in Owerre-Ebierri, Imo State. That State was the heartland of Biafra. In two years, Fr Joseph was
able to build a nice church. His faithful are very dynamic. They have been waiting for Tradition for
years.
In the afternoon, I heard confessions for an hour and a half. The following day, Sunday, I sang the
Mass and I was very impressed by the choir, an all girl choir with no boys ! After Mass, we had
benediction and they sang the divine praises. I was my first time to hear people singing them ! After
Mass, they welcomed me in a very special way. I gave them a conference. It was a very great Sunday
and the people were very happy.
After that very special stay in Imo State, we went back to the priory in Asaba. On Tuesday and
Wednesday 27-28, I preached a recollection to our priests and aspirants to priesthood. I had some
meetings with the priests and the sisters. I was impressed by the work achieved by our priests in
three years ! They have done a lot.
After four weeks of emotions and meetings, I had to fly back to Gabon. We were delayed in Asaba
and Lagos but eventually I arrived safely in Libreville on July 07.
Topic: Resistance in Nigeria (Read 906 times)