Connect with us

Religion

More tension in Catholic as Bishop sacks Holy Ghost Fathers in Nnewi

Published

2 years ago

on

Tension is mounting in the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Anambra State following the decision of the Bishop, Most Reverend Jonas Benson Okoye to sack Holy Ghost Fathers residing at St Martin’s de Poures Catholic Church, Ihiala.

The Holy Ghost Fathers have been in charge of the St Martin’s Church for over 100 years, during which they established many churches and schools, including the popular Holy Ghost Juniorate Seminary, Ihiala and some universities in parts of the country.

It was gathered that the Bishop, at a recent meeting with priests in the Diocese, announced postings during which his Diocesan priests were posted to St Martin’s, Ihiala.

He was also said to have informed the Holy Ghost Fathers and members of the parish council that the Holy Ghost Fathers should leave the place immediately.

The Bishop has, however, agreed to leave the Juniorate Seminary, Ihiala and the Spiritual Farmers, Okija for the Holy Ghost Fathers.

The Holy Ghost Fathers have, however, said they would not leave because it was not the Bishop that gave them the parish.

Worried by the development in the area, some concerned citizens of Ihiala and other parishioners organized a protest around the church and faulted the decision of the Bishop to sack the Holy Ghost Fathers from Ihiala.

Secretary of the Coordinating Committee of the Concerned Ihiala Citizens, Mr. Nonye Chukwu Secretary said the people of Ihiala have written the Bishop to shelve the idea to sack the priests, regretting that he refused to act on their letter.

In an interview with reporters in Awka, Chukwu said: “We are having a problem with our Bishop, He issued an order that Holy Ghost Fathers who stay at St. Martins should pack out and that he doesn’t want them in Ihiala any more. This didn’t go down well with Ihiala Catholics.

“These Holy Ghost fathers have become endangered species. Immediately after the Nigerian civil war, the then government alleged that they were responsible for prolonging the war and then sacked them from Eastern Nigeria.

“Those of them who were foreigners left, while the Indigenous ones continued their missionary work up till now and they are the ones Bishop wants to sack.

“Where does he want them to go to? We have every reason to say no irrespective of the fact that he has all the powers on earth as Bishop.

“These Holy Ghost priests sustained our people during the war as some of them were even emergency pilots who brought relief materials to the war ravaged areas of the country”.

Chukwu recalled that as far back as 1962, the late Bishop Charles Henry of Onitsha Archdiocese gave out St. Martins to the Holy Ghost Congregation in pepertuity and definitive way, which means that there was a contract between two parties.

Related Topics:

Religion

Drama as pastor Paul Enenche confronts lady for sharing fake testimony (Video)

Published

5 days ago

on

April 15, 2024 12:33 pm

By

Paul Enenche, the senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), on Sunday, called out a woman for sharing what he claimed to be a “false testimony”.

A short video from the DIGC’s service went viral on social media wherein he confronted the woman during her testimony.

The lady had taken to the altar to testify how she became the first graduate in her family. She also thanked God for making it possible for her to graduate with a “Law degree from the National Open University Of Nigeria (NOUN)”.

She recounted how some spiritual forces prevented her and her siblings from attending universities and how she overcame them.

Enenche, however, asked the lady what degree she graduated with and she said “Law”. The clergyman thereafter inquired to know what kind of “Law degree”, to which the lady answered “BSc in Law”.

The cleric immediately pointed out that there is no such thing as a “BSc in law” — casting doubt on her testimony.

“Your testimony is a lie. There is nothing like a BSc in Law. Please go back to your seat. Bsc in Law. Is that how lawyers speak English?” the cleric asked rhetorically.

“Please, anybody who comes to this altar to share a testimony that is not true, you do it at the risk of yourself.

“We are not playing here. We are not faking anything here.”

The video has been widely circulated on social media platforms, with users airing their different opinions.

NOUN held its 13th convocation on Saturday. The convocation ceremony saw 22,175 students graduate across NOUN’s 120 study centres in Nigeria.

Of the graduates, 15,768 received their undergraduate degrees, while 6,407 were awarded postgraduate certificates.

Continue Reading

Religion

FG approves Thursday as additional public holiday for Eid-el-Fitr

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 9, 2024 8:34 am

By

The federal government has approved Thursday April 11 as an additional public holiday for this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Aishetu Ndayako, permanent secretary in the ministry of interior, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

On April 7, the federal government had declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays for the Muslim celebration.

Shortly afterwards however, Muhammad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, declared Wednesday as the first day of Shawwal 1445AH, adding that there was no sighting of the new moon on Monday.

In the new statement, Ndayako quoted Tunji Ojo, minister of interior, as congratulating the “Muslim Ummah for a successful completion of a month of spiritual rejuvenation”, while “reiterating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (GCFR) firm commitment to providing a safe and prosperous Nigeria for all to thrive”.

Continue Reading

Religion

FG declares Tuesday, Wednesday as public holidays for Eid-el-Fitr celebration

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 8, 2024 8:39 am

By

The federal government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, announced the public holidays in a congratulatory message to the Islamic faithful in the country.

Eid-el-Fitr festival is celebrated by Muslims worldwide after observing Ramadan fasting for 29 or 30 days.

The minister congratulated all Muslims in the country for the successful completion of the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

He called on faithful to imbibe and practice the virtues of kindness, love, tolerance, peace, good neighbourliness, and compassion as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

“The Minister wishes all Muslim Ummah a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration and prays that the peace, blessings and favour of Allah be with everyone and our Great Nation,” the statement reads.

Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to continue in the spirit of unity to improve and achieve peace and oneness in the country.

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...