Vice Provincial Superior Kingsley Onyekuru with newly invested novices (standing, left to right) Anthony Opara, Ojatta Theophilus, Adzaklu Bright, Akoma Johnkennedy, Benedict Anyanwu, Nwachukwu Agbada Kenna, Ojukwu Charles and Patrick Njim and (foreground) Agbom Basil
Vice Provincial Superior Kingsley Onyekuru of the Vice Province of Nigeria presided over the Mass of Investiture for nine novices – eight from Nigeria and one from Ghana – on March 16 at Mater Domini novitiate in Enugu.
Five Redemptorist priests and approximately 50 well-wishers witnessed this once-in-a-lifetime event for Anthony Opara, Ojatta Theophilus, Adzaklu Bright, Akoma Johnkennedy, Agbom Basil, Benedict Anyanwu, Nwachukwu Agbada Kenna, Ojukwu Charles and Patrick Njim.
In his homily, Fr. Kingsley explained that being clad in the Redemptorist habit commissions the novices to witness to the mission of the Most Holy Redeemer. He said that the habit is a symbol of the missionary life to which they have been called, and urged them to remember that there will be nothing more important than the missionary life to which they have been called.
Fr. Kingsley offered his congratulations to the novices and blessed their rosaries, cinctures and habits. They joyfully gave their assent when he asked them about their readiness for the habit, and they were dressed by: Fathers Boniface Nnabuike, Novice Director; Henrymary Mbanefo, Pre-Novice Director; Wilfred Chiwetalu, Vocations Director; Remigius Okere, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Iva-Valley, Enugu; and Philip Obasi, secretary of the Vice Province of Nigeria.
Congratulations to these nine novices, who are looking forward to their First Profession during the first week of August!
Above: Vice Provincial Superior Kingsley Onyekuru accepts the offerings with concelebrants during the Mass of Investiture (seated, left to right): Fr. Henrymary Mbanefo, Fr. Boniface Nnabuike, Fr. Wilfred Chiwetalu and Fr. Remigus Okere.
by Philip Obasi, C.Ss.R.
Secretary, Vice Province of Nigeria
(Photos by Fr. Philip Obasi)
