It was seven the last time but four was the number this year! The quadruplet is – Stephen Ifeanyi Okoli, Johnson Muruako Nwaigwe, Stephen Chinonso Offor and Bonaventure Arinze Ekwedike. They are men who made their perpetual profession as Redemptorists in the Vice Province of Nigeria.
The celebration commenced with the Eucharistic Liturgy presided by Fr. Kingsley Onyekuru, Vice Provincial Superior. The ceremony coincided with the concluding weekend of the Vice Provincial Assembly and occasioned a huge presence of confreres in attendance as a show of fraternal solidarity.
In his homily, Fr. Paschal Nwanwko, uniquely identified each member of the quartet accordingly – “Wise man,” “Strong man,” ” Blessed man,” and “Saintly man.” These are noticeable traits in each of the four men. Speaking further with reference to the Evangelical Counsel, the homilist explicated that Obedience is not a mark of weakness; Chastity provides the platform to love broadly without limit; while the vow of Poverty keeps us from competing with secular pleasures and desire for wealth. Hence, the men were told to perceive their consecration as a configuration to be co-redeemers for the proclamation of the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth, especially in tandem with the fact that the Congregation is an international family.
The ceremony was also well attended by immediate family members of the professed as well as priests, religious, friends, and well-wishers who were all treated to a luscious party. It was truly a memorable day for the Vice Province which now records a total of 114 perpetually professed Redemptorists. May the Lord be blessed for the continuous increase of vineyard labourers for the propagation of plentiful redemption.
Philip Obasi, CSsR
