18 de enero de 2005: celebración de la alianza de amor en el Santuario de Nigeria January 18, 2005: Covenant celebration in the Shrine in Nigeria 18. Januar 2005: Bündnisfeier im Heiligtum in Nigeria
Peregrinos llegando al Santuario Pilgrims coming to the Shrine Pilger auf dem Weg zum Heiligtum
Vienen con alegría, esperanza, confianza... They come with joy, hope, confidence Sie kommen mit Freude, Hoffnung und voller Vertrauen
Alabanza Let’s praise the Lord for the Covenant of Love Die Freude am Liebesbündnis hinaustrommeln …
Acto del Capital de Gracias Climax of the celebration:offering the capital of grace Das ist der Höhepunkt: Verschenken der Beiträge zum Gnadenkapital
Polvo en el aire y en todos lados... Dust in the air and everywhere... Staub in der Luft und überall
Un corriente de peregrinos... A stream of pilgrims Es ist schon ein richtiger kleiner Pilgerstrom... Fotos: Johnson Nellessery © 2005

NIGERIA, Fr. Johnson Nellessery. Pilgrims are simply taking over …making the Shrine in Ibadan, Nigeria, their own. The first Covenant Celebration of 2005 took an interesting turn as more pilgrims came to the Shrine to pray and celebrate with the Fathers’ Community. And it seems that this is just the beginning… the youngest Schoenstatt Shrine in the world is more and more turning into a place of pilgrimage and is a centre of a growing Schoenstatt Movement in Nigeria.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament between 3.00 pm and 6.00 pm, part of the Schoenstatt Families’ contribution for the Year of the Eucharist, took place during the Covenant Celebration, which began with a rosary procession. A reading from the Second Founding Document formed the basis of a talk, which was given by Fr. Johnson. Before the close of the celebration at 7.30pm the pilgrims all renewed their Covenant of Love. Because of the increase in the number of pilgrims who visit the Shrine, there is now a greater need to have better facilities, such as, microphones, loud-speakers, chairs, etc.

The Archbishop recommends the Shrine

During a New Year party with the priests, religious and the leading lay people of the diocese the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ibadan, Felix Alaba Job, who blessed the Shrine in October, praised the dedication of the Shrine as one of the greatest events that had taken place in his Archdiocese during last year. He stressed that everybody should visit the Shrine frequently.

Dusting the Shrine

Since Christmas, Nigeria has experienced a change in weather. Harmattan is a time when everything dries up; it is the time when the winds from the Sahara desert mark the climate. All the fresh leaves wither and die; the air is so very dry and everywhere is dusty; the temperature drops and the morning remains cold (about 15°C). The Shrine is also exposed to these harsh weather conditions and therefore some volunteers have committed themselves to dusting the Shrine every two hours in order to keep it free from huge amounts of dust.

This could be an incentive for us during our Lenten striving - there may be more "Harmattans" that cover our Shrines. Our home shrines and our heart shrines may need a regular dusting!

Saved from an armed robbery attack

The first Nigerian Deacon, Br. Peter, has started his work in the parish and was very busy during the Christmas season. Despite his tight pastoral schedule, he is happy with his work and especially with the priest he is working with. Because his parish priest has taken his annual leave this month, Br. Peter is the parish administrator.

Br. Peter was recently saved from an armed robbery attack when he inadvertently boarded a township-bus on which there were robbers. All of his valuables were taken but he was unhurt, thanks to the Blessed Mother.

The First Youth Groups underway

One boy’s group and one girl’s group, from Ibadan, will be the first Schoenstatt Youth groups to make their Covenant of Love in February. On 23^rd January they celebrated the Holy Eucharist with Fr. Johnson Nellissery as part of their preparation.

From 11th to 14^th of January, the Superiors of the Religious Communities in Nigeria met in Enugu. Fr Alfred Kistler represented the Schoenstatt Fathers; and 54 female and 25 male communities were present. Among the many topics discussed were the contributions for the year of the Holy Eucharist, the establishment of the Catholic University in Abuja (Capital of Nigeria) and the Institute for the formation training. There was also a meeting with the Nuncio and the local bishop who were entertained with inspirational cultural dances.

Taken from: Victory 1/2005, newsletter of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Nigeria

English Edition: Pat McEvoy, Liverpool, England