Nigeria: four new priests for the new year

Priestly ordination on December 30^th in Orlu, Nigeria

Para Schoenstatt en Africa For Schoenstatt in Africa Für Schönstatt in Afrika
Ordenacion diaconal en agosto Deacons’ ordination in august Diakonatsweihe im August
Compromiso con la comunidad Commitment to the community Ja zur Gemeinschaft
Seminaristas deNigeria Theologicans from Nigeria Theologen aus Nigeria Fotos: Kistler © 2006

NIGERIA, Father Alfred Kistler / mkf. On December 30^th there will be priestly ordinations in Nigeria: four young men from the Institute of Schoenstatt Fathers will receive the sacred orders from Monsignor Dr. Gregory Ochiagha in Orlu, in the eastern region of the country. They were ordained as deacons in the middle of the current year.

Some time ago, Monsignor Dr. Gregory Ochiagha visited Vatherhaus, the main house of the Schoenstatt Fathers ), at Mont Sion. He favorably accompanied the foundation of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Nigeria and he gave them good advice. He truly esteems Schoenstat; therefore, he has also invited the Sisters of Mary to establish themselves in his diocese. Charles Ozioko, Newman Egbo, Reginald Ibe and Kingsley Okereke will follow the footsteps of Father Meter Chukwuma, who was ordained a year and a half ago, and they are willing to "gladly consecrate their lives to the Schoenstatt mission", as priests and Schoenstatt Fathers. Father Franza Brugger, Provincial Superior of Germany and Father Juan Pablo Catoggio, Regional Superior of Argentina participated in this event.

The deacons were in Schoenstatt at the beginning of this year for their tertiary and to have a profound Schoenstatt experience. Since September, they worked in parishes in the eastern area of their country, which was their first pastoral experience. After the ordination they will return to these parishes to work as priests in their own language and within their culture, this will allow them to experience the life of the movement in countries that are already developed before they take up a new residence in a foreign place.

"Sion Nigeria has become native"

With the priestly ordination of these four deacons, the Nigerian Fathers are already the majority in the community of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Nigeria. "Sion Nigeria has become native", only ten years since the arrival of his community to Nigeria, said Father Kistler.. Presently there are 32 seminarians and novices on the road to the priesthood. After an interruption of four years, during August of this year, seven new candidates were accepted from about 236 requests. On October 18^th, two months after the candidacy began; the group surprised everyone with a theatrical presentation about Joseph Engling, as a modern saint with his person to person apostolate. The presentation was so fruitful that it motivated a group of mothers to seriously discuss how one can be a saint in daily life.

Everyone hopes that the ordination of these four young men will bring a strong irruption of grace for Schoenstatt in Nigeria from the Shrine of Victory.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA