Ibefun, Nigeria. It was all joy for the young missionaries of West Nigeria Independent Delegation who gathered at the Postulate House in Ibefun on 30th of April to 4th of May 2018 for their first Quinquennium. Frs. Peter Okonkwo, CMF and Charles Udeh, CMF were the moderators of the one-week ongoing formation program. Their Major Superior, Rev. Fr. Daniel Onyeayana, CMF, celebrated the opening Mass.
There were moments of sharing one’s missionary experiences in their various apostolates since after ordinations, both happy and painful ones. The moderators made use of the Bible, the Constitutions and Directory, the Catechism, Vatican II Documents and the Canon Law and urged them to be abreast with information from our Claretians and the Vatican’s websites. Fr. Peter meticulously shared to them the topic on Consecrated Life and took the participants through a journey into its fundamentals. He cited Canons 96, 849, 204 and more to help buttress the importance of sharing in the priestly, prophetic and kingly life of Christ. He also made use of the Exhortations by Pope Francis on Consecrated Life to encourage all religious men and women to appreciate their religious calling: Witnesses of Joy, Keep Watch and Rejoice.
The program went without admonitions to the brothers on proper community living, making returns, taking their health into consideration, welfare and retirement scheme, annual leave, and always to embrace ways of improving the self when the need arises. The participants were much edified that they were part of the program.
