Lagos, Nigeria. Between Thursday the 27th of October and Thursday the 3rd of November the Fr General, Josep Maria Abella was in Delegation of West Nigeria to animate the apostolate of the Major Institute. He was on visit with the General Consultor Very Rev. Fr Emmanuel Edeh, cmf.
It was a very busy one week of work, meetings, visits with community members of the Delegation and in some cases, a one to one animation of the missionaries. He arrived on the evening of 27th of October and the following day, proceeded with a visit to the Ojodu residence of the Lagos Community. In this visit, he met with the Community members and also saw the newly inaugurated CLARET PLAZA, a self-sufficiency project of the Delegation.
The following day, Saturday the 29th of October, he travelled to the city of Ibadan, to the newly built Theologate at Ibadan with Fr Edeh, the Major Superior Fr Henry Omonisaye, cmf and quite a good number of the members of the Delegation. In that visit the Theologate was formally inaugurated by the Fr General himself to the delight of everyone present. Later, he proceeded to the Dominican Institute where the theology students who live in the theologate will have their theological studies.
On Sunday the 30th of October, the Fr General was the chief celebrant in an elaborate mass celebrated in Holy Family Catholic Church Festac town, in celebration of our Fr Founder. This celebration was a celebration of the entire claretian family of the Lagos community. There was a reception immediately after the mass. A talk was held about the life of Claret and there was a power point presentation on the life of the Delegation. The celebration was organized by the Lay Claretian Movement of the parish with the kind support of their parish priest, Fr Anthony Obadinah, cmf.
Monday the 31st, he proceeded with a visit to another formation centre, the Postulate house at Ibefun. The Postulate house is part of Ibefun Community that also has a Parish. The Father General took advantage of his presence in the Community to visit the Bishop of Ijebu-Ode diocese. He met with the postulants and the other members of the Community whom he animated with his presence and his words.
On Tuesday the 1st of November, he went to Igbo-Ora community at Oyo state and commissioned a self-sufficiency project of the Community, a Garri (food) processing factory. This facility according to the Superior of the community is the very first around Igbo-Ora and apart from serving as a self-help project for the Community, it will also contribute to the missionary ideal of community development and empowerment of the people.
2nd November he met with the Local Superiors and the with the Delegation Council in order to establish through the contribution of the superiors and the Council the real state and mood of the Institute. He finished his visit on the 3rd of November, his birthday. He celebrated a mass on that day in our Lady of Perpetual Help Victoria Island Lagos. The Parishioners of this Church hosted a breakfast on his behalf in celebration of his birth anniversary.
The Delegation is very thankful to the Father General and to Fr Emmanuel Edeh for unreserved love they showed to the Delegation as seen in their hardwork and disposition to encourage and animate the Institute. The Delegation hopes to build on this visit to increase her zeal and continue on the path of progress. (Photo)
