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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The decision of the Catholic Church to send the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka to a monastery for spiritual rejuvenation and direction is raising a lot of dust.
This is as some of Mbaka’s adherents have vowed that there would be no adoration at the Umuchigbo, Emene-based ministry without their leader, Fr. Mbaka.
Immediately the decision of the church was announced at the adoration ground last Sunday, the entire crowd went wild in anger, raining abuses on the Bishop of the Enugu Catholic Diocese, Callistus Onaga and the new priest, Fr. Anthony Amadi, who was sent to replace Fr. Mbaka.
The adherents had gathered on that Sunday without an inkling that their ‘Daddy’ as Mbaka is fondly called would be proceeding to an indefinite confinement at a monastery in far away, Edo State.
Fueled by a mixture of shock and raw emotions, the crowd charged towards the new priest, Fr. Amadi and would have hurt him save for the timely intervention of some adoration stewards and other priests who shepherded him to safety at the adoration parsonage.
The teeming adoration faithful vehemently rejected the decision of the church, including the priest who was later discovered to have been chosen by Mbaka himself to serve as his placeholder.
They also threatened to take their anger to the streets should the bishop go ahead to execute the decision of the church.
Sunday Sun gathered that tempers eventually calmed when they learnt that the church would not rescind its decision on the issue, including the fact that it was the fiery priest who nominated Fr. Amadi to hold forth while he would be away.
But some of them vowed that they would not have anything to do with the adoration ground, including attending the mass, until their “Daddy” returns.
According to one of them, Uzoamaka Okoro, there is no adoration without Mbaka.
“Mbaka is the one we know. If they insist that he should not be with us, then they should forget it because for me, I will not go there if Mbaka is not the one officiating.
“I was so happy when Daddy announced that our ministry is reopened. I thought it was the end of this travail, but little did I know that the issue is yet to be resolved. They should have just left us the way we were managing,” he lamented.
Ngozika Udeh also said that she would not be part of any activities at the spiritual ground if Mbaka was not around.
Also, some others expressed disappointment on the turn of events, even as they said they would continue to support the embattled priest.
However, Mrs Ozoagu Chidiebere, the idea of protesting against the decision was never an option.
Her words: “I never supported violence in anything I’m involved in. We are children of God and it’s not good for us to take certain matters into our hands.
“We all saw the destruction caused by people who are not even adorers the last time there was a protest. Didn’t we all regret embarking on the protest in the first place? If, indeed, we Catholics, we should have maximum respect for our Bishop.”
Many others who waxed philosophical argued that it was not time for adorers to despair.
Chinwe Nnamani prayed for strength for Fr. Mbaka as he proceeded to the monastery.
“The Lord is your strength. What God cannot do does not exist. God makes everything new in its time. Don’t panic, God is still on the throne. He will not leave us mostly in the moment of trial,” she prayed.
Also praying for the priest, Favour Okpara said: “My Daddy Fr. Mbaka, may the good Lord protect you for us adorers. May he save you from evil hands; may God give you the strength to overcome your enemies. May the angel of God never depart from you, we are praying for you, Daddy. May the Holy Spirit be with you!”
However, the Director of Communications, Enugu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Achi, told Sunday Sun that there was nothing anybody could do at this point for Fr. Mbaka, pointing out that the decision has already been taken by the church.
He clarified that Fr. Mbaka remains the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry as Fr. Amadi would only be there until anytime he returns.
Achi said: “For now, Mbaka will proceed to the monastery. That is what will happen for now. You know, when people talk of replacement, there is no replacement anywhere.
“Mbaka is still the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry. But the church has directed that he proceeds on this spiritual exercise. He was the one that chose the priest who he introduced last Sunday.
“The priest is there to conduct mass for the faithful on Sundays only. It doesn’t include other days or other activities of the adoration ministry. So, he is only holding forth for Mbaka until he returns.
“This priest has his own parish where he would be going back to after each service. For Fr. Anthony Amadi, we are also concerned about his safety. He can’t go there for now because it is not safe for him.”
In the meantime, Fr. Mbaka had in a video posted on Facebook by the Adoration Ministry on Wednesday, warned his followers against any form of protest or anything that would trigger trouble.
Addressing his followers, he announced that he was heading for the monastery in obedience to the decision of the church and the bishop.
“Please, as I have said, I heard some people are planning to protest. I have not asked anybody to protest for me. And I don’t want to hear that there is any protest done to express anger towards my journey to the monastery.
“Help me fellow adorers to stop any kind of protest that anybody will carry on my behalf to please me. Instead of the protest, or demonstration geared towards helping me, it may jeopardize my priestly call.
“Therefore, encourage peace, encourage love, within this time and do more prayers and God of heaven will do the rest for us in Jesus name.”
The priest stated that this was the time to know real adorers, urging them to back him with their prayers so that he will go and embark on deeper reflection, sober contemplations and interior waiting on the Lord.
“I want to assure you that God has plans for us for a future and hope and not of disaster. Use this opportunity to call on God for integral wellness and wellbeing of the adoration ministry that is the apple of God’s eyes.
“I wish to inform you fellow adorers that this is not a time to be cantankerous, sorrowful, and angry unnecessarily.
“Stand up in faith and I plead, do not give the devil any opportunity. As a catholic priest, under the vow of obedience, I must obey the mother church. Please, in my absence don’t do anything that is awful, anything in any shape or form that gives the devil iota of glory. Let us not fall into any trap that the devil has set,” he admonished them.
On Fr. Amadi, Mbaka urged all adorers to obey, pray and listen to him, noting that he will be back in a short while.
Our reporter could not obtain from the church how long Mbaka’s spiritual exercise at the monastery would last.
Many adoration faithful who expressed their opinion on the matter said they were ready to obey the admonition of their spiritual leader, Fr Mbaka.
