By Christopher Oji
It was an emotional and spiritually charged congregation that observed Mass at Society of Saint Paul Catholic Church, Iju, Lagos State, last Sunday, as the church celebrated Indian-born Catholic priest, Reverend Father Francis Maniamkerry, 78, who marked his 50th priestly ordination anniversary that day.
The priest shared his experience with the audience, including how gunmen nearly shot him dead while celebrating morning Mass at Saint Paul’s Formation House, Ibadan, Oyo State, some years ago.
He told the congregation, including the Pauline Family who came from Kenya, Ghana and India to rejoice with him as the longest-serving priest in the Formation, how he came face-to-face with death, as well as how he and his brother became priests.
Fr. Maniamkerry said, “I had oftentimes heard of armed robbers, and many negative things happening in Nigeria. I got some discouragement but I said, if the congregation is in Nigeria, then I will also go to Nigeria. So, on the fateful day that I was celebrating Mass in our Formation in Ibadan, gunmen struck. They were pointing a gun at me and an old woman.
“I was surprised (at) what gumen were doing in our church. One of them was pointing his gun at me. When I discovered that they were robbers, I told them to allow us to finish the Mass, ‘then you can take whatever you want, money or anything.’ But one of the armed robbers took my superior inside the house, collected money and whatever was available that they could carry. When they left, we continued our Mass. We couldn’t stop the Mass because of armed robbers.”
The priest told the visibly impressed congregation that he was unmoved by the incident and yet thankful that no life was lost during the robbery: “I was not scared. I had heard so much about armed robbers that they would not easily shoot and I didn’t have any valuables as such, except for a gold chain I had. They robbed all who came for Mass and told us not to look at their faces. It was an experience that will remain indelible in my heart, but I thank God for everything.
“Today, I am happy. It is God’s blessing. I thank God and the blessed Virgin Mary. I implore the help of Mary for everything and anything. She is always with me. I know it, I experience it. When any problem comes, Mary is there.
“I was skeptical coming to Nigeria but, today, I am 17 years in Nigeria, almost two decades, and I love Nigeria so much. If those in charge ask me to remain here, I will stay. If they ask me to go elsewhere, I will go. On my part, I won’t leave Nigeria, but I respect those in authority.
“My advice to upcoming priests is to remain faithful to what is asked of us, fulfil the commandments and our rule, that is enough. Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commandments. If you keep the commandment and remain in the love of Jesus, grace and blessings will come into your life. I can tell you all that questions and distractions come to mind from time to time but I draw strength from Mary and Jesus.
“There is heaven and hell. People who teach that there is no heaven and hell are fake teachers. Believe in the one true Catholic Church when she tells you that hell and heaven exist, for they exist.”
Fr. Maniamkerry also recounted his career path in the Lord’s vineyard, from his early days to his acceptance into the Pauline Family and onwards. He said his journey started from boyhood, as attendance at Mass was mandatory for his devout family.
“Right from childhood, I was exposed to the Mass. My parents made it compulsory that we went for Mass. And through this attendance, the desire to become a priest developed in me, gradually. And when I was done with high school and was about to enter the university, I decided to become a missionary. That was the only thing I wanted to be. My elder brother also had the desire to be a priest so he entered a congregation called Little Flowers. He submitted his application there. He was told that admission was closed, they had got the required number. On his way back in the bus, he met a priest of the Society of Saint Paul, a Pauline priest. They discussed about vocation to the priesthood and the Pauline priest followed my brother home. In the course of conversations, I, Francis, also wanted to be a priest. So he decided to take both of us to begin formation to the priesthood in the Society of Saint Paul. After the interview, we were admitted in 1965. After about a year, my brother fell ill and could not continue the discernment in the Society of Saint Paul. He was asked to go and join a nearby diocese. The Bishop there was kind to him and he took him in the diocese as a social worker and, later, my brother told me he still wanted to become a priest. And while he was serving in that diocese, his school companion told him that there was a congregation called the Holy Trinity. He appled and was admitted. The congregation made arrangements for him to join the congregation in the United States, since it was not yet started in India.
“My brother travelled to the U.S. and joined the congregation there. And in 1984 he was ordained by Pope John Paul II in Italy. After that, my brother was sent to India to start the congregation of the Trinity in India.
“I completed my Theology and in 1976 I was was ordained on March 19. After that, I have been asked to work in various places and, in 2008, the Provincial Superior in India asked me to go to Nigeria and I accepted.”
For Fr. Maniamkerry, when a superior asks anything of him, he cannot say no. So, in June of 2008, he arrived in Nigeria. He worked in the Pauline community in Ibadan and was later asked to go to Enugu, where he worked for seven years, and then he was asked to go to Port Harcourt and, after seven years, again, he was asked to go back to Enugu and that is where he is working till now.
Earlier, during the homily, Reverend Father Gerald Ndakat, the co-celebrant at the Mass, extolled the virtuues of Fr. Francis, as he is fondly called by the congregation.
He said, “Today, we thank God for the gift of the Pauline Family, which we all belong to, those who God has brought by Providence to help us in life, those who joined us through the sacrament of baptism, our departed family members, who have joined the Lord and are praying for us, the angels and saints in heaven. It is a great blessing to join this spiritual network of love and family. As members of the Pauline Family, we gather here today, not just to be together, but to also celebrate our bond. This bond is that of a family that stays together, prays together. Today, we have three celebrations. First, we are celebrating Father Francis, who we call Nna or Papa. As he marks 50 years of priestly ordination, a golden jubilee in the house of God, 50 years of grace in the Lord’s vineyard and joyful obedience. Second, we honour all our fathers, biological fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, spiritual fathers and those who desire to be fathers one day. Third, we look forward to Children’s Day, May 27, by celebrating our children in advance.
“Today, we are truly having a family reunion filled with gratitude and joy. The family and church are precious in Gods eyes. In them, God is dignified twice, in our love for him and in the love for one and another. Because the family and church are dear to God, they are also targeted by the enemy.
“The devil rejoices where there is division, suspicions, rivalry, envy, jealousy and strife. He delights when homes and communities are torn apart from within. When persecution could not divide the early church, it changed strategy and started attacking the church from within, setting up factions and conflicts.
“A group of Jewish Christians wanted to push out non-Jewish believers, disguising their discrimination with religious acumen. Even today, we see jealousy within the church and within religious congratulations. One tribe feeling threatened by another or groups working in secret to sideline one another. There is also the case of the majority tactically sidelining the minority, all indicative of selfish reasons. The devil doesn’t often come from the outside, it comes from within. Within our families, religious communities and even within our hearts.
“In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us his peace, but this peace is not something we receive. It is also a mission. We are called to be messengers of peace. Not people to create divisions, in our homes and in our religious communities or the wider church. We must not allow the devil to break the unity.
“The devil always looks for willing tools, for people who stir up rebellion, who resist formation or oppose the mission of the congregation or the church. He targets the lives of those who oppose the gospel and those who lead others astray by their examples. Fathers, your role in the family is guidance. You are meant to protect the family while also providing for them. Be conscious of how you live your life and who you surround yourself with. Your choices can either bring your families up or tear them down. You hold a key of holding your family together.
“Children can bring division, depending on how they were brought up. We now raise children with gadgets, instead of guidance. Without good value, they grow up to cause problems in the society. Bring up a child in the way he should grow, when he is old, he will not depart from it. We must be watchful. A family united in love is like the holy city full of light and beauty, but where there is strife between husband and wife, between children,and parents or between members of a congregation, it shows that the devil is at work. These divisions are signs that someone unholy is creeping in.
“Finally, remember that it is natural to have differences, especially when we seek the truth, but, if we are guided by the Holy Spirit, the wisdom, peace and humility of God will not allow disagreement to degenerate to hatred or division. Where there is love, there is always a will to resolve a dispute without disrupting unity.
“Instead of breaking apart, the early church allowed the conflict to lead to growth. Conflict, when handled with love, can lead to reformation and reformation leads to new life.
“Papa, you are 50 years a priest. I am only eight years a priest. I have 42 years to get to where you are today. In every family, there is someone whose light shines for others, whose daily life speaks louder than a thousand daily sermons. For us, that person is Papa. Prayer isn’t just what he does, it is who he is. He is committed to prayers. He is inspiring. He understands that prayer is the fuel of life. If you have ever lived with him, you know, no matter how holy you think you are, Papa’s praying life will remind you that you are just getting started.
“Let me share a moment I will never forget. One day, during Mass, in Ibadan, armed robbers burst into the chapel, guns in their hands. They saw him. Poor Papa must have looked like a golden jackpot, after pulling a gold chain from the neck of a brother and a gold ring from the hand of a woman who had come for Mass, the robbers pointed the gun at Father Francis. Papa, calming down, looked at them in their eyes, said to them, ‘Can you wait till we finish with the Mass?’ Who says that when there is a gun pointing at your face? Only a person who is deep in prayers and allergic to fear.
“It is not just his prayers that amaze us, his passion for the apostolate is incomparable, whether it is at the book centre, where he somehow knows where every book is kept, even the ones missing since 2009, his dedication to duty is exceptional. You have set a pace, your life reminds us that holiness is not boring. We pray for many more years for Papa.”
The Superior-General, SSP, Nigeria, Reverend Father Joseph, praised God for everything in the life of Father Francis, who he said is a shining and living example that those who serve the Lord would not have any regrets.
He thanked those religious, over 30 reverend sisters, priests and the Indian community who came from across Africa, especially West Africa, to celebrate with Father Francis Maniamkerry.