1987.11.18: Established as Diocese of Ahiara / Ahiaran(us) (Latin) (from Diocese of Owerri) Special Churches Cathedral: Cathedral of Maria Mater Ecclesiae , Ahiara, Imo Hence, the big issue here is to explore historic and modern murmurings, rebellions, and or conflicts in the church, and how we can we learn from them. Catholic News Service of Nigeria (CNSN) || By Father Stan Chu Ilo || 12 July 2017 “But in what sense is the Church holy if we see that the historical Church, on her long journey through the centuries, has had so many difficulties, problems, dark moments? “Those who love the Church as she should be, rather than embrace her and serve her with hope as she is, are less likely to make any significant contribution to bringing about the birth of the Church as she ought to be in Christ. Victor A. Chikwe (June 26, 1938 – Sept 15, 2010), Second Bishop: Most Rev. The Catholic Faithful of Ahiara Mbaise Diocese in Nigeria completely and unequivocally reject the appointment of Fr. Peter Okpalaeke from Awka diocese as the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese … Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 18 November 1987 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of … In response to the invitation and assurances from both Chief Anyamele and Mr. Njoku Akpaka, Fr. A statement issued by the Vatican on Monday said There is still Hope for Ahiara Diocese. Priest Directory. History; Special churches; Leadership; See also; References; External links; History. The crisis-ridden Catholic diocese of Ahiara in Ahiazu-Mbaise local government, Imo State is at it again. [9], On 22 July 2017 Pope Francis agreed to respond through emissaries to the individual priests protesting Bishop Okpaleke's appointment. Rev Fr. With the arrival of the first resident Catholic priest in Mbaise, the task to ensure a total evangelization of the Mbaise people was effectively launched. Columns by Bishop Sweeney. Here are just some of the highlights of the success of Ahiara Diocese Ahiara Diocese at its creation had taken off with 18 parishes. The Mbaise are among the most Catholic of Nigerian peoples – 77 percent of the diocese’s population of 670,000 are Catholic. General Information. F.T. Create New Account. Visitor Posts. Nota Bene: The obvious missing pieces of information namely, the social, pastoral, educational, and health organization of Ahiara Diocese shall be supplied only after the installation of our new Bishop. Two years later, the Catholic Church arrived in Mbaise almost unheralded. Those who failed to write would be suspended a divinis (which would prohibit a priest or deacon from administering any of the Sacraments, save for a priest hearing the Confession of a person in danger of death), and would be removed from their posts. Doing the Right Thing - Ethics. M.J. Gilmore C.S.Sp as her first parish Priest. The History of the Bayeux Tapestry RACE IN AMERICA - Trump and Faith North Carolina’s Most Dangerous Jobs Legendary Beings: Spectacular Water S… Rock & Roll 1966. Peace is very expensive and the bible says to us, pursue peace and not walk towards peace because peace is a very very expensive commodity, but there can be no peace without justice. According to Mrs Adaure Njoku, Mr. Denis Agunnia Nwachukwu, a young man of nineteen years, participated in that first mass and acted as a stand-in-mass-server and servant of the soon-to-be appointed station teacher, Mr. Charles Dozie, who in turn doubled as servant and interpreter to Fr. The Cathedral is Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral in Ahiara. Walsh began paying a monthly visit to the Mbaise area. Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 23 June 1958 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Owerri; Rite: Latin (or Roman) Dionysius (II) a 4th century tyrant of Syracuse, a Greek city in Southern Italy, lived in great luxury. [11], On 14 February 2018, Bishop Okpaleke submitted his resignation in a letter to Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, and Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria. About. Home » Latest » Ahiara Diocese Crisis; Pope Francis’ Representative Arrives Nigeria. • 18 November 1987: Established as Diocese of Ahiara from the Diocese of Owerri November 18, 1987: Established as Diocese of Ahiara from the Diocese of Owerri; Special churches. November 18, 1987: Established as Diocese of Ahiara from the Diocese of Owerri; Special churches. The History of the Bayeux Tapestry RACE IN AMERICA - Trump and Faith North Carolina’s Most Dangerous Jobs Legendary Beings: Spectacular Water S… Rock & Roll 1966. It is a vicious tackle against the universally accepted norm of Catholicism. Leadership. Like many other similar Dioceses, it is small and isolated, with limited human resources. Mbaise people have always been known for their personal enterprise, religious devotion, adventurism and love for education. Michael Kalu Ukpong, Auxiliary Bishop . From this rather humble beginning, the Catholic Church in Mbaise continued to record a steady and consistent growth. Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 24 January 1981; Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Owerri; Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Nigeria; Square Kilometers: 1,386 (535 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Catholic Secretariat, P.O. General Information. The first recorded Ahiara contact with the Europeans was around 1905 when the British Aro expedition got mixed up in inter-village war … R. Foreman C.S.Sp. 6 min read (As Compiled by the late +Bishop Victor A. Chikwe) … In 1950, Owerri Vicariate was raised to the status of a diocese. Log In. Walsh in Emekuku and requested that a resident priest be assigned to his chiefdom. [6][7], On 3 July 2013, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, was appointed Apostolic Administrator. His essay entitled "Ahiara Diocese: The Smoke of Satan?" Ahiara Diocese has not only succeeded but it has thrived and blossomed and has been soaring ever since to the greater glory of God. It is a vicious tackle against the universally accepted norm of Catholicism. For the time being, the Holy Father does not intend to appoint a new bishop in Ahiara, but he reserves to himself the right to continue to have a special and particular concern for this diocese, assigning a new apostolic administrator, Sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis, in the person of His Excellency, the Most Rev. Three years later, St. Dominic Parish, Ezinihitte East, was erected. Sister Mary Colman of the Holy Rosary sisters established in Ogbor Nguru in 1934. He had considered suppressing the diocese, but decided against that idea. MEMORIES OF BISHOP "THE BLESSED" Chikwem Ikpeoha. 18 November 1987: Established as Diocese of Ahiara from the Diocese of Owerri; Special churches. The cathedral is Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral in Ahiara. The Cathedral is Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral in Ahiara. And Rev. It all started when one Mr. Njoku Akpaka of Umuopara, Nguru, invited the Holy Ghost Fathers who were just settling down at Mount Carmel Parish, Emekuku, to come over to his village to help evangelize his people. As a result, in December 1933, St. Brigid Station at Nnarambia, Ahiara was raised to the status of a parish centre with a resident priest who oversaw missionary activities in the five courts that would eventually be termed Mbaise. On January 31, 1988, the new Diocese of Ahiara, Mbaise, was inaugurated with the installation of Bishop Victor Adibe Chikwe at Ahiara by His Excellency, Archbishop Paul Tabet-Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria. November 7, 2018 at 11:16 AM. October 17, 2018 at 11:35 PM. That became a clear indication of how the late-coming Catholicism had gained the upper hand in the Mbaise area. History. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ahiara (Latin: Ahiaran(a)) is a diocese located in Ahiara in the region of Mbaise in Imo State in the ecclesiastical province of Owerri in Nigeria. or. Log In. Flanagan C.S.Sp was appointed her first parish Priest. Equally it is a sly attack on the bond of brotherhood that binds not only Catholics together but also Igbo as a race. D. Walsh CSSp, First Bishop: Most Revd. It is insincerity and malicious disruption of contemporaneous history and time to say that the papal cautions against ambition, seeking the episcopate and psychology of princes were not motivated by and directed to Ahiara bishopric case or that his words are ambiguous and needs expertise interpretation. On November 18, 1987, the Mbaise area was carved out from Owerri Diocese as a local church called Ahiara Diocese, Mbaise, with its Cathedral church’s name as Maria Mater Ecclesiae (Mary Mother of the church). Not Now. Saturday February 9, 2019 passed winsomely as a remarkable day in the history of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara-Mbaise, Imo State as it celebrated the ordination of ten priests, the first after a 7-year lull. The Mbaise are among the most Catholic of Nigerian peoples – 77 percent of the diocese’s population of 670,000 are Catholic. Forgot account? Once the war was over and the Mbaise church turned over to the indigenous clergy, Catholicism gained a new momentum in the area. Peter Ebere Okpaleke, The Current Vicar General / Delegate: Very Rev. November 7, 2018 at 11:16 AM. Box 99, Villa Lourdes, Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria Telephone: (0803)47.23.212 Past and Present Ordinaries. The cathedral is Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral in Ahiara. Le 8 juin, le pape François avait exigé des prêtres du diocèse d’Ahiara, de lui envoyer des lettres d’excuses pour avoir refusé de reconnaître leur nouvel évêque, Mgr Peter Ebere Okpaleke et les avait sommés de l’accueillir. Roman Catholicism in Nigeria; Source. He said that if the priests in Ahiara diocese who failed to tender their apology before July 9, 2017, they will definitely incur ‘suspension a divinis’ which means they cannot function any longer as Catholic priests and can neither administer the sacrament nor occupy any ecclesiastical office. It is the location of the Catholic diocese in Mbaise. By The Rainbow. Fr. Ahiara Catholic Diocese: A Time To Heal (A Theological Appeal) By, Fr Stan Chu Ilo, STL, PhD, D.ED.1 “Those who love the Church as she should be, rather than embrace her and serve her with hope as she is, are less likely to make any significant contribution to bringing about the birth of the Church as she ought to be in Christ. God has blessed our land! History. History. Youth and Children. But … Mbaise, the touted “Ireland of Nigeria” has from the start been blessed with numerous vocations to the effect that many Mbaise sons and daughters work as priests and religious in different parts of the world today. Chikwem Ikpeoha. On 8 July, it was reported that while the letter of apology was sent, the appointment of Bishop Okpalaeke was still rejected by the local priests who insisted that the Vatican was enforcing racial discrimination in the country by hiring outsider priests to become Bishops. Ahiara Catholic Diocese: A Time To Heal (A Theological Appeal) By, Fr Stan Chu Ilo, STL, PhD, D.ED. [16], Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, "Resignations and Appointments, 19.02.2018", http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2017/pope-tells-nigerian-priests-accept-bishop-or-be-suspended.cfm, https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2017/06/11/three-ironies-dramatic-show-papal-muscle-nigeria/, "Holy See Press Office Communiqué: Audience with delegation from the diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria, 08.06.2017", http://leadership.ng/2017/07/08/partial-victory-pope-ahiara-diocese/, https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/07/22/pope-begins-answering-priests-troubled-nigerian-diocese/, https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/catholic-laity-council-okays-pope-s-suspension-sanction-against-ahiara-diocese/206849.html, "Nigeria: Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop, Appoints Administrator", https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-02/pope-francis-nigerian-bishop-resignation.html, https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2020/05/nigerian-bishop-rejected-by-ahiara-diocese-installed-as-bishop-of-ekwulobia/, "Pope Francis appoints ex-Ahiara bishop, Okpaleke, head new Ekwulobia diocese", "Nigerian bishop rejected by Ahiara diocese installed as Bishop of Ekwulobia", Official website of the Diocese of Ahiara, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Ahiara&oldid=956632083, Christian organizations established in 1987, Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 18 November 1987: Established as Diocese of Ahiara from the, This page was last edited on 14 May 2020, at 12:16. See more of Catholic Diocese of Ahiara on Facebook. 18 November 1987: Established as Diocese of Ahiara from the Diocese of Owerri; Special churches. A priest once ordained becomes a member of the church. The Cathedral is Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral in Ahiara. Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 23 June 1958 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Owerri; Rite: Latin (or Roman) Chikwem Ikpeoha. Okpaleke was rejected by much of Ahiara’s clergy and laity, who wanted one of their own to be appointed bishop over them. Add Comment. The Catholic Faithful of Ahiara Mbaise Diocese in Nigeria completely and unequivocally reject the appointment of Fr. Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / Ahiara Diocese Crisis; Pope Francis' Representative Arrives Nigeria. October 17, … Sixteen indigenes who had earlier been ordained Deaconates in the diocese were ordained Priests. History. Between 2012 and 2018, the clergy and laity of the diocese had refused to accept the bishop appointed as their ordinary, Peter Ebere Okpaleke, because he is not of the Mbaise ethnic group or chosen from among the local priests. I know nothing about the ethno-ecclesial dispute in the Nigerian Diocese of Ahiara beyond what can be found in news reports and so offer no comment on it. Praise for early missionaries and indigenous clergy The Bishop took time to praise the pastoral zeal of early missionaries and the contributions of the Indigenous Clergy who held the diocese together when many Irish missionaries were forced-out of Nigeria at the end of the civil war in 1970. was published in The Guardian of September 17, 2014. Fr. Contact Us. Leadership. Clement O. Ebii. Leadership. Okpaleke was rejected by much of Ahiara’s clergy and laity, who wanted one of their own to be appointed bishop over them. “IF I WERE AHIARA-MBAISE PRIESTS”- “IF I WERE THE LAY FAITHFUL OF AHIARA-MBAISE DIOCESE” By: Msgr. Sixteen indigenes who had earlier been ordained Deaconates in the diocese were ordained Priests. The Cathedral is Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral in Ahiara. “And the meeting is all about peace, peace, peace. It is a virulent attack on the age old practice of the Catholic Church. Coordinates. Walsh. I’ve been meeting with the priests of this Diocese for over one hour now. Find Diocese of Ahiara reviews and more on The Catholic Directory. They were those of Obodo and Nnarambia all in Ahiara as well as that of Umuokirika in Ekwerazu. Columns 2020. It was a cheering news last week in the Catholic Church, especially the Awka Diocese when the announcement was made that Bishop Peter Okpaleke, who was rejected by … Peter Okpaleke, Catholic bishop of Ahiara diocese, in Imo state, has finally resigned, following rejection from the faithful in the diocese. Listen to article. Innocent Ebere Uwa expressed gratitude to God for bringing peace to Ahiara diocese and the opportunity to host the entire Church in Nigeria through the directors of Communication in the whole dioceses, including those who work in both the Electronic and Print Media. But the Ahiara diocese is dominated by the Mbaise ethnic group. He said: "I do not think that my apostolate in a diocese where a group of priests and lay faithful are very ill disposed to have me in their midst would be effective. First Missionary: Revd. The crisis in Ahiara diocese is a vicious provocative assault on the belief, teaching and practice of the Catholic Church. Leadership. Statements 2020. Home . TheNiche Nigeria’s only exclusive Sunday newspaperThat does credible, insightful and investigative reportingThat is refreshingly different in look and feelThat reports issues from all sidesThat offers true value for money and time. Learn about Diocese of Ahiara, Diocese in Ahiara, Imo Nigeria. Peter Okpalaeke as bishop of the diocese and the appointment of Most Rev Lucius Ugorji as the new administrator of the Diocese. Leadership. Visitor Posts. And with the five clans of Mbaise fully established in Catholicism came the period for putting into a deep water and consolidation of the faith. The crisis in Ahiara diocese could, therefore, be viewed dispassionately and in similar vein alongside historical church conflicts. or. By late 1915, two more stations were erected at Umuezie and Ezuhu Nguru. Peter Okpalaeke from Awka diocese as the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese … Binnabook on. 18 November 1987: Established as Diocese of Ahiara from the Diocese of Owerri; Special churches. Walsh to Umuopara caused the very influential warrant chief from Ogbor Nguru, Chief Anyamele, to pay a personal visit to Fr. It is being served by a diocesan clergy of about 190. Bishop Victor Adibe Chikwe (1987-2010) Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke (2012–2018) The city stands about 16 miles between Owere and Umuahia. When appointing the current bishop, who hasn’t been allowed in Ahiara for the past five years, the Vatican followed a long-standing tradition of choosing people from another city to lead any given diocese, particularly in Africa. Forgot account? [10] Two days later, Barr Chizoba Nnagboh, chairman of the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria (CLCN), described the words and actions of the dissenting clergy to be scandalous and disgraceful. Historically, this is done in an attempt to show that the universality of the Church overcomes tribal and ethnic differences. Bishop Okpaleke, was appointed Bishop of Ahiara by then-Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, but has been unable to take control of the diocese because of protests by the majority of priests. Ahiara Mbaise Catholic Diocese In Imo State Witnesses Second Priestly Ordination ,Seven Years after Bishopric succession crisis broke out . His word, “I’m here in Ahiara Mbaise Diocese to bring peace. Chikwem Ikpeoha. [14][15] Okpaleke was installed as Bishop of Ekwulobia on 29 April. Fr. See more of Catholic Diocese of Ahiara on Facebook. BY UGONNA ANEJIONU: Saturday, May 4, 2019, was another remarkable date in Ahiara Mbaise Catholic Diocese in Imo state. Ahiara Diocese was created in November 1987 out of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province. The crisis in Ahiara diocese is a vicious provocative assault on the belief, teaching and practice of the Catholic Church. Bishop Okpaleke, was appointed Bishop of Ahiara by then-Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, but has been unable to take control of the diocese because of protests by the majority of priests. Dr. Peter Okpaleke, as the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara. Since the inauguration of Ahiara Diocese, Mbaise area has exploded in the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, Mbaise, has grown into 70 parishes with a resident Catholic population of more than 392,968. The Catholic Bishops of Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces have expressed high hopes in resolving the Ahiara crisis which arose from the opposition of the Mbaise people over the appointment of a non-indigene, Most Rev. The struggle appeared to be between the Anglican “early arrivals” and the Roman Catholic “late arrivals”. It is a virulent attack on the age old practice of the Catholic Church. In view of the intensity of the interaction between Nguru people and the missionaries, as many as three stations or missionary outposts were established almost simultaneously in 1914. Worthy of mention here is the role of the Holy Rosary sisters who took up the cause or women education. Leadership. MEMORIES OF BISHOP "THE BLESSED" Chikwem Ikpeoha. "[12] On 19 February 2018, Pope Francis accepted Okpaleke's resignation. Bishop Victor Adibe Chikwe (1987-2010) Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke (2012–2018) Chief Anyamele made a personal pledge to ensure the safety and security of both the resident priest and the mission staff that would accompany him. The RCDOP includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. It is a virulent attack on the age old practice of the Catholic Church. General Information. From there she operated in all parts of Mbaise, Ikeduru and Obowo, establishing female schools and organizing centres for moral, catechetical and health instruction for women. Log In. Statements by Bishop Sweeney. Nigeria’s Ahiara Diocese: A Theological Appeal for a Time to Heal. It was in this same year that the vicariate of Owerri was erected with most Reverend Dr. Joseph Brendan Whelan C.S.Sp as its first Bishop. Michael Kalu Ukpong, Auxiliary Bishop . The crisis in Ahiara diocese is a vicious provocative assault on the belief, teaching and practice of the Catholic Church. The concerted efforts of these two groups would begin to bear fruits when they finally settled at different parts of Mbaise from 1911. Equally it is a sly attack on the bond of brotherhood that binds not only Catholics together but also Igbo as a race. Catholic News Service of Nigeria (CNSN) || By Father Stan Chu Ilo || 12 July 2017 “But in what sense is the Church holy if we see that the historical Church, on her long journey through the centuries, has had so many difficulties, problems, dark moments? by DTN CORRESPONDENT. Ahiara Diocese Crisis; Pope Francis’ Representative Arrives Nigeria . He said that if the priests in Ahiara diocese who failed to tender their apology before July 9, 2017, they will definitely incur ‘suspension a divinis’ which means they cannot function any longer as Catholic priests and can neither administer the sacrament nor occupy any ecclesiastical office. On January 6, 1988, His Excellency, Most Rev. However, it was the Anglican groups namely the Church Missionary Society (CMS) of England and the Niger Delta Pastorate (NDP) from the coastal regions of the South that first broke the ice of a missionary evangelization of the Mbaise people. (As Compiled by the late +Bishop Victor A. Chikwe). Thus began the touting of “Mbaise as the Ireland of Nigeria”. Catholic Diocese of Ahiara. My Diocese of Port-Victoria, The Seychelles, is an island Diocese. The new Diocese had a recorded population of more than 270,000 Catholics spread out and unevenly in 19 parishes. Daniel Walsh paid a visit to Umuopara, Nguru. To be fair to it, the Catholic Church has had least considerations for place of origin in deciding where its priests or bishops work. Chikwem Ikpeoha. Anthony Stiegler C.S.Sp, as parish Priest. The following year 1948 saw the opening of two more Parishes in Mbaise, namely, St. Patrick’s Ekwereazu, with Rev. Given its rich Catholic history, significant cultural heritage and traditions, and its vantage position as the Ireland of Igbo Catholicism, the argument goes, Mbaise Catholicism should be the diocese sending out priests and clerics to other parts of Igbo land, Nigeria and the world; the church in Mbaise land has come of age and does not deserve this distraction. 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