The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga has called for atonement and reparations following the invasion of the Bishop’s Court and the Holy Ghost Cathedral Church by followers of the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka.
Bishop Onaga made the call in a statement on Thursday.
TheFact Nigeria reports that protesters who were followers of Father Mbaka unleashed violence on the catholic structures following the disappearance of their leader who was allegedly detained by the Diocese at the instance of Bishop Onaga’s summon on Tuesday.
Mbaka who was however released on Wednesday, told his followers that he would have been kept in isolation, by the Bishop for 30 days but for their protest.
Consequently, Bishop Onaga has called on all parishes, chaplaincies and religious houses in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu to pray for the violent protesters.
According to the statement: “On 5 May 2021, the followers of Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria violently broke into the diocesan cathedral Church and desecrated the holy altar of sacrifice.
“Over and above this, they brutally vandalized the diocesan bishop’s residence, the cathedral parish house and the secretariat building complex
“Therefore, I hereby declare and call for a one week union of prayer in repiration and atonement for this heinous act against our central place of worship and the sanctity of the Church. The prayer begins from Friday, 7th May to Friday, 14th May 2021.
“Every parish, chaplaincy and religious community in the diocese is obliged to participate in this holy activity.
“In addition to the traditional May devotion prayers (like daily benediction), the following prayers are to be offered for this purpose:
(a) 5 decades of the Holy Rosary
(b) Act of Reparation to the Most Blessed Sacrament (attached to this letter) and
(C) Psaims 51 and 23.
“I enjoin you to remain sober and keep the diocese in prayer. With divine assistance and grace, we shall overcome this challenging moment. May Our Lady, the Queen of May intercede for us, Amen.”
