The Vatican reports that Nigeria’s Bishop of Umuahia Diocese and newly appointed Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has called for healing, reconciliation and unity in the diocese.
The Bishop was speaking during an Inaugural Mass at the start of his ministry in the Ahiara Diocese which has witnessed division in its refusal to accept the appointment of Bishop Peter Opaleke.
“I feel highly privileged to serve a people known for their remarkable religious and enterprising spirit. I look forward to drawing closer to you during my pastoral visits in your parishes to administer the Sacraments, “Bishop Ugorji said to a packed Mater Ecclesia Cathedral in Ahiara.
Bishop Ugorji said it was a very happy coincidence that the “new springtime” he has declared, for Ahiara Diocese, was taking place during the season of Lent.
“In carrying out my mandate, I wish to stress that every authentic healing and renewal begins with reconciliation with God, who gives peace to our souls. We all need interior peace and renewal. It is, therefore, a very happy coincidence that this call for healing and renewal in the Diocese of Ahiara is being made during the holy season of Lent when the Church urges us to heed the proclamation of Christ: “Repent and believe the gospel,” the Bishop said.
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.
Nevertheless, Bishop Ugorji did not gloss over Ahiara Diocese’s dark period of internal conflict which just ended.
The Bishop stated that Bishop Okpaleke’s decision to resign was “wise, noble and courageous” and which paved the way for his appointment as Apostolic Administrator.
Bishop Ugorji has since appointed Fr. Ethelbert Uwadika as the Vicar General of the diocese.
The end of such division and tension is truly a blessing for the Ahiara Diocese. We wish Bishop Ugorji much success in shepherding the people entrusted to his pastoral care.
We shall see whether or not Clergy and laity of the Ahiara Diocese have set a precedent which may well affect other dioceses whose Clergy and laity refuse to accept the Bishops whom the Holy Father has appointed.
For even in the face of a Papal ultimatum directing a written letter of apology to the Pope and commitment to accept Bishop Opaleke, the majority of diocesan Clergy stood firm in their opposition to the appointment.
There have been those who have doubted that Pope Francis personally issued the ultimatum, a move so unlike this Pope’s willingness to dialogue and accompany those who struggle with issues relating to Church teaching and discipline.
Nonetheless, the Holy See itself may very well have been weakened or compromised in its decision to withdraw its threatened penalty for non-compliance with the Papal mandate.
How other dioceses might respond to an unpopular appointment of a Bishop remains to be seen.
We shall see what the future holds.
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