Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Five months among us

In Ibadan, Nigeria, we have two Communities of the Missionaries of Africa. In addition, we have an elderly confrere, Fr. Engelbert Beyer, living and teaching in the Archdiocesan Provincial Major Seminary of SS. Peter and Paul. Fr. Beyer is also very much involved in Ecumenism.
Though the main target in Nigeria is promotion/animation work, the two communities have different apostolates. These are in line with some of the objectives of the 2004 General Chapter of the Society!

The Formation House community focuses on vocation animation and prepares the aspirants (both Ghanaians and Nigerians) before they commence their missionary safari into formation as Missionaries of Africa. The aspirants are in contact with the Vocation Director for one or two years before they are admitted to our Formation House in Ibadan for the ‘Residential Stay’ of five months. During their stay here we try to expose them to our ‘Ideal Community Life’ and our spirituality; we help them towards a proper discernment of their vocation to missionary life and a genuine commitment. We are more concerned with the quality of our aspirants than the quantity.

Pre-1st Phase applicants at Ibadan: Berthrand Dakyie (Ghana), Herbert Adatanga (Ghana), Michael Akpan (Nigeria), James Ngahy (Tanzania - Vocation Director), David Juventus (Ghana) and Tobias Ndiukwu (Nigeria). (PHOTOS MANUEL GORDEJUELA)

Being aware of the standard of education in parts of our countries, we help them in other fields such as academic skills and practical philosophy of life, things that we hope will help them in their future ministry. Going hand in hand with the objectives of the Society during their stay, the aspirants are also involved in pastoral work such as working with the poor, the marginalized, and the sick. This is done in the Archdiocesan Relief Centre and is part of reaching out to the ‘fracture zones!’

The formation team does not do all this in isolation, the Parish team, living just behind the fence, participate and collaborate fully in the formation of our aspirants. After the five-month stay, the aspirants are recommended (or not) to officially start their Initial Formation at Ejisu, Ghana. They are no longer aspirants but rather candidates of the Missionaries of Africa!

James Ngahy