…As protest rocks Adoration
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–Pix(above, R-L): Fr. Mbaka and Bishop Onaga
The cat and mouse game brewing between the Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most Rev Callistus Onaga, and popular Catholic priest of the Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, leading to indefinite suspension of Adoration Ministry on June 18, 2022, has culminated in the Bishop removing Mbaka to the Monastery, and replacing him with another priest, called Rev. Fr. Anthony Amadi.
The Adoration Ministry, which was shut down three months ago, was re-opened, Sunday October 2, with the new priest assuming duties. This is even as protests, instantly rocked the development in the Coal City of Enugu.
Earlier in a statement, Rev Fr Mbaka had via a Facebook post on Thursday, revealed that services will commence on Sunday, 2 October, 2022.
He said: “Dear Adorers, I can confirm to you that the ban has been lifted. That’s the situation now. There’ll be Mass there beginning from this Sunday and subsequent Sundays.
“To the glory of God, Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, AMEN, starts on Sunday, 2nd October, 2022, with 10am Mass at the Adoration ground, Umuchigbo Iji Nike, Emene, Enugu State. God bless you miraculously as you come to worship God with us.”
Although services actually started on Sunday, October 2, Mbaka did not resume there as another priest in his place from the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Rev. Fr. Anthony Amadi, was posted to take charge of the Adoration Ministry.
This, instantly led to massive walk-out and eventual protest against the Bishop’s decision.
The Church’s latest decision is already generating protest from Mbaka’s followers.
A top member of the ministry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “all along, the Bishop has been trying to take over the Adoration Ministry. But I can assure you that no priest will succeed there. So long as Fr. Mbaka is not there, nobody will go there to worship.
The State Online reports that the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga, had banned Catholics, including the clergy from attending Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry over his unguarded utterances, especially in political field.
This was contained in a letter personally signed by the Bishop himself and addressed to all the Clergy, religious and lay faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu. Onaga banned them from having anything to do with the Adoration Ministry.
Recall, again, that Mbaka had, last year, boasted that it would require needle and thread over his mouth to succeed in keeping him shut, saying: “those who think Mbaka will be quiet, you are wasting your time,” in reaction to the ban placed on him from commenting on political issues.”/SHARE THIS