THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW VISITOR
On the third of February 2025 the letter from the Father General appointing a new visitor (Provincial Superior) for Nigeria filtered into the emails of the confreres. It was a joyful news to the brothers as they welcomed Very Reverend Father Damian Ikechukwu Nwankwo, Cm as their Provincial Superior. The installation ceremony took place on the 20th day of March at the premises of COVIAM International Theologate Enugu witnessed by Vincentian confreres, religious men and women particularly major superiors and their representatives, members of FAMVIN, Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul led by their Visitatrix, priest and religious within and outside the diocese, members of father Nwankwo’s family and representatives of Nanka Catholic community, parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Church Maryland Enugu, friends and collaborators of Vincentians and a host others.
The ceremony featured the Mass of installation within which the handover ceremony rituals were performed, and oath of office administered to the new Visitor. In his homily, Reverend Father Michael Chijioke Iroh, Cm citing Luke 22:26-26 charged the Provincial Superior to serve and not to be served; he reminded him that he has been appointed a servant leader and not a lord. In his farewell speech, the outgoing Provincial Superior thanked the confreres for the overwhelming support he enjoyed during his three-year stewardship of the province, and prayed that the new Provincial Superior leads the province to a greater height. Responding to the responsibility placed on him after taking the oath of service, the new Provincial Superior called for prayers to enable him descend the mind of God; he asked on all and sundry to work together with him to build a province of our dream.
Until his appointment as the Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Mission, Very Reverend Father Damian was the director of the daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Nigeria and Ghana.
We pray that the wisdom of God will not depart from his life, and that God will give him good health of mind and body to paddle the affairs of a growing and promising province.
God is enough.
