OUR APOSTOLATE
Our apostolate is the mission mandate to serve people leaving with poverty. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me..." Luk e 4:18
THE SPIRIT OF OUR APOSTOLATE
When you leave prayer and Holy Mass to serve the poor, you are losing nothing, because serving the poor is going to God and you should see God in them. (St. Vincent de Paul)
Parish apostolate
The Vincentians in Nigeria are involved in Parish apostolate. There are 15 parishes in which some of our men serve. Most of these parishes are situated in the rural. However such missions are dear to us since it offers us ample opportunity of meeting the poor: “Our Lords and Masters.” These parishes include:
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Enugu
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church; Ngbo; Abakiliki Diocese; Ebonyi State
Mary’s Parish, Akama-Oghe
Kizito Catholic Church Kuje Garki
Christ The King Catholic Church.Akowonjo
Louis Catholic Church, Egbeda; Lagos
Bernard’s Catholic Parish,Biara
Vincent De Paul Parish; Mbukpa; Calabar
Joseph’s Parish; Abiakpo; Ntak Inyang; Nigeria
Assumption Parish; Ndon-Ebom; Uyo Diocese; Akwa Ibom
Monica Catholic Church, Maza-Maza
Andrew’s Parish; Aune; Nigeria
Francis Catholic Church; Akpen
Holy Ghost Parish; Okenyi Catholic Diocese Of Idah; Kogi State
Francis Quasi Parish, Akpen,
Andrew’s Catholic Church; Aune; Otukpo
Mary’s Catholic Church; Ayetoro; Abeokuta Diocese; Ogun
Anthony’s Catholic Church Adiyan, Ogun
Immaculate Conception Parish; Utagba Uno; Delta State
Immaculate Heart Parish, Uga
John’s Catholic Church Umuobom; Orlu Diocese; Imo
John Parish Mbieri, Archdiocese Of Owerri
Theresa Catholic Church; Ogan Ossiomo
Good Shepherd Catholic Churchowode
Jude Catholic Church, Eruwen, Ikorodu; Lagos
Our Lady of Assumption Parish; Oke-Owa; Ijebu-Ode Diocese;
School apostolate
St. Vincent realized the great need for formation and education, and this he made one of the cardinal intentions of the congregation. Our confreres work in seminaries, either as spiritual directors or teachers. Such seminaries include:
St. Mary’s College, Ogobia, Benue State.
St. Mary College and Agricultural Development Center Ondo Ugboju, Benue State is a school dedicated to academic excellence and entrepreneurial skills especially in agricultural development
Father Samuel Umana, Cm
Principal
Prison apostolate
In the spirit of our tradition, we have the needs of prisoners at heart. Some of our confreres are actively working as chaplains to prisons. They work in Ikot Ekpene, Enugu, Abuja and Lagos prisons, fully involved in both their spiritual and material needs.
Retreat & Mission
We have two established Retreat teams. They are situated at Ojodu in Lagos and Maryland in Enugu. Our Retreat teams are readily available to preach retreats and missions whenever they are called upon. They also conduct leadership training / workshops for priests, religious and the laity.
Youth Ministry
Vincentians believe that the future of any nation lies in the quality education of the young, the youth. In all our parishes and community houses, we pay a special attention to the youth with formative programs. We work as chaplains in schools, with the aim of influencing positively the moral life of the youth. The Vincentian Marian Youth (JMV) is another vital medium by which we evangelize and affect the youth’s life positively.
Spiritual Direction & Formation of the Clergy
Traditionally, formation of the clergy especially the diocesan has been one of the cardinal apostolates of the Vincentian fathers, the other being evangelization of the poor and the marginalized. In Nigeria, we have continuously taken up this apostolate. We currently serve in St. Joseph Seminary Ikot Ekpene and St. Albert the Great Major Seminary; Idowu Offonran Ogun State as seminary educators and formators.
Hospital Apostolate
In Nigeria, Vincentian priests work in hospitals as chaplains and as hospital administrators. We have our priests working in Depaul Hospital Enugu, where we not just provide quality health care services but accompany the sick spiritually by the provision of pastoral care. In Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Hospital Kubwa-Abuja, we serve as hospital chaplain. Of course some of our students in formation are attached to various hospitals around their formation centers for weekly visitation to the sick in the hospitals around.