History of the Vincentian Fathers in Nigeria
Vincent de Paul was born in the village of Pouy in 1581. As a boy he lived among the poor and experienced the conditions under which they lived. In 1600 he became a priest. For a time he sought to escape from the poverty of his origins, but with the help of spiritual directors he felt himself called to deeper holiness and, through the events of his life, was finally led by divine providence to a firm determination to dedicate himself to the salvation of the poor. While he was exercising his ministry in Gannes and, on the 25th of January 1617, in Folleville, he saw that the evangelization of the poor was an urgent need. He himself held that this was the origin of his vocation, and of the Congregation of the Mission.
Give me a man of prayer and I will be able to do all things! (St. Vincent de Paul)
The Congregation of the Mission
Congregation of the Mission is a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1625 for the evangelization of the poor and the formation of the clergy. Vincentian priests and brothers total over 4000 worldwide and serve in 86 countries including Nigeria.
The Historical Development of The Vincentian Mission In Nigeria
Usually it starts small. If anything had been so small, so strong and so dear to St. Vincent’s heart, it was the poor, the parish missions and the formation of the local clergy. Pulling the curtain of history, it would be as far back as 1617, January 25, when Vincent saw these as the perennial needs of the Church, even today. In response to these needs in 343 years later, three Vincentians set out from Ireland and arrived in Nigeria in October, 1960.
It was the time when Late Bishop James Moynagh (who invited them) was the Bishop of Calabar and Nigeria was celebrating her political independence from Britain. Under such a climate, it was providential that the Vincentians should launch their new mission into the country where the new-gained freedom needed the direction of the Gospel.
At their arrival, the three pioneer confreres, Fr. James Mullan, C.M, Patrick Hughes, C.M. and Henry Morrin, C.M. (since deceased and buried in St. Vincent’s, Ikot Ekpene) were assigned to a newly created parish at Ikot Ekpene from Ifuho parish. In their own usual missionary spirit and simplicity, they had simply a bed and breakfast shelter at Abiakpo near the convent school there. Stories had it that the weather was hard, food was different and mobility was not easy to come by. Be that as it may, they ran around to administer the word and sacraments to a good clutch of people who gathered for Masses at Ikot Esetang, now, Holy Child Primary School, along Sani Ogun Road, Ikot Ekpene. Along with these pastoral responsibilities the bishop requested that they be available for Retreats and Parish missions within the diocese and its neighbourhood. Prompted by their charism, they initiated and nurtured chaplaincies like the prisons, schools and St. Vincent de Paul Society. Over the next couple of years, Frs. Johnston, Scallon, Corkery Smyth, Crowley and Tom Devine joined the team. Many other missionaries also joined the crew.
During the war, as most of the parishes were downrightly devastated and victims lost hope and practically everything, the Vincentians responded to the urgent need to assist in some parishes at Uzoagba and Atta in Owerri Diocese. At the end of the war, three of the confreres were deported. Though this handicapped the mission, it never exhausted it.
In the era of new beginnings in 1970, Fr. Rod Crowley being one of the surviving Vincentians in Nigeria, on invitation by the Bishop, moved from Ikot Ekpene to Port Harcourt where he was later on joined by Frs. Clarke, Murphy and Regan. With the effects of the war, the confreres assisted in the building up of the diocese. Through their efforts, thanks to providence however, a number of parishes were revived, Catechetics were re-organized, and reliefs were given to war-victims. The minor seminary was re-established and hope given to the down and out. Though the mission was short-lived, much was accomplished. With the advent of the Kiltegan Fathers (St. Patrick’s) on the scene, like john the Baptist, the Vincentians gradually pulled out. Their stepping aside was in consonance with the missionary spirit of detachment to proceed on mission ever to the ends of the world. While God grants increase, the Church harvests the produce.
From then, the Vincentian mission has spread to different parts of the Country. Today we have 9 local communities within Nigeria and 78 clerics who minister both in Nigeria and different places in the world, serving the poor at different capacities.
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, Maryland – Enugu.
- St. Vincent De Paul, Ogobia, Benue State.
- St. Kizito’s, Kuje – Abuja.
- St. Joseph Quasi Parish, Abiakpo Ntak Inyang, Ikot Ekpene.
- St. George’s, Oraifite, Anambra State.
- Christ the King Catholic Parish, Akowonjo – Lagos.
- St. Mary’s, Ayetoro, Ogun State.
- Immaculate Conception Parish, Utagba-uno, Delta State.
- Assumption Parish, Ndon Ebom, Uyo
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:
- SS. Simon and Jude Minor Seminary, Kuje, Abuja.
- St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Makurdi, Benue State.
- Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu
- St. Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene.
- St. Mulumba’s College, Ogbede, Enugu State
We also have confreres trained to work in various levels of education in Nigeria. We run schools by which we cease the opportunity to educate especially the poor. Some of these schools include:
- St. Vincent Parish, Mbukpa, Calabar.
- Holy Ghost Parish, Okenyi, Kogi State.
- St. Mary’s, Akama-oghe, Enugu.
- The Good Shepherd Church, Owoede, Lagos
- St. Monica Parish, Maza Maza, Lagos.
- St. Patrick’s Parish, Bodo City, Rivers State
- St. Jude Umuduru Mbieri, Imo State
- St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Akpulu, Imo State.
- St. Francis’ Catholic Church, Akpen, Markudi.
- Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Ijebu Ode
- Mater Dei Vocational School for Girls, Oraifite, Anambra State.
- De Paul Boys College, Oraifite, Anambra State.
- St. Mary’s College, Ogobia, Benue State.
- St. Bernadette, Ogobia, Benue State.
- St. Joseph Primary School, Abiakpo Ntak Inyang, Ikot Ekpene.
- St. Vincent Schools, Shasha, Lagos.
- Gracias Plena Nursery & Primary School Onigbongbon
We have a school for the Deaf and Hard Hearing (Special School) at Amakom in Oraifite, Anambra State. We have plans to expand this school to other parts of the country.
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.
Prison Chaplaincy:
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.