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By FR GODWIN AKPOWHO, MSP
It was not just about an hour and 15minutes flight to Sardegna (Sardinia), one of the large Islands in Italy, but then driving all the way from the airport to the Parrocchia Beata Vergine Immacolata (the Parish of the Blessed Immaculate Virgin), Berchiddeddu – Olbia (OT) in Diocese of Ozieri, where one of our Brothers, Rev Fr Iffiok Inyang, MSP, is pasturing, was one of a terrific sight. It was an awesome sight, as well as scary because of the mountainous interior, snaky and sharp-bending roads that lead up to where the Parish is located.
The Island of Sardegna according to Wikipedia is the second largest Island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and before Cyprus) and it is an autonomous region of Italy. This was the venue for the celebration of MSP @40 by the brothers serving in the Italian Mission. A mission land that is characterized by mountains but which nevertheless has not stopped the thrust that the Missionary of St Paul of Nigeria has in reaching out to places where the Church needs them most. Our feet have been made like the hind’s feet by God, so no matter the rocky or hilly or mountainous nature of the land, we shall climb.
The arrival of the various brothers serving in different parts of Italy was the initial mark of our celebration as we had Fr Benjamin Okon coming from Torino (Turin) with Fr Joseph Uchereuwhe, who had just arrived for studies in Italy but at the moment residing with him; Frs Patsilver Okah and Godwin Patt Akpowho both chaplains from Padova (Padua), and Frs. Jerome Eruoghororere and Cajethan Amaku both from the Diocese of Ales Terralba also in Sardegna. And interestingly too we had the privilege of the presence of Rev Fr William Egedegbe, MSP, from Nigeria mission who was on holidays and equally doubled as the moderator for the Symposium of our celebration. We all arrived safely for the great event in the Diocese of Ozieri, Sardegna on the 6th of September.
Sequel to our arrival was an extensive meeting in which issues affecting the Mission were discussed coupled with the fact that we are gradually expanding in numbers as we await the arrival of another brother (Rev Fr Clifford Oyati, MSP) who will be working in Sardegna too. Fr JohnPaul Arowosoge, MSP, who has been on studies in Italy was unavoidably absent from the celebration. Nevertheless, matters which covers all the MSP brothers in Italy, whether on mission or on studies, were carefully considered since we decided to form a closer bond amongst brothers in the land of Italy, whether on mission or on studies. The meeting ended with a dinner party where we all gathered to feast together as members of a single unit in a lovely seaside popularly known as Golfo Aranci.
Day three was the climax of all of the events that had been earmarked for our 40th anniversary in the Italian mission. Thus it was garnered by an intellectually, down to earth, thought stimulating and spiritually challenging symposium, with the Theme: “MSP@40, how can we repay the Lord for what He has done: A Pastoral Perspective”.
Starting with a historical look at the conception of the idea of a missionary seminary which dates to the 1950s and in the words of Pope Paul VI who challenged African Bishops to become missionaries to themselves in Kampala, Fr Williams Egedegbe, MSP, took us on a journey to refresh our memories on the vision and purpose of our founding father, Late Cardinal Ekandem. He noted how Cardinal Ekandem conceived of the idea of a National seminary in order to enhance unity of our great Nation with its diverse people from different tribes and culture. He further elaborated that MSP at 40 today is a dream that has come through the thick and thin of one man’s dream that saw into the future despite all odds. Today with well over 256 priests serving in different parts of the world, he begged the question, how can we repay the Lord? To those of us in the Italian mission, he asserted that MSP is our mother, whether we like it or not and when someone is celebrating a special occasion, gifts are a sign of appreciation to the celebrant. Thus he asked what gift we have for “Mamma MSP”. In his own words, “when our friends celebrate anniversaries we on our own decide the kind of gifts we give to them that they will cherish and gladden their hearts, but this depends heavily on who the celebrant is to you.” The same sentiments he asserted is expected of us at our Celebration of the 40th anniversary. The Society expects gifts from every member and the challenge to the Italian mission was to think and come up with a gift for Mamma MSP. Also, we must ask ourselves a salient question, “What is MSP to you?”
Drawing from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 12: 4-11, he said there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit, there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone… thus he said Mother MSP have produced different gifted priests who have become fruitful and productive and lucrative in the use of these gifts. Mother MSP has done us well beyond our wildest imagination. Right now it is our turn to be grateful.
He further enumerated a few points on how we could repay the Lord through our commitments to the Missionary Society of St Paul of Nigeria, by way of proclaiming MSP. As grateful recipients (MSP Priests), we are to proclaim the motherly care and goodness to the ends of the earth and not ranting and raving over unnecessary details. Do we complain every time we gathered in two or more as brothers? The calling as MSP priests is really demanding but above all in his presentation, we were all enjoined to focus more on our vows and commitments to the society and the Church at large we made at our ordination and posting/ assignments respectively. Fr Williams warned that our self-centeredness and distractions of life (especially from family and friends who depend so much on us as priests) may make us forget or bury our vows. He enjoined on us all to continue seeking ways to repay the Society, which is, promoting the missionary mandate of our Society to the glory of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The hallmark of the whole celebration was on the 8th September, the feast of the Birthday of Our Lady, at 18.00hrs with a solemn High Mass presided over by the Bishop of Ozieri, His Excellency Corrado Melis and the retired Bishop of Ales Teralba, His Excellency Giovanni Dettori. Shortly before the commencement of the liturgy, as a token of our appreciation, the Italian Mission Superior in the person of Rev Fr Dr Ben Okon, MSP, along with other MSP brothers made a presentation of a customized MSP Chasuble to the two bishops present for the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Missionary Society of St Paul and the 100th Anniversary of the parish of Blessed Immaculate Virgin. At the end of the Mass, the Bishop invited the MSP Mission Superior in Italy, who gave a brief presentation of MSP activities around the world and in Italy. After the Mass, there was a long procession with the statue of the Blessed Virgin in the territory of the parish accompanied by different traditional groups in their costumes with singing and recitation of the Holy Rosary. This event was brought to a conclusion with a dinner with the two celebrating Bishops and all concelebrating priests present in the occasion. The Bishops and the people of God expressed their joy and appreciation for the celebration, which according to them was “una bella testimonianza della vita missionaria” (a beautiful testimony of missionary life).