THE PROVINCIAL RECTOR VISITS NIGERIA

Recently, precisely from the 3rd – 17th of February, 2017, the Provincial Rector of the Italian Province of the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Very Rev. Fr Jim Gerlett, OMV, had his Canonical visit to the Nigeria Delegation of the Province. The Canonical visit helped him to meet brothers both at community and individual level. At the various meetings, he explained the nature of the canonical visit to all the community members which is getting to know the reality and the happenings in the various communities under the Delegation.

The Director of Communications, Rev. Fr. Oviemuno I. Obi, OMV, was privileged to have a chat with him. When asked on how the Oblate communities could be structured in Nigeria, Fr Jim expressed his conviction that in every community, there should be a superior, a vicar, a secretary who keeps the community documents, records and minutes, and a bursar whose duty is to keep the economic archives of the community. He equally encouraged the OMV in Nigeria to develop a Nigerian style of administration rather than copying the European or American system of administration. He asked every community to develop a community program that fits or suitesevery individual in the community especially those with special apostolates. Fr. Gerlett also encouraged all Oblate priests in the various communities to embark on ongoing formation with or under the assistance of various experts in the areas of spiritual direction, emotional direction, moral direction and a confessor. These experts, he said, will help to train our will towards the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.

Still on community life, Fr Jim said that the vocation to the religious life is geared towards living a community life and nurturing the bond of charity. He stated that Fr. Lanteri encourages all Oblates to do everything possible to nurture this charity. Quoting St. Paul, Fr. Gerlett challenged all the Oblates in Nigeria to outdo one another with kindness (cf Rom. 12:10).

When asked on his assessment of the Delegation, the Provincial expressed his happiness over the growth thus far in the Nigeria Delegation because within four years, the OMV in Nigeria is able to manage five parishes in different regions in the country beginning with St. Anthony’s Parish, Asipa, Ibadan, in 2012. Fr. Jim viewed that the prospects are very bright, and having met with almost everyone in the Delegation, he said, “there is good will among the priests in Nigeria”. He equally stated that in Nigeria, there are lots of good material and human resources, which need to be channeled well for effectiveness. He, however, asked us not to open any mission or apostolate in any region or place without prospects or future. Furthermore, he said that we should embark on the mission or apostolate that could be sustained with both human and material resourcesavailable to us in Nigeria. He equally encouraged us to be thinking of having investments in the country.  The Provincial advised all the communities not to begin any project that could not be sustained by the community in question. 

Speaking on some of the communities visited, he recalled that in Lagos for instance, he saw a good fraternity among the brothers, greetings one another with love and respect. He was impressed that the brothers in Lagos try to meet once in every two months irrespective of their living in different parishes. Bearing in mind that nurturing the bond of charity will always help us build solid community life, he requested the Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr Adewale Martins, for the pairing of OMV priests working in the Archdiocese of Lagos, of which the archbishop agreed to put it into consideration.

In St. Mary’s Parish, Lugbe, Fr. Jim met with the members of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Liturgical group while at St. Anthony’s Parish, Asipa, he met with the Associates of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (AOMV). The various meetings were highly commendable by the Provincial.He said the AOMV are trying their best to participate in the pastoral life of the OMV in Nigeria. He encouraged that they should be made to share more in and benefit from our prayer life. 

On a final note, Fr Jim requested that more Nigerian Oblate priests should be disposed to help form Nigerian OMV communities in Italy.

Upon the conclusion of his canonical visit to Nigeria, Fr Jim Gerlett has ever since returned to Italy.