On Easter Saturday, April 6, 2013, Miles Jesu had the joy of welcoming four more members to perpetual vows. This time it was four Nigerian members, two men and two women: Francisca Ndommadu, Justina Obum, Josef Igboekwene, and Thomas Abonyi.
This was the spring’s second profession ceremony and was held in the southeastern part of Nigeria, home to a men’s community in the city of Onitsha, as well as the ladies community in the small village of Egbenwu where the ceremonies took place in the local parish church. Father Barry Fischer traveled close to 3000 miles due south from his community in Salzburg, Austria to receive the vows in the name of the Church and in the name of Miles Jesu. Maria Van Scott and Joe Sullivan were invited to come along too, also making long tripss—from Lublin, Poland and Phoenix via Rome, respectively. The equitorial climate of southern Nigeria was a big change, especially for Fr. Barry and Maria, arriving as they did from a Europe stuck in a long winter with plenty of snow covering Salzburg and Lublin – not only when they left but also when they returned to their residences!
Life in Nigeria is simple. Electricity is sporadic; running water is not something you can always count on. Secondary roads are simply undulating ribbons of red dust. But the Nigerians know how to put on a moving ceremony—and throw a good party! The Mass of Profession lasted a full three hours, with spirited singing, the vows ceremony, and a lot of little extras such as most of the congregation joining in with the offertory procession: suddenly after the profession of the vows and the homily, half the church headed to the main entrance and we Americans wondered if they mistakenly thought the service was over. But then they came in behind the newly professed who carried up the principle offertory gifts of hosts, wine, and water but were followed by people with other gifts including two goats! Then everyone stayed at the altar rail for a blessing from the priest, who sprinkled them lavishly with an aspergillum made of large feathers and supplied from a large basin of holy water. At the end of the Mass, local directress Lucia Okonofua, gave a short talk about the Miles Jesu charism to the 200+ friends and relatives who had traveled to the ceremony.
Next on the agenda was an open air reception in a nearby field. People sat under marquees with headings such as “Miles Jesu Vinculum Members” and various parish names. There was a large cake shaped like a church and steeple (Lucia explained that there is a special ingredient you can add to the frosting to keep it from melting in the sun—definitely necessary with the temperature in the 90’s). Group by group, people came up to the newly professed’s table and made little speeches into a microphone. Francisca, Justina, Josef and Thomas stood together and gave away little remembrance cards and, following local custom, wall calendars commemorating the day. Meanwhile, everyone feasted on rice with vegetable sauce, chicken, and a local delicacy called foo foo (paste made from yams, seved with an okra based sauce).
Late that afternoon as things wound down we all found ourselves sitting a little lifelessly in the ladies’ community living room. Fr. Barry smiled at Francisca and asked, “So, how do you feel? Are you happy?” Eyes closed and head leaning back, she answered with a slow grin, “I am more than happy!”
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