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Fr Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry Now A Chaplaincy Of Enugu Diocese, Says Bishop Onaga

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ENUGU DIOCESAN DIRECTIVES AND GUIDELINES FOR PASTORAL CARE AND ADMINISTRATION IN THE ADORATION
MINISTRY ENUGU, NIGERIA


To Rev. Fr Camillus Ejike Mbaka and
To all Members of the Adoration Ministry Enugu
To the Clergy, Religious and Lay faithful of Enugu Diocese.


PREAMBLE
On 5th May 2021 members of the Adoration Ministry Enugu violently vandalized the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu the secretariat complex and the Cathedral Church. Since this ugly
incident took place, the Church in Enugu hus continued to pray for unity and the progress of the work of evangelization in the diocese. In addition to this, the Director/Chaplain of the Adoration
Ministry, Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka, at the fraternal instruction of the Diocesan Bishop, took a period of one month to prayerfully reflect on the challenges that hinder the growth and the future
of the Adoration Ministry. Having done this, it is now proper and timely to define the diocesan directives and guidelines that shall regulate the pastoral care and administration of the Adoration
Ministry from now forward. For the Roman Catholic Church is a universal institution (Lumen gentium no.13), with order and discipline enshrined in the Code of Canon law and in the particular laws of the particular Church.(cf. Ap. Cos Sacrae discipline legen). It is a hierarchical Church (Lumen genarium, no. 18). not
any political organization. In this Church, the Pope has supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary powers, (c.131) and the Diocesan Bishop possesses the same authority in the particular diocese entrusted to him (Second Vat. Council, Christus Dominus, no. 11). The Bishop has the obligation of fostering and safeguarding the unity of the faith and of upholding the discipline which
is common to the whole Church (Lumen gentium no.23). Hence, the provisions of c. 756 52 make the Diocesan Bishop the moderator of the entire ministry
of the word of God within the particular Church. Adoration, teaching and healing ministries, belonging to this category, whether directed by clerics or laypersons in Enugu Diocese, permitted by the Diocesan Bishop, must remain Catholic in its life and teaching. The Bishop of Enugu
Diocese, as chiet’ shepherd, has the responsibility to supervise and issue norms concerning all centres where the word of God is proclaimed (c. 775 91). As the visible source and foundation of
unity, he is to exercise vigilance so that abuses do not creep into ecclesiastical discipline especially in what pertains to the ministry of the word, the sacraments, sacramentals and worship of God (c.
392 32).

Therefore, to safeguard the integrity of the Church and forestall future abuses in the
Adoration Ministry, and as necessary conditions for the existence of the Ministry, I hereby decree that henceforth:

  1. Christ in the Blessed Sacrament must remain at the centre of worship and not personality cult.
  2. Since Christ is the way, the Truth and the Life, the faithful must be taught to be truthful by word and example:
  3. The use of dialogue and prayer, instead of violence, revenge or exchange of words, should be employed in the face of challenges and difficulties in the Adoration Ministry
  4. The Adoration Ministry Enugu shall be administered and organized as a chaplaincy: Canonically, a chaplaincy is a special group of Christ’s faithful entrusted to a priest in a stable
    manner who is their chaplain in accordance with universal and particular law (c. 564). The Adoration Ministry Enugu is to be recognized as a chaplaincy in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Cainillus Ejike Mbaka. As a Catholic outfit of the Diocese of Enugu, it shall enjoy all the pastoral privileges of the Diocese of Enugu and is to be under the
    pastoral and managerial obligation of the same diocese, The Diocesan Bishop has the prerogative to appoint Chaplain and Assistani Chaplain to the Adoration Ministry Enugu or other such ministerial offices in the diocese to assist the chaplains oversee the pastoral activities of the Ministry. He (the chaplain) shall have all the rights and
    privileges given to him in universal and particular law.
  5. The teaching of the Magisterium and knowledge of the Church structure should be central to the Catechesis of the Adoration Ministry. This means that the Chaplain and members of the
    Adoration Ministry must abide by the teaching and discipline of the Catholic Church as well as its ecclesiastical governance.
  6. Administration of sacraments should be preceded by proper preparation and documentation. The teaching of cutechism must be made compulsory.
  7. The Diocesan Bishop shall go on Pastoral Visit from time to time to the Adoration Ministry as is the case with Parishes, in order to assess their spiritual growth.
  8. No non-Catholic should liturgical role in the Ministry
  9. Effort must be made to nourish the spiritual and moral life of attendees and not just their mundane desires
  10. There shall be no partisan politics either by way of active engagement or by prophetic naming of candidates for positions of power. For in accordance with e. 287 $2, priests are forbidden
    from taking part in any form of partisan politics. Likewise, “no one is pernitted to harm illegitimately the good reputation which a person possesses nor to injure the right of any person
    to protect his or her own privacy (220).

I order that these guidelines and decree be faithfully observed in accordance with the
universal and particular law and the custom of our diocese, anything to the contrary notwithstanding, even if worthy of special mention.

Given on this day grid Jone 2021, the littergical memorial of St. Charles Lwanga and companions.

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