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Looking back at the Father’s visit to Enugu 5 Years Ago

Several people were at the Enugu airport waiting to receive the Prelate of Opus Dei with so much excitement 24 July 2018. These include families with their children, some of them bearing bouquets of flowers. It was to be an intense one-day visit because he was due to return to Lagos that same day.

His first meeting was in a centre of Opus Dei with some priests who attend the means of formation offered by Opus Dei.

As soon as the Father entered the spacious vestibule of the Niger Foundation Hospital, some employees intoned a lively song. There, he had a meeting with some doctors, nurses, employees and managers during which they told him some details of the work that is done in order to maintain the Christian identity permeating the work at the hospital. They also told him about the services they render through a clinic located at Iwollo, a cluster of villages without health care and with scarce resources; the multiple and frequent conversions of some sick people at the point of death; the help offered by the hospital chaplain and other many fruits from these 25 years of the hospital’s existence. The Father underlined, among other things, how affectionately they should treat each patients, reminding them further of the strategic role that nurses play. He then, went to bless the new Mother and Child Centre, a recently completed annex of the hospital. Many workers in Hospital had the opportunity of greeting him, in small groups, while he walked along the long corridors.

Later that day he had two big and exciting get-togethers with the faithful of Opus Dei, cooperators and friends in Enugu, and from other parts of Nigeria, who had travelled for the occasion. One took place in the morning and the second one in the afternoon. He encouraged them to honour with enthusiasm their vocation and the mission that God has entrusted to them, with the firm awareness of the words of St. Paul: If God is with us, who can be against us. At a point in one of the get-togethers, one of the participants raised an Ibo acclamation, “Enugu Kwenu!”, to which everyone present replied in a resounding tone. The sense of being in a family was palpable.

The Prelate was also able to greet and speak with the promoters of the Roseville and Hillrange schools at different moments, and with other families and small groups. At the end of the day, he remarked with joy that the welcome he received everywhere in Enugu had been a tremendous thing.

The nurses and personnel of Niger Foundation Hospital performing a very lively song of welcoming for the Father on his arrival
Neri and Ito accompanied the Father towards the terminal of the airport of Enugu after landing
Some children and families were waiting to greet the Father on his arrival to Enugu
As the Prelate entered the hospital he was received by several members of the personnel
There was expectation at the entrance of the Niger Foundation Hospital among the nurses
…and also in other areas of NFH
They had been waiting for the Father
The staff joined forces to form a choir and surprise the Father on his entry into the hospital
In the encounter with the directors and staff of the hospital
Different departments of the hospital told some nice stories that happen in the performance of their jobs
Group photograph with the directors and part of the staff of the hospital
The Prelate blessed the new Mother and Child Centre is a ceremony
The Prelate unveils the commemorative plaque
In the corridors of the NFH
During the first general get together in Enugu
There were some moments of lively interaction during the get-together in Enugu
Ifenna made a memorable intervention in front of the Father
The Father on the stand of the Base Auditorium during one of the get-togethers
At the end of one of the get-togethers
The participants in the second get-together greeting the Prelate of Opus Dei
Overview of the get-together in the Base Auditorium in Enugu
More participants in the get-together in Enugu with the Prelate of Opus Dei
Young participants in the get-together with the Father in Enugu
An intervention during the last get-together with the Father

This is the video summary of the trip and the articles that were published during his stay in 2018:

Video Highlights of the Prelate of Opus Dei’s Visit to Nigeria

The Prelate of Opus Dei in Nigeria, 19 - 26 July 2018

(this page contains the articles published during his stay)

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