Mbaka not removed from Adoration Ministry — Catholic Church

Contrary to reports that the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry of Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has been removed and transferred to Awhum Monastery, located at Udi Council of Enugu State, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), yesterday, clarified that Mbaka had not been removed from the ministry.

It stated that the recommendation for Mbaka to spend some time in solitude at a monastery was hinged on the need for him to hear what the Spirit of God had to tell him, but insisted that he was still the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry.

The CSN disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Director of Social Communications, Fr. Michael Umoh.

It said the clarification was necessary due to reports that erroneously suggested that Bishop Callistus Onaga had sacked Mbaka as the leader of the ministry.

Reacting to this, Umoh pointed out that Mbaka personally proposed Fr. Anthony Amadi as interim administrator of the ministry while he is away.

He said: “Going by an interview with the Director of Communications, Enugu Diocese, Fr. Ben Achi, Mbaka was not removed from the Adoration Ministry, as many reports are suggesting.

“Rather, according to Achi, since it was recommended that Mbaka takes time away in solitude, to listen to what the Spirit of God has to tell him, he was allowed to propose a priest to administer, in the interim, to the faithful at the ministry.

“With the approval of his Bishop, on Sunday, October 2, 2022, Mbaka introduced Amadi to worshippers.

“Unfortunately, some people were still not pleased and would prefer that Mbaka remains.

“What every true Christian and, especially, every true Catholic should do at this moment is to commit Mbaka to God in prayer so that he may, through this moment, encounter God, come out stronger and better in recognising His will for him, as well as gain more graces to channel those rare gifts for His glory and for the sanctification of the people of God and society at large.

“The Church loves Mbaka and cherishes him as an illustrious son.”