Sector of Nigeria: Final Vows of Brother Lucky Maria

Call it coincidence, chance or even marriage of events, the Lasallian spirit calls it Divine Providence. The final profession of Vows ceremony of Br Lucky Maria Oseghale on the 17th January 2015 came exactly 50 years after the final profession of the first Nigerian De La Salle Brother (though not same month).The Canadian Missionary Brothers came to Nigeria around 1956 and in 1965 Br Uba Anslem was finally professed in the same Ondo Diocese where Brother Lucky Maria was professed.

I do not mean to bore you with dates and history but let me note one more history. Br LuckyMaria is the first Nigerian Brother in final vows now that had his postulancy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I must say enough of history at this juncture.
The 17th January was a colourful day for the De Salle Brothers in Lwanga District and Nigeria in particular. In the well attended ceremony in St Joseph Catholic Parish Ondo, Br Ghebreyesus Habte FSC on his first visit to Nigeria received Br LuckyMaria’s vows on behalf
of the Superior General, Br Robert Schieler. The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev Jude Arogundade was the chief celebrant with the Bishop Emeritus of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev F. F Alonge, a long term friend of the Brothers, present. Religious and priests from within and outside the Diocese were present in good numbers.
Friends, family and parishioners from Brother LuckyMaria’s home parish were not left out.
In very moving words, the parents of Br LuckyMaria presented him to God before the congregation. The Chief celebrant and host Bishop, in his inspiring homily emphasized that final vows was all about total self giving to God. Presenting his homily in two phases he addressed Br Lucky Maria to remain calm when the going gets tough and stand up
for the truth even when everyone is falling. Not forgetting the human nature, the Bishop made a call, in the second phase of his homily, on the congregation to support Brother with fervent prayers.
A reception followed at the La Salle College Ondo with variety of both modern and traditiona l displays. The students of La Salle College Ondo and Mt LA Salle College Naka, Benue State featured prominently. The Brothers were overjoyed as the ocassion signalled hope for the future of the mission of the De Salle Brothers and the Lasallian mission in in Nigeria.
By Brother Simon Kesiki, Sector Coordinator