Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, proposed that Anthony Amadi serve as interim administrator for the Adoration Ministry, according to the Enugu diocese of the church.

Director of Communications, Enugu Diocese, Benjamin Achi, made the disclosure in Enugu on Monday while reacting to media reports that Mr Mbaka, who was the ministry’s administrator, was removed by the church.

Mr Achi said that Mr Mbaka was not removed, but that the Enugu Catholic Diocese only recommended that the controversial priest take time away in solitude, in order to listen to what the Spirit of God has to tell him.

“Mbaka was allowed to propose a priest to administer, in the interim, to the faithful at the Adoration Ministry.

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

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

He stated that what every true Christian, especially every true Catholic, should do at this moment was to “commit our dear brother and priest, Fr. Mbaka, to God in prayer.

“So that he may, through this moment, encounter God specially, come out stronger and better in recognizing His will for him and gain more graces to channel those rare gifts for His glory”.

This, he said, would help for the sanctification of the people of God and society at large.

Mr Umoh stressed that the “Church loves Fr. Mbaka and cherishes him as an illustrious son and may our Mother Mary, the Queen of all Apostles, intercede for him. Amen”.

Mr Mbaka held a service at the Adoration Ministry on Sunday amidst cheers by his followers, who were, however, shocked when the cleric announced that he had been removed by the Catholic bishop, Callistus Onaga.

He subsequently introduced Anthony Amadi, another Catholic priest, as the new spiritual director of the ministry.

Mr Mbaka said he had been directed to “proceed to a monastery” as part of the disciplinary measures against him by the church, adding that he was proceeding to the monastery to “continue with the remaining disciplinary exercises, as directed.”

Stating further, Mr Mbaka said, “I wouldn’t know how long; but the church has appointed Fr. Anthony Amadi, one of us, to be overseeing all affairs of the ministry, to be assisted by other priests, pending my return, by the grace of God.”

He also announced that the ministry had not fully reopened, adding that some programmes including a weekly Friday all-night adoration remained suspended till further notice.

(NAN)