Chaplains Of CCRN Retreat At Canaan Land

Provincial and Diocesan Chaplains of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Nigeria assembled at the National Service Centre of the CCRN, Ubulu Uku to reflect on the charge by Jesus Christ to the Apostles to FEED MY LAMB.

With Very Reverend Fr. Samuel Ikani Akagwu, moderating all the Chaplains, 15 in number, had a great time with reflection, prayers, prayer meeting and quiet time.

The Moderator Fr. Samuel Akagwu said the dramatic encounter between Jesus and his disciples by the sea of Tiberias in Jn. 21 was symbolic and full of meaning of diverse and significant meanings. Such meanings for priests were the highlights of the reflection during the retreat.

The encounter he said reveals the significance of the call of Peter and his companions at the lake after they had laboured all night without any catch. The encounter with Jesus transformed the fishers from catching fish in the sea into fishers of men.

Their transformation into fishers of men made them to be with him as he formed his apostolic community.

The National Chaplain of the CCRN, Very Rev. Fr. Irenaeus Okonkwo, wasn't disposed to be present at the start of the retreat. However, he sent a message of welcome, stating that the "mission of caring for souls is often accompanied by personal sacrifice, hardship and even suffering"

"As chaplains in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal", he state, "we have a unique responsibility to lead communities in openness to the workings of the Holy Spirit...as the Charismatic Renewal is a movement born of the Holy Spirit".

He urged the chaplains not to "shy away from our charismatic identity" adding that "the world today is in desperate need of the Holy Spirit of healing, of renewed faith, and of the fire of the Gospel".

The National Coordinator of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Nigeria, Bro. Uche Manu KSJI was on hand to also welcome the chaplains to the National Service Centre of the CCRN and commended them for making out time from their pastoral duties to attend the retreat.

He appealed to them to help to guide the charismatic renewal to stamp out the unholy practice of campaigns for election into leadership, prejudices and bigotry so as to save the movement of the Holy Spirit from being hijacked by individuals and groups for petty and primordial reasons.

He reflected on the ongoing efforts to continue with the development of the National Service Centre and hoped that the exercise will continue with successive leaders after the tenure of the current National Service of Communion early in the new year.

The chaplains were taken on a tour of some of the ongoing projects, including the Charisma International College, the water factory, the stations of the cross being erected by donour families and groups and they received briefing from the Chairman LOC of the Charisma Internation College and those of the Business Development and Empowerment Commission, and the National Communication Commission.