In 2006, with the mandate from the Archbishop, Fr Sylvester went about visiting areas with high population of Africans with the aim of forming the African Chaplaincy.

The start of the year 2007 saw the celebration of African Masses at the Divine Mercy Church, Lucan and the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clondalkin; following some consultations with few Africans living in the two areas.

Later that year, the Blanchardstown and Balbriggan Centres were established. The inaugural Mass of the Blanchardstown Centre took place in March 2007 at St Brigid’s Church with about thirty people in attendance.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr Sylvester Onyeachonam with the support of the Parish Priest, Fr John Jones, without whom, the Centre would not have come into being.

Following Fr Sylvester’s visit to the Balbriggan Parish of St Peter and Paul in April 2007, word quickly spread to the African Faithful of the intention of setting up a Centre of the African Chaplaincy in the Parish.

Shortly thereafter Fr Sylvester Onyeachonam went back to Balbriggan and celebrated the three Holy Masses with Fr Barry Murphy.

After his first year as the Chaplain, Fr Sylvester Onyeachonam once more resumed the effort to seek ways of cooperation with St Peter’s Phibsborough.

This time, with the help of another Nigerian priest, Fr Daniel Okechukwu, CM and the blessings of late Very Rev. Fr. Brian Moore, CM, St Peter’s Church, Phibsborough was incorporated and became part of the African Chaplaincy in Dublin.

In 2007, a Pastoral Council was formed with the following members: Rev Fr Sylvester Onyeachonam, Chaplain, Mr. Joseph Uzah, as Chairman, Mr Adebola Oladapo, Vice Chairman, Mr. John Kingsley Kelechi Onwumereh, Secretary, Mrs Meg Offiah, Treasurer, and the following members: Mrs Mary Shalomi, Mr Elias Nwakamma, Mr. Patrick Edekobi, Mrs Vivian Idogho, Mrs Jacqueline Evbodaghe, Mr. Martin Gbolagun, Mrs Ifeoma Okanume, Mr. Clement Ehiguese and Mr. Emeka Ikwukeme.

At the instance of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, on the 7th of May 2008, the Pastoral Council of the African Chaplaincy took part in a strategic planning meeting chaired by Monsignor Lorcan O’Brien at the Archbishop’s House in Drumcondra, Dublin 9 to set its key road map and operating objectives.

The African Chaplaincy also hosted Cardinal Francis Arinze, Archbishop Valerian Okeke from Onitsha, as well as the Nigerian and Kenyan Ambassadors to Ireland. Prior to this, on the 30th of March 2008, the first joint African Mass was held at St Peter’s Church, Phibsborough.

The Mass which was celebrated by Fr Daniel Okechukwu, CM and Fr Sylvester saw enthusiastic Africans from all the Centres worshipping together as one big family.

We started having a Joint Mass celebrated once every three months in different Centres to foster bonding and integration.

To further unify Africans in the various Centres, the Chaplaincy started celebrating joint Masses during important liturgical Feasts and Church occasions such as Mother’s/ Father’s Day, Pentecost, Harvest, Diocesan Mass of all Nations celebrated on the feast of the Epiphany and New Year Vigil.

On the 26th of July 2009, after three years of ministry as the Chaplain, Fr Sylvester Onyeachonam celebrated his final Mass for the community and handed over the administration of the Chaplaincy to Fr Lazarus Iwueke, CM.

As the African Chaplaincy began to grow, the Pastoral Council was properly structured following the guideline from the Archdiocese.

The main priority of the Pastoral Council was to foster the integration of Africans resident in Dublin, create opportunities for Africans to have a sense of belonging among the Irish Faith Community and have a central base for Africans to worship and interact.

Fr Lazarus Iwueke, CM, continued in the footsteps of his predecessor in reaching out to Africans. His hard work resulted in the addition of Swords and Tallaght Centres to the Chaplaincy.

Swords was a natural choice due to its location on the north side of Dublin and its high concentration of Africans. Moreover, it was revealed that some African Catholics had already been integrating with the Irish Catholics in St. Finnian’s Parish by active participation at the Masses.

The choice of St. Finnian’s Church as the Centre of worship was to a large extent influenced by the welcoming disposition exhibited by the then Parish Priest Fr Niall Mackey.

The inaugural African Mass in the Swords Centre was held on 28th March 2010.

The following year, 2011 saw the birth of the Tallaght Centre when Fr Lazarus Iwueke, CM made the first move by approaching Fr Hughes Martin, the Parish Priest, for permission to use St. Aidan’s Church Brookfield as African Chaplaincy, Tallaght Centre. Fr Hughes Martin suggested having a combined Mass with the Irish and Africans and it was welcomed by all.

This then led to the inaugural Mass celebrated on 6th of January 2012 which was attended by a large number of Africans.

On September 2nd 2012, Fr Lazarus handed the reins of the Chaplaincy over to Fr Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM.

We have currently six Mass Centres in the African Chaplaincy namely: Phibsborough, Lucan/Clondalkin, Blanchardstown, Balbriggan, Swords and Tallaght.

The growth of the Chaplaincy gave rise to the need to have Pious Organisations in the African Chaplaincy.

The first Mother’s Day was celebrated in St. Brigid’s Church Blanchardstown on Sunday 3rd April, 2011 as a joint African Chaplaincy event.

The event which featured Mass followed by a reception was a huge success. Following the success of the Mothers’ day celebration in 2011 and 2012, Fr Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM on the 10th of March 2013, commissioned six women, one from each of the six Centres with the task of setting up the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO). Later that year, the first Annual General Meeting of the CWO took place in October 2013.

The Catholic Women Organisation of the African Chaplaincy was officially inaugurated by the Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Diarmuid Martin on the 30th of March 2014, at St. Finnian’s Church River-Valley, Swords.

First Father’s Day event organised by the African Chaplaincy was held in St Brigid’s Church, Blanchardstown on Sunday 16th June 2013 at the instance of the Chaplain Fr Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM.

This unique event witnessed fathers exemplifying their roles in the home and society as role models by serving the rest of the congregation and guests. The key note lecturer was Barr. Bruno Igwe who spoke on the crucial role of fathers in the home and society.

Following the success of the Father’s Day Celebration in 2013, Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM, invited Bishop Raymond Field to celebrate the second Father’s Day on Sunday the 15th of June 2014 in St. Peter’s Church Phibsborough.

The following year, on 5th of July 2015, the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) was inaugurated by his Grace Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in St. Brigid’s Church, Blanchardstown.

In an effort to build the Spiritual Faith of our Youths and help them get involved in the Community, the first Youth Convention in the African Chaplaincy was Organised to bring them together.

This two-fold event which consisted of a full day Workshop and Youth Thanksgiving Mass in St. Vincent’s Castleknock College Dublin 15 and St. Peter’s Parish Phibsborough took place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of November 2014 respectively. Supported by a steering committee of four adults, the Catholic Youth Organisation (CYO) now has a structure and engages the youth throughout the year with projects and activities strengthening their Faith Development.

The African Chaplaincy Pastoral Care Plan includes:

Promotion of visits and prayers to and with those living in Direct Provision Asylum Centres; Provision of assistance to refugees in and outside Ireland; Prison visitations, counselling and spiritual mentoring; Supporting the Church’s works of charity and service to those in need.

It also includes promotion of Child Protection in our daily work through Seminars, Lectures and Safe Guarding Policies; Administering the Sacrament of Baptism and other Sacraments; Celebrating Sunday Masses for all the Centres; Service of Songs and Memorial Masses for the Departed and Bereaved Families; Home Visitations and Support services for families in crisis; Hospital Visitations to our sick members.

Furthermore, it includes Organizing Pastoral Council Meetings as when due; Organizing Meetings and Retreats for different groups; Organizing Seminars and Workshops, AGM and Conventions; Promoting Choir and Musical practice; Promoting Youth development and their involvement in Chaplaincy events;

Finally, it includes Promoting the Empowerment of Men and Women in the work of Evangelization, spiritual development and personal effectiveness; Continued integration of African families within local Parish Communities; Collaboration with Parish Clergy who share their Church and facilities with the African Community for common good.

To this end, the Pastoral Council continues to dialogue with different African Communities/ethnic groups, African Embassies and the Irish Community to seek better ways to support and engage our African Community in making positive contributions towards the growth of the Irish Society.

Challenges

The African Chaplaincy has had some challenges in the course of its ten years of existence.

Some of the prevailing challenges include: Limited financial resources which impact on the ability of the Chaplaincy to organize big events and projects; a growing need and request for the Chaplaincy to have a central Church and venue to celebrate Masses and to hold joint events; Insufficient Catechetical materials appropriate for the faith and wholesome growth of the African Chaplaincy.

Gratitude

As the Chaplaincy celebrates ten years, we look back with gratitude to God and a sense of pride in the many achievements and successes we have recorded.

Apart from the successful establishment of six Centres across Dublin, inauguration of the CWO, CMO and CYO, some members of the African Chaplaincy joined the knights of St Columbanus in October 2014 and we can boast of having Legion of Mary Society, a standard Choir, Pastoral Council Constitution and a strong sense of community providing Pastoral Care support to all in need.

Due to the hardworking and energetic efforts of our current Chaplain, Fr Cornelius Nwaogwugwu CM, an office space was secured in April 2014 at the Crosscare building at Blanchardstown.

To God be the glory, the African Chaplaincy has continued to grow from strength to strength and has recorded great improvements in the Organisation of spiritual events aimed at bringing the African community to worship together.

As we celebrate ten years with a population of over five hundred strong members from a humble beginning, we say thank you to God, and our Archbishop, Most Rev Diarmuid Martin, without whom, the African Chaplaincy would not have been possible.

We are grateful to Bishop Eamonn Walsh, and Bishop Raymond Field for their generous support and attendance at our African Chaplaincy Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events respectively. We are grateful to Right Rev. Monsignor Lorcan O’Brien, Right Rev. Monsignor Paul Callan, Right Rev. Monsignor Dan O’Connor, Very Rev Fr Eamon Devlin CM, Very Rev Fr Cyril Mbata CM, Very Rev Fr Richard Diala CM, Very Rev Fr Gerry Kane, Very Rev. Fr. John Jones, Very Rev. Fr Damian McNeice, Rev. Sr Breege Keenan, Rev. Sr Bernadette Carron DC, late Very Rev Fr Brian Moore CM, the Vincentian Family, Crosscare and our African Priests and Religious Living in Ireland for their kind support to the African Chaplaincy.

We are also grateful to all the various Parish Priests of all the Centres for accommodating us in the parishes and also to the former Chaplains, Fr Sylvester Onyeachonam and Fr Lazarus Iwueke, CM and our current Chaplain, Fr Cornelius Nwaogwugwu CM; members of the Pastoral Council both past and present, all members of the African Chaplaincy and all others who have been of great help and inspiration to us, we say thank you and God bless you all.

We pray that the good Lord will continue to strengthen us and pray that His abundant blessings will flow in our lives and in our community. Amen.

PIOUS ORGANISATIONS IN THE AFRICAN CHAPLAINCY

Pastoral Council 

Ø Knights of St. Columbanus

Ø  Catholic Men Organisation

Ø  Catholic Women Organisation

Ø  Catholic Youth Organisation

Ø  Legion of Mary

Ø  Catholic Nurses Guild 

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES

Ø  St. Vincent’s Choir

Ø  Lay Readers Association

Ø  Altar Servers

Ø  Eucharistic Ministers

Ø  Church Wardens/Ushers

COMMITTEES IN THE AFRICAN CHAPLAINCY

Ø  Hospitality/Welfare Committee

Ø  Children Committee

Ø  Events Committee

Ø  Harvest Committee

AFRICAN CHAPAINCY – CHILD PROTECTION CONTACT PERSONS

1.      Francis Okosun —– 0874182334

2. Martin Ekeocha —— 0877066093

DUBLIN ARCHDIOCESAN – CHILD PROTECTION CONTACT PERSONS

Ø  CHILD PROTECTION OFFICE PHONE NUMBER: 01-8360314

Ø  DIOCESAN DESIGNATED PERSON: MR. ANDREW FAGAN

Ø  TRAINING RELATED QUERIES: FR PADDY BOYLE – 0861011415

 

(Compiled by the History Project Editorial Committee: Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM,
Sir John-Kingsley Kelechi Onwumereh,
Mrs. Christie Enemuo,
Sir Martin Gbalagun and Mrs. Ifeoma Nwali)