Welcome for the new Nigerian Chaplaincy

Archbishop Kevin with Cardinal Arinze and the new Nigerian Chaplains, Fathers Albert Ofere and Austin Mbelu, before the Mass

In a spirit of joy and celebration the Nigerian community turned out in force to join Nigerian-born Cardinal Francis Arinze when he visited the Cathedral on Saturday, 18th November. He came to offer Mass and inaugurate the Nigerian Catholic Chaplaincy.

The Cardinal is Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

The Archbishop with Cardinal Arinze

The Cardinal enters the Cathedral

Archbishop Kevin warmly welcomes the Cardinal

In welcoming the Cardinal, the Archbishop mentioned that they had first met in Rome when the Cardinal was President of the Council for Interreligious Dialogue and he was an official at the Council for Christian Unity.

The Responsorial Psalm

Cardinal Arinze's homily

The Cardinal said that if we proclaim that God is our Father we cannot reject the Church as our mother. He stressed that the new Chaplaincy would not withdraw Nigerians from their local parish communities; it would better equip them to play a full part in their own parishes, where their deep love of community, so much part of the Nigerian identity, would be of great benefit to the local Church.

The Cardinal preaches to a packed Cathedral

The blessing of the plaque inaugurating the Chaplaincy and the Chaplaincy banner

Fathers Albert and Austin hold the Chaplaincy banner aloft

Father Jeoffrey Ene ensures that all is running smoothly

Bishop Alan Hopes - Auxiliary Bishop in Westminster

Bishop Hopes paid tribute to the contribution the Nigerian community had made to the Church in south-east England and brought the best wishes and blessing from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

The Choir that led the singing

The Chaplains escort His Excellency the Nigerian High Commissioner, Dr Christopher Kolade, to the sanctuary

Dr Kolade welcomes the new Chaplaincy

The Cardinal gives the final blessing ...

... and leaves the Cathedral

In the sacristy after the Mass

The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muņoz, arrives to congratulate the Chaplains and add his blessing for the work of the Chaplaincy

Father Albert and Father Austin