ACTIVITIES FOR 2010

I present to you my programme of activities for the year 2009. I will generally follow this programme unless something of higher order intervenes.

2010 PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES

JANUARY
1 Fri Pastoral Visit to St. Mary Mother of God Parish, Akwaihedi
2 Sat Silver Jubilee of Sr. Chinonye IHM at St. James, Nnewi
3 Sun Diamond Jubilee of Chief and Mrs Nzekwe at Utuh
Second Collection for Consecrated men and women
4 Mon Marriage of Chizoba at Amichi
12 Tue Meeting of Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province
13 Wed Meeting of Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province
Patronal Celebration of St. Hilary of Poitiers
(Request for remembrances at Masses and Prayers)
17 Sun Special Collection for St. Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor
21 Thu Celebration of Birthday for Most Rev. Hilary P. O. Okeke
(Request for Masses and Prayers)
24 Sun Patronal Celebration of St. Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor
25 Mon Meeting of the Diocesan Curia (including all Episcopal
Vicars)
27 Wed Plenary Meeting of the Presbyterium
28 Thu Pastoral Visit to Maria Regina Girls Comprehensive College
30 Sat Diocesan Celebration of the Holy Childhood Association
Pastoral Visit to St. Andrew’s Parish, Azia
31 Sun Pastoral Visit to St. Andrew’s Parish Azia
PMS Special Collection for Pontifical Holy Childhood

FEBRUARY
2 Tue Day with Consecrated Men and Women
3 Wed Recollection for Priests of Nnewi Diocese
6-7 Pastoral Visit to Mary the Queen Parish, Azia
7-13 Cultural Week Celebrations (Activities to showcase African
Culture at various levels)
10 Wed 8th Anniversary of the Erection of our Diocese and Episcopal
Ordination and installation of Most Rev. Hilary P. O. Okeke
13 Sat Special Celebration of the 8th Anniversary at Our Lady of
Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi (All are to participate)
14 Sun Special Fund-raising in place of ACF
Pontifical Mass at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral,
Nnewi
17 Wed Presbyteral Council (includes members of the College of consultors)
20 Sat 10th Anniversary of the death of Rev. Fr. Prof. Edmund
Emefie Ikenga-Metuh at St. Peter Claver’s Otolo-Nnewi
21-27 Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Meeting at
Abuja
27-28 Meeting with NCDC, Abuja
28 Sun Parish Project Collection

MARCH
3 Wed. Recollection for Priests of Nnewi Diocese
5 Fri Meeting of Diocesan Finance Committee
6 Sat Golden Jubilee of Marriage at Holy Trinity Parish, Ukpor
6-7 Pastoral Visit to Holy Trinity Parish, Ukpor.
13 Sat Meeting of Diocesan Pastoral Council
14 Sun Second Collection for the Catholic Bishops Conference of
Nigeria (CBCN)
Pastoral Visit to St. Jude’s Parish, Okija
17 Wed Special Celebration of St. Patrick at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church,
Mbosi (Year for Priests Event: All priests are to participate in the celebration of the great Missionary and Patron of Nigeria)
20 Sat Cathedraticum for Ihiala Region at St. Martin of Tours, Ihiala
20-21 Pastoral Visit to St. John’s Parish, Oraifite
21 Sun National Collection for the Poor (mandated by the CBCN)
27 Sat Cathedraticum for Nnewi Region at St. John Cross Church, Nnewi
28 Sun Mass for Palm Sunday at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi
29 Mon Cathedraticum for Ozubulu Region at St. Michael’s Church, Amakwa
Ozubulu
30 Tue Cathedraticum for Amichi Region at Our Lady Queen of Heaven,
Amichi

APRIL;
1 Thu Holy Thursday - Chrism Mass at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral
Nnewi
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Parish Collection for the Poor
2 Fri Good Friday – Collection for Holy Land
4 Sun Easter Sunday
5 Mon 80th Birthday Celebration for Mr. H. O. Ume at Holy Spirit, Osumenyi
6 Tue Former Amichi Parish Vocations Rally
8 Thu Celebration with DMMM Azia I
9 Fri First Profession of Missionary Sisters of Divine Mercy at Nnewi
11 Sun Day with the Youth at
12 Mon Canonical Examinations for Senior Seminarians
13-22 Break: Celebrations with NCDC London
20 Tue 36th Priestly Ordination of Most Rev. Hilary P. O. Okeke
24-25 Pastoral Visit to St. John Cross Parish, Nnewi
25 Sun Good Shepherd Sunday: Prayers for Vocations and Special PMS
Collections for Seminaries
25-26 Bigard Golden Jubilee Priests Association Celebration
26-30 Retreat for Bishops for the Year for Priests at Abuja


MAY
1-2 Pastoral Visit to St. Theresa’s Parish, Orsumoghu
5 Wed Recollection for all priests
8 Sat Special Celebration with Maria Consolata Society
8-9 Pastoral Visit to St. Joseph’s Parish, Ozubulu
9 Sun Parish Project Collections
11 Tue Meeting of Bishops and Formators at Awka
15-16 Pastoral Visit to St. John the Evangelist Parish, Nnewi
16 Sun World Communications Day and Collections for Social
Communications Apostolate
17 Mon Ongoing Formation for all Priests
19 Wed Theological Conference for all Priests
22-23 Pastoral Visit to Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral Parish, Nnewi
23 Sun Pentecost Day: Confirmation for candidates from all over the
Diocese at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi
24 Mon Meeting of the Diocesan Curia
29-30 Second Collection for Daughters of Divine Love (DDL)

JUNE
Parish Priests and other Priests can take their annual leave
1-30 Annual Leave of the Bishop
2 Wed Recollection for all Priests
11 Fri Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus –Celebration of the Year
For Priests in all Parishes
13 Sun Parish Project Collection
14 Mon Meeting of the Diocesan Curia with the Moderator of the
Curia
16 Wed Meeting of all the Priests of the Diocese with the Vicar
General
19 Sat Closing of the Year for Priests in OLA Cathedral for the whole
Diocese (All priests, religious men and women and representatives
of the lay faithful from every parish to participate)
27 Sun Peter’s Pence –Special Collection for the Pope’s universal
Ministry

JULY
Annual Leave for only Parish Vicars and other non-parish priests only after retreat
1 Thu Return from Leave
3-4 Pastoral Visit to St. Michael’s Parish, Nnewi
4-9 First Group Retreat for Priests at Spiritual Year, Ozubulu
10 Sat Diocesan Priestly Ordination
11 Sun Parish Project Collection
11-16 Second Group Retreat for Priests at Spiritual Year, Ozubulu
17-18 Pastoral Visit to St. Peter Claver’s Parish, Otolo – Nnewi
11-18 JDPC Week
18 Sun Second Collection for JDPC Work
19 Mon Meeting of the Diocesan Curia
21 Wed Meeting of the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors
23 Fri Meeting of the Diocesan Finance Committee
24-25 Pastoral Visit to St. James Parish, Nnewi
25 Sun Second Collection for Holy Spirit Sisters (C.S.Sp)
31 Sat Pastoral Visit to St. Joseph’s Parish, Nnewi


AUGUST
Parish Priests are not to go on annual leave in August
1 Sun Pastoral Visit to St. Joseph Parish, Nnewi
4 Wed Recollection for all Priests
7-8 Pastoral Visit to St. Felix Parish, Nnewi
8 Sun Divine Stewardship Initiative (Fund-raising for Diocesan Projects)

15 Sun Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Eucharistic Celebration in the OLA Cathedral, Nnewi
16 Mon Meeting of the Diocesan Curia
18 Wed Meeting of the College of Consultors
21 Sat Diocesan August Meeting of the CWO
22 Sun Parish Projects Collection
23-27 Annual Reunion with Diocesan Major Seminarians
28-29 Pastoral Visit to St. Paul’s Parish, Okija
29 Sun Second Collection for Catholic Education

SEPTEMBER
Parish Priests are free to take their annual leave
1 Wed Recollection for all Priests
4-5 Pastoral Visit to St. Benedict’s Parish, Okija
5 Sun Second Collection for Diocesan Priests Association
12-18 Meeting of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)
18-19 Meeting with NCDC Lagos
19 Sun Special Fundraising in place of ACF
22 Wed Plenary Meeting of the Presbyterium
25-26 Pastoral Visit to St. Michael’s Parish, Okija


OCTOBER
Parish Priests are free to take their annual leave if not affected by movement
1 Fri Feast of Our Lady of Nigeria –
2-3 Pastoral Visit to St. Mary Mother of the Church, Ukpor
3 Sun Special Collection for St. Gabriel’s Spiritual Year Seminary, Ozubulu
4-12 Movement after Postings
9-10 Pastoral Visit to St. Peter Claver’s Parish, Ukpor
16 Sat Special Founder’s Day at St. Gabriel’s Spiritual Year Seminary,
Ozubulu (Diocesan Event)
17 Sun Harvest and Bazaar of Nnewi Central Catholic Council
23-24 Pastoral Visit to St. Mary Assumed into Heaven Parish, Umuahama-
Ukpor
24 Sun Mission Sunday – Prayers and Special PMS Fundraising for World
Mission
30-31 Pastoral Visit to St. Luke’s Parish, Ekwulumili


NOVEMBER
Parish Priests are not to take their annual leave in November until after the Pastoral Council
1. Mon All Saints Day
2 Tue All Souls Day
3 Wed Recollection for all Priests
6 Sat Diocesan Pastoral Council
7 Sun Harvest Thanksgiving and Bazaar Sales at OLA Cathedral Parish,
Nnewi
Parish Projects Collection
13-14 Pastoral Visit to St. Martin of Tours Parish, Ihiala
15-21 Break for the Bishop
22 Mon Meeting of the Diocesan Curia
24 Wed Plenary Meeting of the Presbyterium
27-28 Pastoral Visit to St. Michael’s Parish, Ezinifite
28 Sun Second Collection for Minna Diocese

DECEMBER
1 Wed Recollection for all Priests
4 Sat Day with the Catholic Girls Organisation
5-12 Meeting of Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa
(RECOWA) at Yamassoukrou, Ivory Coast
12 Sun Parish Projects Collection
17 Fri Installations at 8-00 am at the OLA Cathedral
10.00 am – Meeting of the Diocesan Finance Committee
18-19 Pastoral Visit to St. Lawrence Parish, Osumenyi
19 Sun Parish Collection for Christmas for the Poor
22 Wed Christmas Party for Priests and Consecrated men and women
25 Sat Christmas Day
26 Sun Golden Jubilee of Marriage of Amaechi brothers at Ukpor
31 Fri End of the Year Meeting of the Bishop with Men and Women of the
Diocese.



Most Rev. Hilary Paul Odili Okeke
Bishop of Nnewi