LEXINGTON — A much anticipated day for the parishioners of Our Lady of the Rosary Church finally arrived Oct. 30, when Father Ambrose Akinwande was officially installed as their pastor.
The newly renovated church in Lexington was filled to capacity for the Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Peter Jugis.
Among those in attendance were visiting clergy from near and far, including priests from Father Akinwande’s religious order, the Missionary Society of St. Paul: Father George Okeahialam, regional superior from Houston, Texas, and Father Romanus Ezeugwu, pastor of St. Benedict Church in Savannah, Ga.
Also present were Father Basil Sede, pastor of St. Benedict Church in Winston-Salem; Father Peter Nouck, parochial vicar of Holy Family Church in Clemmons; Father Felix Nkafu, parochial vicar of St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem; Father Henry Tutuwan, parochial vicar of St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville; Father Jim Turner, pastor of Our Lady of the Highways Church in Thomasville; and Father Sylvanus Idiong, a visiting priest from Nigeria.
The Lexington parish is Father Akinwande’s first assignment as a pastor.
His faith journey began as a little boy in Lagos, Nigeria, when he and his family, all of whom are devout Catholics, attended yearly celebrations hosted by the Missionary Society of St. Paul. At 21, he entered the seminary, and he was ordained to the priesthood on June 23, 2007. In 2012, after serving as administrative secretary to his superior general in Nigeria, he was assigned to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas.
Shortly after that assignment, Father Ambrose (as he became affectionately known) was transferred to St. Matthew Church in Charlotte in early 2013.
In December 2015, Father Ambrose arrived at Our Lady of the Rosary Church to serve as parochial administrator.
Those who know him and have served with him agree that he is full of compassion, energy and the desire to instill in his flock a respect and acceptance for all, and the need to forgive and to love one another unconditionally.
Father Kolawole John Paul Arowosoge said of his friend of 17 years, “Although we both grew up in the city of Lagos, it was not until I went to the seminary that I got to meet and know him. After all these years, the one thing I can say that is unchanged about him is that he is principled, hard-working and has a sincere personality. Ambrose would challenge me with the truth like an elder brother would, even when I was the auxiliary (i.e., student leader). He has the gift of wisdom and would stand for justice even if everyone is against it. He would always say that he is first accountable to God and then to authorities. As a leader, he sees himself as a servant, ready to lead in the front by example. One thing all would notice about the meticulous Ambrose is that, despite the fact that he would challenge wrongs no matter whom it may concern, he is very, very respectful in his approach and dealings with everyone.”
For the installation Mass, Father Akinwande chose the Mass of the Holy Spirit, praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as he formally begins his pastoral work of teaching, governing and sanctifying his congregation.
Bishop Jugis asked the people of the parish to pray for their new pastor and help him in the work of the Church, which is to bring people closer to God.
The bishop also congratulated and thanked the parish for its successful renovation project.
“The buildings support the ministries and support our path, our walk to eternal salvation,” he said. “What a wonderful work, a beautiful work, you’ve done right here in your parish church, in your renovation and remodeling of this beautiful church.”
— Julia Fredrica Foy Michaels, Correspondent
CHARLOTTE — Pope Francis has named Nov. 19 the first World Day of the Poor. This is the same day that parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte and around the United States will participate in a second collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
This annual collection funds CCHD, founded by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to help break the cycle of poverty by funding organizations that help people help themselves.
With its mission of improving education, housing situations and local economic development, the CCHD continues to make a positive impact in communities nationwide. Seventy-five percent of collected funds support CCHD’s National Grant Program. Twenty-five percent of the funds from the collection are put to use in the Charlotte diocese.
“Over 46 million people in the United States live in poverty,” says Ralph McCloud, national CCHD director. “That is equivalent to the population of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada and Nebraska, combined. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development works to empower those living in poverty to bring about change in their communities.”
The program puts the generous November parish CCHD offerings to work meeting the concerns and needs of the poor and vulnerable in communities across the nation by awarding Economic Development and Community Development Grants.
In the Charlotte diocese, the CCHD program is overseen by Catholic Charities’ Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy. A yearly Local CCHD Grant Program distributes grants to non-profits around the diocese from funds obtained through the 25 percent of the CCHD collection kept for use in the diocese.
“Last year in May, 14 Local CCHD Grants totaling $38,700 were distributed to organizations building community, empowering people economically and supporting those who are marginalized in society,” said Joseph Purello, diocesan CCHD director.
“These grant recipient organizations are located in eight of the diocese’s 10 vicariates,” Purello added, “showing that the benefits of the CCHD Local Grants reach throughout the diocese.”
In his statement dated June 13, 2017, Pope Francis urged clergy, religious and faithful alike to assist the poor of the world.
“This new World Day, therefore, should become a powerful appeal to our consciences as believers, allowing us to grow in the conviction that sharing with the poor enables us to understand the deepest truth of the Gospel,” the pope said.
“The poor are not a problem: they are a resource from which to draw as we strive to accept and practice in our lives the essence of the Gospel.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter. USCCB.org and Vatican.va contributed.
More online
At www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development: Learn more about CCHD’s national grant programs. Information on the local grant program in the Diocese of Charlotte is available at www.ccdoc.org/cchdcrs.