St. John of the Cross, Ibadan
The establishment of Carmelite presence in Ibadan is a dream-come-true for us. It took a long period of deliberation before Ibadan was chosen for our Student house. Two friars – Jim Noonan (the current Provincial of the Anglo-Irish Province to whic h we belong) and Remigius Ikpe went ahead to prepare the way for the students in April 2000. On August 18 that year, the first group of thirteen students arrived from Nsukka on 18 August of that year. Fr Micheal MacLaifeartiagh of the student community in Ireland was visiting Ibadan at the time and was present with Fr Jim Noonan, Regional Delegate, at the toll gate near the city to welcome the students. Initially the community rented a property while plans were drawn up for the new residence. Frs Jim Noonan and Remigius Ikpe formed the first community with the students.
The community immediately set about looking for a suitable site for the new monastery. The site was purchased in 2002. Work on laying foundations began in February 2003. The foundation stone was laid and blessed by Fr John Grennan, OCD, Provincial, during a visit to Ibadan in July 2003. The community began to move into new monastery late in 2004. The new monastery and chapel were blessed on July 20, 2005.
The students current study at the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Ibadan.
At present, there are nineteen Friars in the Community – four conventual Friars: Emmanuel Nnadozie (Prior), Canice Azuoma (Student Director), Patrick Ekpada, John Damian Adizie and fifteen students, namely:
Br. Ambrose Ekereoku Uchenna, ocd
Br. Adu Michael Onoriode, ocd
Br. Ayogu Walter Obiefuna, ocd
Br. Ihunnia Gabriel Enyinnaya, ocd
Br. Odiahi Joseph Ehigator, ocd
Br. Soussoukpor Moses Bolaji, ocd
Br. Ankar Samuel Torkuma, ocd
Br. Ani Israel Chukwuemeka, ocd
Br. Oyebade Charles Adeniyi, ocd
Br. Ojukwu Maxwell Chibueze, ocd
Br. Odo Christian Chinedu, ocd
Br. Tabat Victor Kajang, ocd
Br. Senwo Bartholomew Legbosi, ocd
Br. Agboeze Kelvin Emeka, ocd
Br. Onwukwe Francis Chukwuma, ocd
Address:
Carmelite Community
GPO Box 4735, Dugbe
Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria
Email: stjohnofthecross@carmelnigeria.com
