Hoodlums Invade Catholic Chapel, Steal Blessed Sacrament in Owerri

Suspected hoodlums have broken into the Chapel of Adoration at St. Mulumba Catholic Parish in Owerri, Imo State, and carted away the Blessed Sacrament in what church authorities have described as a grave desecration.

According to a statement issued by the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Rev. Fr. Patrick Mbarah, the incident occurred on Wednesday, April 29, when the intruders reportedly gained entry into the chapel by removing parts of the roof and accessing the building through the ceiling during a rainfall.

Fr. Mbarah disclosed that the attackers made away with a monstrance containing the consecrated Host, a sacred element in Catholic worship.

“After entering the chapel, the intruders made away with the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament, an act the Church considers a desecration of a sacred space. It is with great sadness that we inform you of this development,” he said.

In response, the Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has directed members of the parish to embark on a one-week prayer of reparation.

The spiritual exercise is scheduled to run from Friday, May 1, to Friday, May 8, with daily prayers held between 4:00pm and 6:00pm.

The Archdiocese also reiterated strict adherence to liturgical norms governing the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

It emphasized that such exposition must only take place when there is sufficient presence of the faithful and warned that the sacrament should never be left unattended.

The incident has sparked concern among worshippers, raising fresh questions about the security of places of worship in the region.