Owerri Archdiocese Orders Week-long Prayers After Theft Of Sacred Monstrance

The Owerri Catholic Archdiocese Ecclesiastical Province has called for urgent prayers following the theft of a Monstrance—a sacred vessel used to hold the Holy Eucharist.

The incident occurred at St. Mulumba Catholic Parish in Owerri, where suspected robbers reportedly broke into the church and made away with the vessel containing the Blessed Sacrament.

Speaking on the development, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Raymond Madu, revealed that the attackers gained entry by tampering with sections of the chapel’s roof before accessing the Adoration Chapel through the ceiling. The suspects subsequently stole the Monstrance with the consecrated host inside.

The incident has sparked deep concern among the faithful, as the Blessed Sacrament holds profound spiritual significance in Catholic doctrine, representing the real presence of Christ. Its theft is widely regarded as a grave act of desecration.

In response, the Archbishop of Owerri, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has directed immediate spiritual measures. According to a statement issued by the Archdiocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Patrick Mbara, a one-week period of reparation prayers has been declared for the parish community.

The prayers are scheduled to run from May 1 to May 8, 2026, holding daily between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., as part of efforts to seek spiritual healing and restoration.

Beyond the prayer directive, the archbishop also instructed all priests within the archdiocese to strictly adhere to liturgical guidelines governing Eucharistic adoration. He emphasised that the Blessed Sacrament must never be left unattended during exposition and should only be displayed when there is a reasonable expectation of continuous participation by the faithful.

The archdiocese reaffirmed its commitment to pastoral care and spiritual leadership, stressing that despite the incident, the faith of the community remains steadfast.