The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri has raised alarm following a break-in at St. Mulumba Parish on Wetheral Road, Owerri, where a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament was reportedly stolen.
This was disclosed on Thursday in a letter issued by the Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary, Rev. Fr. Patrick C. Mbarah, and addressed to priests, religious members, and the laity within the archdiocese.
Mbarah characterised the incident as a desecration of the chapel and instructed the faithful to undertake a one-week prayer of reparation.
He explained that the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29, 2026, when individuals yet to be identified allegedly took advantage of rainfall to execute the act.
According to him, the assailants tampered with sections of the roof, entered the Chapel of Adoration through the ceiling, and removed the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament.
Following the incident, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, directed members of St. Mulumba Parish to observe a one-week prayer of reparation.
He further instructed that priests across the archdiocese must strictly comply with established norms guiding the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to forestall similar occurrences.
In addition, the Archbishop stressed that the Blessed Sacrament must not be left unattended during exposition.
The letter partly read, “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the desecration of the Chapel of Adoration of St. Mulumba Parish, Wetheral Road, Owerri. As reported by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Raymond Madu, unknown persons opened parts of the roof, gained access through the ceiling, and made away with the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament.
“It is alleged that this incident occurred during rainfall in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Following this act of irreverence, the Archbishop, His Grace, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, hereby directs all parishioners of St. Mulumba Parish, Owerri, to observe a one-week prayer of reparation from Friday, May 1 to Friday, May 8, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
“All priests in the Owerri Archdiocese are reminded to strictly adhere to the norms and directives regarding exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and adoration to avoid any recurrence.
“We emphasise that exposition is to take place only when a fitting attendance of the faithful is assured (cf. Can. 942). The Blessed Sacrament must never be left unattended during exposition”.
