In a clear desecration of the chapel, thieves have broken into a Catholic church and stolen the blessed sacrament, usually treated with the highest reverence.
Now the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri has now ordered a one week prayer of reparation to avert the calamity of the desecration.
News of the break-in and stealing of the blessed sacrament was broken on Thursday Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary, Rev. Fr Patrick C. Mbarah.
In a letter addressed to priests, religious, and the laity of the Owerri Archdiocese, he said the thieves not only broke into St Mulumba Parish, Wetheral Road, Owerri, but made away with a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament.
He said the perpetrators negatively utilised the rain in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29, 2026, to carry out the act.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the desecration of the Chapel of Adoration of St Mulumba Parish, Wetheral Road, Owerri”, Mbarah said in the letter.
“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.
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“All priests in the Owerri Archdiocese are reminded to strictly adhere to the norms and directives regarding the 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.”
Providing background on how the act was accomplished, Mbarah said the perpetrators were able to gain access by opening parts of the roof, through the ceiling, whereby they then made away with the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament.
The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, has directed members of St Mulumba Parish to observe a one-week prayer of reparation.
He also ordered left a marching order for all priests in the archdiocese to strictly adhere to established norms and directives regarding the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and adoration.
The incident has left many people wondering the clear motives of the thieves.
Did they expect the parish hiding money in such a place?
Or possibly, that the consumption of the holy sacrament may help them mitigate hunger?
It is expected that the police would wade into the matter and provide answers to the above riddles and others connected with it.
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