
The Pallottines in Nigeria
The mother house of the Pallottines is now in Mbaukwu
Long before Father Peter Hillen came to Nigeria in 2007 to set up a mission, the Pallottines already had a close connection there. This was through Monsignor Father Dr Martin Chukwubunna Ezeokoli, who met Pallottine Sister Clementia Burkhard SAC during his studies in Rome. As the Pallottine missionary secretary, she supported many seminarians. When Fr Martin returned to his diocese of Awka, he began forming Pallotti groups with students at the Technical University in Oko and working with them.
Slogan ‘Pallotti for action’ as a working programme
The slogan ‘Pallotti for Action – Action for Christ’ became a working programme, and the joy and dynamism of the students in Oko was heard as far away as Germany and Cameroon. Pastor Martin was invited to a symposium at our Pallottine University in Vallendar, whereupon the then Provincial Superior, Norbert Hannapel, together with Father Hillen (at that time rector of the seminary in Merrivale, South Africa), decided to visit Nigeria. In June 2001, the two were warmly and joyfully received in Oko.
The first Nigerian students were accepted for formation in South Africa, and in 2010, Fr John Ndidi Nwaocha became the first Nigerian Pallottine priest. Many Nigerian students followed.
In January 2007, Father Hillen decided to go to Nigeria as a tourist for the first time to explore possibilities for a mission station. There, Bishop Simon Okafor appointed him as chaplain at Holy Trinity Nanka Parish. He left Nanka after 15 months to open a formation house in Mbaukwu. Dr Peter Eche showed him a house that had originally been planned as a student residence for Catholic women. Father Hillen invested in the house, and after its completion it became the first postulancy house of the Pallottine Fathers in Nigeria.
Land donated by the king
King Anukwu donated land to the Pallottine Fathers to enable the community to have a permanent presence. To secure the future in Nigeria, a small student residence was built, along with a chicken, fish and pig farm. This was followed by a drinking water factory, ‘Pallotti Table Water’, and the Holy Trinity retreat and guest house, which was inaugurated by the local bishop, Dr Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, in October 2015. Professor Maurice Iwu donated the ‘Divine Mercy Grotto’. Barester J. Asiebgu gave us Pallottine land in Uke so that the community could expand.
As Mission Secretary, Father Hillen was able to implement a number of social projects in the villages that have improved the living conditions of the poor and disadvantaged. Among other things, he was able to procure teaching materials for kindergartens and primary schools; he built youth centres in Nanka, Mbaukwu and Nimo; and two palm oil mills were built for women in Nanka and Mbaukwu.
The headquarters and youth centre of the Nigeria delegation have been inaugurated
The new headquarters of the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers and the new youth centre in Mbaukwu, Nigeria, were inaugurated in a ceremony on 29 September 2024. This will enable the delegation in Nigeria to better administer itself and to support young people. ‘I am pleased that we can now increasingly place responsibility for the delegation in Nigerian hands,’ said Provincial Father Markus Hau at the opening ceremony. This means that a vision has come true that his predecessor, Father Helmut Scharler, had already envisaged.
The centre in Mbaukwu is to be a place of youth apostolate, a place of residence for the brothers, a place of learning and evangelism, of prayer and spiritual activity, with the chapel at its centre, which was also inaugurated on this day.

Report: Alexander Schweda
Pictures: Patrizia Russo; Pallottines Nigeria (2019), natanaelginting (Flag)
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