Seven Capuchin Friars killed in road accident in Nigeria

by Catholic Trends

May 6, 2025

in Africa

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Seven Capuchin Friars killed in road accident in Nigeria

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The Capuchin Order in Nigeria is mourning the devastating loss of seven of its friars who died in a tragic road accident on the evening of May 3, 2025. The friars, members of the St. Francis and St. Clare Custody of Nigeria, were en route from their Ridgeway Community in Enugu to Obudu, Cross River State, when the incident occurred.

In an official statement released on May 4 by Br. John-Kennedy Anyanwu, OFM Cap, the Capuchin Friars confirmed that thirteen brothers were traveling together at the time of the accident. While six sustained various injuries and are currently receiving treatment in Enugu, seven lost their lives in the crash.

The deceased friars are Br. Somadina Ibe-Ojuludu, OFM Cap, Br. Chinedu Nwachukwu, OFM Cap, Br. Marcel Ezenwafor, OFM Cap, Br. Gerald Nwogueze, OFM Cap, Br. Kingsley Nwosu, OFM Cap, Br. Wilfred Aleke, OFM Cap and Br. Chukwudi Obueze, OFM Cap.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.

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Daily Reading

Tuesday of the Twenty-first week in Ordinary Time

Second Letter to the Thessalonians 2,1-3a.14-17.

We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard... to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
Let no one deceive you in any way.
To this end he has (also) called you through our gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace,
encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

Psalms 96(95),10.11-12a.12b-13.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He... has made the world firm, not to be moved;
He governs the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
Let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

The LORD comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 23,23-26.

Jesus said: "Woe to you, scribes and... Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. (But) these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean."

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