It is no longer news that the Catholic diocese of Ahiara has banned the very famous E DEY WORK Catholic ministry headed by Rev. Fr. Magnus Ebere SDV.
While tha ban has elicited divided opinion among catholic faithfuls and members of the ministry, we went on a fact finding mission to unearth the real story behind the ban.
Here is a detailed statement from the Episcopal Vicar for the laity of the diocese on the true story behind the ban.
INTRODUCTION
On Thursday, November 28, 2019, the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, PhD, DD, announced, during the Pastoral Council Meeting of Ahiara Diocese, the proscription throughout the diocese, of the Canaanland Adoration Ministry, alias, E-Dey Work, founded in the community of Ndinwegbu, Umuoma Onicha, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, by Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV.
Since this announcement, which was published as the lead story in The Guide Newspaper on December 1, 2019, (the story also went viral in the social media immediately it was announced on that November 28, 2019), some members of the Catholic lay faithful of Ahiara Diocese and beyond have been asking many questions concerning the ban. The nature and manner of their questioning tend to suggest that they are in need of more information and clarifications on the matter.
As a result of the public interest the announcement of the ban has been eliciting, the office of the Episcopal Vicar for the laity in Ahiara Diocese, with the permission of the Apostolic Administrator, Most Rev L.I. Ugorji, has undertaken to issue the following statement to the lay faithful of Ahiara Diocese and all others who may be in need of more information on the reasoning behind the ban.
Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV
Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV is a native of Aku na Aria kindred, Obokwu Obizi, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Ahiara Diocese
Fr. Magnus Ebere SDV was ordained a Catholic priest in 2008, for a religious congregation called Societi Divine Vocazioni – Society of Divine Vocations (SDV) with its headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The Society of Divine Vocations came to Nigeria in 1988 at the invitation of the premier bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Victor Adibe Chikwe of blessed memory.
The congregation established her first religious community in Ahiara Diocese at Christ the King Parish, Mpam Owerre and later her house of formation at Isiala Oparanadim Ekwerazu, Ahiazu Mbaise LGA.
The SDV congregation administers two parishes in Ahiara Diocese at the pleasure and discretion of the bishop or the Apostolic Administrator as is presently the case in the diocese, namely, St Peter’s Parish, Isiala Oparanadim, and Sts. Anthony and Patrick, Ibeku Okwuato. These two parishes were given to the congregation to run by the late Bishop Victor Chikwe.
Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV, is NOT an incardinated priest of Ahiara Diocese even though he hails from a community in Ahiara Diocese called Obokwu Obizi. He does not enjoy the rights and privileges of an incardinated priest of Ahiara Diocese.
Fr Ebere SDV is a religious priest who could be invited to work in Ahiara diocese or in any other diocese for that matter but strictly by invitation and always at the pleasure and discretion of the local ordinary, that is, the diocesan bishop, or, as in the case of Ahiara Diocese at present, the Apostolic Administrator.
When a religious priest or lay religious is invited to work in a diocese, he or she becomes a subject of the diocesan bishop and diocesan laws especially in matters relating to the administration of the sacraments or any other charge given to him or her by the local ordinary. He or she cannot establish anything in the diocese without the explicit permission of the local ordinary, that is, the diocesan bishop.
Origin of Canaanland Adoration Ministry in Ahiara Diocese
Sometime in early 2015, Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV approached his home parish priest; the late Rev Fr Jude Onyegbule of St Benedict’s Parish, Udo na Obizi, and requested to be allowed to intervene in a communal crisis in his village of Obokwu Obizi.
The late Fr Jude Onyegbule obliged him. And thus began Rev Fr Magnus Ebere’s celebration of a mass of reconciliation every Tuesday in the parish Church of St Benedict Udo na Obizi.
When the crowd became a little larger than St Benedict’s Church could accommodate, Fr Ebere SDV appealed to Fr Jude Onyegbule to allow him transfer the congregation to the Civic Centre of the Village known as Aladimma Square Obokwu. This was also done.
At the Aladimma Square, Fr Onyegbule began to notice some aberrations in Fr Ebere’s celebrations of the liturgy. He complained to the then Chancellor and Secretary of the Diocese, Rev Fr Godson Okoro, who quickly delegated the then dean of St Augustine’s Deanery Ezinihitte, Rev Fr Christopher Akuchie, to go there so as to observe what was happening.
Subsequently the chancellor and Secretary, Fr Godson Okoro warned Fr Ebere not to begin any private ministry in Ahiara Diocese since there was no bishop on seat to grant him the permission to do so.
But Fr Ebere SDV politely ignored the advice and charged ahead with his plans to establish Canaanland Adoration Ministry at Onicha Ezinihitte.
Perhaps noticing how he was being closely monitored, Fr. Magnus Ebere SDV began to plot how he would procure and establish in a place where he could have the freedom to do whatever he wanted.
Fr Ebere SDV told the parish priest of his home parish, the late Fr Onyegbule that a man he had prayed for who was miraculously granted an American visa for three years had in appreciation donated a piece of property to him free of charge at Umuoma Onicha and as a result he was planning to move over to the place and continue his ministry there.
This was the story he would also tell the parish priest of St Dominic’s Onicha where the said piece of property was located. He told Rev Fr Joseph Ezeji, the then parish priest of St Dominic’s Onicha Ezinihitte East that a man he had prayed for had donated a piece of land to him without any charge.
Unfortunately, Fr Ebere’s claim that he had received a donation of a piece of land free of charge would turn out not to be true. He had in fact bought the said property at the cost of six million Naira.
Fr Ebere’s claim to have received a donation of the property would unravel when the people who owned the property previously approached both the late Fr Jude Onyegbule and Fr Joseph Ezeji asking to be helped to recover the Six Million Naira Fr Magnus Ebere SDV had agreed to pay them as cost for the piece of property he was preparing to move into.
Rev Fr Joseph Ezeji advised Fr Magnus Ebere SDV not to erect anything at the site without the authorization of the diocese. But he ignored him.
Fr Magnus Ebere SDV ignored all the advice given to him both officially and unofficially by some of his associates not to begin any construction in his new site without the authorization of the diocese.
Problems with Ndinwegbu Community
Having ignored all the advice given to him on the need to first obtain the permission of the diocese before establishing his Canaanland Adoration Ministry, Fr Magnus Ebere SDV began his massive constructions on the site. He also began the purchase of more lands around the site which would result in his efforts to close some of the ancestral tracks and pathways of the community of Ndinwegbu Umuoma Onicha.
Ndinwegbu community leaders responded by petitioning the Apostolic Administrator, Most Rev L.I. Ugorji, alleging that Fr Magnus Ebere SDV was threatening their residency in their village as he planned to drive them out and resettle their entire village in another place so as to forcefully takeNwaehishianya over their communal lands for his ever-expanding ministry. They also alleged among many other things that Fr Magnus Ebere’s insensitive disposal of human waste was causing outbreaks of deadly diseases in their community.
Apostolic Administrator’s Response
On receiving two scathing petitions from Ndinwegbu community against Fr Magnus Ebere SDV dated January 1, 2019 and March 1, 2019, the Apostolic Administrator, Most Rev L.I. Ugorji wrote and invited Fr Magnus Ebere SDV to a meeting with him on March 7, 2019.
At the meeting with the Apostolic Administrator, on March 7, 2019, Fr Ebere SDV was officially informed about the petitions against him. The Apostolic Administrator questioned him on what he was doing there at Ndinwegbu where there is no record that he was assigned either by his Vocationist Congregation or by Ahiara Diocese.
On his part Fr Magnus Ebere SDV denied that he was celebrating masses at the facility. He told the Apostolic Administrator that what he had there was a counseling centre and not a ministry or a mass centre of any kind.
The Apostolic Administrator subsequently informed Fr Ebere SDV of his decision to set up a panel of investigation to investigate the allegations. He urged him to cooperate with the Investigation Panel.
Meanwhile, the Apostolic Administrator handed over to Fr Ebere SDV a letter in which he informed him that he, the Apostolic Administrator, was “stepping him aside” from whatever he claimed to be doing there [i.e. suspending him from ministry] and withdrawing the diocesan faculties from him [i.e. barring him from public ministry] pending the outcome of the investigation which he had scheduled to last for one month beginning from that day of their meeting being Thursday, March 7, 2019.
Fr Magnus Ebere SDV left the meeting with the Apostolic Administrator and on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, went ahead with his activities at the centre which included two masses celebrated on that day and all other activities he normally does at the Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre Ndinwegbu Umunoma Onicha.
By his actions on March 13, 2019, Fr Ebere SDV lied to the Apostolic Administrator when he claimed that the centre was for counseling and not for masses and other ministrations. He also disobeyed the Apostolic Administrator by not adhering to his instructions to suspend activities at the centre and public celebration of the sacraments pending the outcome of the investigation.
Findings of the Investigation Panel
The Investigation Panel set up to investigate the allegations against Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A. E-Dey Work sat for several days and interviewed several witnesses including the confreres and superiors of Fr Ebere SDV in the Vocationist Congregation.
Fr Magnus Ebere’s Problems With His Host Community
Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV, founder of Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work, was invited three times in writings, text messages and oral communications, and through emissaries which included his local superiors in the Vocationist Congregation, for some discussions with the Panel of Investigation on the allegations leveled against him and his organization. But Fr. Magnus Ebere SDV refused to honour the invitations. And he refused to cooperate in any way with the investigation.
But in spite of the lack of cooperation on the part of Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV, the panel was able to establish the truthfulness of the following allegations against him.
Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A. E-Dey Work is a fully functioning centre with all sorts of activities [both liturgical and non-liturgical activities] going on in the place such as celebration of masses, administration of the sacraments, “healings”, “prophesying”, selling of sacramentals, tithing, charity works, marketing E-Dey Work materials, fund raising, business dealings, etc.
Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV with his Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work has acquired a large expanse of land from individual land owners from Ndinwegbu and the large Umuoma community and even beyond.
Fr Ebere SDV and Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A. E-Dey Work are intent on encircling the large expanse of land they have acquired with perimeter fencing. But they are having some problems convincing some land owners to sell their lands to them. As a result of the problems they are having acquiring some lands from landowners, Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his establishment known as Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A E-Dey Work are resorting to pressuring the land owners which include helming in such properties with their perimeter fencing so as to force the land owners to sell their lands to them or exchange them with some other lands they are acquiring elsewhere.
This strategy of trying to pressure some landowners to relinquish their lands to them is one of the main sources of the problems Fr Ebere SDV and Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work are having with Ndinwegbu and Umuoma Onicha community in general.
The Panel on inspection was shocked with the sanitary practices of Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work. The Panel discovered that human wastes, feaces, urines and refuse of all sorts were disposed in the open places and bushes around the community thereby exposing the community to potential outbreak of dangerous diseases.
The Panel discovered also that loud speakers and generator fumes coming from the centre posed dangerous health hazards to families living quite close to the centre. The families of Dr Jude Njoku of Ndinwegbu Umuoma Onicha Community whose homes are about three meters from the centre are bearing the full brunt of the noise pollution from E-Dey Work speakers as well as the air pollution from the generators and stench of E-Dey Work Centre sewers.
The Panel listened to oral testimonies from indigenes of Ndinwegbu who narrated how Fr Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A. E-Dey Work have been using the police and the officials of Ezinihitte Local Government Council to harass them.
Liturgical Aberrations and Abuses
Through the witnesses interviewed some of whom are still active members of the Ministry and a few others who had participated in the ministry in the past, The Panel was able to take note of the so many liturgical aberrations going on at the centre till date. The following are only samples.
i. Holy Mass at Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre lasts from around 9.00 a.m. on Wednesdays to around 5 or 6 p.m. in the evening of the same day.
ii. The Holy Mass begins the normal way with the invocation of the Blessed Trinity. But the homily is skipped completely and transferred from its normal time after the gospel reading. Something else is staged after the Holy Communion that is labeled a homily. But this is not a homily. It is the narration of the miracles that are said to have happened through the activities of E-Dey work Ministry.
iii. This period also serves as a time to advertise the miraculous powers of the E-Dey Work materials such as his bangles, banners, flags, stickers and badges.
iv. Another prominent feature of this period that is said to be reserved for homilies are the testimonies in which people are urged to testify to what they wish to receive from God or to have done to them and claim that they have already received them in order for them to actually receive them. This is perhaps the most bizarre part of the testimonies at E-Dey Work Ministry. People are not testifying to what has already taken place but to what they wish and pray for to take place. They are urged to believe to have received them already in order for them to claim them.
v. What is labeled as homilies are spiritual talks which depend solely on the passage of the bible chosen for any particular day by Fr Ebere. He picks passages from the bible and bases his spiritual talks on them at any given time.
vi. Fr Magnus Ebere SDV hardly uses the Catholic Church’s prescribed lectionary for his liturgical activities. He picks his readings at random. He is alleged to have his own lectionary for the selections of readings to use during his Eucharistic celebrations.
vii. According to testimonies received by the Panel, Holy Communion during masses at Canaanland Adoration Ministry activities is not restricted to Catholics only. Fr Ebere SDV keeps mum about who is qualified to receive the Holy Communion at the centre thereby leaving the door open for non-Catholics to sacrilegiously participate in the Eucharistic communion.
i. Holy Mass at Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre lasts from around 9.00 a.m. on Wednesdays to around 5 or 6 p.m. in the evening of the same day.
ii. The Holy Mass begins the normal way with the invocation of the Blessed Trinity. But the homily is skipped completely and transferred from its normal time after the gospel reading. Something else is staged after the Holy Communion that is labeled a homily. But this is not a homily. It is the narration of the miracles that are said to have happened through the activities of E-Dey work Ministry.
iii. This period also serves as a time to advertise the miraculous powers of the E-Dey Work materials such as his bangles, banners, flags, stickers and badges.
iv. Another prominent feature of this period that is said to be reserved for homilies are the testimonies in which people are urged to testify to what they wish to receive from God or to have done to them and claim that they have already received them in order for them to actually receive them. This is perhaps the most bizarre part of the testimonies at E-Dey Work Ministry. People are not testifying to what has already taken place but to what they wish and pray for to take place. They are urged to believe to have received them already in order for them to claim them.
v. What is labeled as homilies are spiritual talks which depend solely on the passage of the bible chosen for any particular day by Fr Ebere. He picks passages from the bible and bases his spiritual talks on them at any given time.
vi. Fr Magnus Ebere SDV hardly uses the Catholic Church’s prescribed lectionary for his liturgical activities. He picks his readings at random. He is alleged to have his own lectionary for the selections of readings to use during his Eucharistic celebrations.
vii. According to testimonies received by the Panel, Holy Communion during masses at Canaanland Adoration Ministry activities is not restricted to Catholics only. Fr Ebere SDV keeps mum about who is qualified to receive the Holy Communion at the centre thereby leaving the door open for non-Catholics to sacrilegiously participate in the Eucharistic communion.
Abuse of the Sacraments
The Panel noted lots of abuses regarding the administration of some sacraments at the Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre at Ndinwegbu Umuoma Onicha. These abuses featured more prominently in the administrations of such sacraments as baptism, reconciliation and most importantly, the sacrament of matrimony.
The Panel found evidence that Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his priest-collaborators illegally administer the sacraments of baptism and reconciliation at the centre without due permission of the parish priests of St Dominic’s Parish, Umuoma Onicha Ezinihitte East. Fr Ebere and his group do not respect any canonical provisions for the administrations of such sacraments in a place not juridically under their care.
The Panel noted lots of abuses regarding the administration of some sacraments at the Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre at Ndinwegbu Umuoma Onicha. These abuses featured more prominently in the administrations of such sacraments as baptism, reconciliation and most importantly, the sacrament of matrimony.
The Panel found evidence that Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his priest-collaborators illegally administer the sacraments of baptism and reconciliation at the centre without due permission of the parish priests of St Dominic’s Parish, Umuoma Onicha Ezinihitte East. Fr Ebere and his group do not respect any canonical provisions for the administrations of such sacraments in a place not juridically under their care.
The most serious abuse discovered by the Panel against Fr Ebere and the Canaanland Adoration Ministry is in the area of the administration of the sacrament of the holy matrimony. Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his chief collaborator, Rev Fr Peter Ohaegbuchi SDV, parish priest of St Peter’s Parish Isiala Oparanadim made a mockery of Catholic Church’s teaching on the nature of marriage and the procedure for administering a valid sacrament of the holy matrimony.
On April 21, 2018, Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his collaborator, Rev Fr Peter Ohaegbuchi SDV of St Peter’s Parish, Isiala Oparanadim gathered 116 couples from the two ecclesiastical provinces of Igbo land, namely Owerri and Onitsha and claimed to have witnessed to their weddings at St Peter’s Parish Isiala Oparanadim without following the canonical procedures for admitting couples to this sacrament.
Out of the 116 couples whose consents Fr Ebere and his collaborator, Fr Ohaegbuchi claimed to have received on that fateful day, 59 came from Ahiara Diocese, 19 came from Owerri Archdiocese; 15 from Okigwe Diocese, 5 from both Orlu and Abakaliki dioceses respectively; 3 from Awka, Onitsha, and Umuahia dioceses respectively. 1 came from Nnewi Diocese.
The couples for these mass weddings were judged eligible for the sacrament without pre-marital classes or marriage courses, publications of banns, or permission from couples’ parish priests, and they were not properly documented after their so called marriage ceremonies. All these are a flagrant contravention of the provisions of the canon law.
By administering the sacrament of matrimony in this manner, Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his collaborators dumped a heap of invalid marriages on the tribunals of the different dioceses across Igbo land. Ahiara Diocese alone was allotted 59 invalid marriages to deal with.
And by knowingly fostering and administering invalid marriages, Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his collaborators committed a crime in the Catholic Church.
Abuse of the Pulpit
The Panel found out that the abuse of the pulpit is a common practice of Fr Magnus Ebere SDV at his Canaanland Adoration Ministry.
[i] Fr Ebere SDV frequently rains down curses on his perceived opponents. Very often he announces during his talks that certain individuals will die within a certain period of time for going against his will.
[ii] The Panel listened to many testimonies that claimed that he has a habit of cursing and insulting people during his talks.
[iii] Some members of the Panel who signed letters that were sent to him to appear before them automatically were made victims of the curses he usually rains down during his spiritual talks.
Abuse of the Sacramentals
Fr Magnus Ebere SDV has ingenious ways of carrying out his ministry. He lavishly elevates common things to the status of sacramentals and makes people pay huge sums of money to procure them.
[i] His sacramentals include, E-Dey Work candles, E-Dey Work Oil, E-Dey Work stickers, E-Dey Work Badges, E-Dey Work Books, E-Dey Work Ball Pens, E-Dey Work Flags, E-Dey Work Banners, E-Dey Work Bangles, E-Dey Work Salt, E-Dey Work CDs, E-Dey Sachet Water, etc.
[ii] Every one of his sacramental he invests with mystical powers of healings and blessings. During his liturgical activities, there are countless testimonies praising the miraculous powers of his sacramentals. Some of his sacramentals he claims could serve as bullet proofs, powers that ward off evil spirits, cure incurable diseases etc.
Abuse of Prayers
Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV is in the habit of ascribing divine powers to himself. He teaches people that he could pray for them and they receive what they desire from God.
[i] Fr Ebere teaches that through his prayers his followers can receive what he usually describes as double or triple portions of material things or money.
[ii] He teaches that he sees visions, performs miracles, prophesizes, etc.
[iii] As a result of these divine powers, he now provides scratch cards at costs ranging from N200 with which people could call his hotline to receive instant prayers that take care of their needs.
Doctrinal/Theological Errors/Heretical Teachings
The Panel also discovered a lot of doctrinal and theological errors in the preaching and teaching of Fr Magnus Ebere SDV at his Canaanland Adoration Ministry in Umuoma Onicha. Only a few of them will be cited here as an example.
[i] The doctrinal errors and heretical teachings that are often on the lips of Fr Magnus Ebere SDV are well documented in a recent book by Rev Fr Ndulor Cosmas Ukanwa CMF entitled “Healing Ministries Among Some Catholic Priests in Igbo land, A Pentecostal Influence” published in 2018. Fr Ebere’s views in the document are based on the interview he granted to the author.
[ii] “Ebere claims that his ministry is God’s calling, and what inspired him was the salvation of souls; to depopulate the kingdom of Satan and populate the kingdom of God.”
[iii] “Ebere’s notion of sickness is that it is a condition that is not the believer’s portion but one which has a temporary existence because Jesus has settled that on the cross and purchased healing for us… What causes sickness are sin, the devil and dirty environment and thus one can be free from sickness when these factors are controlled, but if one should be sick God is the healer.”
[iv] Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV is often quoted as claiming during his activities at Canaanland Adoration Ministry that “anybody who sets foot on the ground of his Canaanland Adoration Ministry has all his or her sins forgiven.”
[v] He is also alleged to claim that all his followers who are usually called “Children of E-Dey Work” [Umu E-Dey Work] are all gods because they are sons and daughters of God.”
[vi]The books and manuals which Fr Magnus Ebere SDV employs for his ministry according to Fr Cosmas Ukanwa Ndulor’s book come from a known heretic called Kenneth Hagin. According to Fr Ndulor, he quotes this man regularly in his ministry.
[vii] Kenneth Hagin’s books which Fr Ebere uses as the manuals of his ministry are “Understanding the Anointing” which was published in Tulsa Oklahoma USA in 1983. The other one is “The Healing Anointing” also published in Tulsa Oklahoma USA in 1997.
[viii] These two books are strongly prohibited for Catholics because they contain false and heretical views of what they claim to treat. Yet Fr Ebere SDV uses them in his ministry to mislead Catholics.
Fraudulent Claim of a Papal Mandate
Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV often tells his followers that his authority came directly from the Holy Father Pope Francis. To strengthen his deceit with this claim he erected a giant banner of Pope Francis in which the Holy Father is purported to be thanking him for doing what he, the Holy Father, has commanded. But this is a classic fraud often employed by Fr Magnus Ebere SDV to dupe his followers.
[i] It is inconceivable in the Holy Roman Catholic Church that the Holy Father the Pope will associate himself or congratulate a priest who is making nonsense of the holy teaching of the Catholic Church; a priest who is teaching heresy and exploiting people with claims of false miracles.
[ii] With his false claims of having received his authority and mandate from the Holy Father, Fr Ebere misleads his followers by telling them that he owes no allegiance to any human authority.
[iii] This reveals the falsehood in his claims. The Holy Father has no authority to dispense any Christian from showing allegiance to the authorities of the Church. Common sense demands that if Fr Ebere believes in his claim that his authority draws from a mandate given to him by the Holy Father, it means that he owes allegiance to the Holy Father.
Fr Magnus Ebere’s over-inflated Ego
Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV has a dangerous Ego which is unbecoming of a Catholic priest. He tells his followers that he is the richest priest in Mbaise and has amassed an enormous wealth that he would never be poor again in his life.
[ii] To feed his big ego he often boasts to his congregation that he will be the first priest to own a helicopter or an aircraft in Mbaise.
[iii] Fr Ebere SDV moves about in a tinted and siren-equipped Hillux Van that is usually preceded by a security vehicle. He moves about with security thereby creating an aura of wealth and opulence, but hypocritically encourages his followers to employ his E-Dey Work materials for their own protection.
[iii] Fr Ebere SDV tells his followers that his call as a priest is to lift people from poverty and make as many Mbaise people as possible rich in material things. He describes himself as a prosperity preacher.
[iv] Fr Ebere makes his followers wear the badge of his E-Dey Work Ministry which makes them declare that they belong to E-Dey Work. He never tells them that they belong to Jesus Christ and his Church. Rather, he tells them they belong to E-Dey Work!
Canaanland Adoration Ministry – an attempt to establish a Parallel or Alternative Catholic Church in Mbaise Land
There is no doubt about what Fr Magnus Ebere SDV is doing in Ndinwegbu Umuoma Onicha. He is determined to establish an alternative Catholic Church in the Diocese.
[i]. Fr Ebere SDV has acquired enormous land holdings not only in Umuoma Onicha but all through Otulu, Aguneze and Achiangali. There is a reason behind this acquisition.
[ii]. Speculations are rife that he is determined to recreate in Mbaise land what his hero, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, A.K.A. Winners’ Chapel is doing in Ota Ogun State.
[iii] Another strand of the speculation from those close to him claims that he is determined to establish an E-Dey Work University in Mbaise land. Though there may not be anything wrong with building a university in Mbaise. It is the prayer and ambition of many individuals and groups in Mbaise land. But Fr Ebere and his E-Dey Work Ministry are making it a part of their efforts to create an alternative Catholic Church in Ahiara Diocese.
[iv]. What is clear is that the massive lands he is acquiring Fr Ebere will one day be put into use without the permission of the local Church of Ahiara Diocese.
[v] Fr Ebere SDV is setting up Canaanland Adoration Ministry in a manner of an independent Church. He has his CWO organization called the Destiny Women. They usually wear the E-Dey Work uniforms for their activities. He also has the Men’s group, the Youth Group etc.
[vi]. Canaanland Adoration Ministry administers the sacraments illegally. It collects offertory collections and stole fees and keeps them to itself without the knowledge and approval of ecclesiastical authorities of Ahiara Diocese.
[vii]. Fr Ebere SDV does everything at Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre which a normal parish does even though it is very far from being canonically erected as a parish or a chaplaincy.
Marks of Fr Ebere SDV and E-Dey Work Ministry in Ahiara Diocese
The activities of Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry in Ahiara Diocese are marked by three dangerous words, namely, Untruthfulness, Disrespectfulness and Disobedience
Untruthfulness
[i]. Fr Ebere was untruthful to the parish priest of his home parish, the late Fr Jude Onyegbule on why he desired to intervene in the crisis in his village of Obokwu. He saw the crisis as a window of opportunity to establish Canaanland Adoration Ministry in Mbaise. He is very opportunistic.
[ii] He was also untruthful to Fr Onyegbule on how he acquired the property at Ndinwegbu Umuoma Onicha.
[iii]. He was also untruthful to Fr Joseph Ezeji, the former parish priest of St Dominic’s Umuoma Onicha on how he acquired the same piece of property to establish his Canaanland Adoration Ministry.
[iv]. Fr Ebere was untruthful to the Apostolic Administrator on March 7, 2019,when he told him that his Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre at Ndinwegbu Umuoma was only a counseling centre where no masses and other sacraments were celebrated.
[v]. He was untruthful to one of his confreres who testified that he, Fr Ebere told him that his centre there was a camp where no masses were celebrated.
[vi]. He has consistently been untruthful with his congregation when he makes untruthful claims about his miracles and the source of his mandate. Pope Francis did not give Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV any mandate in Ahiara Diocese. He could never have given him any mandate of authority whatsoever without going through the channel of the local ordinary who is the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev L.I. Ugorji.
There is no doubt about what Fr Magnus Ebere SDV is doing in Ndinwegbu Umuoma Onicha. He is determined to establish an alternative Catholic Church in the Diocese.
[i]. Fr Ebere SDV has acquired enormous land holdings not only in Umuoma Onicha but all through Otulu, Aguneze and Achiangali. There is a reason behind this acquisition.
[ii]. Speculations are rife that he is determined to recreate in Mbaise land what his hero, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, A.K.A. Winners’ Chapel is doing in Ota Ogun State.
[iii] Another strand of the speculation from those close to him claims that he is determined to establish an E-Dey Work University in Mbaise land. Though there may not be anything wrong with building a university in Mbaise. It is the prayer and ambition of many individuals and groups in Mbaise land. But Fr Ebere and his E-Dey Work Ministry are making it a part of their efforts to create an alternative Catholic Church in Ahiara Diocese.
[iv]. What is clear is that the massive lands he is acquiring Fr Ebere will one day be put into use without the permission of the local Church of Ahiara Diocese.
[v] Fr Ebere SDV is setting up Canaanland Adoration Ministry in a manner of an independent Church. He has his CWO organization called the Destiny Women. They usually wear the E-Dey Work uniforms for their activities. He also has the Men’s group, the Youth Group etc.
[vi]. Canaanland Adoration Ministry administers the sacraments illegally. It collects offertory collections and stole fees and keeps them to itself without the knowledge and approval of ecclesiastical authorities of Ahiara Diocese.
[vii]. Fr Ebere SDV does everything at Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre which a normal parish does even though it is very far from being canonically erected as a parish or a chaplaincy.
Marks of Fr Ebere SDV and E-Dey Work Ministry in Ahiara Diocese
The activities of Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry in Ahiara Diocese are marked by three dangerous words, namely, Untruthfulness, Disrespectfulness and Disobedience
Untruthfulness
[i]. Fr Ebere was untruthful to the parish priest of his home parish, the late Fr Jude Onyegbule on why he desired to intervene in the crisis in his village of Obokwu. He saw the crisis as a window of opportunity to establish Canaanland Adoration Ministry in Mbaise. He is very opportunistic.
[ii] He was also untruthful to Fr Onyegbule on how he acquired the property at Ndinwegbu Umuoma Onicha.
[iii]. He was also untruthful to Fr Joseph Ezeji, the former parish priest of St Dominic’s Umuoma Onicha on how he acquired the same piece of property to establish his Canaanland Adoration Ministry.
[iv]. Fr Ebere was untruthful to the Apostolic Administrator on March 7, 2019,when he told him that his Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre at Ndinwegbu Umuoma was only a counseling centre where no masses and other sacraments were celebrated.
[v]. He was untruthful to one of his confreres who testified that he, Fr Ebere told him that his centre there was a camp where no masses were celebrated.
[vi]. He has consistently been untruthful with his congregation when he makes untruthful claims about his miracles and the source of his mandate. Pope Francis did not give Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV any mandate in Ahiara Diocese. He could never have given him any mandate of authority whatsoever without going through the channel of the local ordinary who is the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev L.I. Ugorji.
Disrespectfulness:
[i]. Fr Ebere SDV was disrespectful to both Fr Jude Onyegbule and Fr Joseph Ezeji whom he tried to deceive with his untruthful stories.
[ii]. He disrespected to both the former dean of St Augustine’s Deanery Ezinihitte, Fr Chris Akuchie and the former Chancellor/Secretary of Ahiara Diocese, Fr Godson Okoro both of whom tried to help him be in good standing in the diocese by not establishing anything until he got the permission of the diocesan bishop.
[iii]. Fr Ebere SDV disrespected some senior priests of Ahiara Diocese who tried to advise him on how to operate lawfully in Ahiara Diocese.
[iv]. He was disrespectful to the Apostolic Administrator who invited him to a meeting on March 7, 2019, and he kept him waiting for over two hours and caused him to attend an already scheduled funeral late. And the manner he walked out of the administrator’s office after he handed over his letter stepping him aside from ministry showed nothing but utmost disrespect.
[v]. Fr Ebere SDV was disrespectful to the Panel set up by the Apostolic Administrator to investigate his activities. He snubbed the Panel and failed to respond to its three invitations.
[vi] Fr Ebere SDV has continued to show disrespect even to his superiors in Rome who ordered him to suspend his activities at Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre at Ndinwegbu Umuoma until they conclude their own investigations. But he has continued his ministry ever since.
c. Disobedience
[i]. Fr Magnus Ebere SDV was disobedient to the late Fr Jude Onyegbule, the former parish priest of his home parish of St Benedict Udo na Obizi and to Fr Joseph Ezeji, the former parish priest of St Dominic’s Umuoma Onicha, Ezi-East.
[ii]. He was disobedient to the former chancellor of Ahiara Diocese who advised him to wait for the bishop’s permission before establishing any ministry in the diocese, an advice which he completely ignored.
[iii]. He is disobedient to the Apostolic Administrator who stepped him aside from ministry in Ahiara Diocese pending the outcome of an investigation on his activities. He has continued to disobey the order of the Apostolic Administrator.
[iv]. Fr Ebere SDV has remained disobedient and defiant to the directive of the Apostolic Administrator. After he was banned from operating in Ahiara Diocese on November 28, 2019, he has continued to operate as if nothing happened.
[v]. He is disobedient to his superiors in Rome who ordered him to stop and wait for the outcome of their own investigations. But he has continued to disobey and ignore them.
[vi]. As the saying goes, “he who serves God in disobedience serves the devil.”
[vii]. It is very unfortunate that Fr Magnus Ebere SDV took full advantage of the crisis in Ahiara Diocese to establish his unauthorized Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work. But by so doing he made himself an unfortunate gold digger who profits from disasters and crisis.
[viii]. If Fr Magnus Ebere SDV had good intentions for the Catholic Church in Mbaise land, he could have waited for the crisis to stop before embarking on the establishment of his Canaanland Adoration Ministry. By establishing Canaanland Adoration Ministry the time he did, he made himself a very selfish person who is only after his own good.
[i]. Fr Ebere SDV was disrespectful to both Fr Jude Onyegbule and Fr Joseph Ezeji whom he tried to deceive with his untruthful stories.
[ii]. He disrespected to both the former dean of St Augustine’s Deanery Ezinihitte, Fr Chris Akuchie and the former Chancellor/Secretary of Ahiara Diocese, Fr Godson Okoro both of whom tried to help him be in good standing in the diocese by not establishing anything until he got the permission of the diocesan bishop.
[iii]. Fr Ebere SDV disrespected some senior priests of Ahiara Diocese who tried to advise him on how to operate lawfully in Ahiara Diocese.
[iv]. He was disrespectful to the Apostolic Administrator who invited him to a meeting on March 7, 2019, and he kept him waiting for over two hours and caused him to attend an already scheduled funeral late. And the manner he walked out of the administrator’s office after he handed over his letter stepping him aside from ministry showed nothing but utmost disrespect.
[v]. Fr Ebere SDV was disrespectful to the Panel set up by the Apostolic Administrator to investigate his activities. He snubbed the Panel and failed to respond to its three invitations.
[vi] Fr Ebere SDV has continued to show disrespect even to his superiors in Rome who ordered him to suspend his activities at Canaanland Adoration Ministry Centre at Ndinwegbu Umuoma until they conclude their own investigations. But he has continued his ministry ever since.
c. Disobedience
[i]. Fr Magnus Ebere SDV was disobedient to the late Fr Jude Onyegbule, the former parish priest of his home parish of St Benedict Udo na Obizi and to Fr Joseph Ezeji, the former parish priest of St Dominic’s Umuoma Onicha, Ezi-East.
[ii]. He was disobedient to the former chancellor of Ahiara Diocese who advised him to wait for the bishop’s permission before establishing any ministry in the diocese, an advice which he completely ignored.
[iii]. He is disobedient to the Apostolic Administrator who stepped him aside from ministry in Ahiara Diocese pending the outcome of an investigation on his activities. He has continued to disobey the order of the Apostolic Administrator.
[iv]. Fr Ebere SDV has remained disobedient and defiant to the directive of the Apostolic Administrator. After he was banned from operating in Ahiara Diocese on November 28, 2019, he has continued to operate as if nothing happened.
[v]. He is disobedient to his superiors in Rome who ordered him to stop and wait for the outcome of their own investigations. But he has continued to disobey and ignore them.
[vi]. As the saying goes, “he who serves God in disobedience serves the devil.”
[vii]. It is very unfortunate that Fr Magnus Ebere SDV took full advantage of the crisis in Ahiara Diocese to establish his unauthorized Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work. But by so doing he made himself an unfortunate gold digger who profits from disasters and crisis.
[viii]. If Fr Magnus Ebere SDV had good intentions for the Catholic Church in Mbaise land, he could have waited for the crisis to stop before embarking on the establishment of his Canaanland Adoration Ministry. By establishing Canaanland Adoration Ministry the time he did, he made himself a very selfish person who is only after his own good.
WHAT THE BAN PLACED ON REV FR MAGNUS EBERE SDV AND HIS CANAANLAND ADORATION MINISTRY, A.K.A. E-DEY WORK MEANS TO THE CATHOLIC LAY FAITHFUL OF AHIARA DIOCESE
[i] The Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has finally spoken and given direction on the contentious and vexed issue of the confusing presence and activities of Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A. E-Dey Work in Ahiara Diocese. His word is law in the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Diocese. Every Catholic is bound to listen to him and follow his direction. To be in any other place or to follow any other way apart from the one the Chief Shepherd of Ahiara Diocese has directed is to wander away from the saving truth of the Catholic Church.
[ii]. With the firm decision of the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese outlawing the ministry and activities of Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his E-Dey Work Ministry in the diocese, both Rev Fr Ebere SDV and Canaaland Adoration Ministry cease forthwith to operate as a representative and a Catholic organization in Ahiara Diocese. Any Catholic who participates in their activities does so at his or her own risk.
[iii]. With this ban in effect from Thursday, November 28, 2019, Catholics of Ahiara Diocese are advised to steer clear of Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A E-Dey Work and his founder, Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV as both no longer operate with the permission, mandate and authority of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Mbaise.
[iv]. With this ban, some of the teachings of Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work have been ruled to be inauthentic Catholic teachings and doctrines. Any Catholic who accepts those teachings of theirs is operating outside the traditional and authentic teachings of the Catholic Church.
[v]. Catholics of Ahiara Diocese are strongly advised to avoid joining or communing with outlawed groups in the Catholic Church which Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work has unfortunately become with the ban placed on it. Rather, Catholics of Ahiara Diocese should remain faithful to authentic Catholic doctrines and loyal and respectful to the traditional channels of authority in the Catholic Church.
May God continue to bless the Apostolic Administrator, the clergy, the religious and the Catholic faithful of Ahiara Diocese.
[i] The Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has finally spoken and given direction on the contentious and vexed issue of the confusing presence and activities of Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A. E-Dey Work in Ahiara Diocese. His word is law in the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Diocese. Every Catholic is bound to listen to him and follow his direction. To be in any other place or to follow any other way apart from the one the Chief Shepherd of Ahiara Diocese has directed is to wander away from the saving truth of the Catholic Church.
[ii]. With the firm decision of the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese outlawing the ministry and activities of Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his E-Dey Work Ministry in the diocese, both Rev Fr Ebere SDV and Canaaland Adoration Ministry cease forthwith to operate as a representative and a Catholic organization in Ahiara Diocese. Any Catholic who participates in their activities does so at his or her own risk.
[iii]. With this ban in effect from Thursday, November 28, 2019, Catholics of Ahiara Diocese are advised to steer clear of Canaanland Adoration Ministry A.K.A E-Dey Work and his founder, Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV as both no longer operate with the permission, mandate and authority of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Mbaise.
[iv]. With this ban, some of the teachings of Rev Fr Magnus Ebere SDV and his Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work have been ruled to be inauthentic Catholic teachings and doctrines. Any Catholic who accepts those teachings of theirs is operating outside the traditional and authentic teachings of the Catholic Church.
[v]. Catholics of Ahiara Diocese are strongly advised to avoid joining or communing with outlawed groups in the Catholic Church which Canaanland Adoration Ministry, A.K.A. E-Dey Work has unfortunately become with the ban placed on it. Rather, Catholics of Ahiara Diocese should remain faithful to authentic Catholic doctrines and loyal and respectful to the traditional channels of authority in the Catholic Church.
May God continue to bless the Apostolic Administrator, the clergy, the religious and the Catholic faithful of Ahiara Diocese.
Signed:
____________________________________
Rev Fr David A. Ihenacho
Episcopal Vicar for the Laity
____________________________________
Rev Fr David A. Ihenacho
Episcopal Vicar for the Laity
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