Serving the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas Volume XXXVI, No. 1 JANUARY 2016 DIOCESE OF SAN ANGELO NONPROFIT ORG. PO BOX 1829 US POSTAGE PAID SAN ANGELO TX 76902-1829 SAN ANGELO, TX PERMIT NO. 44 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Consecrated Life Pastor dies As the Year of Consecrated Fr. Romanus Akamike, Life winds down, Sister pastor of Sacred Heart Malachy Griffin, vicar of Church in Coleman, died women religious in the unexpectedly December Diocese of San Angelo, 12, 2015. He was 61 and says committing to the celebrated his 25th year in consecrated life is focus- the priesthood in Nov. ing your commitment on 2014. Obituary, Pg. 2 Christ, Pg. 6 Photo of Fr. Hilary Ihedioha, St. Mary’s Odessa, by Alan P. Torre / aptorre.com. More Doors of Mercy photos, Pg. 12-13. Page 2 JANUARY 2016 The Angelus The Inside Front Fr. Romanus, Coleman’s ‘dancing, singing priest,’ dies at 61 By Jimmy Patterson military. That call to serve ran Cathedral in San Angelo, his close Fr. Romanus was known as “the Editor / West Texas Angelus simultaneous to Nigeria’s Biafran friend and spiritual son Fr. Francis dancing, singing priest,” with a Civil War from 1967-1970, a partic- Onyekozuru told mourners that it greeting of “God is good, all the SAN ANGELO — When ularly dangerous time for those was after Fr. Romanus was freed time” at every Mass and to many Romanus Arinze Akamike was a called up. from his military recruitment that he people he met on the street. He cel- small boy in the Biafran region of One problem for the Biafran mili- chose to become a priest and to ebrated his 25th anniversary in the Nigeria, he suffered an accident that tary: With no bone in his right index devote his life to Jesus Christ and priesthood November 15, 2014. would render his right index finger finger, firing a weapon was impos- the Catholic Church. His congregation also turned out in nearly useless. Ultimately, he would sible. When Akamike proved that Fr. Romanus Akamike, pastor of full force for a Mass of Thanksgiving lose the first digit of the finger. disability, he was passed over for Sacred Heart Church in Coleman, several months after Fr. Romanus sur- Fr. Romanus service in the armed forces. died December 12, 2015, of natural vived a serious single-car rollover Akamike Years later, when he was a young man, it was his time to fulfill the At Fr. Romanus’ funeral Mass, causes. He had just returned from a (See Pg. 24 for December 23, 2015, at Sacred Heart visit to his homeland a day earlier. (Please See FR. ROMANUS/19) additional photos) commitment to serve his country’s Ecumenical retreat center progresses; groundbreaking set for summer of 2016 By Jimmy Patterson Editor / West Texas Angelus MIDLAND — Organizers and volunteers are optimistic about achieving a groundbreaking date of June 2016 on an ecumenical retreat cen- ter in Midland. The Way Retreat Center will sit atop a rise of land on 20 acres adjacent to the intersection of East Loop 250 and Todd Road in northeast Midland. The retreat center will be the first of its kind in the area and organizers say their objective is to attract not only people of all faiths but busi- nesses and corporations, as well. “We want The Way to be a place where people in Midland-Odessa know they can turn for a retreat experience that will be spiritually enrich- ing for all Christians,” said board president Husband and wife Marc Ntibandetse and Mia Gatoni, standing, are Burundi natives who are members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Abilene. Although they are not refugees themselves, they work with refugees, like those shown here, Brian Fralin. “We also we want our local busi- who attend the church. (Photo by Loretta Fulton) ness community to know corporate boards or staffs of businesses, non-profits and churches Editor’s Note: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Democratic Republic of the Congo, goes are also welcome to stay with us for an after- is Migrant and Refugee Jubilee Day as desig- to work every day at a cookie bakery in nated by Pope Francis. noon, a day or a weekend where their profes- Abilene Abilene. She doesn't have to worry about sional lives can also be nourished by the unique child care for her four children. Her Holy environment that we offer at The Way.” By Loretta Fulton Family brothers and sisters take care of Special to the West Texas Angelus One plus of the retreat center, organizer Mike Catholics that. LaMonica said, is its proximity to Midland-Odessa. "When I go to work," she said, "I leave The Way will eliminate the 30-60 minute drive to A simple remark by a refugee who has my babies with them." found a home at Abilene's Holy Family Stanton, the nearest retreat center. Such conven- care for The bond between the refugees and ience makes it possible for businesses, churches Catholic Church tells the story of just how church members is so strong that Nabinto well the church embraces newcomers, no and other organizations to utilize the center while and her husband, Cyprien, don't think knowing both work and family are nearby. refugees matter their background or status. twice about leaving their most precious Riziki Nabinto, who came to Abilene “This has been a longtime dream of many five years ago as a refugee from the people,” LaMonica said. “And this is God at (Please See REFUGEES/21) work in our community and through our church (Please See THE WAY/19) The Angelus JANUARY 2016 Page 3 CALENDARS From The Bishop’s Desk BISHOP SIS’ SCHEDULE Sepulchre JANUARY 2016 14 — SAN ANGELO, Sacred Plentiful opportunities for indulgences 10 — SAN ANGELO, Christ Heart Cathedral, Rite of the King Retreat Center, Mass Election at 3:00 p.m. By Most Rev. Michael J. Sis a lifelong process of continuous undergo a process of purification with Deacon Candidates, 11 am 16-17 — SAN ANGELO, Bishop of San Angelo conversion and ongoing rehabilita- and restore those disrupted relation- 12 — SAN ANGELO, Christ Christ the King Retreat Center, tion of our human heart. ships. This process of purification the King Retreat Center, Mass Diocesan Spring Priests’ for seminary retreat, 4:30 p.m. Conference We are in a Jubilee Holy Year, Through the Sacrament of can take place either in this life or 15 — SAN ANGELO, V 18 — SAN ANGELO, Staff and any time a Jubilee comes Baptism, we receive forgiveness for in Purgatory. Whatever part of the Encuentro Team meeting at Lenten Day of Recollection at around, it is a great opportunity to our sins, and all punishment is process remains unfinished upon 6:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. renew our remitted, or canceled. Through the the death of our body must be com- 16 — BIG LAKE, St. Margaret 20 — SAN ANGELO, understanding Sacrament of Penance (Confession), of Cortona, Mass at 7:00 p.m. Diocesan Catholic Schools pleted in Purgatory, before entering 17 — RANKIN, St. Thomas, Commission at 9:00 a.m. of the Catholic sins are forgiven, and the eternal the full presence of God in Heaven. Mass at 8:00 a.m. 21 — Midland, St. Stephen, teaching on penalty that is due to sin is taken By God’s grace, an indulgence 17 — IRAAN, St. Francis of Rite of Election at 2:30 p.m. indulgences. away, but there remain conse- brings about the necessary purifica- Assisi, Mass at 9:30 a.m 22 — Houston, Holy Name Indulgences quences for sins that those who tion without the suffering that 17 — BIG LAKE, St. Margaret Retreat Center, Region X of Cortona, Mass at 11:30 a.m. Vocation Directors Meeting are often misun- have committed them must bear. would normally accompany it. By 19 — SAN ANGELO, 22 — Houston, St. Mary’s derstood. They These negative consequences of sin the gift of the grace of Jesus Christ Pastoral Center, Liturgical Seminary, Mass at 5:00 p.m. are not some are traditionally called the temporal and the prayers of the saints, the Commission meeting at 1p.m. 29 –March 2 — SAN ANGE- sort of discount punishment for sin. painful aspect of punishment is mit- 19 — SAN ANGELO, Holy LO, Christ the King Retreat Bishop Sis Angels, RCIA at 6:30 p.m. Center, Tex-Mex Border into Heaven, Our sin leaves marks on the soul igated or canceled by fostering its 20 — SAN ANGELO, Bishops’ Spring Meeting and they are not a mechanical ritual which do not automatically disap- medicinal aspect through other Pastoral Center, Priestly Life that automatically confers forgive- pear with Confession. We need to channels of grace. (St. John Paul II, and Formation Committee CHRIST THE KING ness. They inspire us to live more be progressively cleansed of these General Audience, Sept. 29, 1999) Meeting at 1:30 p.m. RETREAT CENTER 20 — WALL, St. Ambrose, JANUARY 2016 fruitful and holy lives, and thereby “residues” of sin and that is what an An indulgence is the remission of RCIA at 7:00 p.m. 10-15 Holy Trinity Seminary lead us to a more intimate union indulgence is about. It is a healing the temporal punishment that is due 21 — SAN ANGELO, Silent Retreat with God. medicine for the spiritual wounds for sin whose guilt has already been Pastoral Center, Catholic 17 First Holy Communion The greatest indulgence of all is that result from our sin. forgiven. Through an indulgence, Charitable Foundation Board Retreat-St. Ambrose Wall Jesus Christ, who was crucified for Every sin inevitably causes suf- Meeting at 1:30 p.m.