Nigerian Christianity and the SMA
Nigerian Christianity and the Society of African Missions. History, Strategies and Challenges, Ibadan 2012.
1. The book speaks about the history of Christianity in Nigeria from the 15th century AD till today.
- From the initial attempts during the time of Portuguese explorations
- The arrival of the Anglicans towards the end of the Slave trade
- Establishment and expansion of the Catholic Church
- The beginning of the Native African Churches – the root of today’s proliferation of Churches.
2. As we are marking the 150th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated by Fr. Borghero SMA, which was the beginning of the establishment of the Catholic Church, a full chapter traces the exact location of that First Mass in the modern Lagos of today.
3. 50% of the book is on history and the other 50% is on analysis. Old and new strategies and the modern challenges are analysed. These are meant to provoke discussions at various levels.
- Attitude towards the other Christian denominations: Where to draw the dividing line between ecumenism and the defence of truth?
- As schools are given back to the Church, what would be their role in a changed set up of today?
- Dealing with the devil: Questions concerning diabolic activities and the ministry of exorcism today.
- We have a well established indigenous clergy today. What next? What are the challenges facing the general welfare of the clergy? What to do with wounded and wounding healers?
Points of distribution: All SMA houses in Nigeria, Amazon bookstore.
Table of contents
Table of maps and illustrations. 5
Part I. Till the arrival of the SMA into Nigeria.. 13
1.1 Initial contacts of Nigeria with Christianity. 13
1.1.1 Political situation around Africa in 15th century AD.. 13
1.1.2 Portuguese Attempts to evangelise Nigeria. 14
1.1.3 The Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith [Propaganda Fide] (1622) 16
1.2 The arrival of Protestant Churches and the establishment of Christianity 18
1.2.1 Bishop Samuel Ajai Crowther (1809 – 1891) 18
1.2.2 Protestant Churches and the native African Churches 20
1.2.3 Analysis of the strategies and the situation of this stage 21
1.3 The Society of African Missions (SMA) before entering into Nigeria 23
1.3.1 Melchior de Marion Brésillac, the Founder of the Society of African Missions 24
1.3.2 The Founding of the Society of African Missions. 30
1.3.3 First Mission Steps of The Society of African Missions 31
Part II. The Society of African Missions and the establishment of the Catholic Church in Nigeria 39
2.1 Where was the first Mass celebrated in Lagos?. 40
2.1.1 Significance of the Mass on 9 March 1862. 40
2.1.2 What SMA missionaries recorded. 41
2.1.3 Facts and theories in Lagos today. 43
2.1.4 Reconstructing the history. 46
2.1.5 Locating the place of the first Mass. 49
2.2 First mission establishments. 52
2.2.4 The Famous Trek of Frs. Chausse and Holley. 60
2.2.10 Issele-Uku and Illah. 70
2.3 Development of Dioceses. 74
2.3.1 Erection of the first few jurisdictions. 74
2.3.2 Development inside each Ecclesiastical Province. 84
Part III. Mission Strategies and Challenges. 99
3.1 The strategies used by the early missionaries. 99
3.1.2 Caring for the Sick. 101
3.1.5 Topo experimental farm.. 104
3.1.6 Strong commitment towards the formation of indigenous clergy 106
3.1.7 Relationship with political authorities. 108
3.2 Strategies of the modern era. 109
3.2.1 Continuity of the early strategies. 110
3.2.2 Strategies of Kontagora - a sample. 114
3.3.1 At the service of faith. 121
3.3.2 Dealing with the devil 139