Onitsha Archdiocese Marks 25th Anniversary of Blessed Micheal Iwene Tansi Beatification
By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
It was indeed a joyous event and prayer session at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha, Anambra State when Priests, Religious and lay faithful converged en masse to commemorate twenty five years anniversary of Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi beatification.
It would be recalled that Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi a Catholic Priest was pronounced Holy on March 22, 1998 exactly 12.34 pm by Saint Pope John Paul 2 at Oba in Idemili South LGA, Anambra State when he visited Nigeria.
The event which featured praying for the sick ones, touching of the remains of Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi attracted numerous Priests, Religious and laities began with Holy Eucharistic which was presided by the Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, His Grace Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke alongside his counterpart Bishop of Agulari Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Denis Chidi Isizoh.
Delivering his homily to mark the event, Rev. Fr. Mike Okagbue expounded that the essence of gathering was to remember twenty five years ago late Pope John Paul 2 now Saint made official pronouncement that Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi is a Holy Man.
” We have gathered today to commemorate twenty five years our brother, Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi was beatified as a Holy Man, So, as we gather to remember him, we came with our various afflictions, challenges and tribulation which we hoped that God through Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi would grant our prayers”
According to Fr. Okagbue, he described Blessed Iwene Tansi as someone who devoted his entire life to God, stating that people of God should equally devote their lives to God, just as he noted that Church consistently calling us to give our lives to God.
The charismatic cleric who titled his homily ” Don’t Waste Your Cross” dwelt extensively on the life history of Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi, revealing that his name ” Iwegbunem” denotes ” Let not my anger kill me.
He said that the name attached to Rev. Fr. G Iwene Tansi now blessed had been following him through out his life time, saying that he was born in the year 1903, baptized in 1912, ordained Catholic Priest in 1937 and died in 1964.
He further explained that Blessed Iwene Tansi was canonized after twenty two years of his death, adding that his first miracle happened in the year 1986 when a confirmed cancer patient, one Mrs. Phlomina was instantly healed immediately she touched the remains of Blessed Iwene Tansi.
However, Fr. Mike enjoined congregation to learn the following points as lessons from the life of Blessed Michael Tansi; Don’t waste your cross because your cross could lead you to success, take action at the appropriate time, keep doing good, always keep praying and allow God’s wish to prevail in your life.
