About us

His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Sir. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Chairman of the Anniversary Reception Program, Our National Chaplain, Fr Reuben Chuhwak Provincial and Diocesan Chaplains and other priests and religious in our midst, Distinguished Patrons and Patronesses, Distinguished guests, Dear Purgatorians, and Catholics,
Today, we gather not only to celebrate a remarkable milestone but to forge a brighter future. Welcome to the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Purgatorian Society in Nigeria!
Founded in 1974 to extend the Honour and Glory of God within the Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu, our society has demonstrated unwavering dedication to praying for and assisting the Holy Souls in Purgatory. This achievement is a testament to our commitment and perseverance.
I recall a personal testimony from a member whose prayerful intervention helped a deceased loved one’s swift transition to heaven. This exemplifies our society’s impact.
As we celebrate this milestone, we remember and pay tribute to our Founding Fathers who, alongside our visionary Founder, Purg JohnMarie Ndianatuegwu OSB, worked tirelessly to establish our society. We honor the selfless contributions of:
1. Late Purg Basil Okechukwu Eze
2. Late Purg Alphonsus C. Ndulue
3. Late Purg Stephen Oguejiofor
4. Purg Ifeyinwa Carol Obazei
5. Late Purg Lawrence Igbudu
6. Late Purg Francis Ebehue
7. Late Purg Luke Mary Odinkenmelu
8. Purg Damian Chukwu
9. Purg Apolonia Igwebuike

Their unwavering commitment and perseverance paved the way for our society’s growth and success.
As Catholics, we affirm the reality of Purgatory (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030-1032). Our mission is rooted in Scripture, specifically 2 Maccabees 12:43-46. St. John of Granada encourages us: “Give alms, give alms for the sake of your souls.” St. Leonard of Port Maurice reassures us: “If you release one soul from Purgatory into heaven, you can say with assurance, ‘heaven is mine.”
We pay tribute to our past Presidents:
1. Late Purg Lawrence Mary Igbudu
2. Purg MikeMary Onovo
3. Purg Sir Prof John Offem KSM
4. Purg Geoffrey Okere
5. Late Purg Edward Udeh

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Catholic Bishops, clergy, and laity who have contributed to our growth. Notable milestones include:

 Recognition from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria
 Rev. Fr. Reuben Chuhwak’s appointment as National Chaplain
 Late Purg Engr Edward Udeh’s miraculous Secretariat establishment
 Expansion across dioceses in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Uganda
 Translation of our manual into Nigerian languages
 The establishment of our Newspaper “The Purgatorian”

Throughout 50 years, we have, by God’s grace:
– Provided spiritual growth to thousands of members across Nigeria,
Ghana, Cameroon, and Uganda
– Comforted the bereaved through prayer and support
– Fostered devotion to the Holy Souls, impacting countless lives
As we celebrate, let us take a moment to pray for the Holy Souls, especially all departed Purgatorians.
We reaffirm our commitment to:
– Praying for the Holy Souls
– Spreading devotion
– Supporting the Catholic Church teachings
For the next 50 years, we aim to:
– Establish SUMMA PURGATORIA as a recognized Religious Congregation
– Expand to 20 more dioceses across Africa and more units in Nigeria
– Develop a comprehensive online platform for global outreach
– Acquire a vehicle to facilitate propagation efforts

To fellow Purgatorians, I urge you to:
– Continue this sacred work
– Pray fervently
– Propagate our society
– Pray for growth and founding of our Religious Congregation
– Be bold ambassadors
– Extend our reach through financial and tactical support

We thank:
– Late Rev. Fr. Prof. Edokobi, our first Spiritual Director
– Rev. Fr. Chaplains, past and present
– All members, petitioners, contributors, patrons, benefactors, and supporters
God will reward their kindness. Let us show our appreciation to our benefactors with a round of applause.

Remember, the Holy Souls are our best friends, grateful for our prayers. By joining our society, you have undertaken a soul insurance program. As we embark on the next 50 years, let us unite in prayer and service.
May our charity, prayers, and efforts bring solace to the Holy Souls and glory to God.
It is imperative and pertinent that we express our heartfelt gratitude to several individuals who have made significant contributions to our success.
Firstly, we extend our sincere appreciation to His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State and our dear National Grand Patron, for his kind support. He is indeed a man of his words .He works his talk.
We also thank our Chairman of the 50th Anniversary Reception, Prof. Maurice Iwu, another National Grand Patron, for his unwavering commitment to our cause.
We are equally grateful to all donors who made this 50th-anniversary celebration possible. Special mention must be made of some of our long-standing Patrons and benefactors, including Sir Oliver Alawuba KSM, Bro Okey Eze KSM, Eze Amb Damian Obianigwe KSM,Lady RoseKate Ugorji, Barr Chinedu Akubueze, Sir Joseph Arih KSM and many others .May the prayers of the Holy Souls in Purgatory continually protect, guide, and assist them throughout their lives.
I would also like to acknowledge the exceptional generosity of the following individuals who, despite not being members of the Catholic faith, demonstrated remarkable kindness: Dr. Matthew Chima Amadi, Valentine Anene Okolie, Barr. Okey Ozuomba, and Pharm. Chinedu Ikeagwuonwu. May the intercession of Mother Mary and the souls in Purgatory guide you towards salvation.
To all other donors who contributed to making this milestone celebration a reality, we extend our sincere appreciation. May God bless and reward your kindness.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.