About NIPRA

Brief History and Activities of NIPRA

The 30th of December 1997 saw the coming together of some Nigerian priests and religious living Austria. This took place in Marz, Burgenland at the auspices of Rev. Fr. Fabian Mmagu and Rev. Fr. Peter Okeke. And that was the beginning of what would eventually translate into an Association called Nigerian Priests and Religious, Austria (NIPRA).

At that first coming together, it became evident that there were shared enthusiasm and common desire for fraternal solidarity among all those who were present. There and then a decision was made to hold the inaugural meeting of the nascent Association in Jois, Burgenland on the 14th of April, 1998. At this inaugural meeting, Rev. Fr. Peter Okeke was elected the first president of the Association, with Rev. Fr. Nikolas Abazie and Rev. Fr. Lawrence Ogunbanwo elected as secretary and financial secretary respectively. Among other things, it was decided at this inaugural meeting that NIPRA would be meeting twice a year: Easter Tuesday and 27th December (if, however, 27th December is a Saturday or a Sunday, the meeting would hold on the next Monday after that).

In spite of the challenges and certain difficulties that tended to mar the initial enthusiasm of members, NIPRA has continued to grow and wax stronger and stronger till this day. NIPRA became officially a registered Association with the Austrian Government on the 8th of August 2007. In the past 25 years, NIPRA has held general meetings in the following places:

1998

Easter Meeting:
Date: 14th April, 1998
Place: Jois, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Peter Okeke

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 28th December, 1998
Place: Marz, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Fabian Mmagu

1999

Easter Meeting:
Date: 6th April, 1999
Place: Jois, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Peter Okeke

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 1999
Place: St. Florian, Wiednerstraße, Wien
Host: Fr. Paulinus Ukpai Anya

2000

Easter Meeting:
Date: 25th April, 2000
Place: St. Stephan, Tulln, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Celestine Ekennia

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2000
Place: Stoob, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Titus Ifewulu

2001

Easter Meeting:
Date: 17th April, 2001
Place: Kemeten, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Nikolas Abazie

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2001
Place: St. Stephan, Tulln Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Celestine Ekennia

2002

Easter Meeting:
Date: 2nd April, 2002
Place: Pöchlarn, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Sabinus Iweadighi

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2002
Place: Großpetersdorf, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Fabian Mmagu

2003

Easter Meeting:
Date: 22nd April, 2003
Place: Vienna (Klösterkirche Göttlicher Erlöser)
Host: Rev. Fr. Cyril Nwakanma

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2003
Place: Neumarkt/Kallham, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. John Umeojiakor

2004

Easter Meeting:
Date: 13th April, 2004
Place: Obergrafendorf, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Emeka Emeakaroha

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2004
Place: Großpetersdorf, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Fabian Mmagu

2005

Easter Meeting:
Date: 29th March, 2005
Place: Grieskirchen, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Paulinus Anaedu

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2005
Place: Ottenthal, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Jacob Nwabor

2006

Easter Meeting:
Date: 13th April, 2006
Place: Gallspach, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Innocent Nwafor

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2006
Place: Draßmarkt, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Nikolas Abazie

2007

Easter Meeting:
Date: 10th April, 2007
Place: Vienna (Auferstehungskirche am Tabor)
Host: DMMM Sisters, Vienna

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2007
Place: Pottenbrunn St. Pölten, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Sabinus Iweadighi

2008

Easter Meeting:
Date: 25th March, 2008
Place: Oberloisdorf, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Vincent Chiakwa
No Christmas meeting was held because NIPRA celebrated her 10th
Anniversary in October 2008

2009

Easter Meeting:
Date: 14th April, 2009
Place: Breitensee, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Ikenna Okafor

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 28th December, 2009
Place: Draßmarkt, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Nikolas Abazie

2010

Easter Meeting:
Date: 6th April, 2010
Place: Marian Basilica of Maria Zell, Niederösterreich
Host: Year of Priest hosted by NIPRA

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2010
Place: Mitterkirchen, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Chigozie Nnebedum

2011

Easter Meeting:
Date: 26th April, 2011
Place: Großpetersdorf, Burgenland
Host: Rev. Fr. Fabian Mmagu

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December 2011
Place: Graz, Steiermark (St. Andrä Parish)
Host: Rev. Fr. Matthew Igboamalu together with African Cath. Community, Graz

2012

Easter Meeting:
Date: 10th April, 2012
Place: Obergrafendorf, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Emeka Emeakaroha

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2012
Place: Drasenhofen, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Jacob Nwabor

2013

Easter Meeting:
Date: 2nd April, 2013
Place: Großrußbach, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Chudi Joseph Ibeanu

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2013
Place: Aurolzmünster, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. John Umeojiakor

2014

Easter Meeting:
Date: 22nd April, 2014
Place: Taufkirchen an der Pram, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Moses Valentine Chukwujekwu

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 29th December, 2014
Place: Niederkappel, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Felix Agbara

2015

Easter Meeting:
Date: 7th April, 2015
Place: Hartkirchen, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Paulinus Anaedu

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 28th December, 2015
Place: Kematen am Innbach, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Anthony Echechi

2016

Easter Meeting:
Date: 29th March, 2016
Place: Lassee, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Ikenna Okafor

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2016
Place: Pottenbrunn, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Sabinus Iweadighi

2017

Easter Meeting:
Date: 18th April, 2017
Place: Leobendorf, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Annistus Njoku

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2017
Place: Schwertberg, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Leonard Ozougwu

2018

Easter Meeting:
Date: 3rd April, 2018
Place: Gutenstein, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Joseph Okoli

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2018
Place: Atzbach, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Christian Ojene

2019

Easter Meeting:
Date: 23rd April, 2019
Place: Aistersheim, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Anthony Echechi

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2019
Place: St. Oswald, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Fabian Ehujuo

2020

Easter Meeting:
No meeting was held because of COVID-19 Pandemic

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 28th December, 2020
Place: Zoom Online Meeting

2021

Easter Meeting:
Date: 25th May, 2022
Place: Zoom Online Meeting

Christmas Meeting:
No NIPRA meeting was held due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2022

Easter Meeting:
Date: 19th April, 2022
Place: Hörersdorf, Niederösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Jude Uzukwu

Christmas Meeting:
Date: 27th December, 2022
Place: Aschach an der Donau, Oberösterreich
Host: Rev. Fr. Paulinus Anaedu

2023

Easter Meeting:
Date: 11th April, 2023
Place: Obermühlbach (St. Veit an der Glan), Kärnten
Host: Rev. Fr. Charles Ogbunambala

Among other things, NIPRA has held Day of Prayer for Nigeria together with African Catholic Community on Sunday, 20th June, 1999 (Vienna); Sunday, 25th June 2000 (Vienna) Sunday, 9th November, 2003 (Vienna); Sunday, 5th December, 2004 (Vienna); Sunday, 2nd October, 2005 (Vienna); Sunday, 10th October, 2010 (Linz).

The 10th Anniversary of NIPRA was celebrated on the 12th of October, 2008 in the Auferstehungskirche am Tabor, Vienna, while the 20th Anniversary was held on the 7th of October, 2018 together with the African Catholic Community Linz in the Heiliger Geist Parish, Linz, Oberösterreich.

Apart from the NIPRA formal meetings, members of NIPRA have always shown great solidarity and fraternity by attending various celebrations of members, like birthdays, graduation ceremonies, jubilees, requiem masses for deceased NIPRA members and for deceased members of NIPRA families (especially parents).

Furthermore, NIPRA has a great heart and concern towards the poor and suffering people of Nigeria. A milestone in this regard was achieved in response to the refugee crisis generated by the menace of Boko Haram in the northern part of Nigeria. In this vein, NIPRA organised freewill donations among her members to support the Internally Displaced Persons in the Diocese of Maiduguri, Nigeria, between 2019 and 2020.

Source note: The Silver Jubilee booklet lists the Easter meeting under 2021 as “25th May, 2022”. This date has been retained as printed.