by Kolapo Olapoju
No less than 700 pilgrims from across the United Kingdom converged at a Leicestershire monastery last weekend to pay homage to a Nigerian monk.
The pilgrimage was held at Mount St Bernard Abbey, near Coalville, 50 years after the death of the late priest, Blessed Cyprian Tansi.
He was a Nigerian priest who spent the last 14 years of his life at the abbey as a Cistercian monk. He died in Leicester Royal Infirmary in January 1964 and he could become Britain’s first black saint.
Blessed Cyprian was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Nigeria in 1998.
He was one of the first local priests to be ordained in Nigeria. He baptised Cardinal Arinize, heard his first confession, gave him his first Holy Communion and also prepared him for confirmation.
Guestmaster at the abbey, Father Joseph Delargy, said, “About 700 people came from all over the country. There was a Mass before a break for lunch, followed by a procession around the abbey grounds.”
“The weather was okay, there was no rain and it went very well, indeed. We were very happy with it.”
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