Jonathan, Obama Visit Pope
It was a busy time for His Holiness Pope Francis following the visits of two heads of state recently. First to storm the Vatican was Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan who was accompanied by his wife Patience and other top government officials. That was on Saturday, March 22. On Thursday, March 27, President Barak Obama of the United States of America took his turn. Both heads of State were visiting Pope Francis for the first time. Reports say President Jonathan and Pope Francis held extensive discussion on Nigeria’s position on same-sex marriage which was recently outlawed in the country. The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Kennedy Opara, disclosed this to journalists at the Holy…
Sunday Readings: FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YR. ‘A’ 30/03/2014
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts OPENING PRAYER Father of peace, we are joyful in your Word, your Son Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to you. Let us hasten towards Easter with the eagerness of faith and love. FIRST READING A reading from the first book of Samuel 16: 1, 6-7, 10-13 Theme: David is anointed king of Israel. The Lord said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil and go, I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen myself a king among his sons.” When…
Missing Malaysia Jet crashed in Indian Ocean – Prime Minister
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak this week confirmed Flight MH370 had crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, citing satellite-data analysis by British firm Inmarsat . Recovery of wreckage could unlock clues about why and how the plane had diverted so far off course in one of aviation’s most puzzling mysteries. The United States has sent an undersea Navy drone and a high-tech black box detector which will be fitted to an Australian ship due in Perth in the coming days. The so-called black boxes – the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder – record what happens during flight, but time is running out to pick up their locator beacons, which stop about a month…
Pope appoints Canon Law expert to Council for Economy
Pope Francis nominated an expert in the Church’s legal system as the new Prelate Secretary for the recently-created Council for the Economy. A press release on March 22 from the Holy See’s press office stated, “the Holy Father has nominated Msgr. Brian Ferme as Prelate Secretary of the Council for the Economy.” The British Monsignor has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., as well as the Head of the St. Pius X Faculty of Canon Law in Venice. Msgr. Ferme is not new to the Roman Curia. He acts as a consultor to the Congregation for the…
Fr. Cloonan Memorial Secondary School Emekuku holds inter-house sports
Sporting activities in the school system have been described as an integral part of the education of the child that helps him to showcase his talents. Rev. Fr. Dr. Nicholas Nwachukwu, Principal, Fr. Cloonan Memorial Secondary School Emekuku stated this on the occasion of the school maiden inter-house sports marked at Chief Obi Memorial Primary School Emekuku playground, Saturday, March 15, 2014. As is customary, the celebration began with a Holy Mass before the field events. The event was graced by many dignitaries including Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Oha, Owerri Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary who represented the Archbishop of Owerri, His Grace, Most Rev. A.J.V. Obinna, Comrade Joe Best Ajaero, Gen.-Secretary Nigerian Union of Electricity Workers, HRH Eze…
LENT: We need to fast from noise, entertainment – Bishop Ezeonyia
The Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. V.V. Ezeonyia has called on Christians to use this Lenten period to fast from noise, television and other forms of entertainment. In his 2014 Lenten Message, titled: “Yearly Attitude Adjustment”, the Bishop said” “Lent is a time for our Yearly Attitude Adjustment. For this, God gives us the spiritual tools of almsgiving, prayer and fasting for bringing cold embers back to life”. He warned that: “A gift is nothing without the love that animates it and the fraternal bonds it animates. Alms bring us closer to God. The service of charity belongs to the very nature of the Church. It is a lively expression of God’s solicitude…
Don’t give up in face of challenges – Priest charges Ladies of St. Mulumba as retreat ends
Christ’s faithful have been charged not to give up efforts to make a difference in a world full of evils, even when they are misunderstood, provided their conscience are clear. Fr. Raphael Nnaemeka Uzoekwe (CMF), gave the charge while preaching the homily at the closing Mass of a three-day retreat held for the Holy Rosary Sub-Council of Ladies of St. Mulumba (LSM) Owerri, from Friday, March 14 to Sunday, March 16, 2014 at the Claretian Institute of Philosophy, Maryland, Nekede. The homilist, who is also the Director of Retreats at the Institute, urged the women to be dynamic in reaching out to the grassroots, touching the lives of fellow Christians with what they had learnt…
Sunday Readings: 3rd Sunday of lent – March 23, 2014
First reading : Exodus 17:3-7 Tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses. ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt?’ they said. ‘Was it so that I should die of thirst, my children too, and my cattle?’ Moses appealed to the Lord. ‘How am I to deal with this people?” he said. ‘A little more and they will stone me!’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take with you some of the elders of Israel and move on to the forefront of the people; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river, and go. I shall be standing before you there on the rock, at Horeb. You must strike the rock,…
Pope Francis discuss extensively on same-sex marriage with President Jonathan As Nigeria, Vatican partner in education, health
President Goodluck Jonathan and Pope Francis yesterday held extensive discussion on Nigeria’s position on same-sex marriage law recently passed in the country. The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Kennedy Opara, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday at the Holy Sea after President Jonathan’s audience with the Pope as well as his tour of the Vatican City. Opara said the President used the opportunity to state Nigeria’s position on same sex-marriage while the Pope commended Jonathan’s effort in tackling the various challenges facing the country. The Pilgrims from Anambra, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory, were part of President Jonathan’s delegation to Vatican City in Rome, Italy but remained at the courtyard while the audience…
David Mark’s Convoy Attacked by Gun Men in Imo
Senate President, David Mark last Thursday escaped death as his convoy was allegedly attacked by yet to be identified gunmen in Orlu, Imo State. According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh Friday night, the attack occurred in Orlu Senatorial Zone of the state. The incident happened when the Senate Present went to Nkwere, Imo state to attend the burial ceremony of late business mogul, Sir John Richard Anyaehie. Mark lamented that the attack happened a moment when a great philanthropist like Anyaehie was being buried, adding that it was not what should be expected in a senatorial district like Orlu. He described late Anyaehie as a truthful…
Fr. Ibole celebrates feast of St. Patrick with pupils of St. Michael’s Nur/Pri School Amakohia
Rev. Fr. Patrick Ibole and the pupils of St. Michael’s Nursery/Primary School Amakohia, Uratta, joined millions of Catholics worldwide to celebrate this year’s Feast of St. Patrick, March 17. The celebration started with a thanksgiving Mass presided over by Fr. Ibole. In his sermon, Fr. Ibole who is also the Vicar-General of Owerri Archdiocese, traced the life and time of St. Patrick, how he was kidnapped at the age of 16, sold into slavery in Ireland and after six years of living the life of a shepherding slave, Patrick escaped and returned to Britian. However, he felt God calling him to be a priest; so, he set out to France where he studied for priesthood….
Hon. Dimaku donates bus to Ehime Mbano PDP – Declares interest for second term bid
Hon. Kingsley Nwabueze Dimaku, member Imo State House of Assembly member representing Ehime Mbano State Constituency has donated a bus to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As part of its effort to reclaim Imo State come 2015, Ehime Mbano Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had its prayers answered on Saturday, March 15, 2014 when Hon. Kingsley Dimaku donated a 14 seater bus to the party. At an elaborate ceremony held at his Agbaja residence, the lawmaker informed the party exco and stakeholders that the gift of the bus to the party was in fulfillment of a pledge he made last year. Hon. Dimaku narrated his ugly experiences in the House of Assembly for rebuffing overtures…
Prof. Awuzie calls for Catholic University in Orlu
The Vice-Chancellor of the Imo State University, Owerri, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie has called for the establishment of a Catholic University in Orlu Diocese, Imo State. Speaking during an award ceremony organized by the Orlu Diocesan Laity Council at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu, Prof. Awuzie said the establishment of a Catholic University in Orlu will help absorb thousands of Imo State candidates who could not be admitted into the Imo State University Owerri and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). Prof. Awuzie, who was the chairman of the occasion, revealed that of about 140,000 candidates who applied for admission in IMSU and FUTO, only about 10,000 candidates could be admitted in the two universities. …
KSM Osu Sub-Council holds 2nd Degree Investiture
Knights of the Church have been reminded of the need to be pro-active in their task of defending the church in view of the rising anti-clericalism and escalating violence against the church. The Chaplain, Sancta Paule Sub-Council Osu, Knights of St. Mulumba, Okigwe Diocese, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cajetan Ehiem, made the call during the 2nd Degree Investiture of deserving Knights and Ladies of the Sub-Council held 15th March 2014 at Mulumba Hall, St. Paul’s Parish Osu, Isiala Mbano LGA. The cleric who expressed disgust at the way and manner society is tending towards immorality and penchant for anti-God legislations in recent times, drew attention to an alleged move by the National Assembly to out-law…
Enough of Hotels, Please! – Catholic Bishop tells Imo millionaires
The plethora of hotels that are literally springing up in every corner of our streets, especially in the main cities of Imo State – Owerri in particular have become disconcerting for many in the State. Worried by the increasing number of unemployed in Imo State, the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma has appealed to Imo millionaires to have mercy on this army of unemployed youths and invest in manufacturing industry instead of hotels. Speaking during the funeral of an industrialist, Sir Godwin Okwara at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Amaifeke Orlu recently, Bishop Ukwuoma observed that hotels have taken grip of major cities in Imo State, while the state is bereft of…
National Confab: Delegates request allowance for their aides, drivers
Some delegates of the newly inaugurated National Conference which had its first session Tuesday in Abuja have asked for financial allowances to be made available to their aides who they say would help ease the burden of the task before them. Each delegate is to collect N12million as incentive for participating in the confab which is expected to last for three months..but that money is not enough, they also want their PAs and drivers to be paid “We need to know the number of aides we are to employ,” One of the delegates, Senator Mohammed Jibrin enquired from the leaders. I see! However the secretary of the Conference, Mrs. Valeria Azinge, said there was no…
Israel retaliates in Syria after roadside bomb attack against Israeli troops
Israel has warned Syria’s government that any aggression against Israeli citizens will be met with force, as a roadside bomb attack which injured Israeli troops prompted airstrikes on Syrian targets. Addressing a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli strikes on Syrian territory targeted elements “that not only facilitated, but also cooperated with the attacks on our forces.” He added, “Our policy is very clear: We attack those who attack us.” The government of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is engaged in a long-running civil war which has seen some conflict spill over into neighboring countries. Four Israeli paratroopers were injured Tuesday when the bomb exploded under their patrol jeep in the Golan…
Immigration Recruitment Tragedy
Stampedes are nothing new. But the one which happened in Nigeria during the Immigration Job recruitment exercise last week should make our political leaders ashamed. They have failed this Country; they have failed the youths of this Country. Media reports are full of incidents of stampedes. But as far as Nigerians are concerned, until last week, stampedes happen in far places like China, India, Cambodia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, during religious festivals or pilgrimages. Early this year, a deadly stampede occurred at a mosque in China, as religious cakes were being shared. The stampede resulted from people’s surge to obtain the hallowed cake. Another happened in India during the funeral of a famous spiritual leader,…
Jonathan cancels Immigration recruitment offers Automatic jobs for injured, victims’ relations
President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered total cancellation of Saturday’s messy recruitment exercise of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). The president also gave automatic employment to injured applicants and 3 relations of each of the applicants who lost their lives. The Information Minister Labaran Maku who disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting Wednesday said the council devoted the meeting to express grief over the death of applicants who lost their lives to stampedes during the exercise. Maku said the council regretted the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and sympathised with the injured. According to him, the president announced automatic employment for three relations of…
Lent: Don’t be discouraged by sin – Pope
Returning to the Vatican after a week of Lenten spiritual exercises, Pope Francis emphasized that we should not be discouraged by sin, but rather renew our commitment to following Christ. “We are all sinners but we want to follow Jesus,” the Holy Father said upon departing from the annual retreat for the Pope and members of the Curia. The retreat took place outside the Vatican for the first time this year; it was held in the nearby town of Ariccia. Pope Francis thanked Father Angelo de Donatis, who preached the Lenten retreat on the subject of “purification of the heart.” “I would like to offer you thanks on my behalf and on behalf of all…
