Feast of Unborn Child: KSM Owerri Sub-Council carries campaign against abortion to Girls College

The Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba, Owerri Sub-Council, celebrated the Feast of the Unborn Child at Owerri Girls Secondary School on Tuesday, March 25, 2014. The pro-life campaign was led by Dr. E.C. Agulana (KSM) Worthy Physician of the Sub-Council and Lady Stella Achunine (LSM) Worthy Vice-President/Health Co-ordinator Owerri Archdiocese. They enlightened the students on the evils of abortion and the need to preserve life at all costs. To drive home the lesson, a video film produced in Kenya was shown to the staff and students of the school.  The film deals with the implications and complications of abortion. Our correspondent said the students were visibly touched by the horror of abortion as evidenced…

St. Helen’s Parish Irete – Lady Ngozi Ogba, 8 others bag “Nne Okwukwe” Award

Nine women, including Chief Lady Ngozi Ogba, were on Sunday, March 30, 2014 honoured with the “Nne Okwukwe” (Mother of Faith) Award for their contributions to the growth of St. Helen’ Catholic Parish Irete, in  Owerri West LGA of Imo State. The award ceremony was the high point of this year’s Mothers’ Day celebration organized by the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) of the parish. Other recipients of the award include: Mrs. Juliana Eke, Mrs. C.O. Asoluka, Mrs. Monica Okolie and Lady Angela Opara.  The rest are Lady Nwebo Esther, Lolo Justina Iwundu, Mrs. Beatrice Eziohuru, Mrs. Rhoda Ohanyirinwa. According to the CWO President, Lady Duru Chioma who introduced each of the awardees, both the recipients…

Mother’s Day Celebration – Blessed Tansi Parish Ugwu Orji

- 16 receive CWO Award The Parish Priest, parishioners, friends and well-wishers of Blessed Tansi Catholic Parish, Ugwu Orji on Sunday, March 30, 2014, joined their counterparts around the globe to celebrate their mothers. Preaching a homily during the Mass, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. Benedict Oparaugo said that the Sunday marks two occasions comprising the Laetare Sunday and the Mother’s Day. Fr. Oparaugo explained Laetare as joy, meaning that Christians are enjoined to have courage and rejoice even as they mark the commemoration of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The priest differentiated between the Mother’s Day and Mothering Sunday.  He said that Mothering Sunday means: mothers exercising their roles as wives…

Communicating Life, Truth and Love In Our Encounters

A small-note address to the Communication Directors – Diocesan and Congregational – at the Assumpta Pastoral Centre, Owerri Tuesday 1st April 2014   Multi-Level Encounters The concept of encounter in your meeting as Communication Directors in the Catholic Church is a very rich, dynamic and challenging one. Your meeting is indeed an encounter of believers in Christ and experts in Communications who seek to use your Catholic Faith and specialized knowledge in Communications science and technology to evangelize and humanize the many levels of human encounter in our daily lives, church life, social life, public life and global life, unto more peaceful and enriching stances.   1.    The Africa-Europe-America Encounter I mention this encounter first…

National Confab: Imo position

The Imo State delegates at the ongoing National Conference have declared the position of the State. In a six-point provisional agenda made available to THE LEADER, the delegates called for a federation of six regions, consistent with the existing six zones, creation of two more states for the South-East, devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, rotation of presidency and regional/state police. In taking the position, the five-man delegation said they were guided by some principles, including consistency with the position of the South-East delegates and promotion of the interest of the people of Imo State. On Regionalism, the delegates said: “Nigeria should be a federation of six (6) regions consistent with the six (6) zones which…

ASUP Strike: Stop intimidating us – Poly lecturers tell Minister

-As FG introduces ‘no work no pay rule’ The Federal Government has been urged to show sincerity in the current efforts to resolve the 10-month-old strike of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) instead of its present attitude of insensitivity and intimidation. The national President of ASUP, Mr. Chibuzo Asomugha expressed this view in an exclusive interview with a news correspondent recently. Asomugha, who recalled that there have been several interventions especially by the Senate Committee on Education, explained that the strike which commenced on April 29, 2013 was suspended on July 17 last year on the understanding that government was going to resolve four of the issues government chose by itself within two…

Women advised to check rising immorality in Imo as Maria Assumpta Parish celebrates Mothers’ day

Activities marking the 2014 Mother’s Day at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Parish Owerri ended with the launching of CWO Revised Directory and Fund-raising for the completion of CWO House project and purchase of a coaster bus. In his homily during the Pontifical concelebrated Mass, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna warned on what he called “spiritual and moral blindness” and discrimination based social status.  He was assisted at the Mass by the Administrator, Fr. Andrew Nkwocha and Fr. Anumudu. Reflecting on the gospel of the day, about a man who had been blind from birth, Archbishop Obinna said that lust, beauty or handsomeness can make man blind while wealth, power and high social…

9-Month-Old Baby Charged With Attempted Murder In Pakistan

A 9-month-old Pakistani boy has been charged along with the rest of his family with attempted murder, according to reports. Musa Khan was photographed last week crying as his grandfather held him for fingerprinting. He was with his family during a protest in a Lahore slum that turned violent in February. Police say the boy, who was 7 months old at the time, threw stones at them. “Slum residents threw stones at gas company workers who had tried to disconnect households that failed to pay their bills, leading the police to charge an entire family with attempted murder, including Musa. “The absurdity of the case became apparent last Thursday when the screaming child was produced…

Minister raises alarm over neglect of senior citizens

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has raised an alarm over the neglect of elderly people in the country. Maina said this at the first stakeholders consultative and policy dialogue, organised by the Nigerian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology in Abuja on Tuesday. The minister, represented by Mr. Maijanma Kwassau, Director, Social Welfare, said care for the aged has declined mainly due to prevailing economic challenges. She said other reasons responsible for the problem included the breakdown of extended family system, support system for senior citizens and rural-urban migration of younger persons in search of greener pastures. Maina said that efforts were ongoing to domesticate regional and international instruments to…

JDPC Seminar: Why Catholic Church is interested in National Confab – Fr. Osuagwu

-As Okonkwo advises priests not to be partisan in politics An erudite cleric,  and former co-ordinator, Justice, Development and Peace Committee JDPC Owerri province, Rev. Fr. Innocent Maduakolam Osuagwu has given reasons why the Catholic Church is interested in the on-going National Conference in Abuja. In a paper he presented at a seminar organized by the JDPC of Owerri Archdiocese prior to the commencement of the Confab, Fr. Osuagwu gave seven reasons why the Church is interested in the conference: -     The Church wants to compassionately associate herself with the destiny of her host nation and member-citizens, and the effort to do everything to correct anomalies and enthrone uprightness (righteousness); recalling the many years of…

On 20th anniversary of Rwandan genocide, pope urges reconciliation

Just days before Rwanda was to begin a weeklong period of official mourning to mark the 20th anniversary of its genocide, Pope Francis urged the country’s bishops to be resolute in continuing the work of healing and reconciliation. “Twenty years after those tragic events,” when as many as 1 million people were murdered in savage acts of ethnic violence, Pope Francis said, “reconciliation and the healing of wounds must remain the priority of the church in Rwanda.” Meeting the country’s bishops April 3 during their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican, the pope offered his prayers for all Rwandans “without distinction of religion, ethnicity or politics.” Forgiveness for what happened and “authentic reconciliation can seem…

Devotion To The Passion Of Christ

Prof. Michael Ogunu – The devotion to the Passion (sufferings) of Our Lord and Saviour is, of all forms of Catholic devotion, the most ancient, the most venerable, the most universal. Jesus Himself has written the remembrance of His Passion deep into the hearts of His faithful. In order to imprint most deeply in our souls the remembrance of His Sacred Passion, Christ instituted Holy Mass, the unbloody renewal of the Sacrifice of the Cross. Perhaps there is no subject for meditation more suitable for every class of persons than the most sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In it many sinners find the encouragement and graces necessary for their conversion; from it many…

Lay good moral foundation for your children – Lady Nnanna-Okoro tasked parents

Parents have been advised to lay a good moral foundation for their children by living a life of devotion to the tenets of the Catholic faith. Commissioner for Industry ad Non-formal Sector/Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr. Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro who stated this at St. Kevin’s Catholic Church Ogbaku where the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) gave her an award as “Ambassador of Mary” during this year’s Mother’s Day celebration, urged mothers to rise to the challenge of bringing up their children under strict religious guidance as this shall help reduce criminality among youths. Barr. Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro decried a situation where families are in disarray because of disunity caused by running from one church to…

Owerri mechanics to relocate to Avu – Gov. Okorocha appeals for cooperation

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has advised mechanics operating in Owerri and environs to co-operate in the effort to relocate them to Avu Mechanic Cluster with an assurance that government intends to provide modern facilities, including a uniform specification for workshop buildings. The governor who spoke during an interactive meeting with mechanics at Ahiajoku Convention Centre stressed the need to sanitize the urban profile of the state capital with the relocation of mechanics and other artisans to a more conducive environment. Calling on the mechanics to embrace the good intentions of government by peacefully moving out of their present locations, including Orji and Nekede mechanic villages, Governor Okorocha assured that those who own workshop…

Archbishop Obinna lays foundation stone of Annunciation Catholic Centre

The Foundation Stone of the permanent building of Church of Annunciation Umuguma in Owerri West LGA, Imo State has been laid. His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri who laid the Foundation Stone on Thursday, April 3, 2014 also blessed the newly completed Marian Grotto and Chapel at the occasion. The prelate who commended both the priest, Christ faithful as well as the council, saying: “We are co-workers with God charged to carry out his work in humility”. In his homily at the end of the readings, Archbishop Obinna recalled how French and Irish missionaries brought the gospel of Christ to Igboland amidst a lot of hardship.  He enjoined present day…

THE BIG DRAMA

It is a feast of contradictions today. We celebrate the triumphal entry of a king who ends up dying like a criminal. It’s Palm Sunday and also Passion Sunday! The day of “Hosanna”,and the day of “Crucify him!” A day of acclamation – “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, and a day of denials – “I do not know him!” It’s a day of paying homage – people throwing their cloaks on the road, and also a day of mockery: “Play the prophet…who hit you then?” It is a huge drama and each one of us, depending on our spiritual disposition, can play any of the characters. First is Jesus,…

Archbishop Obinna admonishes Knights – As KSM PH holds retreat in Owerri

The Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba, Stella Maris  Sub-Council Port Harcourt have ended their 2014 Retreat at Assumpta Pastoral Centre, Owerri which lasted from Friday March 28 to Sunday, March 30, 2014. According to the Sub-Council, the purpose of the retreat was to enhance the spiritual growth of the members especially during the Lenten period. The Lenten retreat theme was: “Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength” (Isaiah 40:31).  The retreat was graced by Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri. In his Lecture: “Remain with God for life”, Archbishop Obinna harped on the need to stop same-sex union. The Archbishop said that Knights and Ladies of the Church…

Catholic Church submerged by flood in Orlu

Words couldn’t expressed what was seen at St. Joseph’s Parish Umuna Orlu LGA, Imo State as the whole church both inside and outside was submerged by flood following a heavy downpour on Sunday night, March 30, 2014 that lasted for several hours. When THE LEADER correspondent, Chukwudi Udechi visited the parish at about 7am, some parishioners who came for morning Mass without knowing that a terrible thing has happened, were seen trying their best to scoop out the flood that covered both the altar where the blessed sacrament was kept and the sacristy where the sacred vessels and other religious  items were kept. When THE LEADER sought to know the cause of the flood that…

Ritualists behead church warden in Imo – Family tasks police to fish out killers

Fear reigns in the entire community of Ibiasoegbe, near Mgbidi, headquarters of Oru-East Local Government Area following the gruesome murder of a 66-year-old woman, Mrs. Josephine Okorie in her farm at about 9am on Monday, March 31. The attackers apparently laid ambush and matcheted the woman at the back of the neck. They were about collecting the decapitated head when they heard the voice of another woman, who was coming along the path.  They ran away, leaving the head and body. Mr. Monday Okorie, son of the deceased, said it was the woman, who raised the alarm which attracted other farmers.  Unfortunately the suspects had escaped.  He said that his mother was a warden at…

St. Mary’s Parish Obibiezena Celebrates Mothers’ day

Mothers are supernatural gift from God – Fr. Edmund Njoku The Catholic Women Organization (CWO), St. Mary’s Parish Obibiezena, Owerri North LGA, Imo State on Sunday, March 30, 2014, joined other Catholic women nationwide in celebrating this year’s mother’s day. The Mass which started as a grand finale of a weeklong event was presided over by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Edmund Njoku and assisted by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Anorue. Introducing the Mass, Fr. Eddy expressed joy at the level of enthusiasm which the mothers gathered to mark their day.  With that same spirit, he described them as  supernatural gift offered to male folk by God.  He prayed God to instill in them strong faith…