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…

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…

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…

Catholic Church collapses in Aba

The entire faithful of Assumpta Catholic Church Umuode, Aba, should count themselves blessed as well as have reasons to thank and glorify God for His divine mercy and absolute protection.  This followed the collapse of their church building on February 17, 2014.  God held the building from collapsing until the morning Mass was over our reporter said. Observers say the church building caved in due to structural defects. The faithful who gathered round the church to sympathize and assess the extent of damage, glorified God that there was no casualty. Mr. Vincent Onwuneme, Vice-Chairman for the Parish Council, told Rex, Aba diocesan newspaper that the incident occurred around 10.45am on that monday.  “We were all…

How we wiped out family of eight Catholics in Kaduna – Suspect

- As victims are laid to rest One of the suspects who killed eight family members in Kaduna has confessed to the heinous crime The suspect, opened up, giving an account of how he, with nine others, carried out the attack that led to the killing of a family of eight. The suspect who is now in the custody of security operatives was arrested by the youths in the local government and handed over to the law enforcement agents.  Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen had stormed Manchok community in Kaura Local Government Area, launched an attack on a family of eight and killed the entire household. The suspect who got the beating of his…

Vatican issues global questionnaire on modern families

The Vatican on Tuesday launched an unprecedented worldwide consultation on modern families including same-sex couples as part of Pope Francis’s drive to reform the Catholic Church.   A questionnaire has been sent to bishops around the world asking them for detailed information about the “many new situations requiring the Church’s attention and pastoral care”.   “Concerns which were unheard of until a few years ago have arisen today as a result of different situations, from the widespread practice of cohabitation… to same-sex unions,” it said.   Religious watchers said the 39 questions were unusual because of their non-judgemental, practical nature in what could be a signal of greater openness and increased pastoral care regardless of…

Prepare for marriage, not wedding, priest counsels couples

… As SS Philip & James holds mass wedding. Couples have been told to give more attention to their marriages than they do to their weddings.   The priest in residence at SS. Philip and James Catholic Church, Egbu, Rev. Fr. Dr. George Nwachukwu gave the counsel during his homily as nine couples wedded in the parish, Saturday, October 19, 2013.   Fr. Nwachukwu decried the rate of divorces in the society today, saying it is  because couples spend a lot of time preparing for wedding which lasts only for a day, while giving less or no time to prepare for their marriages which is for a life time.   The homilist described the miracle…

Our faith needs the support of others – Pope Francis

- As Church celebrates All Saints The Catholic Church all over the world on Friday, November 1, celebrated the solemnity of All Saints. It is an annual event during which the Catholic Church invokes the intercession of the Church Triumphant, the Saints in heaven.   Addressing more than 80,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square to listen to the Holy Father’s catechesis, October 30, Pope Francis stated that through the communion of saints we experience a solidarity between heaven and earth in our intercessory prayer. The Pope began his catechesis on the Creed in the Year of Faith, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, by explaining the meaning of the expression of the “communion of saints”, saying…

Catholic Church identifies health friendly governors – Ends Health Summit in Abuja

The Catholic Church has identified four Nigerian Governors who collaborate with the Church for effective health delivery to the people. The Governors are Mr. Peter Obi of Anambra State, Chief Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, Alhaji Ibahim Idris, former Governor of Kogi State and Sir Patrick Yakowa, former governor of Kaduna State.   The Secretary-General, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Ralph Madu, disclosed this at the just concluded National Catholic Health Summit held in Abuja, October 23-24.   Fr. Madu, who spoke on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), paid glowing tribute to Governor Obi “for building and sustaining exemplary working relationship with mission health services, including granting subventions to…

Minister urges Catholic Church to use Internet for Evangelization

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has called on the Catholic Church to embrace the use of internet for evangelization.   Maku made the call on Sunday, October 20 at a teleconference with students of Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu.   He said the church should also use the medium to counter unwholesome messages being spread to young people through the same channel.   He called on the church to set up a special services unit with priests trained in information and communications technology to handle such issues and to attend to young people online.   The minister said that such messages easily got viral if not challenged, saying that the church was in…

Rev. Fr. Tony Dieme: A Priest With Passion For Service

Parish priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church Umualumaku Ehime-Mbano LGA of Imo State, Rev. Fr. Tony Dieme marked one year in office as shepherd of the flock on Sunday, October 2013. In his homily, Fr. Dieme harped on the need for the parishioners to have faith in God who is able to solve their problems. The celebrant enjoined the congregation to constantly pray for increase in faith. He observed that the Apostles encouraged the early Christians to believe in the Trinity of one God, resurrection, efficacy of prayers and life after death. According to him, those who have faith in Christ are like mount Zion and God does not disappoint those who believe in him…

Abracadabra/Magic prayers in the Catholic Church? (2) Challenge to Knights

Abracadabra Or Magic Prayers: In the recent past, there were roadside magicians who used their magic wands to conjure and command.  It was from them that one used to hear things like, “I decree, I command, I conjure, by the power of Alikworiko, by the power of Abracadabra, by the power of Kadeka, by the power of Geolomy.  All of you say “Geolomy” and the onlookers say, “Geolomy”.  The magicians were using the devil’s power to produce magic wonders, though, it was the more you look, the less you see. It is unfortunate, the present generation wants prayer to be turned into miracles, hence all the shouts, all the noise and all the loud cries. …

An Artist was born

Whether artists are born or made depends on who you meet. But when Paddy Obinna says he was born an artist, you can only agree. How else do you explain his multiple talents, plus the fact that he, literally, started to see colours from his mother’s womb?  The master designer wasn’t born with a brush in his hand, but he had eyes for beauty from the start. “I saw myself as an artist from the beginning. My father refused my uncle taking me to Lagos. He said, ‘don’t take Paddy to Lagos. He will start looking at things and vehicles will knock him down.’ I was still small, about six. From looking, I started to…

Syria’s Nuncio Sees Positive Response to Pope Francis’ Initiative

Archbishop Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, reflected on the prayer vigil led by Pope Francis on Sept. 7. Various Christian communities and other faiths held similar vigils around the world in solidarity for the Pope’s call for peace in the region. According to Vatican Radio, Catholic and Orthodox Bishops, members of the government, parliament and Muslim community, took part in prayer vigil held in the Greel-Melkite Catholic Church in Damascus. Archbishop Zenari stated that many have approached him to “thank the Holy Father for this beautiful initiative.” “Local television stations and journalists were present and I’m sure that in these days they will give great importance to this prayer vigil celebrated in Damascus.”…

Fake seminarian nabbed at St. Joseph’s Parish Umualumaku

“Every day is for the thief, but one day is for the owner of the house”, says the Bible. This biblical emphatic statement played itself out on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at Umualumaku Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State as a fake seminarian; Kenneth (surname withheld) was apprehended by irate parishioners and given a beaten of his life. He was later handed over to the police by the Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish, Rev. Fr. Tony Dieme. The impostor, who has many names to his credit, met his waterloo after concerted exploitation of parishioners and unsuspecting victims at various times.  One of the victims is the incumbent Parish Council Chairman, Sir Linus Emereonye,…

THE YEAR OF FAITH HELPS THE WEAK AND LOST FAITH (III)

1. As the Year of the Faith continues, it is my wish in this write-up, dear friends to unveil yet another aspect of the lessons of the year of faith and that is: “The Year of Faith helps the weak and lost faith”. Faith we know comes from hearing and must be believed, professed and lived. Lack of professing and living the faith, leads to weak faith and weak faith may lead to the lost of faith. Faith as a theological virtue needs to increase and therefore, cannot be inactive. If it does not increase, it may be bound to decrease and decrease of faith may eventually lead to lost of faith. Faith therefore, is…

We want Justice – Mbaise tells Cardinal Onaiyekan

“All that Mbaise Catholics are asking for is justice, fair-play and due process. Let what is due to a people be given to them. Let no people use their privileged positions in the Catholic Church as a cover and leverage to foster modern-day colonization and domination of their brothers and sisters…” These were the words of the Catholic faithful of Ahiara Diocese in a welcome address presented to His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja on the occasion of his reception as the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Sunday, July 21, 2013. The address pointed out what it called, “the great havoc the controversial choice of Bishop Ebere Peter Okpaleke as the…

St. Thomas Parish Umuowa celebrates feast

The serene environment of St. Thomas Catholic Parish Umuowa in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area went alive, Sunday, July 21, 2013 as the parishioners marked the feast of their Patron Saint. In his introductory speech, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Philip Ojimadu while welcoming everyone to the occasion said the feast which was supposed to hold on July 3 was postponed till date for the sake of convenience.  He told Christians not to have doubts as St. Thomas did over receiving the blessings Christ has promised them. Preaching a homily at the Mass concelebrated with the Parish Priest and Fr. Paschal Anyanwu, Fr. Ignatius Nze charged Christians to always strive to do good in order to…

St. Mulumba Parish Youths empowered

On Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2013, St. Mulumba Catholic Parish Owerri again put smiles on the faces of less privileged youths of the parish to accomplish the second lap of their empowerment progamme of practical Christian charity. Delivering his homily, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Justine Okoro, enjoined all to embrace life in Christ in order to receive the fruits of the spirit, so as to fulfill God’s greatest commandment; ”Love one another as I have loved you”. The priest did not mince words as he emphasized that the best way to live a happy life is by making others happier.  Fr. Justin established the fact that love requires sacrifice which is giving, not for…