FAITH PERFORMS ACTION OF GRACE

The proclamation of the Kingdom of God is a proclamation made not only with words but also with actions. “Miracles seal the triumph of the Spirit over Satan and because of this Jesus invested by the Spirit, enters into combat with Satan in the desert.  Christ is the strong man, who with a hard battle, recovers from the spirit of evil what he usurped.  Jesus inaugurates the messianic kingdom destroying the undertaking of his enemy. The miracles, therefore, enter into the perspective of the inauguration of the messianic kingdom.  For its content, the miracle is an anticipation of the eschatological reign.  This will not be definitively revealed until the last enemy, death, is destroyed.  The…

Upholding the Sacredness of Human life in Imo State

During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, he offered a pardon to a man who was completely rehabilitated after committing a serious crime. But the man refused the pardon and insisted on staying in prison.  He said that even if he was rehabilitated, he owed a great debt to society.  Nothing Jackson, or anyone else said could convince him to accept the pardon. Many people in our time and particularly our state are like this man who refused to accept pardon because of the very many obnoxious crimes he committed against the sacredness of human life. Our Lord Jesus gave us the fifth Commandment “Thou Shall not Kill” (Ex 20:13).  By this fifth injunction of the…

Pope’s Humility Should Be Emulated – Cardinal Tagle

–  Manila Archbishop Reflects on Simplicity of Pope Francis Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, echoed the call made by Pope Francis to a life of humility and simplicity. The Philippine cardinal stated that the Holy Father’s example sets a humble tone for bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful alike. “The Pope often talks of being simple, humble and back to being ordinary,” Cardinal Tagle said. “If you think about it, whether priest, Catholic or not, we are all ordinary people. All of us feel hunger, get tempted.” The cardinal also bemoaned and lamented how some people, after gaining prominence, refuse to embrace simplicity and become detached from the lives of ordinary…

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…

St Peter’s Egbeada Celebrates Feast Of Patron Saint

It was indeed all joy at St Peter’s parish Egbeada, Imo state, Sunday 30th June 2013. The event began with a holy mass officiated by Very Rev Dr. Innocent Osuagwu assisted by Rev Fr. Innocent Orji Parish Priest and Rev Fr. Aloysius Iwuanoruo.  Fr. Innocent Orji in his introduction thanked God for the gift of life, his blessings and also making it possible for the day to come to fulfillment. Delivering the homily, Very Rev Dr. Innocent M. Osuagwu expressed how happy he was being with the parishioners. He began by letting the people know that Jesus Christ calls us to serve him through our fellow human beings. He said that all the servants of…

St. Augustine’s Deanery Ezinihitte inaugurates Two Hearts of Love: Jesus and Mary

The association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary has become solidly founded in St. Augustine’s Deanery Ezinihitte through its inauguration ceremony at the deanery centre, St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish Itu Ezinihitte, Saturday, June 8, 2013.  The exercise attracted members and invitees from 21 parishes in the deanery who appeared in their full uniform. Among the people were 28 persons who were inaugurated Matrons and Patrons while 62 new members were consecrated including an infant of 11 month old, Esther Adibe from Queen of Peace Parish Oboama Ezinihitte. In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Very Rev. Fr. Chris Akuchie, Deanery Representative, the Diocesan Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Chrisantus Onwumere…

Prof. Celestine Onwuliri; A demise that would continue to live in our minds – Msgr Theo Nwalo

- As family commissions academic block for Major Seminary Activities slated to mark the one-year remembrance of Prof. Celestine Onwuliri who died in Lagos in the ill-fated Dana air crash which occurred on June 3rd, 2012 have been concluded with a memorial Mass at St. Jude’s Catholic Parish Amuzi Mbaise and the commissioning of a Philosophy Block built in memory of Prof. C. Onwuliri at the Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary Ariam, Abia State on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June respectively. The Mass which witnessed a mammoth crowd of people who came from all walks of life had Msgr. Theo Nwalo, the Catholic Administrator of Ahiara diocese as the chief celebrant and assisted by…

New Yorkers Welcome Defeat of Abortion Bill

“A Remarkable Victory for Unborn Children” Here is a statement from the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the Bishops of New York State in public policy matters: The failure of a last-ditch hostile amendment to try to effect passage of the Abortion Expansion Act is a remarkable victory for unborn children, as well as vulnerable women and girls who so often face unrelenting societal and family pressure to abort. The result is, quite literally, the answer to prayer. More accurately, it is the answer to millions of prayers by men, women and children of every faith from every section of the state who believes in the inalienable right to life of the baby…

Holy See Mourns Death of Syrian Monk

Fr. Francois Mourad Murdered by Extremists in Predominantly Christian Village Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches mourned the murder of Fr. Francois Mourad, a monk who lived in Syria. According to Fides News Agency, Fr. Mourad was killed in the convent of the Custody of the Holy Land where he had taken refuge. While the circumstances of his death are not confirmed, local sources believe that the monastery of St. Anthony of Padua where he was residing was attacked by militants linked to an Islamic extremist group known as Jabhat al-Nusra. The monastery is located in Ghassanieh, a predominantly Christian village that is near the border with Turkey. Regarding Fr. Mourad’s…

Bishop Ezeonyia warns against disobedience to Church authority

-As Aba diocese ends Pastoral Meeting The Catholic Bishop of Aba, Most Rev. V.V. Ezeonyia has bared his mind in the latest happenings in the world, relating them to what is happening in the Church today. In his opening remarks at the Second Plenary Session of the Pastoral Council meeting of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, June 9 at Nneoma Hall, CKC Aba, Ezeonyia said that humanity is now tampering with nature. “I am sorely afflicted by what is happening in the world today.  There is something rotten in this world of ours now.   The core values are being turned upside down and it is frightening.  Take the area of marriage that is basic, now,…

Bishop Ukwuoma visits CKC Parish Abba

- Warns youths against immoral behaviour It was indeed a joyful day at Christ the King Parish, Abba Nwangele LGA, Imo State, Sunday 22nd June 2013, as the Chief Shepherd of the diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma made a two-day familiarization visit to the parish.  The event began with a Holy Mass officiated by the Local Ordinary, assisted by the Parish Rector, Rev. Fr. Nich. Annudu. Delivering a homily during the Mass, Bishop Ukwuoma noted that his visit to the parish was in line with his pastoral work and official assignment. Bishop Ukwuoma enjoined Christians to remain faithful to God despite the predicament they may be passing through in life.  He further called on them…

THE CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO HAS CHOSEN CHRIST AND FOLLOWS HIM

In all religions the great spiritual masters had disciples who were assiduous in their teaching and preoccupied with preserving their words.  We find the phenomenon also in the Bible (1R), though this configured in a particular way because the people lived in a regime of covenant and faith.  Covenant is not founded on traditions of master and disciples but on itself.  Certainly, the chosen people needed guides to orient them in the interpretation of faith in events.  This necessity was, however, provisional and the prophets expected a future in which God Himself the hearts of people without the mediation of earthly masters (Jer 31:31-34) and all shall become disciples of God (Is 54:13).   CALLED…

Understanding the Year of Faith

Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, last year announced the period October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013 as “The Year of Faith” to be observed by Catholics throughout the world. Official Vatican documents, particularly “The Door of Faith”, issued by the Pope Emeritus explained that the period will enable Christ’s faithful re-discover and share with others the precious gift of faith entrusted to the Church. This re-discovery and sharing of Catholic faith is expected to be facilitated by living out the teachings of the catechism of the Catholic Church, which is rich in the systematic presentation of our faith.  It is there that we see the wealth of teaching that the church has received, safeguarded and…

Be careful on selection of bishops – Pope warns Nuncios

“Be careful that the candidates you recommend for episcopal appointments are not ambitious, that they do not seek the episcopate-volentes nolumus.” These were the words of Pope Francis to the hundreds of Papal Representatives, also known as Apostolic Nuncios, convoked to the Vatican from their diplomatic postings across the globe for two days of reflection and prayer in the context of the Year of Faith. The Holy Father spoke with them Friday, in a lengthy address which he said came “from the heart”, and was not just one of “perfunctory words”. His Holiness listed qualities of Episcopal candidates, saying that they ”must be pastors close to the people, fathers and brothers, that are gentle, patient…

Statement on Supreme Court’s Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ Rulings by the United States Catholic Bishops

Here is the US bishops’ statement in response to the Supreme Court decisions handed down today regarding same-sex “marriage.” The court struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and refused to rule on the merits of a challenge to California’s Proposition 8 ban on same-sex “marriage.” * * * Today is a tragic day for marriage and our nation. The Supreme Court has dealt a profound injustice to the American people by striking down in part the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The Court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do…

Letter of Appreciation

Your Grace;   I am sending this letter of thanks and the article I wrote for The Wanderer on our recent pro-life mission trip to Nigeria.  It is also coming to you by mail, but I am sending it this way just in case the mailed letter gets lost or long delayed. – Brian Clowes   Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna Archbishop of Owerri Villa Assumpta Post Office Box 85 Owerri, Imo State Nigeria June 18, 2013   Your Grace;   I have returned safely to my family and friends and have recovered from jet lag.  Now all I have to do is catch up with all of my assignments! Of all of the many…

Prof. Onwuliri’s Memorial Mass: – Don’t let sorrow, disappointment becloud your vision

–        Priest tells FUTO KSJ family Christians have been advised not to allow sorrows or disappointments to rob them of their faith in God or to becloud their vision. Rev. Fr. Dr. Jude Ike, Chaplain, St. Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) gave the advice recently while delivering a homily at a memorial Mass to mark one year of the death of former Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. C.O.E. Onwuliri.  The Mass was requested by Knights of St. John International (KSM) FUTO Family. The homilist said that it was natural for one to feel depressed when sorrows and disappointments strike but a child of God should summon sufficient courage to exercise faith…

Justice Not Sympathy for Imo State Pensioners

Recently the democratically elected government of Imo State declared that with effect from April 2013 retired civil servants will be paid pension only at the Community Government Council offices of their home communities where the traditional rulers are to identify them as genuine pensioners. The general meaning of this directive is that government gazettes of appointments, promotions and retirements of these pensioners as well as the series of biometric capturing exercises held since 2006 are unreliable records until they are confirmed by traditional rulers who have no records to verify the claims of the pensioners. No wonder that in its editorial comments of May 2, 2006 “The Guardian” said that in advanced societies the respect…

Sunday Reading: 12TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C (23/6/2013)

OPENING PRAYER Father, guide and protector of your people, grant us an unfailing respect for your name, and keep us always in your love.   FIRST READING A reading from the prophet Zechariah 12:10 – 11 Theme: they will look on the one who  m they have pierced It is the Lord who speaks: “Over the House of David and the citizens of Jerusalem I will pour out a spirit  of kindness and prayer.  They will look on the one whom they have pierced; they will mourn for him as for an only son, and weep for him as people weep for a first-born child.  When that day comes, there will be great mourning in…

Death as the Road To Life

Christ has one personal identity to save and to reveal, and one mission to fulfill. Now to reveal His identity and to fulfill His mission, to save the truth of His life, He is disposed to all, even to loose His physical life. The “unconditional” and absolute decision to be Himself and fulfill His Mission at “any” cost is the supreme act of faithfulness (obedience) to God.   An Identity To Reveal And A Mission To Fulfill The loss of one’s life (death) is the “sign”, the verification and  absolute “test” of fidelity to one’s identity and mission received from the Father is therefore the act with which life is saved. Now what is the…