Anglican bishop commends Gov Obi …for support to Mission Hospitals, Schools

The Anglican Bishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Owen Nwokolo has commended Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi for his understanding that the Church serves the needs of the people by extending massive support to them through grants for rebuilding mission hospitals and  schools returned by the government. He said this while receiving the cheque of N100 million from the government for ongoing work at the Iyienu Hospital. The Bishop said that every day, their brother-bishops from other states had asked them if all the cheques they received from the government were real.  He said he assured the bishops who made such inquiries that the cheques were indeed real. “Let me take this opportunity to let…

Anna Monroy visits Barnabas Nwoye of Nigeria

Peruvian-born Anna Monroy is happily returning home to the United States having accomplished her mission to Nigeria in search of spiritual fulfillment. The 52 year-old, mother of three, went to Olo, Enugu State, home of world acclaimed Catholic mystic, Barnabas Nwoye, founder of the global movement, “The Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ”.  Anna is among thousands of foreigners and locals who journeyed to the rural community, home of the mystic, in July, to pray with him and witness the accompanying miracles. A delighted and emotional Anna, just back from the pilgrimage, spoke to Face2Face, hands flailing, voice raised and beaming with smiles. Anna rattled endlessly about her visit to the “Holy Man” and the…

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…

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…

Feast of Immaculate Heart: Archbishop Obinna blesses Claretian’s New Chapel

The 2013 feast of Immaculate Heart of Mary has been celebrated by the Claretian Missionary Fathers (CMF) at their headquarters, Area ‘A’ World Bank Housing Estate, New Owerri, Imo State. The Claretians have a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary as their full title is, “Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary but they are popularly known as “the Claretians”. The celebration which attracted members of the congregation from far and near started with a Holy Mass during which the new chapel built by the mission was blessed by His Grace, Most Rev. A.J.V. Obinna, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri. In a homily delivered at the Mass, Archbishop Obinna said that God who…

MEN OF GOD AS DEMIGODS IN NIGERIA

Quite instinctively, Nigerians see any person who goes by the name, “man of God” as a demigod. Some of us who are familiar with societal arrangement and power-relations in the Nigerian society and are able to make comparisons with what obtains outside the shores of the country never cease to marvel at the enormous powers the “man of God” wields in Nigeria. Being a “man of God” becomes a veritable privileged position that gives one access to nearly every good thing under heaven. Perhaps this state of affairs is not bad in itself, for what is wrong giving due respect and honor to a member of our society who received (or claims to have received)…

Senate rejects N4b First Ladies Mission House fund

The Senate Wednesday rejected the appropriation of N4bilion for the building of the First Ladies Mission House in Africa. This is contained in the summary report of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2013 budget, which was approved by the Upper Chamber. The controversial figure was part of the proposed budgetary estimates submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval. There were bitter criticisms of the money, which was seen as a waste of scarce resources. Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi noted in the report of his committee, that “ it is worthy of note that the proposed appropriation for the construction of the building for First Lady Mission in…

GOD’S SPIRIT AND WORD IN THE TIMES OF PROMISES

“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit”, “God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father’!  “This knowledge of faith is possible only in the Holy Spirit: to be in touch with Christ, we must first have been touched by the Holy Spirit.  He comes to meet us and kindles faith in us” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 683). The Spirit is the gift of the Father intimate to the work of the Son and through whom we know, confess and benefit from that work.  The Spirit is “the Lord and giver of life”.   GOD’S SPIRIT AND WORD IN THE TIMES OF PROMISES The…

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…