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…

Angry Youths Disrupt Okorocha’s Convoy

The convoy of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s was yesterday attacked in Oguta LGA of Imo State by angry youths purportedly hired by a candidate for the postponed Imo House of Assembly elections scheduled for next week. Report has it that the Imo State Governor Okorocha, who was in Awa community in Oguta LGA to drum up support for the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – Chief Walter Uzonwanne for the upcoming election scheduled for next week met with opposition candidate driving into Awara on his way out of the community. An eyewitness reports that one of the motorcyclists on the campaign train of the PDP candidate was knocked down by one of the…

420 indigent widows empowered in Imo

Over 420 widows from the three zones of Imo State – Owerri, Orlu, Okigwe, have been empowered by the Janet Dozie Foundation a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) established by Mr. Paschal Gabriel Dozie and his wife, Chinyere Dozie in memory of his late mother, Mama Janet Dozie. The alleviation programme which took place at Villa Maria Guest House Owerri came ahead of June 23, International Day for Widows endorsed by the United Nations. Addressing the widows, Mr. Paschal Dozie challenged them to focus on God who knows about their situation.  Mr. Dozie said with great determination, anchored on relentless prayers to God, they will surely succeed in all their life endeavours. He encouraged the widows to…

Same sex union leads to early death – Pro-Lifers warn

People of the same gender contemplating going into wedlock had better think twice, as experts have discovered that same sex marriage decreases life expectancy and by complication resulting in early death. The tolerance and promotion of same sex union also leads to the corrosion of more basic rights (consciences right, religious right), injury to children and further degradation of family. These facts were contained in a seven-point Declaration issued at the end of the Pro-Life Conference/Rally at the Obiri Odenigbo, Villa Assumpta Owerri, (June 3-4, 2013) organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri. The participants warned, “It is for this reason that it should never be an integral part of our social, culture or legal…

Russian, US and UN officials to meet on Syria

US and UN officials will meet next week to prepare for a proposed peace conference in June between warring sides in Syria, UN and US officials said on Thursday. “We can confirm that on 5 June 2013 in Geneva, US, Russian and UN officials will hold a three-way meeting to further the preparations for the international conference on Syria envisioned under the US-Russian initiative,” a UN spokeswoman said in a statement. The meeting was agreed to in talks last week between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. The meeting will include US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, acting US Assistant Secretary of…

St. Mary’s Parish Ubomiri, celebrates 2013 Father’s Day

The annual celebration of Catholic Men Organization (CMO) known as “Father’s Day” took place throughout Owerri Archdiocese on Sunday, May 5, 2013. At St. Mary’s Parish Ubomiri in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, the occasion kicked off with a concelebrated Holy Mass presided over by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Innocent Maduakolam Osuagwu, assisted by Rev. Fr. Cletus Eboh of the Pontifical Mission Society (PMS). The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Osuagwu welcomed the Christian fathers and all, and wished them a happy and fruitful celebration. In his sermon, Rev. Fr. Cletus Eboh said that fathers are heads or pillars (Ide ji ulo) of their individual families and have the obligation and duty of teaching their…

Ndom Owere hold thanksgiving

The newly elected executive of Udodiri Ndom Owerre in Owerri Municipal will hold a thanksgiving Mass today at St. Mulumba Catholic Church, Wetheral Road. The thanksgiving followed their successful election and swearing-in by the President-General of Owerre Community Assembly (OCA), Chief Christian Oweaya Anukam at their ancestral home Ugwu-Ekwema. Speaking with our reporter on Wednesday, Chief Anukam expressed gratitude to God that Ndom Owerre did not allow themselves to be used by self-seeking women and advised the new executive to carry every member along.  He also advised the former President-General of the union, Chief Mrs. Comfort Mere to accept the wish of Ndom Owerre and co-operate with the new exco. Earlier in her remarks at…

Lady Chisara Egwim Bags Ambassador of Mary Award

The Okigwe Diocesan President of the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) and immediate Emeritus President for Owerri Provincial CWO, Chief Barr Lady Chisara Egwim-Chima, was recently conferred with the Prestigious Ambassador of Marry National Merit Award by the National Council, Catholic Women Organization (NCCWO) Nigeria. The event which held, at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha began with Holy Mass presided over by the Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province His Grace Most. Rev. Valerian Okeke who charged the recipients to live up to the calling of an Ambassador in both spirituality and personality. In an address of welcome, the CWO. National President Chief Mrs. Felicia Onyeabor noted that the merit award was the highest…

Ibeto begins payment of Nigercem retirement benefits

Despite the frustrations being faced by the Ibeto Cement Company in its move to begin operation at its recently acquired plant, Nigercem Plc., the company has announced commencement of payment of outstanding retirement benefits to former staff. The company in a statement, said pursuant to the emergences of Ibeto Cement Company Ltd.  the core investor and majority shareholder in the Nigerian Cement Company Plc., it had begun to fulfill its obligations to various stakeholders regardless of the recalcitrance of the Ebonyi State Government against Ibeto’s development efforts. “The company has commenced the payment of final withdrawals payment being retirement benefit scheme due to 72 staff members of Nigerian Plc., from their contribution and that of…

Come; Let Us Imitate the Faith of Mary

Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011, titled Porta Fedei (The Door of Faith), His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI declared the Year of Faith. The Year began on October 11, 2012. It will end on November 24, 2013. Pope Benedict’s Year of Faith may be named too Year of the Blessed Virgin Mary chiefly because the faith of Mary is not only unsurpassable, but it is also the most extraordinary thing in her life. Her fiat was the first Pentecost, the first mission in the spirit which gave flesh and blood to the WORD at the Annunciation. The Incarnation is a mystery described by the Angelic Doctor St. Thomas Aquinas as the miracle of miracles (miraculum…

Ihitte Uboma: GLO canvasses support for CGC

The Community Government Council (CGC) of Nkwumeato Autonomous Community Ihitte-Uboma held an interactive session with the villagers on May 8, 2013 at Ezumezu Square Eke Elugwu. Hon. Friday Obasi, the Government Liaison Officer (GLO), informed the audience that the role of the community is to provide land for projects and also ensure that all projects are executed and built according to specifications. He used the opportunity to introduce the members of the CGC who include: Mrs. Ego Adiele, Woman Leader, Chief Patrick Ucheogo, Community Liaison Officer, Okechuku Okoro, Secretary and Onwuegebuchulam Okey, the Youth Leader. According to him, the overriding interest of the State Government in establishing the CGC is to ensure rapid development of…

Soldiers capture 120 terrorists

Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said that troops have again captured 120 Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, Borno State, while burying one of their commanders killed during an offensive by the Special Forces. An update on the operations from the DHQ in Abuja, signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, also disclosed that shallow graves in which insurgents hurriedly buried their killed members littered the ongoing operation areas. “In Maiduguri, about 120 terrorists were arrested as they organized burial of one of their commanders who died in an encounter with Special Forces the previous day.  The arrested insurgents are in custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated”, the statement…

Re-at-homing Chinua Achebe or Rectishaping our World

The Most Rev. Anthony J. V. Obinna Catholic Archbishop of Oweerri was personally at Awka  Anambra State on Wedeneday May 22 at Ekwueme Square to deliver a tribute to the world renowned novelist and 1999 Odenigbo Lecturer, late Prof. Chinualumogu Albert Achebe. Below is the full text of the tribute When in July 1997 I traveled to Barry College, Annandale, New York, to invite our revered Professor Chinua Achebe to visit Owerri in 1999 and deliver that year’s lecture in the Odenigbo series initiated by me in 1996 I could never have imagined what that invitation would mean for Chinua Achebe and his family nor even  for me. Echi d[ ime- Taa bx gboo was…

Response to Emergencies

Those who witnessed the rescue operation to save the lives of men, women and children trapped under the giant Uko tree that crushed dozens to death at Umudagu Mbieri in Imo State last week marvelled at the incredible desperation with which both indigenes and passers-by alike threw themselves into that life and death Save-Souls humanitarian service. Since nobody anticipated that the 400-year-old tree would finally hit the ground that evening (about 7.30pm) there were naturally no previous arrangements for a bulldozer, pay-loader or ambulance to standby.  This is quite understandable.  Though these emergency fighting facilities eventually arrived and assisted a lot, more lives would have been saved if Nigeria had a better emergency response culture….

Bishop Okpaleke Ordained for Ahiara

Msgr. Peter Okpaleke was on Tuesday May 21, consecrated Bishop of Ahiara Diocese amidst tight security. The Episcopal Ordination which was earlier scheduled to take place at Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral Ahiara was suddenly shifted to the Seat of Wisdom Seminary Owerri for security reasons. However, the ceremony was peaceful and successful as there was no report of any breach of peace. The Most. Rev. Anthony Obinna, the Archbishop of Owerri and Metropolitan of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province presided over the ceremony assisted by over 40 Catholic bishops including the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Augustine Kasujja, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Cardinal Archbishop of Abuja and the Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos…

Soldiers leak tactics to Boko Haram …says Chief of Army Staff

Disloyal soldiers were warned to stop fraternizing with enemies of the state. Some military men have been leaking information to the Boko Haram Insurgents, who the military are battling in three North east states. Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who issued the warning, revealed that the attack on a Mali-bound military convoy in Kogi State early this year followed the leaking of information on their movement to the insurgents. Two soldiers were killed after the ambush on 190 troops who were travelling through Kogi State enroute Kaduna on their way to Mali on January 19. Factional Boko Haram group Ansaru claimed responsibility for the attack. Gen. Ihejirika said a suspect who is…

Some Vice-Chancellors, Rectors are power drunk – Prof. Jude Njoku, former FUTO VC

Many Nigerian leaders, including heads of universities and tertiary institutions become power dunk on assumption of duty, forgetting that sooner or later they will step down from their Olympian heights and become ordinary citizens. Prof. Jude Ejike Njoku, made the observation in a paper he delivered at the First Foundation Lecture of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Imo State, May 16. In the lecture titled: “Academic Research and Leadership: A Challenging Experience”, Prof. Njoku reminded Vice-Chancellors and others that they hold power in trust for God and humanity and therefore should use them judiciously and with the fear of God. Njoku, a Professor of Agricultural Economics and former Vice-Chancellor of FUTO noted that:…

Life Stories | Everything God does is Perfect

Everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong. Often we complain and nag about life, and the negative things that happen/befall to us, forgetting that nothing is random before our maker, and that everything has a purpose. A story was once told about a King who had a male servant who in all circumstances has always said to him; “My king, do not be discouraged because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes”. One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king, the servant managed to kill the animal but couldn’t prevent his majesty from losing a finger. Furious and without showing gratitude, the King said; if God was good, I…

Seven arrested over CP’s murder

A disclosure came from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Abubakar, that seven persons have been arrested in connection with the killing of the former Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chinwike Asadu.  Asadu was murdered about three months ago at his Amorji Nike residence in Enugu-East council of Enugu State. Briefing journalists in Enugu during his official visit to the state, the IGP said the arms used by the killers during the operations were also recovered by the police. He said following the confessional statements of the arrested suspects, the police were on the trail of other collaborators in the murder.  He said: “We have arrested seven of those behind the killing of…

LSM Osu launches for Bus

The Sancta Paula Osu Sub-Council of the Noble Order Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria has received kudos for its sustained co-operation and support for the church especially in matters relating to the faith and funding. The Chaplain, Osu Sub-Council KSM, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cajetan Ehiem, made the commendation as he preached a homily during the Mass that preceded launching for funds to buy an official bus organized by the Ladies of the Noble Order, Osu Sub-Council, held Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the KSM Sub-Council Hall located at the St. Paul’s Parish Osu Isiala Mbano.  He dwelt extensively on the benefits of such synergy between the church and the knighthood which he said is an…