In a surprise move, Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop Bernard Longley as the new Archbishop of Birminghan.The Vatican announced the appointment last month as Bishop Longley appeared at a press conference at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham.
Bishop Longley, who is 54 and has been a bishop for just six years, and his appointment was unexpected. He said: “You can imagine I was quite taken aback. I was very surprised to be invited to come to Birminghan, thinking there would not be an appointment for several months to come. I was delighted that the Holy Father has asked me to be an archbishop here.
The archbishop covers a large swathe of England, including the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire, where Bishop Longley attended university in the 1970s.He said: “Having been to university in the very south of the diocese in the 1970s I would say I have had a long and intermittent relationship with the diocese, and I hope I will continue to have a long relationship.”
He said that the papal visit in September and the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, expected at the same time, would be “a tremendous blessing, and a living proof of the faith”. Bishop Longley has been an auxiliary bishop at Westminster for six years and said it was “a wonderful experience”.
“I’m very grateful for the experience. One of the things which makes me think I will be at home here is that, having lived an east London, the tremendous ethnic diversity, cultural mix is also very much here in Birminghan.I’ve lived in Tower Hamlets, quite close to Hackney, and the problems which the local community have been facing there are similar to those faced here.”
Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, the previous Archbishop of Birmingham paid tribute to his successor’s qualities. “I welcome the news of the appointment of Bishop Bernard Longley as Archbishop of Birminghan,”he said. “I am confident that he will be warmly welcomed, right across the archbishop. The clergy, religious and laity of the archdiocese will appreciate the qualities he brings: his gentleness and sensitivity; his profound and joyful faith; his willingness to listen.
“I am sure, too, that Bishop Bernard will grow to love this fine archbishop, just as I did.” Bishop Longley was introduced at the press conference by Bishop William Kenney, the administrator of Birmingham archbishop, who said he was delighted by the appointment. He said: “We look forward to Bishop Bernard becoming a follower in the footsteps of Bishop Ullathorne, the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Birminghan, and to his taking a lead in the preparations for the beatification of Cardinal Newman.”
Bishop Longley said that one of the factors in his appointment might be his appointment might be his experience of dealing with people from other Christian denominations and faiths.
“The ecumenical experience is something which may be significant.Wherevi live over 30 percent of the population was from Bangladesh. Maybe the family background helped, the experience of living in different parts of England was part of my life.” Bishop Longley is considered a moderate conservative although he was supportive he was supportive of controversial “gay-friendly” Masses in central London. This year, as the head of the Day for Life campaign, which focused on suicide, he also presented the Church as having a compassionate attitude towards people who kill themselves. Archbishop-elect Longley will be installed on December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
POPE APPOINTS TWO NIGERIANS INTO PONTIFICAL OFFICE.
The Roman Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, has appointed the Founder and National Coordinator of the Holy Family Society of Nigeria, Sir David Osunde and wife, Lady Mary-Joan Osatohanmwem, members of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
The Pope, who selected the due alongside nine other families from other countries to join the Pontifical Academies of Life and the Family, expressed his pleasure over the activities of the Holy Family Society of Nigeria, which he said has been instrumental towards the propagation of wholesome family practices in the country for the past two decades.
As members of the Pontifical Academies of Life and the Family, Osunde and his wife are expected to join other members of the body in advising the universal Church on the promotion of family and human life values in consonance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
While the pontifical council for the family assists Roman Catholic Bishops around the world on family matters, the council for life constitutes of bishops, theologians and lay people who are committed towards protecting the culture of life.
Among the lay members of this council, is Dr Evelyn Billings, an Australian doctor who with her late husband, Dr John Billings, developed the Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning.
The Pope, who selected the due alongside nine other families from other countries to join the Pontifical Academies of Life and the Family, expressed his pleasure over the activities of the Holy Family Society of Nigeria, which he said has been instrumental towards the propagation of wholesome family practices in the country for the past two decades.
As members of the Pontifical Academies of Life and the Family, Osunde and his wife are expected to join other members of the body in advising the universal Church on the promotion of family and human life values in consonance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
While the pontifical council for the family assists Roman Catholic Bishops around the world on family matters, the council for life constitutes of bishops, theologians and lay people who are committed towards protecting the culture of life.
Among the lay members of this council, is Dr Evelyn Billings, an Australian doctor who with her late husband, Dr John Billings, developed the Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning.
FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION AMONG BRETHEN.
The oxford English Dictionary defines quarrel as “angry argument; a reason for disagreement” It is natural to quarrel when circumstances necessitate it and it is man’s inalienable right to be angry when provocation arises. These are basic facts of life. But the questions are: shall we continue to yield to emotion and quarrel easily due to circumstances or get angry once provoked? Would such behaviour enhance our spiritual growth? Will our soul find peace in such be behavioural pattern? Must we allow our emotion to enslave us?
In organization as in several churches, members quarrel just as in any other human organization or society.Usually, quarrel is a product of disagreement over several things. It might be material, administrative or even spiritual matter.
The people quarrel to disagree among themselves does not really matter. What matters (mostly to Christians) is the handling or reactions to the situations of quarrel or disagreement. When the need to quarrel or disagree among people (especially brethren) arises, how should the situation be handled? It is always proper to make our feelings known when provoked without causing damages by our reactions.
This brings to mind a recent occurrence at a church where a member was said to have sued his parish priest in his personal capacity over a debt owed him by the church. This column is not interested in the righteousness or otherwise of the action. That is a cup of tea for legal minds to sip and ponder over.
Our concerns here is the spiritual import of such a situation.1st Corr.6:1-7 enjoins Christians to always try and resolve their differences among themselves and not allow any adjudication outside the body of Christ. Matthew 18:15-17 also admonishes every Christians on how disputes, be it on financial matters or otherwise should be settled.
This is exactly why in various churches; there are usually the leaders who take care of certain disputes among members. In the Catholic Church, for instance, you have the Catholic Men Organization (CMO), Catholic Women Organization (CWO), the Catholic Youths Organization of Nigeria (CYON) and several other groups or societies. At the peak of all these is the Parish Council. Given the composition of the parish council which is usually made up of representatives of all statutory groups, members can rightly be referred to as the wise “men” (and women) of the organization. In some other churches, you have the elders or leaders committee or council that oversees the activities of the Church. These are there to handle issues that may occur among member and settle them amicably.
It is expected that any aggrieved Christians should explore any of these bodies in seeking justice. There is no doubt that access to court is a constitutional human right of every citizen. But as a proverb in Yoruba Language says: “we don’t return from the court to be friends”.Literally,friendship is thrown to the dogs before people drag themselves to court and the basis of friendship having been destroyed before heading to court, it is often difficult to restore it back after the court session.
Besides, we are daily indebted to God through our sins and we seek forgiveness. Romans 3:23 reminds us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
If we tell God in our simplifications for forgiveness of our debts through sin we commit often knowingly, should we not ponder deeply over that owed us by our neighbours? As Christains, let us reflect over Matt: 22:35 where a debtor was forgiven for a huge amount he owed but yet he was unable to forgive another debtor who owed him a lesser amount.
In our life, there was this landlord whose fellow landlord friend complained to that a tenant who owed him five months rent was offering to make a part payment of two months only and seeking advice on what to do. This landlord rather than advise his friend to take the two months and give his tenant time to pay the rest; he simply told him to collect the two months rent and use the money to process court papers or pay a lawyer to eject the tenant since he could no longer pay his rent as at when due.
A month later, this first landlord’s younger brother in Lagos phoned him begging for financial assistant to enable him rent a new apartment as his former landlord threw his property out over a nine months rent arrears.
Surprisingly, in anger, this first landlord called his brother’s landlord so many unprintable names for not being patient with his brother who was owing for nine months. He no doubt has forgotten the advice he gave to his friends whose tenant owed just five months.
The lesson from all these is, that is in our quest to level up with people over an issue, we should always be mindful of our shortcomings before God who has the power to take an instant decision on our faith and lives. He, as God of justice, has given us the grace to rationalize our actions, mostly in our relationship with others as professed Christians.
We should always endeavour to show love and forgiveness towards each other as followers of Christ and as stated in Psalm 133:1-3.
In organization as in several churches, members quarrel just as in any other human organization or society.Usually, quarrel is a product of disagreement over several things. It might be material, administrative or even spiritual matter.
The people quarrel to disagree among themselves does not really matter. What matters (mostly to Christians) is the handling or reactions to the situations of quarrel or disagreement. When the need to quarrel or disagree among people (especially brethren) arises, how should the situation be handled? It is always proper to make our feelings known when provoked without causing damages by our reactions.
This brings to mind a recent occurrence at a church where a member was said to have sued his parish priest in his personal capacity over a debt owed him by the church. This column is not interested in the righteousness or otherwise of the action. That is a cup of tea for legal minds to sip and ponder over.
Our concerns here is the spiritual import of such a situation.1st Corr.6:1-7 enjoins Christians to always try and resolve their differences among themselves and not allow any adjudication outside the body of Christ. Matthew 18:15-17 also admonishes every Christians on how disputes, be it on financial matters or otherwise should be settled.
This is exactly why in various churches; there are usually the leaders who take care of certain disputes among members. In the Catholic Church, for instance, you have the Catholic Men Organization (CMO), Catholic Women Organization (CWO), the Catholic Youths Organization of Nigeria (CYON) and several other groups or societies. At the peak of all these is the Parish Council. Given the composition of the parish council which is usually made up of representatives of all statutory groups, members can rightly be referred to as the wise “men” (and women) of the organization. In some other churches, you have the elders or leaders committee or council that oversees the activities of the Church. These are there to handle issues that may occur among member and settle them amicably.
It is expected that any aggrieved Christians should explore any of these bodies in seeking justice. There is no doubt that access to court is a constitutional human right of every citizen. But as a proverb in Yoruba Language says: “we don’t return from the court to be friends”.Literally,friendship is thrown to the dogs before people drag themselves to court and the basis of friendship having been destroyed before heading to court, it is often difficult to restore it back after the court session.
Besides, we are daily indebted to God through our sins and we seek forgiveness. Romans 3:23 reminds us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
If we tell God in our simplifications for forgiveness of our debts through sin we commit often knowingly, should we not ponder deeply over that owed us by our neighbours? As Christains, let us reflect over Matt: 22:35 where a debtor was forgiven for a huge amount he owed but yet he was unable to forgive another debtor who owed him a lesser amount.
In our life, there was this landlord whose fellow landlord friend complained to that a tenant who owed him five months rent was offering to make a part payment of two months only and seeking advice on what to do. This landlord rather than advise his friend to take the two months and give his tenant time to pay the rest; he simply told him to collect the two months rent and use the money to process court papers or pay a lawyer to eject the tenant since he could no longer pay his rent as at when due.
A month later, this first landlord’s younger brother in Lagos phoned him begging for financial assistant to enable him rent a new apartment as his former landlord threw his property out over a nine months rent arrears.
Surprisingly, in anger, this first landlord called his brother’s landlord so many unprintable names for not being patient with his brother who was owing for nine months. He no doubt has forgotten the advice he gave to his friends whose tenant owed just five months.
The lesson from all these is, that is in our quest to level up with people over an issue, we should always be mindful of our shortcomings before God who has the power to take an instant decision on our faith and lives. He, as God of justice, has given us the grace to rationalize our actions, mostly in our relationship with others as professed Christians.
We should always endeavour to show love and forgiveness towards each other as followers of Christ and as stated in Psalm 133:1-3.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
PURGATORY IS IT IN THE BIBLE?
Purgatory is it in the bible?
That is the question many people ask. After death comes judgement.Heb.9:27.The sentence that cannot be changed-the judgement.The reward must be heaven, purgatory or hell according to one’s deed. Yes many Christians do not believe that purgatory does exist. They believe that after death one goes to heaven or hell, but we Catholic believe that there is purgatory.
According to the Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary, it means the condition after death in which the soul is purified in preparation for heaven, a place of temporary suffering. The word “Purgatory” comes from the word “purgation” meaning to purge, removal of something bad or undesirable.
Invariably, purgatory means a place where souls of the dead are purified or assisted by the prayers of the living before they are fit to enter heaven. Souls in purgatory belong to the Church suffering, then the living or the faithful on earth are the Church militants while those in heaven are known as the Church triumphant. That is why we have the communion of saints for we are one body in Jesus Christ.
The suffering in purgatory is less or more intense proportioned to the penalty which souls must expiate, still it is a place of great hope where the love of God is so intensive and that the face of not being able to see the Almighty God face to face becomes the greatest pain.
In the first letter of St.John 5:17, we are told. “All wrong doing is sin, but there is a sin which does not lead to death”. It then means that there are sins that are not mortal; hence they do not lead to death. But there are sins that can destroy more than others, that is why we have two categories of sin mortal or grave sin and venial sin.
Then what souls go to Purgatory?
Those souls go to purgatory that departs this life is venial sins or that have not wholly paid the debt of temporal punishment due to those sins of which guilt has not been forgiven. (Catechism of Christian doctrine, question 107 page 18)
How do we prove that there is purgatory?
We prove that there is purgatory from the constant teaching of the church and from the Doctrine of the Holy Scripture which declares that God will render to every man according to his work, that nothing defiled shall enter heaven and that the same will be saved, yet so as by fire Mathew 16:23,1 Cor 3:15.
In 1 Jn. 5:16 it says, if your brother commits a sin that does not lead to death you should pray to God who will give him life. As we said before, there are sins that are mortal and can destroy more than others. For an example, a child who told lies to his father to escape being punished for his misbehavior committed a sin, also a man that stole another person’s car or out of jealousy destroyed a good name of his friend committed a sin. Looking at the above examples the later leads to death more than the former and since they have committed sins they would not enter heaven neither would the child who told lies enter hell. There is a place he has to suffer for those lies if not in this world it will be in purgatory after his death for nothing unclean will enter heaven Rev.21:27.The other fellow that has committed mortal sin has confesses his sin and do the penance given to him by the priest. The sins committed have to be atoned for either in this world or in the world to come.
Since the Holy Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Spirit has, following the Sacred writings and the ancient tradition of the Holy Fathers taught in sacred council, that there is Purgatory and that the souls there retained are aided by the suffrages of the faithful and chiefly by the acceptable sacrifice of the Alter, the Holy Council recommended the Bishops that they strive diligently to the end that sound doctrine of purgatory transmitted by the fathers and the Sacred Councils be believed and maintained by the faithful of Christ and everywhere be taught and preached (Decree Concerning Purgatory: The Council of Trent: Session XXV December 4,1563).
If anyone says that satisfaction for sins, as to that temporal punishment is in no way made to God through the merits of Jesus Christ by the punishment inflected by Him and patiently born by fast the priests or even those voluntary undertaken as by fast, prayers, almsgiving or other works of piety and that the best penance is merely a new life, let him be anathema Canon 13.
According to Rev.Dr.S.T.Umoh in one of his speeches, Purgatory is a temporary place like a hospital where the sick stays for sometime and becomes well. So for him it is a place the stained souls stay for certain period of time and are purified before entering heaven. The souls in purgatory have hope of seeing God but it is a matter of time and this hope softens their suffering.
The month of November is set aside for the suffering souls in purgatory. Since they can neither pray nor help themselves, they depend on our prayers. The pain’s they encounter vary according to the type of sins the individual has committed and these sins must be atoned for. As they are being prayed for by the faithful and when a soul experiences some relief in the torments that devour it, it gives thanks to God and does not fail to remember those that rescued it.
It is advisable to be praying for their souls for without you and I, they will remain in their painful state. Imagine our family members, relations, teachers, friends, classmates and those that have been effaced from human memory stretching out their hands asking for our help to prayers; are we to turn away from their pleading? If we really love them in their life time, nothing holds us to love and pray for them now that they are dead. It is therefore a holy and wholesome taught to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from sin (2 Mac.12:46).
May the souls of the departed members of our families and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace Amen.
That is the question many people ask. After death comes judgement.Heb.9:27.The sentence that cannot be changed-the judgement.The reward must be heaven, purgatory or hell according to one’s deed. Yes many Christians do not believe that purgatory does exist. They believe that after death one goes to heaven or hell, but we Catholic believe that there is purgatory.
According to the Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary, it means the condition after death in which the soul is purified in preparation for heaven, a place of temporary suffering. The word “Purgatory” comes from the word “purgation” meaning to purge, removal of something bad or undesirable.
Invariably, purgatory means a place where souls of the dead are purified or assisted by the prayers of the living before they are fit to enter heaven. Souls in purgatory belong to the Church suffering, then the living or the faithful on earth are the Church militants while those in heaven are known as the Church triumphant. That is why we have the communion of saints for we are one body in Jesus Christ.
The suffering in purgatory is less or more intense proportioned to the penalty which souls must expiate, still it is a place of great hope where the love of God is so intensive and that the face of not being able to see the Almighty God face to face becomes the greatest pain.
In the first letter of St.John 5:17, we are told. “All wrong doing is sin, but there is a sin which does not lead to death”. It then means that there are sins that are not mortal; hence they do not lead to death. But there are sins that can destroy more than others, that is why we have two categories of sin mortal or grave sin and venial sin.
Then what souls go to Purgatory?
Those souls go to purgatory that departs this life is venial sins or that have not wholly paid the debt of temporal punishment due to those sins of which guilt has not been forgiven. (Catechism of Christian doctrine, question 107 page 18)
How do we prove that there is purgatory?
We prove that there is purgatory from the constant teaching of the church and from the Doctrine of the Holy Scripture which declares that God will render to every man according to his work, that nothing defiled shall enter heaven and that the same will be saved, yet so as by fire Mathew 16:23,1 Cor 3:15.
In 1 Jn. 5:16 it says, if your brother commits a sin that does not lead to death you should pray to God who will give him life. As we said before, there are sins that are mortal and can destroy more than others. For an example, a child who told lies to his father to escape being punished for his misbehavior committed a sin, also a man that stole another person’s car or out of jealousy destroyed a good name of his friend committed a sin. Looking at the above examples the later leads to death more than the former and since they have committed sins they would not enter heaven neither would the child who told lies enter hell. There is a place he has to suffer for those lies if not in this world it will be in purgatory after his death for nothing unclean will enter heaven Rev.21:27.The other fellow that has committed mortal sin has confesses his sin and do the penance given to him by the priest. The sins committed have to be atoned for either in this world or in the world to come.
Since the Holy Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Spirit has, following the Sacred writings and the ancient tradition of the Holy Fathers taught in sacred council, that there is Purgatory and that the souls there retained are aided by the suffrages of the faithful and chiefly by the acceptable sacrifice of the Alter, the Holy Council recommended the Bishops that they strive diligently to the end that sound doctrine of purgatory transmitted by the fathers and the Sacred Councils be believed and maintained by the faithful of Christ and everywhere be taught and preached (Decree Concerning Purgatory: The Council of Trent: Session XXV December 4,1563).
If anyone says that satisfaction for sins, as to that temporal punishment is in no way made to God through the merits of Jesus Christ by the punishment inflected by Him and patiently born by fast the priests or even those voluntary undertaken as by fast, prayers, almsgiving or other works of piety and that the best penance is merely a new life, let him be anathema Canon 13.
According to Rev.Dr.S.T.Umoh in one of his speeches, Purgatory is a temporary place like a hospital where the sick stays for sometime and becomes well. So for him it is a place the stained souls stay for certain period of time and are purified before entering heaven. The souls in purgatory have hope of seeing God but it is a matter of time and this hope softens their suffering.
The month of November is set aside for the suffering souls in purgatory. Since they can neither pray nor help themselves, they depend on our prayers. The pain’s they encounter vary according to the type of sins the individual has committed and these sins must be atoned for. As they are being prayed for by the faithful and when a soul experiences some relief in the torments that devour it, it gives thanks to God and does not fail to remember those that rescued it.
It is advisable to be praying for their souls for without you and I, they will remain in their painful state. Imagine our family members, relations, teachers, friends, classmates and those that have been effaced from human memory stretching out their hands asking for our help to prayers; are we to turn away from their pleading? If we really love them in their life time, nothing holds us to love and pray for them now that they are dead. It is therefore a holy and wholesome taught to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from sin (2 Mac.12:46).
May the souls of the departed members of our families and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace Amen.
Monday, October 26, 2009
ENSURING PEACE IN THE FAMILY.
Introduction:
Some times, we hear of quarrels between husbands and wives with the children confused of which side to support. Such quarrels do originate also amongst the children and you see parents taking sides. This division of voices and preferences when of frequent occurrences lead to divoice.Divource is the breaking off of the union between husband and wife in the family. This situation is morally and spiritually reprehensible since God decreed that what he has joined together, man (or woman) should not divide or put asunder.
What is the cause of the quarrels in the family? How can these quarrels be minimized or eliminated in order to have peace in our homes? These issues are very important because if we want peace in the world, we must work for peace in the family.
Causes of Family Squabbles:
The scripture says,” Peace is to men of goodwill (Luke 2:14)” and again in some other place that “There is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22)”.Fundamentally,therefore,squabbles in the family arise from ill will, consciously or unconsciously on the part of the husband, wife or children or all of these constituents of the family. The will-to-good comes from divine grace and it is disposition, which is aided by discipline, humility, gentleness, kindness and compassion. On the other hand, ill will is a disposition boasted by pride aggression and fastidiousness.
The ‘will’is the faculty of the soul responsible for micro or macro decision-making and choice. If our will is disposed to harshness, bitterness and negativity, we often make choices, which afflict pains on our neighbours.Since the immediate neighbours in the family are wife, husband and children, these uncharitable dispositions begin immediately to take their tools on family members.Invariably,from the ill will of the soul, we begin to prioritize and choose domination,misunderstanding,deceit,suspicion,disputes,neglet,contempt,resentment,calumny,strive,maltreatment,anger,violence,partiality,unforgiving,deprivation,lack of commitment,discomfort,exclusion,in dealing with members of the family. The will that tend to decisions that produces situation of win lose is not conducive to family peace. Life positions adapted by family members that create cross-transactions promote family squabbles.
Our Christian heritage informs us that family wars should be avoided.Rancours in the family produces children who propagate the same attitude in the society. Experience shows that children from rancorous homes are the sources of cultism and inhuman behavioural groups in our institutions of learning and the larger society. The ‘strong’ parents of these ‘strong’ children inspire cruelty rather than love in the family environment. With an ego full of selfishness, selfcentredness and greed, the warlord parents and their children are always in search of opportunity to exhibit macho success in order to celebrate the victory of self-having their way rather than the triumph of goodness service. These tendencies for celebrations of victory of family in wars can only be truncated by divine interventions and God’s grace.
Avenues for Family Peace:
Apart from God’s grace, families should endeavour to remain in healthy and open communications at all times. Modern channels of constant dialogue and conversation are today more variegated than in the past. With Global System of Mobile (GSM) in handy form, what is required is for family members to be sincere and honest in their communications. Dishonesty creates doubt, suspicion and fear and destroys peace. Perfect love casts away fears. Making rational demands and weighing the disposition (perhaps pockets) of one another in the family before making demands is also very important to ensuring that outrageous expectations do not lead to disappointments and frustration in social relationship in the family.
Respect for the rights of all persons in the family is also essential to securing peace in the family. In this connection, the letter of Pope John xxii titled “Peace on Earth” is worth reading and meditating on. The Pope identified the following basic rights as essential for peace via rights to life, bodily integrity,food,clothing,shelter,rest,security,good reputation,freedom,expression ,education,employment,movement,to participate in public affairs.
In the family, peace requires forgiveness and pardon. Not just the forgiveness we seek from others but, the pardon we grant others whether solicited or not. In short, peace in the family is anchored on the courage/fortitude to avoid retaliation and revenges as well as recognizing the need to eschew self-righteousness and judgement, which stems from social/spiritual arrogance.Often, people think that absence of poverty otherwise called prosperity brings family peace. This is not supported by the experience of man. What bring family peace with or without prosperity are love, honesty and fear of God.
Also essential for family peace is the presence of justice and exemplary leadership and follower ship (communion) by all members of the family, fair and reasonable division of chore, tasks and duties must be self-evident in peaceful families. James 3:18 states that the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who practice peace.
The defenses of peace in the family must thus be constructed in the minds, emotions and will of parents and children of the home. The mind of all in the family should constantly imagine, reason and memorize firmly the positive emotions and choices for harmony, love and well being of all rather than concentration on self. These minds in the family must be raised up together to God as often as possible in joint supplication to him for their needs and in praise to him who sustains them and is the source of peace. This underlines the importance of prayers as a veritable avenue of family peace.
Conclusion:
Peace is dependent on love, where love exists, peace will settle there. Charity begins at home, but peace begins at home and spread to the larger human family. Let us all work for peace at home and in the society. The Holy family of Nazareth has given us a perfect example of unselfish love in mutual self-giving and acceptance worthy of emulation in the mandatory work for family peace in the Niger Delta, in Nigeria and in the world.
Some times, we hear of quarrels between husbands and wives with the children confused of which side to support. Such quarrels do originate also amongst the children and you see parents taking sides. This division of voices and preferences when of frequent occurrences lead to divoice.Divource is the breaking off of the union between husband and wife in the family. This situation is morally and spiritually reprehensible since God decreed that what he has joined together, man (or woman) should not divide or put asunder.
What is the cause of the quarrels in the family? How can these quarrels be minimized or eliminated in order to have peace in our homes? These issues are very important because if we want peace in the world, we must work for peace in the family.
Causes of Family Squabbles:
The scripture says,” Peace is to men of goodwill (Luke 2:14)” and again in some other place that “There is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22)”.Fundamentally,therefore,squabbles in the family arise from ill will, consciously or unconsciously on the part of the husband, wife or children or all of these constituents of the family. The will-to-good comes from divine grace and it is disposition, which is aided by discipline, humility, gentleness, kindness and compassion. On the other hand, ill will is a disposition boasted by pride aggression and fastidiousness.
The ‘will’is the faculty of the soul responsible for micro or macro decision-making and choice. If our will is disposed to harshness, bitterness and negativity, we often make choices, which afflict pains on our neighbours.Since the immediate neighbours in the family are wife, husband and children, these uncharitable dispositions begin immediately to take their tools on family members.Invariably,from the ill will of the soul, we begin to prioritize and choose domination,misunderstanding,deceit,suspicion,disputes,neglet,contempt,resentment,calumny,strive,maltreatment,anger,violence,partiality,unforgiving,deprivation,lack of commitment,discomfort,exclusion,in dealing with members of the family. The will that tend to decisions that produces situation of win lose is not conducive to family peace. Life positions adapted by family members that create cross-transactions promote family squabbles.
Our Christian heritage informs us that family wars should be avoided.Rancours in the family produces children who propagate the same attitude in the society. Experience shows that children from rancorous homes are the sources of cultism and inhuman behavioural groups in our institutions of learning and the larger society. The ‘strong’ parents of these ‘strong’ children inspire cruelty rather than love in the family environment. With an ego full of selfishness, selfcentredness and greed, the warlord parents and their children are always in search of opportunity to exhibit macho success in order to celebrate the victory of self-having their way rather than the triumph of goodness service. These tendencies for celebrations of victory of family in wars can only be truncated by divine interventions and God’s grace.
Avenues for Family Peace:
Apart from God’s grace, families should endeavour to remain in healthy and open communications at all times. Modern channels of constant dialogue and conversation are today more variegated than in the past. With Global System of Mobile (GSM) in handy form, what is required is for family members to be sincere and honest in their communications. Dishonesty creates doubt, suspicion and fear and destroys peace. Perfect love casts away fears. Making rational demands and weighing the disposition (perhaps pockets) of one another in the family before making demands is also very important to ensuring that outrageous expectations do not lead to disappointments and frustration in social relationship in the family.
Respect for the rights of all persons in the family is also essential to securing peace in the family. In this connection, the letter of Pope John xxii titled “Peace on Earth” is worth reading and meditating on. The Pope identified the following basic rights as essential for peace via rights to life, bodily integrity,food,clothing,shelter,rest,security,good reputation,freedom,expression ,education,employment,movement,to participate in public affairs.
In the family, peace requires forgiveness and pardon. Not just the forgiveness we seek from others but, the pardon we grant others whether solicited or not. In short, peace in the family is anchored on the courage/fortitude to avoid retaliation and revenges as well as recognizing the need to eschew self-righteousness and judgement, which stems from social/spiritual arrogance.Often, people think that absence of poverty otherwise called prosperity brings family peace. This is not supported by the experience of man. What bring family peace with or without prosperity are love, honesty and fear of God.
Also essential for family peace is the presence of justice and exemplary leadership and follower ship (communion) by all members of the family, fair and reasonable division of chore, tasks and duties must be self-evident in peaceful families. James 3:18 states that the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who practice peace.
The defenses of peace in the family must thus be constructed in the minds, emotions and will of parents and children of the home. The mind of all in the family should constantly imagine, reason and memorize firmly the positive emotions and choices for harmony, love and well being of all rather than concentration on self. These minds in the family must be raised up together to God as often as possible in joint supplication to him for their needs and in praise to him who sustains them and is the source of peace. This underlines the importance of prayers as a veritable avenue of family peace.
Conclusion:
Peace is dependent on love, where love exists, peace will settle there. Charity begins at home, but peace begins at home and spread to the larger human family. Let us all work for peace at home and in the society. The Holy family of Nazareth has given us a perfect example of unselfish love in mutual self-giving and acceptance worthy of emulation in the mandatory work for family peace in the Niger Delta, in Nigeria and in the world.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
REVEALED!CHURCH,WHERE PEOPLE STRIP NAKED TO WORSHIP GOD.
Saturday Vanguard recently published to the surprise of its numerous readers of a Pentecostal Church where people feel comfortable worshipping God naked. The church, christened Christian Bible Ministry (CBM),is located in an obscure area on Dunamis Street behind Apakun Saw Mill, along Murtala Mohammed Airport Road,Mafoluku,Oshodi,not too far from ‘Reverend King’s CPA in such manner that it is ordinarily difficult to know if there was any building in that area.
There is neither banner nor signboard as is common with most churches today to depict that a church is located there. Reports said the church, which started over 20 years ago in a village in Imo state and was founded by one Reverend Barnabas who has since been allegedly edged out by other pastors who served under him for his alleged hard-line stand and is now fully enmeshed in absurdities.
Saturday Vanguard scooped that one Pastor Emeka Okafor who succeeded Reverend Barnabas died shortly afterwards following an alleged curse laid on him by the said aggrieved Reverend Barnabas.
However, a twist was said to have been introduced into doctrines of the church after the wife of the late Pastor Emeka, Prophetess Felicia Okafor, formed a separate ministry under the same the same church and named it “Ministry of Sacrifice”
This, she said, after she reportedly returned from a fasting and praying exercise on an unnamed mountain of God. The Ministry which underwent metamorphosis from the original ‘Sacrifice’ to ‘Separation’ and then ‘Raising the Dead’ was for specific members of the church who where ready to sacrifice all they had, including separating from their respective spouses.
Smarting from the mountain of God, the prophetess was said to have called all members of her ministry to tell them that God revealed to her that what could not be achieved by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden would be fulfilled in her.
She was reported to have told the congregation that members were now brothers and sisters and therefore, there was nothing to hide from each other.
To buttress her claims, she allegedly stripped herself naked before the congregation and instructed each member to follow suit. The implication was that all of them are now one. In addition, a married female member from that day on was barred from having anything to do with her husband sexually. She is subsequently ‘assigned’ to a brother in the Ministry.
If perceived to be having sexual relationship with her legitimate husband, she would be termed to have committed adultery. The punishment is 14 strokes of an armored cable and grinded pepper in her private part. Same thing goes with female members.
A sister named Chinyere was reportedly beaten to pulp and candle stick inserted into her private part allegedly on the instruction of the Prophetess for reportedly committing fornication with a male member of the church. She left the church without hesitation. Another sister, Mrs Stella Good news whose husband is a Pastor in the church also suffered similar fate. She was allegedly stripped naked as is the custom, flogged severally and grinded pepper poured into her private part for confessing that she fornicated with her husband.
After her ordeal, she reportedly suffered two miscarriages and a doctor later confirmed that she may not be able to bear children any longer as she had developed inflammation in the womb.
Seven members of the church who left on discovering the unethical practice there were said to have died under mysterious circumstances. However the bubble burst recently after a Pastor in the church, Friday Oforebgu, could no longer withstand the excruciating pains of 17 strokes of the armoured cable and peppery substance rubbed on his body that he had to run to the X-Squad at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for refuge.
Sources said Pastor Oforegbu’s grievances was further aggravated after his wife,Jocintha,was assigned to one brother Paul, which meant he could no longer relate with his wife as a husband .His report,therefore,prompted detectives who stormed the church and got its key members, including the General Overseer, Pastor Vincent Uzuegbu arrested for questioning.
But when Saturday Vanguard was able to locate the church on Sunday August 30, 2009 at about 4.30pm after a painstaking search and met Pastor Uzuegbu, he described the allegations as “lies, greed and quest for position.” The fair complexioned well built and handsome Pastor who was leaning close to his Hummer Jeep which has its plate number customized and marked Okenna 1,exclaimed and said,” My brother, God bless you for coming to know the truth.
I know those who gave you the story because they are those we sent away from this church because of their promiscuity. All they have told you are lies borne out of greed and unguided ambition for position.
“Yes, some of the questions you asked are true. But most are fabricated.Perhaps; you may want me to take you to the history of the church.
The Christian Bible Mission is an old church which started in a village in Imo State about 29 years ago. I came to join them about 15 years ago when the church was in a primary school in Amukoko in Lagos. The original founder was Revered Barnabas Iwundu who left in the face of glaring irreconcilable differences with key members.
It was after he left that Pastor Emeka Okafor and his wife, Prophetess Felicia took over the mantle of leadership of the church. But we still relate with Reverend Barnabas today as the founder of the church.
Even when we wanted to register the church, we approached him three times to tell him about the need to get the church registered but he drove us out of his house. But at the Corporate Affairs Commission, and of course, on certificate of registration, his name is there as one of the board of trustees. To tell you the truth, Reverend Barnabas left the church when it was discovered that he was not practicing what he preached he church headquarters was in Ogba under him but go there today, it has collapsed because he was fornicating with female members”.
But when Reverend Barnabas was called on a GSM number provided, a little girl’s voice was heard and she said,” My daddy is not around now, please call back around 8.00pm.”However, when the line was called back, it was switched off.
Continuing, Pastor Uzuegbu said,” Prophetess Felicia is one woman of God that is so blessed and filled with the spirit of God. She was the one that founded the ‘Ministry of Sacrifice’, a praying ministry in the church. What the ministry stands for is simple: detaching oneself from earthly things.’ Raising the dead ministry’ which they also told you also means resurrecting members from sins, it does not mean physically raising a dead person. We do not raise dead persons here.
The fact that brothers are assigned to sisters or vice versa, it also means that one person is acting as a watch dog to the other. My brother, the ministry of sacrifice is such a strong one so much so that many members clamour to join.If Pastor Friday is saying that he was flogged that is why he left, that means he has forgotten that he was the Provost Marshal of the church.
H was responsible for flogging erring members. In fact, when Pastor Austin Okocha confessed that he lust after a lady who exposed half of her breasts while on alms begging, it was Pastor Friday Oforegbu who flogged him before the congregation.
So, when Sister Hope confessed that she was fornicating with Pastor Friday, there was no option than to visit the corporal punishment on him too. It is the tradition! It may also interest you that Pastor Friday embezzled the church money and as I speak with you now, he is still has a case with the Satellite Town Police Station.
“The Sister Stella you are talking about, she came here with the disease, and I know the personal sacrifices I played to see that she was let off the grip of the disease. I prayed and prayed and became tired and resolved to seek orthodox medicine advice.
She has even infested her husband with the venereal disease. That we do something immoral here is like giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
“If they tell you that we beg for alms that is correct because we cannot go stealing. We suffered to get this building erected. There is nowhere we did not go for financial assistance to no avail. It was through personal efforts and sacrifices that we are where we are today.
So, if they say we strip naked and all that, I leave them to God to judge. The case is before the police and I am sure the truth will prevail.”
At the SCID Parti Officer-in-Charge(OC),Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Solomon Arase said the matter was still with his X-SQUAD Department,” I have asked the IPO to do a through investigation of the matter. The allegations raised are very sensitive. The police will not allow itself to be used to achieve a selfish end. But if the allegations come out true, then the law will take its due course.”
There is neither banner nor signboard as is common with most churches today to depict that a church is located there. Reports said the church, which started over 20 years ago in a village in Imo state and was founded by one Reverend Barnabas who has since been allegedly edged out by other pastors who served under him for his alleged hard-line stand and is now fully enmeshed in absurdities.
Saturday Vanguard scooped that one Pastor Emeka Okafor who succeeded Reverend Barnabas died shortly afterwards following an alleged curse laid on him by the said aggrieved Reverend Barnabas.
However, a twist was said to have been introduced into doctrines of the church after the wife of the late Pastor Emeka, Prophetess Felicia Okafor, formed a separate ministry under the same the same church and named it “Ministry of Sacrifice”
This, she said, after she reportedly returned from a fasting and praying exercise on an unnamed mountain of God. The Ministry which underwent metamorphosis from the original ‘Sacrifice’ to ‘Separation’ and then ‘Raising the Dead’ was for specific members of the church who where ready to sacrifice all they had, including separating from their respective spouses.
Smarting from the mountain of God, the prophetess was said to have called all members of her ministry to tell them that God revealed to her that what could not be achieved by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden would be fulfilled in her.
She was reported to have told the congregation that members were now brothers and sisters and therefore, there was nothing to hide from each other.
To buttress her claims, she allegedly stripped herself naked before the congregation and instructed each member to follow suit. The implication was that all of them are now one. In addition, a married female member from that day on was barred from having anything to do with her husband sexually. She is subsequently ‘assigned’ to a brother in the Ministry.
If perceived to be having sexual relationship with her legitimate husband, she would be termed to have committed adultery. The punishment is 14 strokes of an armored cable and grinded pepper in her private part. Same thing goes with female members.
A sister named Chinyere was reportedly beaten to pulp and candle stick inserted into her private part allegedly on the instruction of the Prophetess for reportedly committing fornication with a male member of the church. She left the church without hesitation. Another sister, Mrs Stella Good news whose husband is a Pastor in the church also suffered similar fate. She was allegedly stripped naked as is the custom, flogged severally and grinded pepper poured into her private part for confessing that she fornicated with her husband.
After her ordeal, she reportedly suffered two miscarriages and a doctor later confirmed that she may not be able to bear children any longer as she had developed inflammation in the womb.
Seven members of the church who left on discovering the unethical practice there were said to have died under mysterious circumstances. However the bubble burst recently after a Pastor in the church, Friday Oforebgu, could no longer withstand the excruciating pains of 17 strokes of the armoured cable and peppery substance rubbed on his body that he had to run to the X-Squad at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for refuge.
Sources said Pastor Oforegbu’s grievances was further aggravated after his wife,Jocintha,was assigned to one brother Paul, which meant he could no longer relate with his wife as a husband .His report,therefore,prompted detectives who stormed the church and got its key members, including the General Overseer, Pastor Vincent Uzuegbu arrested for questioning.
But when Saturday Vanguard was able to locate the church on Sunday August 30, 2009 at about 4.30pm after a painstaking search and met Pastor Uzuegbu, he described the allegations as “lies, greed and quest for position.” The fair complexioned well built and handsome Pastor who was leaning close to his Hummer Jeep which has its plate number customized and marked Okenna 1,exclaimed and said,” My brother, God bless you for coming to know the truth.
I know those who gave you the story because they are those we sent away from this church because of their promiscuity. All they have told you are lies borne out of greed and unguided ambition for position.
“Yes, some of the questions you asked are true. But most are fabricated.Perhaps; you may want me to take you to the history of the church.
The Christian Bible Mission is an old church which started in a village in Imo State about 29 years ago. I came to join them about 15 years ago when the church was in a primary school in Amukoko in Lagos. The original founder was Revered Barnabas Iwundu who left in the face of glaring irreconcilable differences with key members.
It was after he left that Pastor Emeka Okafor and his wife, Prophetess Felicia took over the mantle of leadership of the church. But we still relate with Reverend Barnabas today as the founder of the church.
Even when we wanted to register the church, we approached him three times to tell him about the need to get the church registered but he drove us out of his house. But at the Corporate Affairs Commission, and of course, on certificate of registration, his name is there as one of the board of trustees. To tell you the truth, Reverend Barnabas left the church when it was discovered that he was not practicing what he preached he church headquarters was in Ogba under him but go there today, it has collapsed because he was fornicating with female members”.
But when Reverend Barnabas was called on a GSM number provided, a little girl’s voice was heard and she said,” My daddy is not around now, please call back around 8.00pm.”However, when the line was called back, it was switched off.
Continuing, Pastor Uzuegbu said,” Prophetess Felicia is one woman of God that is so blessed and filled with the spirit of God. She was the one that founded the ‘Ministry of Sacrifice’, a praying ministry in the church. What the ministry stands for is simple: detaching oneself from earthly things.’ Raising the dead ministry’ which they also told you also means resurrecting members from sins, it does not mean physically raising a dead person. We do not raise dead persons here.
The fact that brothers are assigned to sisters or vice versa, it also means that one person is acting as a watch dog to the other. My brother, the ministry of sacrifice is such a strong one so much so that many members clamour to join.If Pastor Friday is saying that he was flogged that is why he left, that means he has forgotten that he was the Provost Marshal of the church.
H was responsible for flogging erring members. In fact, when Pastor Austin Okocha confessed that he lust after a lady who exposed half of her breasts while on alms begging, it was Pastor Friday Oforegbu who flogged him before the congregation.
So, when Sister Hope confessed that she was fornicating with Pastor Friday, there was no option than to visit the corporal punishment on him too. It is the tradition! It may also interest you that Pastor Friday embezzled the church money and as I speak with you now, he is still has a case with the Satellite Town Police Station.
“The Sister Stella you are talking about, she came here with the disease, and I know the personal sacrifices I played to see that she was let off the grip of the disease. I prayed and prayed and became tired and resolved to seek orthodox medicine advice.
She has even infested her husband with the venereal disease. That we do something immoral here is like giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
“If they tell you that we beg for alms that is correct because we cannot go stealing. We suffered to get this building erected. There is nowhere we did not go for financial assistance to no avail. It was through personal efforts and sacrifices that we are where we are today.
So, if they say we strip naked and all that, I leave them to God to judge. The case is before the police and I am sure the truth will prevail.”
At the SCID Parti Officer-in-Charge(OC),Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Solomon Arase said the matter was still with his X-SQUAD Department,” I have asked the IPO to do a through investigation of the matter. The allegations raised are very sensitive. The police will not allow itself to be used to achieve a selfish end. But if the allegations come out true, then the law will take its due course.”
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
CATHOLIC BISHOPS INDICT GOVERNMENT FOR ISLAMIST KILLINGS.
They reminded the government of its constitutional responsibility to protect the rights of religious minorities wherever they may be found in this country.” We have no democracy worth the name of the citizen. Failure on the part of government to secure life and property of every Nigerian is less than commendable.”
The bishops also kicked against what they call “the pervading culture of violence that prevails in Nigeria”, including kidnapping, armed robbery, dangerous driving, and killing in the name of religion. We condemn violence on whatever excuses or disguise, and from whatever direction. We condemn it, above all, when its perpetrators blasphemously claim religious justifications.” We wish to note that those who claim that they love God why hating their fellow human beings, even to the extent of killing them, are liars.”
The bishops, however, commended the Nigerian government for the general amnesty it has granted to militant in the Niger Delta, while advising that the amnesty be implemented with sincerity and sensitivity to justice and reconciliation. They advised the government to continue to improve the quality of life of the people of Niger Delta.” The situation in the Niger Delta is deeply rooted in injustice. It is simply unjust to impoverish the people who live on the land that produces the bulk of Nigeria’s wealth.”
The bishops also condemned the industrial action by teachers and other workers at higher institutions of learning over government’s non-implementation of their pay agreements.” But it is not just the strikes that have paralyzed tertiary education; it is also the failure of government to invest sufficiently in the education of the Nigerian citizen.”
The bishops also kicked against what they call “the pervading culture of violence that prevails in Nigeria”, including kidnapping, armed robbery, dangerous driving, and killing in the name of religion. We condemn violence on whatever excuses or disguise, and from whatever direction. We condemn it, above all, when its perpetrators blasphemously claim religious justifications.” We wish to note that those who claim that they love God why hating their fellow human beings, even to the extent of killing them, are liars.”
The bishops, however, commended the Nigerian government for the general amnesty it has granted to militant in the Niger Delta, while advising that the amnesty be implemented with sincerity and sensitivity to justice and reconciliation. They advised the government to continue to improve the quality of life of the people of Niger Delta.” The situation in the Niger Delta is deeply rooted in injustice. It is simply unjust to impoverish the people who live on the land that produces the bulk of Nigeria’s wealth.”
The bishops also condemned the industrial action by teachers and other workers at higher institutions of learning over government’s non-implementation of their pay agreements.” But it is not just the strikes that have paralyzed tertiary education; it is also the failure of government to invest sufficiently in the education of the Nigerian citizen.”
Monday, October 19, 2009
TONY BLAIR REVEALS WHAT ATTRACTED HIM TO CATHOLICISM.
Religion has a central and unique role in society and its development, according to the former prime minister of England. Tony Blair, a convert to Catholicism, spoke with L’Osservatore Romano about his faith in an exclusive interview.” My spiritual journey began when I started to go to Mass with my wife”, Blair said.” Then we decided to baptize our children in the Catholic faith. It was a journey that lasted 25 years, or perhaps more. In time, emotionally, intellectually and rationally it seemed to me that the Catholic home was the right one for me. When I left political office, and I no longer had the entire context connected with been prime minister, it was something I really wanted to do”.
Blair added that religion has brought him closer to his wife.” We did not meet because of religion, but it was very interesting to discover that my wife was very active in Catholic student organization and in other youth organization,” he recalled.” For young people 23 or 24 years old, when we met, it was rather unusual to discover a shared interest in religion.”
Blair affirmed that in addition to his wife’s influence, an experience with Pope John II helped him move toward Catholicism. He attended a mass celebrated by the Holy Father in his private chapel.” It is still a very vivid memory, an episode that impressed me very much,” Blair recounted.”Certainly,it is quite probable that, in any event, I would have come to my conversion but,undoubtedly,it was an important stage that ultimately reinforced my decision.
“One of the things that have most attracted me to the Catholic Church is her universal nature. If you are a Catholic, you can go anywhere in the world and attend mass. I was at Mass in Kigali, Beijing, Singapore…The fact that wherever you are, you are in communion with others is really formidable. The universal Church herself is an important model of a global institution.” The British politician is now dedicated to promoting the Tony Blair Foundation for inter-religious dialogue, which is especially active in Africa and the Middle East. As to whether being a Catholic is an advantage in his activity in the Middle East, Blair responded:”Honestly,I’ve never considered it a problem.Never.On the contrary, I often think that, in the modern world, the fact of being a person of faith enhances one’s capacity to relate to persons of other creeds. It’s true, sometimes the opposite happens—one meets with strong opposition. However, given that today, factors of secularization subject faith to a harsh and aggressive attack, in the end what happens is that people of different creeds sometimes become allies.”
Blair praised Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Caritas in Veritate,”saying it should be “read and re-read.” He particularly highlighted the Pope’s affirmation that “the Christian religion and other religions can make mean that debates and confrontations will end. On the contrary, it will continue on many subjects in regards to which, probably, the church will be on one side and political leaders on the other.”However, I don’t think this is the main point: The point is that faith has every right to enter in this space and to speak. It must not be silent.” The voice of faith must not be absent from the public debate.
Finally, L’Osservatore Romano spoke with Blair about his personal experience as a father. He said it is a role that has to be taken “with responsibility and without arrogance.”
No matter how good or intelligent I thought I was, I always found that to be a father was something very difficult. And I still think so,” he reflected. Blair affirmed that fathers are “crucial” figures in the family,”essential”for children’s growth and formation. And he contended that “in certain aspects, the idea of family is being recovered.” Also in this area I believe that religious communities and the Church have a role to play,” Blair said.” It’s true, families have their problems, they disintegrate—something that I fear will continue to happen. How ever, I have always thought that the Church’s indications in the matter of the family were useful.
“Lets be clear: to make a marriage work calls for effort and, I believe, paternity also calls for it. But I really think that, among the great changes that are taking place, also in the social realm, it is necessary to rediscover that paternity is a responsibility and a necessity.
Blair added that religion has brought him closer to his wife.” We did not meet because of religion, but it was very interesting to discover that my wife was very active in Catholic student organization and in other youth organization,” he recalled.” For young people 23 or 24 years old, when we met, it was rather unusual to discover a shared interest in religion.”
Blair affirmed that in addition to his wife’s influence, an experience with Pope John II helped him move toward Catholicism. He attended a mass celebrated by the Holy Father in his private chapel.” It is still a very vivid memory, an episode that impressed me very much,” Blair recounted.”Certainly,it is quite probable that, in any event, I would have come to my conversion but,undoubtedly,it was an important stage that ultimately reinforced my decision.
“One of the things that have most attracted me to the Catholic Church is her universal nature. If you are a Catholic, you can go anywhere in the world and attend mass. I was at Mass in Kigali, Beijing, Singapore…The fact that wherever you are, you are in communion with others is really formidable. The universal Church herself is an important model of a global institution.” The British politician is now dedicated to promoting the Tony Blair Foundation for inter-religious dialogue, which is especially active in Africa and the Middle East. As to whether being a Catholic is an advantage in his activity in the Middle East, Blair responded:”Honestly,I’ve never considered it a problem.Never.On the contrary, I often think that, in the modern world, the fact of being a person of faith enhances one’s capacity to relate to persons of other creeds. It’s true, sometimes the opposite happens—one meets with strong opposition. However, given that today, factors of secularization subject faith to a harsh and aggressive attack, in the end what happens is that people of different creeds sometimes become allies.”
Blair praised Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Caritas in Veritate,”saying it should be “read and re-read.” He particularly highlighted the Pope’s affirmation that “the Christian religion and other religions can make mean that debates and confrontations will end. On the contrary, it will continue on many subjects in regards to which, probably, the church will be on one side and political leaders on the other.”However, I don’t think this is the main point: The point is that faith has every right to enter in this space and to speak. It must not be silent.” The voice of faith must not be absent from the public debate.
Finally, L’Osservatore Romano spoke with Blair about his personal experience as a father. He said it is a role that has to be taken “with responsibility and without arrogance.”
No matter how good or intelligent I thought I was, I always found that to be a father was something very difficult. And I still think so,” he reflected. Blair affirmed that fathers are “crucial” figures in the family,”essential”for children’s growth and formation. And he contended that “in certain aspects, the idea of family is being recovered.” Also in this area I believe that religious communities and the Church have a role to play,” Blair said.” It’s true, families have their problems, they disintegrate—something that I fear will continue to happen. How ever, I have always thought that the Church’s indications in the matter of the family were useful.
“Lets be clear: to make a marriage work calls for effort and, I believe, paternity also calls for it. But I really think that, among the great changes that are taking place, also in the social realm, it is necessary to rediscover that paternity is a responsibility and a necessity.
CATHOLIC BISHOPS EXPRESS SADNESS OVER NIGERIAN SITUATION.
The Nigerian Bishops under the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigerian have in one voice condemned the deteriorating social situations in Nigeria, adding that the country has continued to suffer under the weight of corruption, and our people live in fear because of insecurity of life and property. The Bishops made this observation in a Communiqué issued at the end of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Centre of Transfiguration Kafanchan, Kaduna State between September 7th to 12th, 2009.The Communiqué which was titiled:”Conversion for Justice and Reconciliation” was jointly signed by its Chairman, Most Rev.Felix Alaba Job, the archbishop of Ibadan and Most Rev.Dr.Alfred Martin of Abeokuta.
The Bishops reaffirmed the observation they made on the distress of the nation in their communiqué at the conclusion of the 2nd Plenary in 1997 where they stated then:” The social ills of armed robbery,violent,official corruption, deteriorating infrastructure, falling standard of education and health care, have continued unabated to such an extent that the quality of life of most Nigerians has degenerated to a level that is below human dignity”, nothing that twelve years later, indices of distress abound in our country. Continuing the Bishops unequivocally stated.” The evil of corruption has made of us an improvised people inhabiting a land of immense riches .The level of poverty in our land and the problem of insecurity go hand in hand. Strike actions embarked upon by numerous associations and unions in the country, are further signals of a country in distress and in dire need of direction”. The bishops call on the leaders of the nation to formulate policies that would alleviate the suffering of the masses.
Lamenting on the level of unemployment among our youths, the Bishops noted,” The collapse of infrastructure has a negative impact on economic activities. When the economy is in turmoil, millions of young Nigerians cannot be gainfully employed. Perceiving their country, Nigeria, as a country that dashes their hopes, many of such young people end up on the payroll of people who arm them to be political thugs, kidnappers, or armed robbers. Many others are used by state and local government in this country to extort money from Nigerians such that traveling from one local government to another has become a nightmare, an adventure in paying sundry tolls”. The Bishops therefore appealed to the government to create employment for our youths.
Also, in the Communiqué, the Bishops recognize that corruption is not only at the higher levels of public life.” It is also found at the lower levels of our life: from the filling station attendant who tampers with the dispensing machines, the messengers or clerk who hide files, the stockbroker who manipulates the markets, the policeman or woman who extorts money from citizen, the banker who defrauds shareholders and customers of his bank, the judge who fiddles with justice, the lawyer who sells out his client, the politician who rigs elections, the teacher who solicits favours from students, the student who cheats while writing an examination, the religious leaders or preacher who manipulates the people in the place of worship for his own purpose, the farmer or seller of farm produce who hides rotten foodstuffs under fresh ones, the hawker in traffic who runs away with your change” and invite Nigerians to totally change their attitudes and such a change must be personal and collective for the good of the society.
The Bishops finally call on the citizens to submit to God from the depths of their hearts as the human heart is the sanctuary of the Spirit of God so that the human person can be recreated in the image of the Son of God.” When we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, our worship will please God, and our actions will be acceptable in his sight. Then shall we be just to God and our neighbor, and then shall peace and justice reign amongst us in our land”, the Bishops conclude.
The Bishops reaffirmed the observation they made on the distress of the nation in their communiqué at the conclusion of the 2nd Plenary in 1997 where they stated then:” The social ills of armed robbery,violent,official corruption, deteriorating infrastructure, falling standard of education and health care, have continued unabated to such an extent that the quality of life of most Nigerians has degenerated to a level that is below human dignity”, nothing that twelve years later, indices of distress abound in our country. Continuing the Bishops unequivocally stated.” The evil of corruption has made of us an improvised people inhabiting a land of immense riches .The level of poverty in our land and the problem of insecurity go hand in hand. Strike actions embarked upon by numerous associations and unions in the country, are further signals of a country in distress and in dire need of direction”. The bishops call on the leaders of the nation to formulate policies that would alleviate the suffering of the masses.
Lamenting on the level of unemployment among our youths, the Bishops noted,” The collapse of infrastructure has a negative impact on economic activities. When the economy is in turmoil, millions of young Nigerians cannot be gainfully employed. Perceiving their country, Nigeria, as a country that dashes their hopes, many of such young people end up on the payroll of people who arm them to be political thugs, kidnappers, or armed robbers. Many others are used by state and local government in this country to extort money from Nigerians such that traveling from one local government to another has become a nightmare, an adventure in paying sundry tolls”. The Bishops therefore appealed to the government to create employment for our youths.
Also, in the Communiqué, the Bishops recognize that corruption is not only at the higher levels of public life.” It is also found at the lower levels of our life: from the filling station attendant who tampers with the dispensing machines, the messengers or clerk who hide files, the stockbroker who manipulates the markets, the policeman or woman who extorts money from citizen, the banker who defrauds shareholders and customers of his bank, the judge who fiddles with justice, the lawyer who sells out his client, the politician who rigs elections, the teacher who solicits favours from students, the student who cheats while writing an examination, the religious leaders or preacher who manipulates the people in the place of worship for his own purpose, the farmer or seller of farm produce who hides rotten foodstuffs under fresh ones, the hawker in traffic who runs away with your change” and invite Nigerians to totally change their attitudes and such a change must be personal and collective for the good of the society.
The Bishops finally call on the citizens to submit to God from the depths of their hearts as the human heart is the sanctuary of the Spirit of God so that the human person can be recreated in the image of the Son of God.” When we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, our worship will please God, and our actions will be acceptable in his sight. Then shall we be just to God and our neighbor, and then shall peace and justice reign amongst us in our land”, the Bishops conclude.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
In truth, the whole of humanity has the radical vocation to return to its source, to return to God, since in Him alone can it find accomplishment through the restoration of all things in Christ.Dispersion,multiplicity,conflict,enmity will be calmed and reconciled through the blood of the Cross and led back to unity. This new beginning has already started with the Resurrection and the exaltation of Christ, who draws all things to Himself, renewing them and enabling them to share in the eternal joy of God. The future of the new creation shines already in our world and despite contradictions and suffering, kindness hope for new life. The church’s mission is to “infect” all peoples with hope. This is why Christ calls, sanctifies and sends his disciples to announce the kingdom of God, so that all nations may become the people of God. It is only in this mission that the through journey of humanity is understood and attested. The universal mission should become a fundamental constant in the life of the church. To announce the Gospel must be for us, as it was for the Apostle Paul, a primary and impelling duty.
The universal Church which knows neither boarders nor frontiers responsible for announcing the Gospel to the whole people (cf Evangelii nuntiandi, 53).It is the duty of the Church, seed of hope by vocation, to continue Christ’s service in the world. The measure of her mission and her service is not material or even spiritual needs restricted to temporal existence, instead, it is transcendent salvation, fulfilled in the kingdom of God (cf Evangelii nuntiandi, 27).This Kingdom, although eschatological in its completeness and not of this world (cf Gv 18, 36), is in this world and in its history, a force for justice and peace, for true freedom and respect for human dignity of every human person. The Church wishes to transform the world with the proclamation of the Gospel of love,” that can always illuminates a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working…and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world” (Deus caritas est., 39).It is to this mission and to this service that I call, also with this message all the members and institutions of the Church to participate.
The universal Church which knows neither boarders nor frontiers responsible for announcing the Gospel to the whole people (cf Evangelii nuntiandi, 53).It is the duty of the Church, seed of hope by vocation, to continue Christ’s service in the world. The measure of her mission and her service is not material or even spiritual needs restricted to temporal existence, instead, it is transcendent salvation, fulfilled in the kingdom of God (cf Evangelii nuntiandi, 27).This Kingdom, although eschatological in its completeness and not of this world (cf Gv 18, 36), is in this world and in its history, a force for justice and peace, for true freedom and respect for human dignity of every human person. The Church wishes to transform the world with the proclamation of the Gospel of love,” that can always illuminates a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working…and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world” (Deus caritas est., 39).It is to this mission and to this service that I call, also with this message all the members and institutions of the Church to participate.
Friday, October 16, 2009
ANIOMA PEOPLE VOW TO PRODUCE THE NEXT DELTA STATE GOVERNOR.
It was a gathering necessitated by determination and drive when the shakers and movers in Anioma Nation under the umbrella of the Anioma Political Forum(APF) met to express their views at Issele Uku,headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.
The occasion held at the Unity Hall on Friday October 9, 2009 attracted sons and daughters from the nine local governments in Delta North.
Speaking at the occasion, Professor B.I.C Ijeoma told the people that they should strive to unite, nothing that without unity they cannot achieve their aim of producing a governor come 2015.”Unity is strength”, he noted. He also emphasized that one of the reasons for forming Anioma Political Forum was to fight for the governorship of the state in 2015.
“The joy of planting is that people following you will benefit from the harvest”, he said. He added that some of those who started the fight were no longer alive, but acknowledged that a lot has been done. In his words, “the task ahead is great”.
He however stressed that they would honestly support Governor Uduaghan in his second tenure bid, but as soon as he steps down, Anioma must produce the next governor.
Hon. Victor Ochei, member of the State House of Assembly representing Aniocha North also corroborated prof.Ijeoma’s views, nothing that APF had agreed to support Uduaghan for his second tenure, but after that, the governorship comes to Delta North, stressing that anything contrary would result to the dissolution of the state.
He advised the people not to play to the gallery with the name of Uduaghan, stressing that they should unite.” No matter your different names, Anioma is bigger than all”.
Prince Uzor Idabor,in his view said that there was little work left to be done in the Aniocha North, but noted that with unity the goal could be achieved.
Barr. Fred Chijindu Ajidua also admonished the people to shun gossip and bad advice, stating that with patience and unity, Anioma must produce the governor come 2015.It took the black Americans many years to produce Obama,he said.
Giving a vote of thanks, the chairman of Aniocha North Local Government Area,Hon.Mike Jaunty Okwudi thanked everyone for making the occasion colourful.
The occasion held at the Unity Hall on Friday October 9, 2009 attracted sons and daughters from the nine local governments in Delta North.
Speaking at the occasion, Professor B.I.C Ijeoma told the people that they should strive to unite, nothing that without unity they cannot achieve their aim of producing a governor come 2015.”Unity is strength”, he noted. He also emphasized that one of the reasons for forming Anioma Political Forum was to fight for the governorship of the state in 2015.
“The joy of planting is that people following you will benefit from the harvest”, he said. He added that some of those who started the fight were no longer alive, but acknowledged that a lot has been done. In his words, “the task ahead is great”.
He however stressed that they would honestly support Governor Uduaghan in his second tenure bid, but as soon as he steps down, Anioma must produce the next governor.
Hon. Victor Ochei, member of the State House of Assembly representing Aniocha North also corroborated prof.Ijeoma’s views, nothing that APF had agreed to support Uduaghan for his second tenure, but after that, the governorship comes to Delta North, stressing that anything contrary would result to the dissolution of the state.
He advised the people not to play to the gallery with the name of Uduaghan, stressing that they should unite.” No matter your different names, Anioma is bigger than all”.
Prince Uzor Idabor,in his view said that there was little work left to be done in the Aniocha North, but noted that with unity the goal could be achieved.
Barr. Fred Chijindu Ajidua also admonished the people to shun gossip and bad advice, stating that with patience and unity, Anioma must produce the governor come 2015.It took the black Americans many years to produce Obama,he said.
Giving a vote of thanks, the chairman of Aniocha North Local Government Area,Hon.Mike Jaunty Okwudi thanked everyone for making the occasion colourful.
THE CHURCH:A SYMBOL OF LIFE AND A SING OF UNITY AND CHRISTAIN FAITH.
In November every year Catholic Church through out the world celebrate the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, mother and head of all the churches of the city of Rome and of the world, the Cathedral of the Pope, constructed by the Emperor Constantine and originally dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour and later, in the Middle Ages also to St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist.
The Lateran Basilica with its adjacent palaces was for many centuries the usual seat of the Pope.There, five Ecumenical Councils were held among them in 1215 during the pontificate of Innocent 111, IV Lateran Council, considered by historians to be the most important Council of the Middle Ages. For a thousand years the history of Christian Rome gravitated around that Basilica which the Popes, Emperors, Kings and faithful gradually adored with precious gifts and splendid works of art, signsof their intense faith in Christ.
The feast of the dedication of the church is a feast of our Lord. That is the reason why this feast has precedence over an ordinary Sunday of the year.
In remembering the initial dedication of the cathedral of Rome to Jesus, the Saviour of the world, today’s liturgy invites us to one of the fundamental mysteries of Christian revelation: Jesus of Nazareth,Messiah,Lord,Son of God, he is the one who brought total and definitive salvation to men and women of all times and places.
“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2, 19).Christ’s words proclaimed in the Gospel bring us to the very heart of the paschal mystery. Having entered the temple in Jerusalem, Christ shows his indignation that his Father’s house has been turned into a huge market. In response to this action of Jesus, Jews protest: “what sign have you to show us for doing this?”(John 2, 18).Jesus answers them by indicating the definitive sign:” Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2, 19).
We see the temple and contemplate the Church. We see the building and penetrate its mystery. With the beauty of its symbols, the building reveals to us the mystery of Christ and his Church. In the cathedral of the Bishop we discover Christ the teacher who, through the apostolic succession, teaches us throughout the ages. In the alter we see Christ himself in the supreme act of redemption. In the baptismal font we find the bosom of the Church, virgin and mother, who impacts the life of God to the heart of her children. And looking at ourselves, we can say with St Paul: You are…God’s building…God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple”(1 Cor 3,9.17).
The Lateran Basilica with its adjacent palaces was for many centuries the usual seat of the Pope.There, five Ecumenical Councils were held among them in 1215 during the pontificate of Innocent 111, IV Lateran Council, considered by historians to be the most important Council of the Middle Ages. For a thousand years the history of Christian Rome gravitated around that Basilica which the Popes, Emperors, Kings and faithful gradually adored with precious gifts and splendid works of art, signsof their intense faith in Christ.
The feast of the dedication of the church is a feast of our Lord. That is the reason why this feast has precedence over an ordinary Sunday of the year.
In remembering the initial dedication of the cathedral of Rome to Jesus, the Saviour of the world, today’s liturgy invites us to one of the fundamental mysteries of Christian revelation: Jesus of Nazareth,Messiah,Lord,Son of God, he is the one who brought total and definitive salvation to men and women of all times and places.
“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2, 19).Christ’s words proclaimed in the Gospel bring us to the very heart of the paschal mystery. Having entered the temple in Jerusalem, Christ shows his indignation that his Father’s house has been turned into a huge market. In response to this action of Jesus, Jews protest: “what sign have you to show us for doing this?”(John 2, 18).Jesus answers them by indicating the definitive sign:” Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2, 19).
We see the temple and contemplate the Church. We see the building and penetrate its mystery. With the beauty of its symbols, the building reveals to us the mystery of Christ and his Church. In the cathedral of the Bishop we discover Christ the teacher who, through the apostolic succession, teaches us throughout the ages. In the alter we see Christ himself in the supreme act of redemption. In the baptismal font we find the bosom of the Church, virgin and mother, who impacts the life of God to the heart of her children. And looking at ourselves, we can say with St Paul: You are…God’s building…God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple”(1 Cor 3,9.17).
WHERE IS THE DESTINATION OF THE DEAD?
The question of the eternal predestination of all humans after their mortal existence is a nagging question which occupies anyone who is born into the world. There is usually association of the grace as a place of no life (nothingness) and complete void. In this case when we are confronted with the reality of death, we remember that there is a time when we are full and bulling with life, and a time when life ceases to be. In this case where does the soul of the decease one proceed to…..Is it to the mere soil and clay? This will be atrocious. Is it the case that after all the human achievements, one goes into oblivion?
The church uses this opportunity of the celebration to raise the hope of the faithful about the eternal predestination of all the faithful departed. In the Eucharistic preface of Christian death, it states “Lord for your faithful people life is changed, not ended when the body of our eternal dwelling lies in death we gain an Everlasting dwelling in heaven”. Death is the cessation of the mortal existence of the human person and the beginning of an immortal life of the deceased. It is taken by the study of eschatology that the eternal predestination of the soul of the human person is influenced by the kind of life one has lead in the course of his physical and corporate existence. The good, moral and ethical existence leads to an immoral life of eternal bliss and joy, while immodest and unexamined life is the introduction to the life of eternal perdition and punishment.
Our pre-occupation is where the soul of the faithful proceeds after their pilgrimage life here on earth. The Book of Wisdom (3:1-9) gives us a wonderful clue in this direction. “The souls of the upright are in the hands of God, and no torment can touch them. To the unenlightened they appear to die. Their departure was regarded as a disaster, their leaving us as annihilation, but they are at peace”. God desires and prepares a suitable and eternal wonderful home for his people. Therefore it is not necessary to begin to think of erecting a mausoleum mansion in which we will be buried in such that it becomes a home for us after death. Our attention should be drawn to the fact that our homes is created and made for us by God, eternal incomprehensive but a home to delight us.
Jesus tells us in John (14:1-3)”Do not let your heart be troubled. You trust in God trust also in me. In my fathers house there are many places to live in……I am going now to prepare a place for you and after I have gone and prepared you a place. I shall return to take you to myself”. In this way Jesus clearly points to us about the great preparation he has in store for those who follow him .There is a great reward that accompanies them after their heroic witnessing here on earth. No wonder St.Paul will exclaim (1 Cor.2:9)”what no eye has see no ear has heard what the mind of man cannot visualize all that God has prepared for those who love him……”
Upon these testimonies of sacred scripture, we know we have a homeland with God our father and his homeland belong to us if we live, move and have our being quite rooted in him. In the Eucharistic preface of the dead it states “he chose to die that he might free all man from dying. He gave his life that we may live forever”. Another of this preface says “Death is the just reward for our sins, yet when at last we die, your loving kindness calls us back to life in company with Christ whose victory is our redemption.” Indeed of our own merit we cannot ascend into a glorious eternal life that God has in store for us…..But by our unmeritous but God Gratuitous grace we are justified in the sight of God. Therefore our celebration is not far from having these departed ones in prayer so that, through their own human fragility they cannot be justified. But with our prayer for them God will tender mercy and grant them a place of joy and peace. As a militant church we must intensify our prayers for them and ask God to look on them with mercy.
The church uses this opportunity of the celebration to raise the hope of the faithful about the eternal predestination of all the faithful departed. In the Eucharistic preface of Christian death, it states “Lord for your faithful people life is changed, not ended when the body of our eternal dwelling lies in death we gain an Everlasting dwelling in heaven”. Death is the cessation of the mortal existence of the human person and the beginning of an immortal life of the deceased. It is taken by the study of eschatology that the eternal predestination of the soul of the human person is influenced by the kind of life one has lead in the course of his physical and corporate existence. The good, moral and ethical existence leads to an immoral life of eternal bliss and joy, while immodest and unexamined life is the introduction to the life of eternal perdition and punishment.
Our pre-occupation is where the soul of the faithful proceeds after their pilgrimage life here on earth. The Book of Wisdom (3:1-9) gives us a wonderful clue in this direction. “The souls of the upright are in the hands of God, and no torment can touch them. To the unenlightened they appear to die. Their departure was regarded as a disaster, their leaving us as annihilation, but they are at peace”. God desires and prepares a suitable and eternal wonderful home for his people. Therefore it is not necessary to begin to think of erecting a mausoleum mansion in which we will be buried in such that it becomes a home for us after death. Our attention should be drawn to the fact that our homes is created and made for us by God, eternal incomprehensive but a home to delight us.
Jesus tells us in John (14:1-3)”Do not let your heart be troubled. You trust in God trust also in me. In my fathers house there are many places to live in……I am going now to prepare a place for you and after I have gone and prepared you a place. I shall return to take you to myself”. In this way Jesus clearly points to us about the great preparation he has in store for those who follow him .There is a great reward that accompanies them after their heroic witnessing here on earth. No wonder St.Paul will exclaim (1 Cor.2:9)”what no eye has see no ear has heard what the mind of man cannot visualize all that God has prepared for those who love him……”
Upon these testimonies of sacred scripture, we know we have a homeland with God our father and his homeland belong to us if we live, move and have our being quite rooted in him. In the Eucharistic preface of the dead it states “he chose to die that he might free all man from dying. He gave his life that we may live forever”. Another of this preface says “Death is the just reward for our sins, yet when at last we die, your loving kindness calls us back to life in company with Christ whose victory is our redemption.” Indeed of our own merit we cannot ascend into a glorious eternal life that God has in store for us…..But by our unmeritous but God Gratuitous grace we are justified in the sight of God. Therefore our celebration is not far from having these departed ones in prayer so that, through their own human fragility they cannot be justified. But with our prayer for them God will tender mercy and grant them a place of joy and peace. As a militant church we must intensify our prayers for them and ask God to look on them with mercy.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
WHY ARE SOME PASTORS DECEIVES THEIR MEMBERS?
STHERE IS SOMETHING THAT BAFFLES ME WITH THIS NEW GENERATION CHURCHES WHICH I BELIEVE DISTURBS OTHER PEOPLE AND IS HIGH TIME THE SO CALL PASTORS PUT AN END TO IT.
DOES IT MEAN THAT PFN CANNOT FORMULATE A PARTERN ON HOW THEIR PREACHING OUGHT TO LOOK LIKE JUST LIKE THE ANGLICAN AND CATHOLIC CHURCH.WHAT BAFFLES ME MOST IS THAT ANYTHING THE PASTORS LIKE IS WHAT THEY PREACH, FOR EXAMPLE IS NOT IS PREACHED TODAY IN WARRI WILL BE WHAT IS BEEN PREACHED TODAY IN LAGOS.
I WAS IN A CHURCH FOR MY FRIEND'S CHILD DEDICATION IN ONE OF THE NEW GENERATION CHURCH IN WARRI, AS THE PASTOR WAS PREACHING HE STARTED MAKING COMMENTS AND REFRENCES THAT SOME MEMBERS HAS MORE THAT THREE DIP-FREEZER AND THAT HE NEED ONE NOT THAT HE SAID WAS WHAT SURPRISES ME BUT THAT HE WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT TO SAY IT.
MY QUESTION IS THIS,IS IT NOT HIGH TIME SOME OF THIS PASTORS STOP DECEIVING THEIR MEMBERS?
DOES IT MEAN THAT PFN CANNOT FORMULATE A PARTERN ON HOW THEIR PREACHING OUGHT TO LOOK LIKE JUST LIKE THE ANGLICAN AND CATHOLIC CHURCH.WHAT BAFFLES ME MOST IS THAT ANYTHING THE PASTORS LIKE IS WHAT THEY PREACH, FOR EXAMPLE IS NOT IS PREACHED TODAY IN WARRI WILL BE WHAT IS BEEN PREACHED TODAY IN LAGOS.
I WAS IN A CHURCH FOR MY FRIEND'S CHILD DEDICATION IN ONE OF THE NEW GENERATION CHURCH IN WARRI, AS THE PASTOR WAS PREACHING HE STARTED MAKING COMMENTS AND REFRENCES THAT SOME MEMBERS HAS MORE THAT THREE DIP-FREEZER AND THAT HE NEED ONE NOT THAT HE SAID WAS WHAT SURPRISES ME BUT THAT HE WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT TO SAY IT.
MY QUESTION IS THIS,IS IT NOT HIGH TIME SOME OF THIS PASTORS STOP DECEIVING THEIR MEMBERS?
THE SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING.
For many, if one receives this sacrament, he is already at the point of death and nothing will make that person to survive. For this reason, many are afraid to call a priest whenever one is sick because if the neighbors hear that they called a priest for that person, they will conclude that the person will die. Although the sacrament began as a ritual of healing, over time the emphasis shifted to the forgiveness of sins on the sickbed, when such forgiveness would be the final preparation for heaven.
The second Vatican Council returned the original meaning to the sacrament by emphasizing that it is not only for those who are at the point of death, but for anyone who is seriously ill, including mental or spiritual illness. It also helped move the Anointing away from a private service and back toward a community-based one.
Today we are all aware that tensions, fear and anxiety about the future affect not only our mind but our body as well. These illnesses can be serious. They can move the priest to ask for the healing touch of Christ in the Sacrament of Anointing. Persons with the disease of alcoholism or persons suffering from other addictions can be anointed, so also are those suffering from various mental disorders. The anxiety before exploratory surgery to determine if cancer is present is a situation in which Christ’s power can be invoked in the sacrament. In these cases the person does not have to wait until the illness is so grave that he or she is in the hospital or institutionalized to celebrate the sacrament.Sacraments, after all, are community celebrations. It is preferable to celebrate them in the context of family and parish even before going to the hospital. The sick person has a better opportunity to appreciate the prayers and symbols of the rite when in her or his customary worshiping community.
The second Vatican Council returned the original meaning to the sacrament by emphasizing that it is not only for those who are at the point of death, but for anyone who is seriously ill, including mental or spiritual illness. It also helped move the Anointing away from a private service and back toward a community-based one.
Today we are all aware that tensions, fear and anxiety about the future affect not only our mind but our body as well. These illnesses can be serious. They can move the priest to ask for the healing touch of Christ in the Sacrament of Anointing. Persons with the disease of alcoholism or persons suffering from other addictions can be anointed, so also are those suffering from various mental disorders. The anxiety before exploratory surgery to determine if cancer is present is a situation in which Christ’s power can be invoked in the sacrament. In these cases the person does not have to wait until the illness is so grave that he or she is in the hospital or institutionalized to celebrate the sacrament.Sacraments, after all, are community celebrations. It is preferable to celebrate them in the context of family and parish even before going to the hospital. The sick person has a better opportunity to appreciate the prayers and symbols of the rite when in her or his customary worshiping community.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
CATHOLIC WOMEN:NEED FOR AUGUST MEETING.
The month of August has come and gone. This is the month in which Catholic women who reside in their home communities and those who reside outside their community hold a common meeting. This comprises women who are indigenes of a particular place by birth or by marriage. The reasons why such meetings are held in the month of August may not be farfeched.In the month of August, there is a short period of dry whether popularly known as “August break”. This makes August suitable for gatherings. Being the eight month of the year, it is well spaced out from the festivity periods like January of New Year, Easter and Christmas seasons. These festive periods attract so many persons to their towns and villages and in order not to travel too frequently, August seems most appropriate.
Reasons for August Meeting.
There are many reasons why women come together from their different places of abode to hold august meeting. It is a period of re-union for home and ‘abroad’ women. It is a forum for women who were married from outside the community to interact with and know more about his people, their customs and traditions. It is an avenue for women to rub minds together on various issues affecting womenfolk. Such issues include health matters, children’s welfare, marriages and family life. Spiritual matters are not left out as church leaders are invited to give talks on issues bothering on spiritual matters, church’s teaching on family planning, divource, abortion, temporary separation and so on.
During August meetings, women discuss and make inputs on sustainable development of the local church in particular and the community in general.Furthermore,it is a period of evangelization as many people are converted to the faith when they see different activities going on.
Apart from all these, other activities like recognition of men and women who have contributed to the growth of the local church are carried out. Improvement of the lots of women is another major aim of August meeting, and of course, fund raising for the achievement of goals and objectives.
Who Should Attend August Meeting?
As stated earlier, it is a meeting of Catholic women who reside within and outside the communities. It was originally carried out by Christian women from the eastern part of the country. It is therefore a borrowed culture which spread over Catholic faithful and to Anglican faithful.
Challenges of August Meeting.
So many challenges face the organization of August meeting. As earlier stated, it is borrowed tradition which was introduced to every part of Catholicism in the country. The objectives of the organization proper have not been fully imbibed. Many women do not know where to pitch their tent whether home parish or the residential parish, especially those who reside in towns very close to their home parish. The disunity and distrust among women have made the achievement of goals impossible. The abroad members do not see the need for the annual general meeting. What this means is that the women at home alone hold the meeting with very poor attendance from the abroad women. The economy of the nation is another obstacle militating against the attendance of annual general meeting by some women who find it difficult to make ends meet.
The Way Forward.
Since August meeting is a reunion of home and abroad women, all those concerned should endeavour to attend so as to make an input in the development of the church for as the saying goes east, west, north or south, home is the best. Be that as it may, it should not be a do or die affair. Women should unite and be their sister’s keeper at all time. Those who do not understand the concept of mass return should know that the August meeting is not the same as CWO meeting of the parish where one is domiciled.
Reasons for August Meeting.
There are many reasons why women come together from their different places of abode to hold august meeting. It is a period of re-union for home and ‘abroad’ women. It is a forum for women who were married from outside the community to interact with and know more about his people, their customs and traditions. It is an avenue for women to rub minds together on various issues affecting womenfolk. Such issues include health matters, children’s welfare, marriages and family life. Spiritual matters are not left out as church leaders are invited to give talks on issues bothering on spiritual matters, church’s teaching on family planning, divource, abortion, temporary separation and so on.
During August meetings, women discuss and make inputs on sustainable development of the local church in particular and the community in general.Furthermore,it is a period of evangelization as many people are converted to the faith when they see different activities going on.
Apart from all these, other activities like recognition of men and women who have contributed to the growth of the local church are carried out. Improvement of the lots of women is another major aim of August meeting, and of course, fund raising for the achievement of goals and objectives.
Who Should Attend August Meeting?
As stated earlier, it is a meeting of Catholic women who reside within and outside the communities. It was originally carried out by Christian women from the eastern part of the country. It is therefore a borrowed culture which spread over Catholic faithful and to Anglican faithful.
Challenges of August Meeting.
So many challenges face the organization of August meeting. As earlier stated, it is borrowed tradition which was introduced to every part of Catholicism in the country. The objectives of the organization proper have not been fully imbibed. Many women do not know where to pitch their tent whether home parish or the residential parish, especially those who reside in towns very close to their home parish. The disunity and distrust among women have made the achievement of goals impossible. The abroad members do not see the need for the annual general meeting. What this means is that the women at home alone hold the meeting with very poor attendance from the abroad women. The economy of the nation is another obstacle militating against the attendance of annual general meeting by some women who find it difficult to make ends meet.
The Way Forward.
Since August meeting is a reunion of home and abroad women, all those concerned should endeavour to attend so as to make an input in the development of the church for as the saying goes east, west, north or south, home is the best. Be that as it may, it should not be a do or die affair. Women should unite and be their sister’s keeper at all time. Those who do not understand the concept of mass return should know that the August meeting is not the same as CWO meeting of the parish where one is domiciled.
Friday, October 9, 2009
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PREPARE ONESELF TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST.
To respond to the Lord’s invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood, the believer must be prepared.Saint Paul urges us to examine our conscience.” Whoever therefore eats the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1Cor.11:27).Before we approach the table of the Lord it is important to reflect on our life, ask God’s forgiveness for our failings and if necessary, due to serious sin, to avail ourselves of sacramental confession. Recent polls indicate that a significant number of Catholics do not have a complete understanding of the Eucharist and specifically the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Whatever the cause of such misunderstanding of faith, all who approach the table of the lord need to recognize the significance of their action and the importance of their spiritual preparation.
It sometimes becomes the task of older members of the family especially parents, to review with younger ones what is happening at mass and who we receive in Holy Communion. Grandparents have in some instances a unique and privileged role as a teacher of the faith in an age where the awareness of the real presence seems to be diminished.
It sometimes becomes the task of older members of the family especially parents, to review with younger ones what is happening at mass and who we receive in Holy Communion. Grandparents have in some instances a unique and privileged role as a teacher of the faith in an age where the awareness of the real presence seems to be diminished.
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