Nigerian catholic reporter edition 10

N300

...turning lives to Christ

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

D l Declining Population of Catholic Priests in the United States Mother Teresa to be Canonised September 4 Don’t sexualise our kids

Why would some leaders choose Bishops for the church? - Bishop Onah

Contents

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

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Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Njoku Remigius Chukwuemeka Phone: 08023165432; 07080129333 E-Mail: njokundii@yahoo.co.uk Editorial Cosultants Eric Okeke Emma Onwumere Simon Njoku Editorial Advisers Robert Ogbuagu Anikwe Isaac Okorafor Stanley Egbochukwu Chinedu Anamelechi Onyekachi Nwosu Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Peter Onyekwelu Okafor

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Graphics/Designs Kelechi Okoro Emmanuels Marketing Reginald Onwuchuruba Andrew Kelechi Njoku Jacinta Nwankwo Jane Agakwu Online Editor Owotoke Bamidele Francis Contributors Mark Oguh Dr Patrick Ijewere Dr Eze Godwin Chidi Nduka Ajah Prof. Michael Ogunu Most Rev. Lucius I. Ugorji Very Rev. Msgr. (Dr) John Asuqor Aniagwu Very Rev. Msgr. Livinus Ukah Very Rev. Msgr. Francis Ogunmodede Rev. Fr. Innocent Ikazobor Opogah Rev. Fr. Anthony Mario Ozelle Rev. Fr. James Mary Chiemenem Rev. Fr. Anthony Nwosu Rev. Fr. Anthony Eboh Rev. Fr. Iuvenis Iheme Rev Fr. Dayo Jenfa Rev. Cyriacus Nnadozie Onwuhara Rev. Fr. Bournaventure Ashibi Rev. Fr. Kingsley Idaewor Rev. Fr. Michael Afrifa Rev. Fr. Kenneth Eze Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ibeneme Valentine Agwulonu Romanus Egbulefu Rev. Sr. Eunice Ikufisile Rev. Sr.Philomena Ezeji Rev. Fr. Charles Uganwa Ambruse Njoku Hilary Agu (South - South Co-ordinator)

Changing your career in the New Year?

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2016: Look at the past with gratitude, embrace the future with hope

PAGE 36-37»

Preaching of the Gospel and Money PAGE 41» Mother Teresa to be Canonised September 4

PAGE 42»

Legal Advisers Barr. Maurice Nnadi

...turning lives to Christ

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Phone: 07080129333 e-mail: info@nigeriancatholicreporter. com Website: nigeriancatholicreporter.com

Vatican Roundup

Live your faith during Lent, perform works of mercy PAGE 18-19»

Wellness and Air Quality -2 PAGE 38» Nigerian Catholic Reporter

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Editorial Suite

Remigius Emeka Njoku

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ublishing the Nigerian Catholic Reporter in the past 22 months has been challenging for us. But our team is determined to hang in there and deepen the teachings of the Catholic Church and enlighten the faithful with current developments in the church with the variety of stories we offer each edition.

We are encouraged by the critics, comments and responses of our readers 窶田lergy and laity- including non-Catholics, and the patronage of our advertisers and parishes that sell copies of our magazine.

We thank them for their feedback and support. We are determined to offer the best content each edition, and to enrich it for

the benefit of our readers and the church.

This is the season of Lent and Easter. It is the season to reflect on the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. We have reflected the mood of the season in this edition. The Holy Father, Pope Francis delivers a Lenten message and urges the faithful to live our faith and express it. Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Most Rev Godfrey Onah speaks on the achievements of the Catholic faith in his diocese.

A Catholic Priest speaks on his work in his parish, and there are plenty of stories and briefs on the activities of various bodies such as the Catholic Men Organization (CMO for your reading pleasure.

Enjoy it.

We are encouraged by the critics, comments and responses of our readers 窶田lergy and laity- including non-Catholics, and the patronage of our advertisers and parishes that sell copies of our magazine.

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

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Letters

Too many Churches, so much Sin, a paradox

O

ut of ten buildings in our cities and towns today, four are used as churches or mosques. Even in our rural areas, within every distance, one finds a church or mosque.

Nigerians are known world over as religious people. Though the number of mosques or churches has become overwhelming, crime rate, corruption, drug abuse, embezzlement, greed, nepotism, selfishness, and avarice have grown and become a cankerworm and culture.

People troop to mosques and churches for prayers, fellowships, vigils, and Sunday Schools. They attend services but the moment we leave the church building or arena; we become the opposite of the person people saw in the church some moments ago. Some even quarrel right inside the church or mosque. Some Catholics ignore the shaking of hands when the moment

comes just because they harbuor malice. What a paradox!

Poverty, disease and hunger are threatening our people. Public amenities such as pipe-borne water, hospitals, schools, and roads are in short supply. Our politicians, civil servants, public servants, and even some security operators collect bribes on highways; embezzle huge sums of money meant for pensioners, salary for the poor and low motivated workers.

One cannot explain how an individual steals billions of Naira meant for the common good – money that their grandchildren cannot finish. The anger is that these people are the same found in mosques and churches every Sundays and Fridays. No wonder when God created man, He regretted.

We have forgotten that in God’s presence there are no Tribunals, Appeal Courts and even Supreme Courts. After life is God’s judgment.

Therefore we should strive in our lives

May God grant success to the work of your hands

I

laud the efforts you are making to help promote the Catholic faith especially within the Archdiocese of Lagos. May God reward you accordingly.

I believe the Parish Priests will be ready to support your initiative as appropriate.

Kindly engage them in discussion of the areas you wish to ask for collaboration.

As you contribute towards the growth of the Church and the work of evangelization, may God grant success to the work of your hands.

With every good wish and prayers.

Yours Faithfully, Alfred Adewale Martins Archbishop of Lagos.

to be Christ like. After all, how long does one live in this world? Stop the craze for self-aggrandizement, mindboggling embezzlement and stealing, brazen looting of public funds and all the criminalities pervading our society these days.

Let us purge ourselves, repent from our sins, and return to our God because in Him is life and everlasting joy and happiness. Money does not give perpetual joy. No wonder, Mahatma Gandhi the Indian Spiritual leader said “I don’t hate your Christ, but I hate your religion. Let us therefore support President Mohammed Buhari in his fight against corruption. Though we know it has become endemic, reducing it to a minimum level is a relief.

Hilary Agu South South. Bureau Chief.

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Nigerian Catholic Repo Reporter

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

The Question

Should President Muhammadu Buhari slow down on anti-graft war?

NO:

VicePresident YemiOsinbajo

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently under intense pressure to stop his administration’s ongoing anti-corruption war. We get regular messages from some Nigerian elite saying ‘cool down.’ It is a very strange morality the position of those putting pressure on the government is that it (corruption) is not a big deal. Those in that category have been advising the government that it should merely ask the looters of public treasury to return the money and go free.

Despite the pressure, the present administration will not relent in the anti-corruption fight. Contrary to the argument of the elite, a new set of Nigerians, who would not compromise their values but would maintain a sense of right and wrong, is emerging.

The man on the street is very clear; so whatever some of these elites say, we shall keep our focus on the masses who voted for us.

It was unacceptable that in the last 16 years, there was not a single Federal Government completed road or rail project. …costs of projects were often inflated as people, entrusted with public trust, struggled to enrich themselves at the expense of the people. It was the same inordinate de-

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

sire for personal enrichment that explained why money meant to procure arms was distributed among persons at a time when the territorial integrity of the nation was being attacked.

The insurgency has gone on for six years because government could not adequately equip the military.

The present administration has no other agenda but the progress of the country. Mr President and I, are extremely focussed on what we need to do. We will focus on critical things, infrastructure and social investments.

Yes:

Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie

NO:

Founder and General Overseer of the Household of God Church, Pastor Chris Okotie More than at any time in our history, we need discipline in the armed forces. And, thank God we have an ex-general, who is an epitome of discipline and transparency, in power.

I urge Nigerians to support his anticorruption campaign which aims to rid this country of PDP’s legacy of a government of the corrupt, by the corrupt, and for the corrupt

He (Buhari) must retool, refocus and aggressively face the social, economic (fiscal and monetary) problems we have head on, without letting the anti-corruption drive look like a political distraction.

A snail-paced and disordered methodology in governance, his apparent disdain for judicial authorities and decisions, a lost-today-and-foundtomorrow 2016 Budget debacle, and a rather rudderless and confused Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with an unclear monetary policy strategy inevitably increasing the economic uncertainties being faced by Nigerians, have set alarm bells ringing in my mind and in the minds of many discerning Nigerians.

“Indeed, his perceived discordant relationship with the leadership of the Legislature has many naysayers chuckling and remarking that President Buhari’s government is heading into his comfort zone, a one man show.”

7 Ehiagwaina celebrates golden wedding jubilee

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Briefs

Try and make your marriage work Lady - Ilomuanya President of Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) St Lawrence Catholic Church, Isheri-Olofin Lagos, Lady Victoria Ilomuanya (LSM) has enjoined women to try and make their marriages work.

Lady Ilomuanya who made this call in an exclusive interview with NCR noted, “Experience teaches that things do go terribly wrong. People do make mistakes, infidelities do happen. Hurt does appear on the agenda. Spouses do become victims and oppressors. Marriages do collapse.

There are a lot of causalities to prove this. And because marriage is a sacrament, the church refuses to see marriage as a casual experiment for adventurous people. We therefore, need to go back to Genesis to see the original plan of God”.

“Man and woman were put

together in the world so that they can live together and fill each other’s need for companionship. They must meet together, talk to each other, and complement each other.

If a couple fails to achieve this goal, it will always be unhappy though it may share the same house, goods and children, because the primary purpose of marriage is reciprocal love between husband and wife” she went further to say.

She also charged all women to acquire skills to help them boost family income.

Two winners to emerge from De Paul Agrobiz Venture Agro Empowerment Promo Two winners are to emerge from the on-going De Paul Agrobiz Venture inspiring and educative agro-empowerment tour promo. The winners will emerge through a draw to be conducted at the Vincentian Retreat Centre, Ojodu, Lagos, October 9, among participants in the ‘Win a Study Trop to Songhai, Porto Novo”.

According to Tour Coordinator and Guide, Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo, “the promo is part of the unique agro study tour to Songhai, Porto Novo aimed at exposing Nigerian farmers and potential farmers to starting, growing or improving output; getting exposed to new techniques to boost farm income and; gaining a transforming network with like-minded agricultural professionals.”

Interested participants can obtain the promo tickets at the Vincentian Retreat Centre, Ojodu, Lagos or contact Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo on 09098476336.

Romanus N. Egbulefu

What God has join together let no man put asunder. On January 2, 2016 a large number of guests, and clerics assembled to witness the renewal of marital vows between Engr. (Sir) Pius Osoba Ehiagwina and Lady Lucy Airoboman Ehiagwina, JP who wedded in 1965.

The occasion commenced with Holy Mass at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Ladipo/Oshodi officiated by Monsignor Gabriel Osu – Director of Social Communication, Lagos Archdiocese and other Priests.

In his Homily, the Chief celebrant commended the couple that have lived peacefully together as husband and wife for fifty years, anadvised potential spouses and those married to borrow a leaf from them.

His Grace Most Rev. (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins – Archbishop Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos sent in a congratulatory message. Part of it read: “It is by the grace of God that one attains the prestigious “Golden Jubilee” in our present world where violence and other social ills have continued to threaten human life span”. Similar messages came from friends and organisations in the universal church and society.

A befitting reception took place at Unity Centre at Isaac John Street, G.R.A Ikeja. A good number of Knights and Ladies of St John International from Council 447 attended. Sir Ehiagwina spoke with joy during the occcasion and appreciated God for sustaining him and his family. He wished other couples a more fruitful marriage. The occasion was also used to mark the seventy year’s birthday anniversary of Lady Lucy Airoboman Ehiagwina, JP. Mama cheerfully showed gratitude to God concerning the success of their matrimony and rejoiced with the august visitors.

Their marriage is blessed with four children: Osoba, Omonefe, Abhulime and Eromosele. May the Almighty God continue to grant them good health and wisdom as they grow older in the matrimonial institution.

Engr. (Sir) Pius Osoba Ehiagwina and his family are practicing Catholics. He belongs to the Catholic Men Organisation Nigeria, Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, St Vincent De Paul and SS Peter & Paul Society. He is a Steering Member and Chairman of Parish Hospital of St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Ladipo/Oshodi.

Sir and Lady Ehiagwina with Knights of St John International Council 447

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

8 News

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Northern Muslim elites laid foundation for B’ Haram –Kukah

he Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, says terrorism in Nigeria was indirectly created by northern leaders who used religion to deceive poor muslims.

Kukah said this in his keynote address at a conference organised by the Islamic Welfare Foundation at the Fountain University, Osogbo.

At the event titled, ‘The Muslim agenda for Nigeria: Challenges of Development and Good Governance’, the cleric said the fresh agitation for an Islamic state by Boko Haram could be traced to the promise made by northern leaders to ensure the total implementation of Sharia law.

He said, “A hypocritical elite continues to believe that it can claim the benefits of democracy but use it only to consolidate its hold on power. This is what has laid the foundation for what is now Boko Haram.

“We must locate the current crisis of Boko Haram within the context of the inability of the northern Muslim elite to live by their own dubious creed of being Muslims. They preached Sharia Law but only for the poor.

They preach a religion that encourages education, yet their own people are held in the bondage of ignorance.

“They came to power on the basis of a democratic society but they turned around and declared Sharia to generate a false consciousness among the

poor that they want a theocracy.

“They did not wish to live by the

Mother Teresa M to be Canonised September 4

same standards, so they decided to live their own Islam in the capitals of

other Teresa will be made a saint on September 4, Pope Francis announced on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, 19 years after the death of the Nobel Laureate who spent 45 years serving the poor and sick on the streets of Calcutta.

“Pope Francis today approved Mother Teresa’s elevation to sainthood and set September 4 as the date for her canonisation,” said a message from the Vatican to the

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Mother’s House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta.

Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity and spent 45 years serving the poor, the sick, the orphaned, and the dying on the streets of Kolkata. She died at the age of 87 in Calcutta in 1997.

The elevation of Mother Teresa to sainthood came after the Church recognised a second miracle earlier, the Missionaries of Charity said.

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 the world away from the prying eyes of their own people. Boko Haram began as a revolt against this mendacity, subterfuge and hypocrisy.”

Kukah said northern leaders failed to explain to the poor masses that Sharia law and democracy could not co-exist.

The cleric stated that the normal

argument that Boko Haram was not a Muslim group was nonsensical because Boko Haram’s aim was the total implementation of Sharia law, which Muslim leaders had promised them in the past.

Kukah added, “Now, I hear Muslims in northern Nigeria hiding under the cover of the facts by saying: ‘These Boko Haram people are not Muslims.

They do not represent us. Well, first, they are your own children. You must take responsibility for what has made them what they are today and to the rest of society.

The cleric noted that the kidnapping of the Chibok girls and the use of girls as sex slaves in the North were in line with the ideology that a girl, who is still an adolescent, could be married off to an older man.

He added that, “The promise to institute Sharia has become the most potent tool for political mobilisation and organisation. Till date, the tactics may have changed, but the essence has not. Rather than face the tough questions of how and why over 15 million children in the northern states are on the streets; how and why the northern states are falling behind on almost every index of development, the northern Muslim elite continues to live for just the moment, with no plans for tomorrow.

“Should we pretend that a society that allows the forced marriage of its young daughters could frown on the idea of a group kidnapping and forcing young girls into sexual slavery? Islam must have an honest look at the mirror and have an internal discussion.”

The Catholic bishop urged northern leaders to stop pretending as if they did not know the root cause of Boko Haram.

9

‘We don’t want your dirty money’, Pope tells patrons

P

ope Francis has issued a stinging rebuke to rich patrons who offer the Church dirty money gained through exploitation, telling them to take back their cheques and burn them.

“I think of some benefactors of the Church that say ‘take this offer for the Church’, and it is profit from the blood of those abused, treated as slaves, workers with poorly paid jobs,” he told the faithful on Saint Peter’s Square.

“I say to these people: ‘Please, take back your cheque, burn it’.

The people of God, the Church, does not need dirty money,” he said at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican.

The Argentine has repeatedly denounced those who profit from slavery, corruption or exploitation, including several heated attacks on the mafia, from Italy to Mexico.

In 2014 he expelled all unrepentant mafia members from the Church and condemned them to Hell in the afterlife in a move which sparked fears of retaliation from the underworld.

“We have now received an official confirmation from Vatican that Pope Francis has approved Mother’s sainthood and set September 4 as the date for her canonisation. We are very excited and happy about it,” Missionaries of Charity Spokesperson Sunita Kumar said.

Archbishop Thomas D’Souza said that the canonisation is a formality but an important one.

“This is the last step that the Pope needs the cardinal and sign the decree,” D’Souza said.

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

10 News ISSELE-UKU DIOCESE

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Bishop Elue ordains `13 Deacons, urges them to proclaim the word of God

By Fr Charles Uganwa

T

he Bishop of Issele-Uku diocese, Most Rev Dr Michael Odogwu Elue at the Cathedral Church of Issele-Uku December 19, 2015 raised thirteen young men to order of deacons. The event attracted people from all walks of life. It was very solemn and brought out the rich liturgical tradition of the holy Roman Catholic Church.

The ordination rite took place within a pontifical High Mass celebrated by the Bishop of the diocese and concelebrated by many priests from within and outside the diocese of Issele-Uku. Preaching during the Mass, Bishop Elue urged them to preach the word of God to all adding that the pulpit is not a place for political discourse, or where personal opinion of the preacher is highlighted.

The Prelate urged the new deacons not to preach their own word but the word of God adding that they should not use the podium to abuse the people entrusted into their hands. The Bishop later outlined the duties of the deacon which include: bring God’s word to believers, preside over public prayer, baptize and assist in marriages, prepare the sacrifice and give the Lord’s body and blood to the com-

munity of believers. They are to bring viaticum to the sick and assist priests at Mass among other duties.

The Bishop urged the new deacons to imbibe the virtues outlined in 1Timothy 3 which will enable them to become worthy servants of God. The new deacons are currently in their

Bishop Michael Elue during the ordination final year of study at Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Seminary, Ibadan, Oyo

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

Director of Social Communication Issele-Uku Diocese

State and the All Saints Major Seminary, Uhiele, Ekpoma, Edo State.

They have been found worthy to be entrusted with the sacred mysteries having undergone studies for many years during their formation and involved in pastoral assignments within the diocese.

They studied philosophy, theology and related disciples in the seminary and gone through spiritual experiences involving prayer, retreats and serious meditations on the sacred scriptures and the word of God. The deaconate ordination will place them on temporary order while anticipating their priestly ordination in few months from now upon recommendations of the seminary formators and diocesan authority.

As ordained deacons, they are expected to assist the priests and Bishop in dispensing sacraments and doing jobs that may be assigned to them in the parishes and school. The new deacons are: Anagwo Valentine, Anene Cyril, Chibuzor Patrick, Chukwurimazu Philip Ikem Emmanuel Nnamdi Franklyn.

Nwabuzor Augustine, Nwadiolu Callistus, Nwaeni Anthony, Odia Clement, Ofili Emmanuel, Onyegasi Amthony, Ugwummadu Solomon.

They are expected to be ordained priest in August 2016.

Ofuasia bags Ph.D, launches book D

Dr Ofuasia pose with some friends during the ocassion

Rev. Fr. Charles Uganwa

ecember 27, 2015, as the whole world was rejoicing for the birth of the saviour, Jesus Christ, Dr (Mrs) Josephine Ofuasia gathered family members, friends, well-wishers and Church members to a three – fold celebration and thanksgiving to God for his faithfulness and blessings.

In a grand style, she celebrated her successful retirement from the civil service, after thirty –five years of meritorious service, bagging a doc-

torate degree, and authoring a book which will contribute to knowledge of the members of the society. According to her, these achievements became possible because God has been behind her adding that all her life, she will remain grateful to God and friends who supported her. The event started with a Holy Mass to show her trust and faith in God at St John the Baptist Church, Agbor, and attracted many from within and outside the Agbor metropolis.

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

11

Fr Emmanuel Patrick, OSA, marks Golden Jubilee in grand style

By Fr Charles Uganwa

F

amily members, friends, and parishioners of St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Ibusa , gathered December 20 to celebrate the 50th birthday anniversary of its parish priest, Fr Emmanuel Patrick, OSA. The event started with a holy mass celebrated by the Fr Patrick and concelebrated by many priests within and outside the diocese of Issele-Uku. It was a gathering of old friends of the priest and exchange of pleasantries. The programme of the day featured, presentation of addresses, good will messages, cultural dance, toast of the celebrant and presentation of gifts.

Highlight was the cutting of anniversary cake amidst cheers from the congregation. Fr Emmanuel Patrick is a consummate priest, teacher, preacher, pastor, a man of high organizational acumen, and a retreat moderator. He is a man of many parts, as his pedigree clearly shows. Unlike the proverbial Jack-of-all-trades and master of none, Fr Emmanuel has acted his part well in every endeavour providence assigned him at different stages of his eventful life.

Born December 20, 1965 into the family of Late Mr and Mrs Patrick and Rebecca, he was named Emmanuel as his birth was a few days away from the celebration of the birth of Christ. True to his name, Fr Emmanuel is readily available to render services to all as a pastor irrespective of creed, religion or class. He is a good shepherd who is ready to do anything for the safety, happiness By: Chioma Ajafuo

D

ecember 2015 was a day of joy and celebration in Asaba, Delta State, as Ashland University, Ohio, USA in partnership with the Institute of Educational Management of Nigeria, and the Institute for Peace and Security conferred Doctorate degrees on worthy Nigerians.

The event which took place at Asaba Ladies League Hall attracted many from all walks of life. Speaking at the occasion, Nigerian Regent of the university, Ambassador Professor Chidi Ewiriodo noted that education is the process by which people acquire knowledge, skills habits, values and attitudes’ adding that education is very valuable in Nigeria today than in the past. He pointed out that education is im-

Fr, PAtrick pose with some friends during the ocassion and well being of his flock, He is indeed there for all.

Fr Emmanuel Patrick hails from, Takau in Kafanchan, in Jema Local Government Area of Kaduna state. He attended Aduwan 1 Primary School, Kafanchan, for primary education 19731979 and later Government Secondary School, Fadan Kaje from 1980 to 1985 for his secondary education. He subsequently proceeded to the congregation of St Augustine in 1986 to answer the call of God to become a priest. He attended St Augustine’s Seminary Jos where studied Philosophy, Theology and related disciplines for seven years.

He was finally professed in 1993 and was ordained priest same year in the Augustinian Order. Soon after ordina-

tion, he was posted to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Lagos as an associate pastor. Few years after, he was appointed the parish priest of the parish that had almost fifty thousand parishioners.

A well travelled priest; Fr Emmanuel has visited many countries in all the continents of the world. These visits help shape his horizon and make him relate well with all and sundry. A gifted preacher, Fr Patrick moderates retreats for priests, religious and laity and is known for preaching well to the admiration of all. His homilies make enduring impact on the congregation for enhanced results. He is a simple man, humble, kind, and has high organizational acumen.

Nwoga Alfred Bags Ph.D

portant because it helps people get more out of life.

Prof Chidi said that the university which was founded in 1878 in Ohio, USA has a mission through internet, to enable adults globally have access to education through ICT. One of those conferred with doctoral degree was Alfred Nwoga, a good Catholic, an academician and a man with high organizational acumen. Dr. Nwoga Alfred comes from the family of late Mr./ Mrs. Nwoga Ijehon of Idumuwe quarters Ekwuoma, Abavo in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State Nigeria.

In 1985, he proceeded to University of Nigeria Nsukka ,on a study leave where

he studied Agricultural Science Education and graduated with a B.Sc in 1988.

In 1989, he was deployed to St. Charles College Abavo where he held the position of Vice Principal and Head of Agricultural Science department (1989-1996).

In 1997, he was promoted to Principal.

Dr. Nwoga Alfred has held various leadership positions such as president of Agricultural Science Teaching Association of Ika chapter (1990-2000).

He is an active member of Catholic Men Organization of Nigeria, St. Patrick Church Azuowa-Abavo, and has received various leadership awards from many organizations in Nigeria and abroad.

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

News ISSELE-UKU DIOCESE

By: ChiomaAjafuo

M

embers of Issele-Uku Diocesan Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), recently marked the 96th priestly ordination anniversary of late Rev.Fr. Paul Obodoechine Emechete, the first West African priest of the Sahara. They started some years ago, to remember the life and times of Rev.Fr. Paul Obodoechine Emechete, as the first West African priest. They do so every year on the feast of Epiphany.

The celebration took place at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Asaba. It kicked off with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the parish priest, Msgr. Stephen Uzomah, with six other priests.

Rev. Fr. Christopher Uba in his

Group remembers Fr. Paul Emechete homily stated that at Christmas, Christians celebrate God’s goodness, mercy and love which is the revelation of God through his son Jesus Christ.

At Christmas, the people of God celebrate their union with God. Hence, the priest explained that Epiphany means the manifestation of the real nature of Christ as King, priest and prophet.

As priest, Christ sacrificed himself for the sins of the whole world. As a prophet, he intercedes for all mankind while his kingship is of mercy and love. Fr. Uba noted that, 96 years ago, God choose Fr. Paul Emechete which could be termed as God’s Epiphany in Issele-Uku diocese. In fulfilment of the Prophet Isaiah’s teachings, he was chosen from the Gentle Church of Nigeria, the symbol of our acceptance of the gospel of Christ. Fr. Uba found

some resemblance in the life of Fr. Paul Emechete and Christ his master, adding that Christ was born by a carpenter and a peasant mother. So it was with Fr. Emechete. Christ came from pagan country, so was Fr. Emechete.

Jesus was rejected by his own people.

Fr. Paul Emechete’s family was ostracized. Jesus was celebrated after his death when the centurion exclaimed that truly, Jesus is the son of God. Today, Issele-Uku diocese is celebrating Fr. Emechete many years after his death. Fr. Ubah prayed Fr. Paul will not be denied the light of the kingdom of God. To the faithful, he prayed God not to deny them the inheritance promised by Christ. Fr. Paul died on 10th May 1948 and was buried at Ezi. He spoke English, Latin, French, German and three main Nigerian languages fluently.

Members of Issele-Uku diocesan CMO at the 96th priestly ordination anniversary of late Rev.Fr. Paul Obodoechine Emechete,

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

13

Don’t sexualise our kids

By Oluseye Igbafe

A

s I waited in the departure lounge of a local airport, I noticed there were many children. It was understandable since it was summer holiday. One other thing I noticed was the way most of the children were dressed. The girls were dressed in bum shorts, halter necks, cut-off jeans, etc. The clothes weren’t the issue per se; it was the overall look of the children that bothered me. That was definitely not the first time I noticed it.

A few months before, I had taken my kids to a birthday party and found myself in what could easily have been a night club for kids. Scanty clothing such as tight or very short clothes, bum shorts, long weaves, etc, seemed to be the dress code. I noticed my daughter glancing around her, probably wondering, “What in God’s world are these other children wearing?”

Not long after, the kids were called out to dance to the hit songs of the season these songs in my opinion should be rated PG 13. Four - Six year olds trooped to the dance floor, miming the sexually explicit songs and gyrating their bodies in the most sensual manner. They could have given Beyonce a run for her money.

They ran their hands over their bodies, shook their booties hard while their parents cheered them on. The boys had their upper shirts unbuttoned and rapped along perfectly to gangsta raps while doing flawless break dance. Those who danced like actual children where shooed off the dance floor while the lewd ones were cheered on.

As I watched, my child stared out of this

circle looking longingly at the others dancing. I knew it was time to leave. As we left, we went to an eatery where I bought them ice cream and gently explained to them the concept of decency and dancing with decorum.

Another time, at a game arcade for kids, I ran into a lady who had made-up her kids’ faces like they were mannequins for Tara or Mac beauty products. Their skirts were so tight, that running up and down the slide was uncomfortable for them.

So the question is why are we sexualizing our kids? Why does your 4, 6 or 9 year old girl have to look like a chick? Why does she have to be hot or sexy? Should your 8 year old son go around with a comb in his hair and his pants sagged almost to his ankles? If your child wears bum shorts out of the house at age 3, why should she be expected to wear longer ones at 15? If she wears two rings and twelve bangles at 6, why won’t she pierce a second ear hole at 17 and her bellybutton at 19? Why won’t your son pierce his own ear at 15?

Are you setting your children up to be immodest and indecent?

What trend are you starting them on?

That all these are fashionable or trendy doesn’t mean its ok. Some parents even dress their children like this to church.

Church! What are you teaching the

child? What happened to children wearing decent dresses to church? Children can look very nice and decent; they can be well covered and still look good. In this age, when children are being abused, is it wise to make your child an object of anyone’s sexual attention?

When I hear some children blow out sexually explicit lyrics, I ask myself how they became exposed to these songs! As a parent, you can’t play the CD of such songs and not expect your children to pick them up. The same goes for watching Mtv Base, Channel O, etc. with your children.

Studies show that children exposed to a high level of sexually explicit information tend to become sexually active early. Is that your goal as a parent? Being a parent involves sacrifice. You need to avoid listening to such music where your children are.

Most of those lyrics demean women and teach your daughter that she’s just a sex toy and her body is for squeezing. It teaches the boys that money is everything and women are things to be used to satisfy their primal urges. This music introduces them to a degrading pop culture.

Our children have their lives ahead of them. Let’s set them on the right path by teaching them to dress decently and sing nice or age-appropriate songs.

Let your children be children.

Train up a child in the way that s/he should go and when s/he is old, s/he would not depart from it.

Studies show that children exposed to a high level of sexually explicit information tend to become sexually active early.

Source: www.themusinglady.com

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Rv. Fr. Nicholas Ibeneme

Miraculous Medal and Divine Mercy

By Rev Fr. Nicholas Ibeneme CM

Some friends usually ask questions like this. Is it good and fitting to use this year of mercy to see the connection between Mary’s miraculous medal and the divine Mercy ?

Some of my friends are really into Divine Mercy, but others prefer to focus on devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I know there is no conflict between Mary and Divine Mercy; I’m sure she is in favor of it just as much as her Son. But does the connection run deeper than that? I mean, we do call her “Mother of Mercy” for some reason, right? Could you explain that

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to me?

But there is so much to say here precisely because the connection between Mary and Divine Mercy runs so deep that you will have to pardon me if I take about four installments to say it all!

When you say that we call her “Mother of Mercy,” I presume you are referring to the traditional prayer: Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Our life, our sweetness, and our hope...

For centuries, Christians all over the world have cried out to the

Blessed Virgin Mary with these words, placing themselves under her tender care as “Mother of Mercy.” We hear a clear echo of this cry in the life of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, especially in that beautiful and tender passage in her diary where Mary encourages us all to approach her as a merciful mother: Once, the confessor told me to pray for his intention, and I began a Novena to the Mother of God. This Novena consisted in the prayer “Hail, Holy Queen” recited nine times. Toward the end of the Novena I saw the Mother of God with the Infant Jesus in her arms. ... I could not stop wondering

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

at His beauty. ... I heard a few of the words that the Mother of God spoke. ... The words were: “I am not only the Queen of Heaven, but also the Mother of Mercy, and your Mother” (Diary of St. Faustina, 330).

Mary is truly our Mother of tender compassion, our “Mother of Mercy.” If we look at the life and writings of St. Maria Faustina, we can find at least four ways in which Mary can be truly called the merciful Mother of Christians, and of every soul searching for God. First of all, Mary is Mother of Mercy because, through her Immaculate Conception, God fashioned her to be the created masterpiece of his mercy in the world.

After all, what is Divine Mercy? It is God’s undeserved, unmerited, often even unsought for divine grace — the grace that our compassionate God pours out upon us to help us overcome our miseries and meet our true

needs. Theologians call one form of that mercy God’s “prevenient” grace, from the Latin prae-venire, which means “to come before.” In other words, even before we ask for it, and quite apart from the fact that we do not deserve it, and have not earned it in the least, God graciously takes the initiative and comes to our aid.

Prevenient grace is this completely free gift of God’s mercy. We see a faint reflection of it in a parent’s love for a child. A child is loved by its parents not because the child has “earned” it, or deserved it, or even asked for it in any way. Rather, the parent’s love comes right from the start, a completely free gift, just because the child is the parent’s own child. That is human mercy “par excellence,” and it is a mirror image of the divine.

The mystery of the Immaculate Conception ... is the expression of the first act of the heavenly Father’s mercy in Mary’s regard — an act of absolute gratuity. This is why we can see in it the Father’s mercy in its pure state. The first act is the Father’s prevenient mercy for this very tiny child that is to be born.

In fact, we can go further and say that the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the great divine act of grace that lay at the foundation of God’s whole work of salvation through Christ. The Father of Mercy took the initiative with sinful mankind, fashioning Mary’s soul from the moment of conception, preserving it from the effects of original sin, making her soul the very masterpiece of His mercy, and it was this unique and extraordinary foundation of grace in Mary’s soul that enabled her, years later, to respond to the angel Gabriel’s message with total, trustful surrender: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to Thy word.”

By God’s prevenient grace, therefore, she was made the masterpiece of the Father’s mercy, and in the fullness of time, this special grace within her enabled her to receive our Savior into the world.

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In short, the whole world’s salvation began with a foundational act of unmerited, unprompted, freely given Divine Mercy: That act of mercy was Mary’s Immaculate Conception.

In short, the first reason we can rightfully call Mary our “Mother of Mercy” is that by God’s special, prevenient grace, He created her soul to be the masterpiece of His Mercy in the world, and this special gift of grace within her was the foundation of His whole work of mercy in the world through Christ. Everything about Mary was fashioned by Divine Mercy and for the work of Divine Mercy. No other creature, therefore, so completely manifests God’s mercy, as does Mary Immaculate.Our Mary immaculate in her humble way, gave St. Catherine Laboure the miraculous medal. The medal was given out the mercy she received from God. In the spirit of mercy, the medal can be given to the aged, unloved, the barren, the abused, the sinner and indeed to all. They are medals of mercy and highly recommended in this year of mercy.

Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ibeneme writes from Christ the King Church (CKC), Akowonjo. You can contact him on +2347039222226, ibenemenik@yahoo.co.uk; P.O.Box 4567K Lagos, Nigeria.

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Declining Population of Catholic Priests in the United States Why African or Nigerian Priests will not be Imported to Fill in the Shortages?

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By Primus Igboaka cross the United States, the shortage of priests is on the rise. It is predicted that the shortage will persist even as rising number of immigrants from Africa, Asia and South America increase the population of Catholics in the USA. Approximately, the same number of parishes (18,000) exists today as in 1965, but the number without a resident parish priest increased from 549 to 3,500. Almost one fifth of all parishes lack a resident priest. Similarly, the percentage of diocesan priests active in ministry dropped from 94 percent to 68 percent, and the number of active diocesan priests per parish declined from 2 to 1 within the period.

Reports from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and information from The Official Catholic Directory (OCD), the Vatican’s Annuarium

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Statisticum Ecclesiae (ASE) research and St databases, showed a decline of number da of priests in the United States from 22, 707 in 1960 to 12,010 in 2014. This is as 70 the number of priestly ordination plunged th from 994 to 494 the same period. fr Although the parish-connected Catholic population grew from 46.3 million in 1965 po up to 66.6 million (an ominous number for Christian membership) in 2014, the numCh ber of priests declined from about 59,000 to be 38,000 over this span.

38 Some Catholics, mostly immigrants from Africa, Asia and South America, have fr witnessed huge growth and surplus in w Catholic priests’ numbers in their counCa tries versus the United States. tr These migrant Catholics have suggested importing priests to meet their religious im needs. But the Catholic Church hierarchy ne in the United States is not placing such concerns in their agenda to arrest the co declining number of “White” priests across de dioceses in the United States. di Hispanic communities that decided to build their own churches have not seen bu their churches raised to parish status. th Rather Hispanic speaking priests have Ra been drafted to celebrate Sunday masses be

for their communities. Other communities fo such as Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Liberisu ans have decided to choose Sundays when an parishioners have no masses to celebrate. pa In fact, rather than 8, 9 or 11 a.m. Sunday masses which Africans are used to in their m homelands, African migrants in the United ho States chose to celebrate masses between St 12 and 1.00 p.m. These Sunday masses are often celebrated by vacationing priests or of student priests – most of them graduate st students in Universities including Catholic st Universities across United States. But U this is mostly in big cities such as Housth ton, Maryland/Washington and Atlanta to where there are large numbers of Nigerian w Catholics. Regrettably, these priests – C graduate students are not retained to fill gr up the shortage of White Catholic priests, as they are often back to Nigeria or African countries at the end of their courses. co Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the dioceses hit by the Catholic priest shortage. It has hi devised methods to address the problem de by closing some Catholic churches and merging parishes even as parishioners m kick against closing or merging Parishes ki that have become part of their lives. Some th of the Churches have existed for more

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 than 200 years and witnessed four to five generations of the families attending the same churche. Other strategies to address the priests’ shortage include cutting services The diocese of Cleve-

land had a population of about 3 million Catholics with 264 active diocesan priests in 2015. This number of priests is expected to drop by 26% - a rate that has been falling since 2000. A study conducted by the Center of Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and distributed to churches in October 2015 revealed that the number of priests in Cleveland will decline to 156 by 2030 and 145 by 2040. This is as the same study projected that the church needs 3,251 active diocesan priests from the current 2, 706 to meet the needs of parishes in the United States that are not yet closed or merged as a result of the shrinking priests.

With immigrants from Africa, Asia and South America boosting the population of Catholics in the United States, the critical question is …..Will African priests or Asian or South American priests be recruited or imported to fill in the gap? The reasons for the Catholic Church hierarchy not considering the option’ may not be surprising to many who understand the role of church as agent of “culture change” or revolution. This is coupled with the fact that the average American is nationalistic

and anything other than what will promote their culture or “look like them” – irrespective of the increasing diversity of races in the United States - is completely out of the way of any consideration.

As for now, “foreign priests’ are out of consideration of filling the gaps in Catholic “White”priests’ shortages in the United States. Americans are unfortunately not yet ready to accept “foreign priests” meddling into their culture.

In Cleveland, rather than enroll or import Catholic priests from Africa, Asia or South America to fill in the gaps, Cleveland dioceses closed 50 parishes over a 15-month period. The closure which started in 2009 provoked bitter battles with parishioners. Eleven parishes appealed to Rome and won reprieves, reopening in 2012.

Overall across the United States – like in Cleveland- the number of young men taking vocation as priests is on the decline too. According to the same study conducted by the Center of Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, Washington D.C., the average age of parish priest is over 60 years with relatively few young men entering the priesthood. This is as almost a quarter of diocesan priests are over mandatory retirement age of 75 years. In fact, the report disclosed that there is no anticipation that things will improve soon.

The Catholic Church sees this development as a “big bubble” as no fewer than 10 per cent of priests for example in Cleveland in 2015, was under 40 years of age. Two–thirds were 60 years or older.

Nearly, a quarter was at and above the mandatory retirement age of 75 years.

The predicament gives liberal Catholic groups such as Future Church, the ammunition to seek for drastic changes in Vatican II reforms, such as the ordination of the married and women priests. Like importing “foreign priests”, the Catholic hierarchy does not see it as solution. In absence of revolutionary changes, the reality is that more churches are likely to close.

In the words of some critics of the church, American culture and the role of American nationalism that do not accept or tolerate “others,” or see “others” as “them” and “us” rather than “we” as part of the global community, or even in religious terms as brothers and sisters is to be blamed.

In fact, nationalism runs deep into the blood veins of an average American. It is a reality and part of the American life.

It is like breathing air or drinking water which as humans we cannot do away with. Nationalism and protecting their culture are necessities that Americans

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cannot live without. As an individual rose to imbibe everything “foreign” in Nigeria (and like a rolling stone, we set our minds to cultural confusions), I have deep respect for American nationalistic interests and protection of their own.

It is the same reasons that you witness American flags draped or hoisted side by side with statues of Virgin Mary or Joseph in front of the altar. In essence, nationalism is a necessity and not an “obstacle” that Americans cannot live without. It has advantages and setbacks.

Its set back is the problem witnessed with recruiting Nigerian, African, Asian or South American priests to run parishes even as it is evident that more than 3000 parishes in the United States will witness fewer priests by 2035. Like Cleveland where the 400 priests will drop or decline to 156 by 2030 and 145 by 2040. Americans will prefer that their churches close or merge than fill their churches with African, Asian or South American priests.

Americans do not see this as “racism,” rather, their disenchantment with “others” telling them what they do. While this obtains with faith and religion, it is more pronounced in politics, where Americans feel that it is their right to lead the world. They never want and would never tolerate playing second fiddle. That is what we see with American Republicans including evangelicals in the South casting their votes massively for Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump despite his sarcastic, uncultured and “nasty” attitude.

Americans irrespective of whatever feelings or perceptions that the world may have of the country or them – as far as their religion or faith is concerned- “they” still feel superior to “other” people in other parts of the world. That is why they could send “missionaries” to Africa, Asia and South America, but not the reverse.

It is in simple words, why Americans do not want “infiltrators” such as priests from Africa, Asia and South America from migrating to temper with their nationalism or “debase” their cultural and religious values. It may sound like one living in an imaginary fantasy or delusion, but it is a reality that Americans owe no apologies to anybody, no matter what you may think.

Primus Igboaka is an adjunct professor of communications at Kent State University, Kent Ohio & Lorain County Community College University Partnership. He is a devoted Catholic and former member parents’ board (committee), St Boniface Elementary School, a Blue Ribbon School of the Metro Catholic Schools, Cleveland, Ohio. USA.

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Vatican Round-up

Live your faith during Lent, perfo

V

By Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service

“Love alone is the answer to that yearning for infinite happiness,” Pope Francis wrote. It is the only response to the longings “that we think we can satisfy with the idols of knowledge, power and riches.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Lent is a time of conversion and a time to deepen one’s faith, demonstrating and sharing it through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, Pope Francis said.

“Faith finds expression in concrete everyday actions meant to help our neighbours in body and spirit,” the pope said in his message for Lent, which begins Feb. 10 .

Feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, welcoming strangers, offering instruction, giving comfort -- “on such things will we be judged,” the Pope wrote in the message, which was released at the Vatican Jan. 26.

Particularly during the Year of Mercy, he said, Catholics are called to recognize their own need for God’s mercy, the greatness of God’s love seen in the death and resurrection of Christ and the obligation to assist others by communicating God’s love and mercy through words and deeds.

“The root of all sin” is thinking that one is god, something often expressed in a total preoccupation for accumulating money and power, the Pope wrote. And just as individuals can be tempted to think they have no need of God, social and political systems can run the same risk, ignoring

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both God and the real needs of human beings.

“Love alone is the answer to that yearning for infinite happiness,” Pope Francis wrote. It is the only response to the longings “that we think we can satisfy with the idols of knowledge, power and riches.”

“The danger always remains that by a constant refusal to open the doors of their hearts to Christ who knocks on them in the poor,” he said, “the proud, rich and powerful will end up condemning themselves and plunging into the eternal abyss of solitude which is hell.”

But through acts of mercy and charity, “by touching the flesh of the crucified

Jesus in the suffering,” he wrote, “sinners can receive the gift of realizing that they too are poor and in need.”

“In the corporal works of mercy we touch the flesh of Christ in our brothers and sisters who need to be fed, clothed, sheltered, visited,” he wrote. “In the spiritual works of mercy -- counsel, instruction, forgiveness, admonishment and prayer -- we touch more directly our own sinfulness.”

In the Christian life, Pope Francis said, “the corporal and spiritual works of mercy must never be separated.”

Cardinal Francesco Montenegro, president of

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

orm works of mercy

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Quote On Corruption “It’s not just in politics. It is in all institutions, including in the Vatican there are cases of corruption. Corruption is something that eats you inside like sugar. It’s sweet, we like it, and it’s easy. And then we end up sick and poor. …So much sugar that we either end up being diabetic or own country ends up being diabetic.”

Pope Francis During visit to a Nairobi shanty town

Caritas Italy and head of the archdiocese that includes the Italian island of Lampedusa, told reporters at a Vatican news conference that the pope’s message, like the Bible, “does not stop simply at reaffirming that God is merciful, but clearly indicates that his children must be merciful, too, by living a greater love, especially by taking care of the little ones, the poor and defenceless.”

The cardinal said that from his own experience as Archbishop of Agrigento, he has seen how people’s faith and joy have grown and become contagious when they

not only go to Mass, but also volunteer to assist the thousands of migrants who land on Lampedusa’s shore seeking safety and a better life for their families.

Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, secretary of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the office that promotes and coordinates Catholic charity, told reporters that Pope Francis wants to help Catholics rediscover the traditional corporal and spiritual works of mercy, which seemed to have been left on the shelf with dusty old books.

Maybe, he said, “it was no longer fashionable” to preach about the daily actions of believers or maybe “our ecclesial practice has become quite institutionalized and politicized.”

“The works of mercy are a very simple, concrete, direct, alive, daily, easy, accessible-to-all

way of living the Jubilee of Mercy,” he said. “The works of mercy describe what we as Christians can actually do every day, and that is why I find them so fascinating.”

As part of Cor Unum’s celebration of the Year of Mercy, he said, it has developed materials for a retreat day for people engaged in church charitable activity. The materials are online -- www. corunumjubilaeum.va -- and can be adapted for use by a group, a parish or a diocese.

On being like God To be like God, don’t place yourself above the others.

Jesus is God with us. He has always been and will always be among us in the suffering and pain of History. With His birth, God has become poor and small, He has reached out. To imitate Him, Christians should do the same, and doing otherwise would be paganism. …It means that to be like Him, we do not have to place ourselves above the others, but come down, come down and serve them, become small among the small and poor among the poor. …It’s a bad thing when one sees a Christian that does not want to come down, a Christian that uses everything to show off. Not nice, eh? That is not Christian that is paganism.”

Pope Francis …Talking about Christmas and the birth of Jesus

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Career

Chidi Ajah

F

or many people, the New Year is a time to think about changing jobs or career.

Most people are comfortable thinking about changing to a similar job. This might be to progress your career and move up the career ladder, earn more money, work for a competitor or perceived better company, work more locally to have less travelling time and cost, etc. This isn’t really that scary as much as a career change, which is a much bigger leap of faith.

Research shows that 1 in 2 people are ‘in the wrong job’ and anything up to 2 out of 3 people are unhappy and unfulfilled. This means that most of us know people who feel this way or maybe this is you?

How serious are you about a career change?

Despite the startling statistics, the reality is only a small minority of people dare the odds and take the ‘leap of faith’ to make a complete career change.

Why is this so? Unless you are really serious, changing careers becomes like most other New Year resolutions, a wish or a whim. The initial motiva-

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tion and surge of enthusiasm is often replaced by FEAR! This might be fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of not earning enough and so on. However, you don’t want to always live your life in compromise, thinking ‘what if’.

If you want to take the leap of faith, these are the steps to help you make the plan a reality in the New Year:

Step 1 Identify your skills and strengths

Do some solid career exploration on the skills you enjoy using and are good at doing. These will be the foundation of your new career. There are online skills and strengths tests or just make a list.

Do you like working with people? Helping others? Do you enjoy working with things like computers or flowers? Maybe

Changing your car in the New Year?

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 you like organizing events? Make a solid list and eliminate anything you don’t find joy in performing.

Step 2 What skills does the new job need?

Identify the job title for your next career. Maybe you know it. But if not, go online and do some research. Search out jobs and investigate what skills employers are seeking. You’ll be surprised to learn that you already have many of these sought after talents. Missing anything vital to perform your new career? Then go and get a course, read some books, or take a tutorial and learn it so you can become marketable.

reer

Step 3 Marketing – Material

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Write a short bio for yourself, so if one of your friends wants to refer you somewhere, you are ready with

some highlights they can share. Check in with people who could be references for you – you don’t want to lose touch and then scramble at the last minute when changing jobs. Update your email signature – if you have been published or mentioned in the news, you may want to link to that. Don’t forget your overall look and carriage – practice your hand shakes, practice making direct eye contact, review your wardrobe (is it updated? Is it appropriate for your level and industry?). Spend time refining the tools you use to promote yourself.

Step 4: Marketing – Activity

Having material to share is a good foundation, but marketing yourself is an on-going process, not just a one-time activity. Update your status on LinkedIn. Comment on someone else’s update.

Schedule time for when you’ll be active on social media in a way that helps your career – it could be connecting to people, it could be curating content to reflect your expertise, it could be posting career updates. Practice a concise, engaging answer to, “What are you working on?” so that if you run into a senior executive from another group you have to say if that comes up. Practice a concise, engaging answer to; “Tell me about yourself” so that you’re not at a loss in the next conference or professional event.

Spend the month on self-promotion activities – push yourself if that feels uncomfortable.

Step 5: Learning

Read your industry trade publication so you stay up to date. Read a general news publication or something outside your industry so you gain a different perspective. Attend a class, conference or lecture in something you don’t know.

If you’re a sports enthusiast, consider visiting a cultural attraction or spending a day making art. If you’re a creative, go on a hike or work out with a friend. Spend the month experimenting

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and focusing on new things.

Step6: Network!

Begin to immediately talk to people in the field so you learn the language, the trends, the jobs, and insider buzz.

You’ll also hear about job opportunities.

Join the local professional association – these are gold mines for you to meet people to help you as you make your career change.

Join a LinkedIn group or other online discussion. Attend a conference or professional event, and don’t leave till you’ve connected with at least three new people. Schedule specific days and times when you’ll reconnect with people you haven’t seen for some time. Find time meeting people, expanding existing connections, and rekindling past connections.

Step 7: Job hunt!

Craft a targeted resume with your transferable skills. These are your talents that go from one job to another such as customer service expertise, computer skills, organizational planning, managerial skills, etc. Add in any new training and all the previous experience relevant to being successful in the new career. Prepare for the interview. Draw on previous work experience showing how you successfully solved problems and how creative and resourceful. Use the info you’ve gained from networking to prepare….and soon you’ll be working in your brand new career.

Step 8: Interviewing

Knowing how to answer common interview questions is great for self-reflection and to get an audit of your career.

Tackle the typical interview questions such as: Tell me about yourself.What is your biggest accomplishment? What is your biggest weakness? Why should I hire you?Tell me about this project? _____ Spend time practicing and refining this important skill.

Having material to share is a good foundation, but marketing yourself is an on-going process, not just a onetime activity.

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Career Diary Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Mrs Caroline Udegbe flanked by her family as she cuts her 50th Birthday Anniversary Cake in Lagos, recently.

New Executive, Laity Council of St Lawrence, Isheri-Olofin at February Monthly General Meeting

Rev Fr. Oscar John Chizoba Obi at his priestly ordination, flanled (L) by Very Rev Msg John Aniagwu, Vicar General, Arch Diocese of Lagos: Most Rev Dr Adewale Martins, Atchbishop of Lagos; and Very Rev Msgr B. Okodua, Episcopal Vicar, Lagos Region.

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Members of CMO Isheri Olofin on a charity visit at Arts and Crafts Centre for the Blind, Isheri Olofin.

Rev. Sr. Francisca Chukwueke (2nd from right) flanked by her colleagues from The Sisters of The Sacred Heart of Jesus of Regusa, during her celebration of her Final Profession at St Michael Catholic Church Enyiogugu in Ahiara Diocese.

New Executive, Laity Council of St Lawrence, Isheri-Olofin at February Monthly General Meeting

Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie (Archbishop Emeritus) & His Grace Most Rev. (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins (Archbishop of Lagos) during a recent visit by the later to his Predecessor.

Rev. Fr. Cornelus Azo cutting his 40th Priestly Ordination Anniversary Cake At St John Catholic Church Igando, Lagos.

League of Tarcisian, St Lawrence Catholic Church Centre, Isheri-Olofin, at their induction recently

Diary

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

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Adanze Weds Kelechi On December 24, 2015, friends, relations and Associates of the families of Mr & Mrs Donne Amaechi Chikere of Amuzi, AhiazuMbaise and Sir (Chief) & Lady (Lolo) Ibe Ekeocha of Mbutu Nwenkwo, Aboh-Mbaise gathered in Amuzi Mbaise for the celebration of the traditional & Solemnization of Holy Matrimony of their children Adanze Chiamaka Chikere & Dr. Kelechi Ibe-Ekeocha.

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

CMO Isolo Deanery Marks Family Fun Day C

atholic Men Organisation (CMO), Isolo Deanery on December 25, 2015 marked its Family Fun Day. Apart from setting the day aside family funfair, it also featured fund raising for the CMO Skill Acquisition Centre; constituting the Isolo Deanery Council of Patrons and; conferment of award of Pillars of CMO on deserving parishioners from the various parishes in the deanery.

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Speaking at the event, Chief Vincent Umeh, Coordinator, Isolo Deanery CMO congratulated the men for their impressive participation in all activities of the organisation both in the deanery and archdiocese.

Rev Fr. Christian Echewodo, Parish Priest of the host parish, St John, Igando, represented by Rev Fr. Franklin Adionye (Guest Lecturer) encouraged all men to be good ambassadors of CMO in their families and

communities.

In his goodwill message, Rev Fr. Peter Anumba, Isolo Deanery Chaplain congratulated the men on the occasion and charged them to examine and evaluate their level of participation both in parish and deanery levels and see whether they did well or not, individually and collectively. “If we did well, we can do better, but if we did not do well, we can still begin from somewhere,� he noted.

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Henrietta Weds Chidi It was a dream come true for the families of Mr & Mrs Leo Ejike Nwogu of Umueze Enyiogugu, Aboh Mbaise and Late Mr & Mrs BA Ahubelem of Umuezeduru Amuzari, Isiala Mbano when on Tuesday, December 2015, they celebrated the Traditional Marriage of their children, Ngozi Henrietta & Chidi Charles. The ceremony was witnessed by friends and well-wishers.

In-laws

George Ogu, ASCON Chairman (2nd right) at the occassion

Ngozi Henrietta & Chidi Charles

With Bride’s parents, Mr & Mrs Leo Nwogu

St. Stephen’s Catholic Community Igando

Cutting of Traditional Marriage Cake

Celebrants flanked by the family of Mr & Mrs Leo Nwogu

Receiving parental blessing

Bridal Train

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Why would some leaders choose Bishops for the church? - Bishop Onah ‌Speaks, sends message to Catholics in Igbo land

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

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Biodata His Lordship, Most Rev. Professor Godfrey Igwebuike Onah Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese Bishop Onah is a Professor of Philosophical Anthropology and former Vice Rector, Pontifical Urban University, Rome. He is a Consultant of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops and the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese.

Born 1956, in Imilike Ani, Udenu local government area of Enugu State, young Godfrey passed through St. John Cross Seminary, Nsukka (1971-75), Bigard Memorial Seminary (now St. Joseph’s Major Seminary), IkotEkpene (1976-80), and Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu (1980-84 before he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1984. He holds First Class Honours degrees in Philosophy and Theology.

After four years of pastoral assignments, he went for postgraduate studies in Philosophical Anthropology at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome, in 1988. He taught Philosophy at his Alma Mater and rose to occupy the Chair of Philosophical Anthropology until his appointment as Bishop-elect of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka.

T

By Chidi Nkwopara

he atmosphere in St. Joseph’s Catholic Chaplaincy, Imo State University, Owerri, became charged on the arrival of the youthful and charismatic Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Most Rev. Professor Godfrey Onah. He was there to honour the invitation of Monsignor Theophilus Ibegbulam Okere, who turned 80 on October 30, 2015.

He was the Director of the Institute for Research on Nonbelief and Cultures in the Faculty of Philosophy of the Urban University, 2001-2007. Prof Onah has taught in other Catholic Universities and higher institutes in Italy, such as the Ateneo Regina Apostolorum in Rome, the PontificiaFacolta di Scienzedell’Educazione, Auxillium in Rome, and the UniversitaCattolica del Sacrosanct Cuore in Milan.

His areas of research are Philosophical Anthropology with particular focus on the natural openness of people, and African Philosophy that have direct relevance to contemporary Africa.

Prof Onah is a seasoned educator, intellectual, and an internationally acclaimed scholar. He is in regular demand for lectures at local and international conferences in Nigeria and abroad.

In this interview, the learned cleric speaks on a wide range of issues including the unfortunate impasse in the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara.

Bishop Onah, was at the head of the Mass, attended by several priests and scores of Catholic faithful, and well wishers of Monsignor Okere, including the Champion Newspaper publisher, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Chief Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. The Bishop later granted an interview to Vanguard newspaper.

Experience as Bishop of Nsukka Diocese

It is not easy to say what it has been like. It is like being thrown

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28 into the water, when you don’t know how to swim and you know you have to keep afloat to remain alive. I think I found myself in that position, of one who does not know how to swim and he is thrown into the water.

I think I have been trying to remain afloat. But it is God’s grace that is keeping me afloat.

I spent years being trained as a candidate for the Catholic priesthood. I didn’t receive any training for the office of the Bishop.

And there has been no time either to learn on the job.

But I thank God for the grace. I thank Him for the love He has shown me also in a special way through the people of Nsukka Diocese. The priests, the religious ,and the rest of the lay faithful, and even non-Catholics and nonChristians in Nsukka.

I can tell you I have experienced their love in an overwhelming way, from the first day I was ordained and installed until now. It has been difficult for me getting to understand all the aspects of my responsibilities as a Bishop. But one thing I have tried to continue to try to do is to remind myself that I am primarily a Catholic priest and to remain a priest for my people.

So, these two years, I have just tried to be a priest, a father to the people of Nsukka Diocese, not just to the Catholics but all Nsukka people. And I must say it has been most fulfilling in spite of the difficulties. One of the first things I learnt as a Bishop is that I no longer have time that I can call mine.

Even when you are alone, you are not alone for yourself. Either you are thinking and working for them or you are praying for them. But I think that is also what a Christian life is supposed to be, imitating our Lord Himself in being there for others.

Pope Francis reminds us

Cover Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 repeatedly that anyone who is preaching the gospel has also to know that he is distributing joy, the joy of the gospel. And he said something funny that preachers of the gospel should not look like those returning from a funeral.

And my experience as a Bishop in Nsukka has confirmed to me that any time we are really committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is an inner joy that overflows to the outside in usbecause as the saying goes, a little bit of fragrance always sticks on the fingers that distributes roses.

Age of Nsukka Diocese

We thank God that on November 19, 2015, the Diocese turned 25 years since its establishment. It was erected by Pope Saint John Paul II on November 19, 1991, with Bishop Francis Okobo as its pioneer Bishop. It was carved out of Enugu Diocese and Nsukka is generally speaking, in spite of our diversities, a rural Diocese.

These 25 years have been incredible on what the Lord has done for us. If statistics will give us any idea, it may help to know that when the Diocese was erected, we had only 27 parishes and today, we have 154 parishes and chaplaincies. One of the chaplaincies, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, functions as a full fledged parish because of its population.

Outside that, we have two Colleges of Education in the Diocese and one hostel for students. So, that is about records.

The priests at the creation of the Diocese were just a little above 40 and now, we have 270 priests incardinated in the Diocese.

But, let us not be deceived by numbers. I only said if statistics are to be used as an indication. The Lord has been very kind to us. In a gradual but steady way, the church in the Diocese has

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continued to grow.

The pioneer Bishop was a tireless, selfless pastor. He kept nothing back to himself, neither his time nor his energy, nor even his health.

I know God will reward him with eternal life at the end of his life and I am sure that he is already seeing

I can tell you I have experienced their love in an overwhelming way, from the first day I was ordained and installed until now. It has been difficult for me getting to understand all the aspects of my responsibilities as a Bishop.

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

that his labour was not in vain, from what is happening in the Diocese.

And of course, the foundations had been laid by the earlier Bishops of Onitsha Archdiocese and Enugu Diocese, when they first came to Nsukka, a little over 100 years ago, in 1910, as the record of the visit of the missionaries has shown. They came from the Archdiocese of Onitsha, until Enugu became a Diocese and Nsukka eventually became a Diocese.

Sometimes, there are tremendous crises before anything meaningful change can take place. Our own history will not be different from the history of Christianity in the other parts of the world, except perhaps that we are luckier,

in the sense that the first years of Christianity in our area, in Igboland generally, have not led to the physical martyrdom of many Christians, contrary to what was the history in most other parts of the world.

But that does not mean that it is any less easy for the message of Christ to be accepted in the context. As I said earlier, we are a rural community and in rural communities, traditional affiliations go very deep.

People in urban centres or mega cities, can easily disengage from their cultural roots and cultural affiliations than those who live within rural settings.

And as you very well remember, our culture is very intimately interwoven with the traditional religion of our ancestors. And many of our people are unable to make the distinction between what is religious strictly and what is cultural. And for the faith in this Diocese, that is an area where a lot of work still has to be done. Bishop Okobo, like Bishop Eneja before him, always insisted on the need to be authentically Igbo or Nsukka people and at the same time authentically Christians and Catholics.

I think the effort we have to make now is not just a question of letting the gospel values penetrate our culture, but rather letting Christianity produce its own Igbo culture. As Pope Saint John Paul II also said, a faith that does not become culture is a faith that has not really matured.

And you know, culture as expressed in language, way of life, institutions. The church after 100 years in our place, should be able to produce culture. Culture is dynamic. I have always told my people that many of the things we are fighting and dying for in Nsukka as our culture, were either borrowed or imposed by Igala

people, when the Attah of Igala colonized Nsukka area.

No cultural practice germinates from a place like mushroom. People borrow from their neighbours in order to adapt to the challenges they meet in their daily lives. Christianity proposes to us values that will help us adapt best to those challenges and in using Christian values, we create a culture. Culture is man made. It is created by human beings.

The Igbos for instance are so known by their celebration of kola nut. I am not sure that any Igbo man will be able to tell you exactly where that thing came from. But it is our culture, at least for now.

And if some bad habits our people are picking up have also become our culture as our people say: “When a bad habit lasts a year, it becomes a tradition”.

Why can’t it be the contrary? When good things are sustained, it becomes a tradition!

And the fact that it is possible for Christianity to create a culture for us is also seen in our language already. So many Christian terms have become part of our language. “Amara”, even without its translation, “gratia”. And Christianity has entered into our proverbs. And when a system contributes to proverbs, then it is making in-road into the language.

For example, “Anahiasaokwuchukwuasa” (you don’t respond to homilies) and “onyebuuzogaaunouka, naahooche” (the first to arrive in the church chooses his seat). These are all Igbo proverbs. This shows us that if we allow Christianity and Christian values, they can transform the way we used to understand reality and help us to adapt better.

When most Igbo now want to show you how God has blessed them, they will

29 tell you that they stayed for five, six, ten years after their marriage without any child, but suddenly they got twins! Before Christianity, it was a curse, not a blessing. We are celebrating our jubilee and our emphasis should be on making serious effort to understand the Christian message in such a way as to make it transform our lives as individuals and as members of a society.

Managing priests

I would like to tell you that the Diocese has the need to create about 30 more parishes but I don’t have priests to man them now. That gives you an idea that there is still a lot of need for priests. And besides parishes, we now have institutions that could be better run or directed or supervised by well trained priests for such purposes.

Copying Pentecostal Pastors

It is unfortunate. But I will tell what one of my priests once told me. I heard he did something he shouldn’t have done. I sent for him and sought to know what happened from him.

Immediately he came down, he was all apologies and told me: “Father Bishop, I am sorry. I know I was wrong. I found myself in a situation similar to that of Moses, who was driven by the Israelites to break the tablet on which the Commandments were written.

These people pushed me to the wall and I had to adopt an extreme measure. I am so sorry and I know I was wrong”.

I give this example because sometimes I see these priests using the usual traditional Catholic method to attend to the spiritual needs of the faithful and they watch the growing apathy, lack of interest from these Catholics, who then move in droves to

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30 Pentecostal fellowships and crusades. And there is therefore, this temptation in the priests to do what the Pentecostal pastors do, at least to keep their faithful.

If, for example you pray for someone and he is healed or God blesses him you don’t advertise it, you don’t make noise about it, God did it and not you.

I call it temptation and every Catholic priest should realize it is a temptation. So long as it has to do with, let me say for instance, the method of delivering your homily and making it interesting, of preparing it well in the first place, and making sure that your homily is scripture based and related to people’s life experience.

If that is what anybody wants to imitate from any other group that is wonderful. We can always learn good things from others.

But in the area of watering down Christian doctrine, or let me call it Catholic doctrine, in the area of tailoring religion to suit personal needs rather than making religion reflect our relationship with God, in the area of making Christianity mimic our traditional religion, full of evil spirits and people out there to harm you, and you have to use this and this to ward them off, that is not Christianity. And Catholic priests who imitate them know that they are doing what is wrong.

Their training in the seminaries continues to insist on the proper way to minister to the pastoral needs of the people. But unfortunately, some are beginning to think that the only thing that counts now in Christianity and the priesthood is what we would call success.

But, can I say this?

From the human point of view, Jesus was a failure.

He preached for three years and in the end, he

Cover Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 problem of people moving away by doing what you are not supposed to do.

Some times, I use a very radical example. If one has a sister, a blood sister, who is wayward, running after men and selling her body, and one feels embarrassed by that and it is a shame to the family, and one wants to win one’s sister back and keep her in the family and he prepares a room in his father’s house and says, my dear sister, please don’t run after men again.

Don’t go out selling your body again. Come here and stay here at home and do it here at home and bring your clients here”. Have you solved your sister’s problem? The answer is no.

You don’t solve the problems of Catholics who join Pentecostals by turning the Catholic Church into a Pentecostal movement.

And by the way, the problem is not with Pentecost.

The problem is with the selective interpretation of the actions of the Holy Spirit. was crucified like a common criminal and not one of his close disciples was near to him by the time he was dying! All those are marks of a total failure by human standards.

Fidelity to Christ, even when it means the cross and suffering is one thing that Catholic priests should never abandon. I have heard many people who moved from the Christian groups to the Catholic Church, saying that the Catholic Church was the only place where they could find meaning in suffering, because in the other Christian denominations, there is sometimes the tendency to say that Christ has suffered for us and sufferings is no longer our lot but suffering remains.

So, I will tell Catholic priests, you don’t solve the

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Craze for indigenous heads

Fidelity to Christ, even when it means the cross and suffering is one thing that Catholic priests should never abandon.

In the history of the church, we have always had moments of crisis, breakdowns, moments of building up and growth.

The church in Igboland has made tremendous progress and registered a lot of growth since the civil war. The civil (war) seems to have increased our resilience as a people and increased our faith in God. But don’t think that while we were growing in faith, Satan was there applauding. He would always want to get into the system and thwart the plan of God for us. Satan has always tried it. Each time God gives humanity any gift, Satan tries to change the objective for which God gave that gift.

He gave man companion.

That companion became

Cover Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 temptation. He gave man free will. That free will became a source of sin. He sent Christ to redeem us from sin and Satan wanted to change Jesus’ plan for salvation. He was like us in everything except sin.

But even then, Satan did not give up. Until he died on the cross, Satan told Christ to come down from the cross, if he was truly the son of God and we will believe you. Christ did not give up until he eventually died. So, at every moment of our history, Satan is there.

Christ instituted the priesthood as service for his people and Satan wants some of us to use it as a source of power against the people, for ourselves, for our personal growth and enrichment and aggrandizement or whatever, for our own ego. Anybody who understands the priesthood and understands the episcopacy will know that nobody has the right to be priest or the right to be Bishop. Nobody.

With regard to coming from one’s own area, there are all the arguments about the advantage of somebody who understands the people culturally. There are all the arguments about the sense of belonging that a people will feel if their own son is their leader.

There are all the arguments about the possibility of human manipulation of a process that should be left to the Holy Spirit, yes using human beings but principally directed by the Holy Spirit. All those are arguments.

But, those arguments don’t remove anything from the basic principle that the priesthood is a gift, a gift from God. You either accept it in faith or every other thing behind the priesthood crumbles. I will give you a few examples.

How is it possible that you accept that a man pours water on you and mumbles

some words and you become transformed and your sins are washed away and you become son of God? That a man picks a piece of bread and mumbles some words and that piece of bread changes and becomes the body and blood of Christ, who is God and man? And the man imposes hands on you and says something and you are transformed from that village criminal that you were to a man, who calls God down from heaven?

How can you accept that because a church teaches you that, and the same church teaches you that one man has the last word to say who will be Bishop here or there, and you say no, I won’t take that one?

Ah! My dear friends, it is a packet. If you don’t take one, please leave the rest. This is what it means to belong to a church, a body of faith.

I know the case you are subtly referring to. Everybody knows it. It has hurt us deeply and spiritually. And I will put this on record for the whole of Igbo people. No matter how the Ahiara case ends, we will all come out of it weakened.

But I will ask: How did we get so low? What went wrong? What happened to the church leaders in Igboland? What did they do or did we do that made it possible for some priests to suspect that some church leaders manipulated the process of choosing a Bishop?

What body language or style of life, action or inaction in some leaders of the church, made people even to think that, that was possible? That is a question that we have to continue asking.

How did it ever happen that in the Catholic Church, a set of priests will be begin to think that what was decided by the Pope, was manipulated by some other person in the Catholic Church?

Of course, we know the Pope is the Head of a Church that spreads

throughout the whole world and he may not even know some of us who work directly in the Vatican. He may not know some of us personally.

Like every leader, he will depend on his co-workers and when they have recommended, he studies their recommendation and makes his pronouncement.

If anybody made a mistake along the line, let God judge him for his mistake.

Everybody has his own responsibility according to his standing in life. But I don’t think it helps our cause as Christians, as Catholics, as Igbo people, to insist in areas where you have no right to do so.

And I will say this, and that is if we want to push the logic to its ultimate conclusion. Before we can allow a group or priests in a diocese to determine who becomes a bishop in their diocese, we must first insist that in that diocese or in every diocese, the faithful must themselves choose who will be their priest. Who will get ordained at all in the first place?

Our people don’t choose their priests. Some times, they tell Bishops don’t ordain this man. We know him. He shouldn’t be a priest. And after having listened to them, praying over it, trusting in the Holy Spirit, and following his conscience and goes ahead and ordains him. And the person becomes a priest and now denies the Pope the right to listen to all the opinions about who should be a Bishop and following his conscience and directions of the Holy Spirit, makes his own decision, does it sound reasonable to you?

I don’t understand it. But the basic problem comes when we think that the bishopric, the Bishop’s office is for the exercise of power.

My brother, I have never seen people struggle to serve anywhere. People struggle to gain. Nobody struggles to die in place of others. If people

31 really knew what it means to be a Bishop, I wonder how many would want to be Bishops. And again, how does being a Bishop make one a better Catholic, a better Christian?

Whether the Bishop is your elder brother or another person, provided that person really leads you to do the will of God. The Catholic Church has never pretended to be a democracy.

By the way, it is ridiculous that while we are fighting about our right to determine who our Bishop becomes, we can’t even speak out when councillors and local government chairmen, senators and members of the house of assembly and governors are imposed on us by a few people.

We accept that willingly, sing for them and clap for them. In a democracy where we have the right to choose and take people to court when they do the wrong thing, we don’t, but when the Pope decides, that is the time we carry protest, demonstrate and shout blue murder. Do you know what that is called in English?

Perversion!

Message to Nigerians

We thank God for the gift of faith. We ask that He strengthens that little faith that we have and that Catholics throughout Igbo land be truly Catholics in word and in deed. Nigeria needs Christian witnesses and Catholics should be ready to be such witnesses everywhere and all the time.

And please ask your readers to pray for me, pray for Bishops, pray for the Catholics in Nigeria, and pray for the Catholic Church in Igbo land. This is a very difficult time.

Culled from Vanguard December 12, 2015. http://www.vanguardngr. com/2015/12/why-wouldsome-leaders-choose-bishops-for-the-church-bishoponah/

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Interview

Modest lifestyle is a must for mothers - Chinwe Iloghalu Mrs Chinwe Iloghalu is President, Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos. In this interview with NCR, she sends her New Year message to CWO members and shares her views on how CWO members should approach family related issues such as budgeting, school fees, choice of schools for children, life style, balancing work and family, mode of dressing for mothers in church and in public places.

A

dvise to CWO members on their obligations to the organization and the Church in 2016?

My advice to my dear fellow Radiant Sisters (an affectionate term for fellow CWO members) is for us to recognize the pivotal role of women, especially as regards to the proclamation of the Year of Mercy by the Holy Father, Pope Francis I. We actually have a trifold role to play; firstly in the home, secondly in the church and thirdly, to the organization.

Our responsibility to the family includes, and is not limited to the fol-

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lowing; encouraging members of our families to attend frequent confessions, performing acts of mercy to those around us, encouraging daily prayers at home as a family and performing the Year of Mercy pilgrimage.

Women should strive to be peacemakers in the family and communicators of Godliness.

We can support the Church by supporting charity drives geared towards the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. For example, in my parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, VI, we have started to organize and mobilize parishioners

towards supporting these activities. We have successfully completed the 1st and 2nd injunction to ‘Feed the Hungry’ (this was co-ordinated by members of The Young Catholic Professionals), and ‘Give Water to the Thirsty’ (co-ordinated by members of St Vincent De Paul). The CWO is expected to co-ordinate ‘ Clothe the Naked ‘, which is the next charity drive to be undertaken by the parish. Active participation in these charity drives will help us grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally and even physically.

As members of the CWO, we can help to identify individuals and areas

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 where gaps can be filled. God has blessed womenfolk with a keen sense of intuition and an innate ability to recognize and identify individuals in need. There are a lot of people in and outside the parishes that need help.

This assistance may not necessarily be financial aids but may just merely be a kind word or gesture, for example, helping out a young mother with a crying child or a warm handshake for the taciturn parishioner sitting by you.

In addition, we should be able to work cohesively and cordially with other organizations and groups within the Church to achieve a common purpose and in building up the body of Christ.

Active participation in CWO activities must be taken into consideration

by CWO members at all levels; parish, deanery and archdiocesan. For example, I know the Island Deanery is participating in the His Grace, Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos’ project, to provide assistance to those who have been held in various prisons in Lagos for periods beyond the confines of the law as a result of their not being able to meet bail conditions due to financial constraints or a lack of access to legal representation, etc.

Year 2016 has been predicted to be a tough year for family finances. What is your advice to mothers on Budgeting, School Fees, Choice of Schools etc.

Budgeting: With the various forecasts on the economic outlook of the nation, it is expedient that a savings culture be imbibed in the family. This advice is not only for mothers but everyone family member. I advise that every member of the family come together to list out all income and expense heads in the home and decide which areas can be adjusted or completely cut-off. Expensive and unnecessary lifestyle habits can then be pruned to save extra monies for the home.

School Fees: The education of the children should not be viewed as an expense but as an investment. With this in mind, it is important that we make concise efforts to always put aside the funds required for the payment of school fees.

Choice of Schools: The decision over the choice of schools is to be made jointly with the head of the home, the father. A school which inculcates good values, places a premium on morals, discipline, along with excellent academic standards. A good focus on extracurricular activities

such as sports, creativity and other social building and soft skills is also highly recommended. A school with a strong focus on the spirituality of the children is recommended. If your child is not in any of the Catholic schools, it’s important that you check for schools that allow the Catholic mode of worship and have Sunday Masses and other sacraments like First Holy Communion and Confirmation for those in boarding school.

Life Style: A modest lifestyle devoid of ostentation is a must for mothers. It’s important that the woman does away with habits which are unproductive and may lead to unnecessary spending such as buying ‘aso-ebi’, designer clothes, and bags or attending expensive parties where one may be under pressure to meet up to societal expectations as with regards dressing, jewellery etc. We must always consistently self -examine our personal lifestyles and devise ways to keep excesses in check.

Balancing Work and Family: It’s important that the mother of the house remains very balanced spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally, in order to fulfil her roles. Both career women and home makers are to ensure that there is a good work -life balance.

Physical exercise such as daily walks, stretching exercises or even frequent visits to the gym is encouraged so as to relieve stressful situations and maintain good health to avoid stress-related illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension etc. After all, “a happy wife is a happy life” Indecent Dressing Mothers have a compelling responsibility to present themselves as worthy mentors and models for not only their daughters, but also other young women in the church. We see the admonishments on the need for mature, older women, to present themselves same to younger women in St Paul’s letters to Titus (Titus 2:3-5) and the Ephesians (Eph 4:1). He also points out worthy examples of older women (Eunice and Lois) we can emulate in his letter to Timothy (1 Tim 1:2).

The important truth is that these young ones are constantly watching us. Someone once said that our lives may be the only Bible some people will ever read. We cannot expect others to hear what we say unless they first see it demonstrated in our own lives; which

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is why St Paul writes in Titus 2:7, “in everything set them an example by doing what is good.”

Advice to fathers on happiness in the home The old adage, “how you make your bed is how you lie in it,” applies here.

Our dear daddies are the custodians of joy and happiness in the home. The injunction to fathers is summarized.

They must also try to be best friends to their sons especially so that they can open up to them without fear. The world is fast changing. We must not allow our sons to grow up with mentor ship from an alien male figure, or worse from the Internet or social media or even the media- influenced stereotypes we see in the entertainment industry today.

Other issues you wish to address I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Pontiff, our Holy Father, Pope Francis for the proclamation of firstly, the Year of the family, and now, The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. I believe that this is helping a great deal in strengthening the foundations of the church and helping to reinforce the faith of Catholics universally.

The Catholic Church is indeed most Universal and Apostolic.

A modest lifestyle devoid of ostentation is a must for mothers.

It’s important that the woman does away with habits which are unproductive and may lead to unnecessary spending such as buying ‘aso-ebi’, designer clothes, and bags or attending expensive parties

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

29th PPRESTLY ORDINATION INTERVIEW WITH REV FR JOSEPH NWANUA

Materialism makes people enter priesthood for wrong reasons -Rev Fr. Joseph Nwanua Rev Fr. Joseph Nwanua is the Parish Priest of SS Joachim and Anne Catholic Parish, Ijegun, Ikotun, Lagos. Ordained Priest on the 29th of November, 1986, he recently marked his 29th Priestly ordination in his remote parish without pump and pageantry. In this interview with NCR, Rev Fr. Nwanua talks on his life as a priest, his inspiration and cautions his fellow priests against materialism.

First Priestly Assignment:

My first assignment was to assist the parish priest of St Ann Catholic Parish, Ibara, and since then, my experience as a Catholic Priest has been good. One thing that has been outstanding in my life which I consider a miracle since I became a Catholic priest is that I have never fallen sick. I can’t remember going to any hospital for admission as a result of ill health. It takes only the grace of God to achieve this. This is in spite of the fact that I have always worked under very harsh conditions.

For instance, when I was posted to Iba Town, just beside Barracks and Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo , I started with squatting before an apartment was rented and up to the time I started and completed the construction

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of a bungalow. I was in the parish for 10 years. Within this period, I suffered armed robbery attacks in the house for four times. The area was badly infested with all manner of “bad boys. One thing that looked like a miracle was that each time they came into the house, even when I refused to open the door for them,they never harmed or molested me. They would break into the house, destroy properties and start looking for money, but never harmed me.

Child hood Experience

There was nothing special about my child hood experience. I experienced a normal childhood. But like you rightly pointed out, there was always this fear

of not being ordained a priest while in the seminary. It is always a common experience among seminarians. Despite that, I didn’t have any opposition from my parents or from elsewhere.

Priestly Experience

From the time I started being on my own as a parish priest, I was always posted to parishes that I would develop and build. All the places that I have been posted to have always looked tough but I easily settle down. Settling down

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 under such harsh circumstances has never been a problem to me. Just like in this parish, SS Joachim and Ann, I

no Fathers’ House. I lived in the school from where I fenced the Church and started the construction of Fathers’ House and completed it. I also started the Civic Centre.

My Joy

My joy remains that in spite of the poor economic conditions of the parishes that I am posted to, the developments come very fast. I have always surpassed my own expectations, all to the glory of God.

My life as a Catholic Priest in 29 years

I have enjoyed my life as a Catholic Priest. I do not think there is any other thing that I would have enjoyed doing more than being a Catholic priest. I am especially inspired by the work.

The family in times of distress

The key to happy family life in times of distress is patience. Husbands and wives should learn to communicate with each other. If they keep difficult experiences to themselves without sharing it with their spouses, the problems become more unbearable. Under such conditions, aggression is easily transferred to one’s partner and quarrels ensue. But if one’s problem is shared and perceived as a common problem, backed up with prayers, God intervenes and the problem is easily solved. God knows all our problems and challenges. He answers faster when challenges are brought to him as a family than as an individual.

Do not forget that one major reason why people do not share their problems is when they feel that the other person does not care. The problem is kept within and the person is dying slowly.

A problem shared is a problem solved.

Families should encourage themselves to positively face their daily challenges.

The Youth

am just one year here and I know the enormity of work I have already done here. Take for instance, if you look at the new church building, despite the fact that this is a very poor parish, I put in all available resources into it and we are about roofing it in a very short time, in these few months.

Also at St. Dennis Catholic Parish, Bariga, I completed the Church and built the two-storied Parish House. It was from there that I was posted here.

When I came to St Dennis, there was

The youths should not be in a hurry.

Whatever they want to be in life, they should begin early to plan for it. Education and hard work is necessary for the growth and development of every individual. Don’t look for easy way out. A major problem for some of our youths of today is that they want to achieve success without working for it. Quite often, they mingle with bad friends who exact bad influences on them.

To President Buhari

If I meet him one on one today, I will tell him to seat down and reflect on what he really wants to do for the coun-

35

try. He should not surround himself with sycophants. The problems of the country are so much more that some of them are thinking about. Let him work with professionals in the different facets of the Nigerian economy, identify the major challenges and give then a headon fight.

Leadership struggles in the Church

Only God appoints leaders, but some people want to arrogate that to themselves. I have found myself saying that to people. For instance, you are in the choir and you don’t know how to conduct, why do you want to lead? Why not allow the person who is gifted or has the knowledge to lead even if he is the smallest. You only get in there as a stumbling block. Some people will hijack a particular group and stifle it with their incompetence. That is what we see all over the place, in the choir, the CWO, CMO, PPC etc. The proper thing is that the person who is gifted and has the knowledge should be allowed to do the leadership work and everybody will be happy.

My Inspiration

I was inspired to become a priest by some of my former parish priests, most of who were expatriate missionaries; by the way they went about their duties.

You admire them and it was obvious they were dedicated to their duties. Fr Cookly was my parish priest, and I admired him a lot, very gentle and cheering. Archbishop Okojie also worked very hard and would advise priests that their “work was more than 24 hours”. If at his age he could work that much, why would younger priests not work harder.

I have come across many people within these 29 years who have inspired me, not just one person.

Caution to the younger priests.

The times have changed. When we became priests, we earned just N50 per month. Now it has risen to N65, 000; and the Bishop would insist on a priest using the VW Beetle car. It was strict, but it really helped to control the excesses of priests. You can see what is happening now, every priest is going for big cars and there seems to be no control.

It is like materialism is really becoming very strong in the lives of priests. If there is a way to really control this, it might make people to enter the priesthood for the wrong reason.

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Personal Finance Mark Oguh

2016: Look at the past with gratitude, embrace the future with hope

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

Y

ear 2015 was eventful in many respects. From Europe to Africa, Asia and the Middle East to North and South America, it was a year filled with trepidation. Across the globe, we saw Iran sealing nuclear deals with six world powers.

We also saw the migrant crisis in parts of Europe, the stampede at the Hajj in Mecca, the Russian passenger plane crash, the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, the Boko Haram debacle in Nigeria and the conduct of the general elections in Nigeria, Lesotho, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Cote D’Ivoire. These are some of the major events that shaped year 2015 globally.

In business and commerce, it remains a year to remember, especially in Nigeria and other oil producing nations of the world. The price of crude oil plunged to an all time low in 2015, from an average of USD 82 pb in November 2014, to USD 44.1 pb in October 2015. The direct consequence of this fall was a significant drop in government revenue and economic activities in general. Most states in Nigeria faced financial difficulties forcing them to rely on bailouts from the Federal Government to function.

Without doubt, the prevailing dire economic situations put significant pressure on demand for goods and services as the purchasing power in the country weakened. We have also seen the negative impact on business by the various responses of the monetary Authorities (Central Bank of Nigeria) to the weakening naira such as the closure of the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS), the 20% naira devaluation and the classification of 41 goods as “non-valid for forex.” It

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

means the importation of such goods cannot be paid for using official foreign exchange. We also saw restriction of deposits of dollar cash into domiciliary accounts. This has eliminated all alternative sources of payments for imports of goods not valid for official foreign exchange.

The election of President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2015 and assumption of office was received with mixed feelings. While some believe his coming is an end to corruption, infrastructure decay, and energy deficiencies, others feel that his coming has brought more pains than relief to the nation; branding him “Baba go- slow”.

For the feeble minded, the above scenario provides plausible excuses for failing to meet the goals set for 2015 since “nobody saw it coming”. While we must give thanks to God for having been able to weather the storm so far, we must also take time to review our individual responses to the challenging operating environment in 2015.

Tough situations should not limit our exploits.

Successful business people do not lower their targets in the face of challenges. Rather, they raise their expectations because they see the difference they can make in such situations. Out of every challenge lies an opportunity to be exploited for good.

Being grateful to God requires that we recognize that we are alive today because of His grace and mercy. If you are reading this piece, you have every reason to thank the Almighty God for keeping you alive despite the untold hardships ravaging the world at large and Nigeria in particular, as well as the terrible arrows of the enemy flying day and night. Your business still stands today, your family is in one piece because God has always been there for you. God is good. His plan for man is to share in His infinite goodness (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1-25). The presence of the realities of life’s difficulties does not diminish God’s goodness. This is why we should always give thanks.

Embracing 2016 with hope requires that we clearly dissect the events of the past, and build a proper perspective as to what we want 2016 to look like for us in our business and family lives. Surely, things are not likely to improve beyond what we saw in 2015.

Economic fundamentals will remain tight. Global economy will continue to be under stress and shocks, and Nigeria, not immune against these global shocks, will remain under pressure, but resilient.

To win the game in 2016, setting the right goals and objectives is a prerequisite. Get your priorities right, and

37

act consistently in ways that enhance your ability to achieve your objectives.

This will put you in a good position to win.

Business and home managers must focus on containing operating and domestic costs by ensuring they get value for every naira spent. Proper budgeting and budgetary controls must be put in place. Instantaneous spending should be avoided. For upcoming business leaders and young families, part of their usual undoing is the influence of bad spending habits.

To succeed in 2016, businesses must avoid wasteful behavior, and speculation.

Invest in safe and liquid assets.

Money should be managed with care.

The lure for huge short term profits usually provides the baits for financial failure. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes.

Flee from anything that appears too good to be true.

Investing right is the only way to make money. You must make that money to work for you. Understand the peculiarities of your business and personal cash flows, and align investment and spending decisions to that pattern to stay afloat.

The coming year must be a year of innovation. Peter F. Drucker says that if you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.

Businesses that keep doing the same thing all over should not expect a different result. You must embrace the change that the society is witnessing.

Provide goods and services that address today’s customer needs not just the ones that are convenient to you.

Your customers are the reasons you are in business. Make a decision to be customer friendly in the coming New Year. Be ethical and responsible.

Giving up is not an option. You must push yourself to the limits on the right path. Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

Tough times are for the tough minded.

We are a people, strong in character, full of hope and valor. We don’t give up in the face of threats. We face life’s challenges head on. I wish you all a glorious 2016.

Mark Oguh, a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a Financial Management Expert wrote in from St. Anthony’s Parish, Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos. Contact mark.oguh@ gmail.com

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Wellness Corner with Dr Patrick Ijewere

“HEALTH IS BY CHOICE” Dr. Patrick Ijewere Specialty: Internal Medicine (Johns Hopkins University) Host: “Wellness half-hour”, Inspiration 92.3FM Sunday 1pm Website: www.caribhealthng.com 0809 660 4455

Ventilation systems 1.

Air Conditioning Units – Domestic A/C units simply cool and recycle the air. They filter certain size particles, but not the more troublesome microparticles. Thus rooms still need to be aired out. Of course, filters in the A/C require intermittent cleaning depending on intensity of usage. You can clean it yourself or get a professional a/c maintenance company to do it.

2. HVAC – Central A/C systems – These are very concerning for harboring

Regularly detoxifying your body is no more a luxury, but a necessity for Wellness.

Help your body get rid of these chemicals.

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

Wellnes

– Is the air in yyo

dirt, mold and bacteria, including the infamous Legionnaires disease. Thus, there must be a schedule with a professional maintenance company to clean them regularly!!!

3.

Extraction systems and fans – these help a lot to dilute, diffuse and extract indoor air. Very important for Kitchens, and bathrooms especially office and public areas. They must be cleaned regularly, otherwise they are less effective.

I entered a popular pharmacy in Lagos recently and smelt a strong odour.

Immediately, I began to sneeze and my throat began to itch. I informed the pharmacist, asking what that “odour?”

The young female pharmacist, whose facial expression was clearly offended at my use of the word odour, promptly replied that there is no odour; it is “Aroma”. I asked her, as a pharmacist, and thus a scientist, has she looked at the ingredients in the “Aroma?” She replied, no. I challenged her to do so and call me with her findings. I am still awaiting the call.

Ignorance is part of our challenge in wellness, hence our responsibility to open minds when an unknown idea, outside of the realm of the individual is mentioned. Whether it is a perfume,

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

39

ss and Air Quality -2

your our car or home making you sick?

aroma, or odour or scent, it is still a chemical in the air that ought not to be there. I have been in homes of friends who run a/c 24/7, and the indoor air is very concerning The truth is many of us cannot avoid or runaway from these chemical and gases in our day to day activities. Some of us use and need these chemicals in our work. Several of us love our cosmetic chemicals. Many chemicals we inhale or put on our body are sequestered (stored) in the body, especially in body fat. Overtime, they destroy your health, especially the immune system, the nerve system and reproductive system (fertility system).

These chemicals not only affect adults, but even more vulnerable are our children whose immune and nerve systems are still immature and developing rapidly daily. Studies have found some of these chemical in the umbilical cord blood of the newborn baby. It got there from the mother’s blood. Thus, regular detoxifying the body is no more a luxury, but a necessity for Wellness.

The Best Air is Fresh Air! Fresh Air has no odour or Aroma. It does not need Air freshener. And it is free!!

Action Steps

1.

Air out your homes, cars and offices regularly, especially in the fresher early morning air.

2.

Remove the dry-cleaners plastic and hang the clothes outside to air out 3.

Use chemicals and detergents that are without perfumes or with reduced perfumes 4.

Personal chemicals, like cosmetics, use minimally or use natural brands with fewer chemicals.

5.

Use household chemicals and paints in well ventilated areas and use a fan to help air out.

6.

Minimize use of Air Fresheners to when most necessary…..such as a busy toilet.

7.

Install air extractors in public places or busy toilets 8.

Indoor plants help to clean the air too.

9.

Read the labels on chemicals for proper use and handling.

10.

Businesses, offices and large corporate buildings, need regular air quality tests by professionals.

11.

DETOX – detoxify your body regularly to reduce the chemical burden. Consult a professional.

Regularly detoxifying your body is no more a luxury, but a necessity for Wellness.

Help your body get rid of these chemicals.

There are a lot of medical conditions that are linked to the Air quality…. asthma, allergies, cancers like Leukemia, autoimmune disorders like Multiple Sclerosis and ALS, neurologic disorders like Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc.. While we cannot individually control the outdoor Air quality, we can influence and in many cases control the indoor Air quality. A few simple steps go a long way to our Wellness. Let us not feel totally powerless to impacting the outdoor air; after all, we are the citizens who own the generators, the cars, and the factories. Service them regularly.

We are also the ones in state and federal government who make the laws.

Our God placed us in a paradise of fresh air, clean natural water and abundant nutritious environment. Let us reclaim and protect it. Sickness was not his call upon us. The Bible says that my people perish for lack of knowledge.

Today, you have received knowledge.

Please share it with others. Having said the entire above, guess what...

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

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P

r

e

s

e

Vol. 2 No.109, November - December, 2015

DE PAUL AGROBIZ VENTURE

n

t

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WORLD CLASS

TRIP TO

SONGHAI, PORTO NOVO

…An inspiring and educative life changing agricultural tour. You will never be the same Prompted by St Vincent de Paul's maxim, “give fish to the poor and feed them for a day but teach them how to fish and you feed them for a whole life;” we invite you to experience a deeply life changing tour to Songhai.

You will never be the same as events of agric integration become live before you to enrich your farming life. Take this unique opportunity to have a genuine feel of agriculture on a sustainable level.

Join our world-class trip to Songhai, Porto Novo and have a safe unforgettable agro experience at an unbelievable but reasonable cost.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity provided by De Paul Agrobiz Venture's agro study visit to Songhai to: · Learn how to improve and grow your agricultural output · Get exposed to new techniques that boosts your farm income · Learn to minimise risks and loss of farm produce · Acquire a transforming network with like-minded agricultural professionals

FOR WHOM: Practicing and aspiring farmers, couples, students, associations, individual families, and all who have passion for farming.

FEATURES: Leisure, comfort guided travel, excellent accommodation, healthy farm-fresh meals, boat ride on Songhai's artificial river fish pond, English speaking tour and free gifts.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: · · · ·

Site and classroom training/lectures In-debt exposure on specialised farming techniques Guided tour/Simple visit to Songhai Centre,Porto Novo Video/power point presentation on Songhai activities Visit to Songhai graduates' farms and (or) other Songhai sites FOR INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION, PLEASE CONTACT: TOUR CO-ORDINATOR AND GUIDE

Rev Fr. Benedict S. Okolo, Cm. De Paul Agrobiz Ventures, 1 De Paul, Yakoyo Bus Stop Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.

Tel: +2348067709801 Email: benescm@yahoo.com

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

Watch video of interview with Rev Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, Founder, Songhai Centre and learn the secret of successful agro business: Https://www. Youtube.com / watch? v= paopp541v31

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Strictly Catholic

By Rev. Fr. Dr Peter Onyekwelu Okafor

“J

esus called to him the Twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, and no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics …”Mk 6:7-13 The above Gospel reading invites us on what might happen if the bringer of the Gospel draws financial advantages from his preaching. And we ask ourselves, can one take the ministry of preaching or evangelism as a job or means of livelihood?

Can one set up a Church or Churches, as entrepreneurs establish factories, industries and business enterprises for profit?

We cannot deny that this really happens today. If not how can we explain the fact that some of the so called preachers or pastors have private jets?

How did they come about them?

Mark’s Gospel quoted above, shows clearly that money is a great danger to the freedom of the prophet or God’s messenger who announces the Word of God. It lists the instructions of Jesus to his disciples as they embarked on their first missionary journey. They must avoid the slightest suspicion that they may be working for their own economic advantage. Thus, they are not to take supplies for the road such as money.

But they are simply to trust God for what they require. God, the provider, would open the hearts of the believers to take care of the needs of the disciples. In this way, their concern would not be money but calling people to repentance and welcoming of the Gospel of salvation.

The instruction of Jesus to His disciples is that they should not be seen like the acquisitive priests of His day who were only interested in gaining riches.

The priests of His day were among the richest in their society and belonged to the aristocratic family. They saw their ministry as a means of drawing financial and economic advantages. This is not to be said of today’s priests or Disciples of Christ. Instead, they must be

41

Preaching of the Gospel and Money - Should the person who teaches the word of God be paid? concerned with giving rather than receiving.

Experience has shown that the quest for material or economic advantage is behind the rapid spread of Pentecostalism in Nigeria leading to the setting up of Churches or Pentecostal fellowships for purely financial returns. To fill these emerging churches with members, these so called preachers of the Gospel or pastors of Pentecostal churches, offer their members ‘Christianity made easy’ or ‘Christianity made simple. Members are offered false or counterfeit Christianity, or what many call ‘Miracle Christianity’ or Cross-less Christianity.

Pentecostal Christianity is a Christianity that emphasises miracles, wonders and material favours over repentance, conversion and submission to the will of God in one’s life. We, however know that it is not easy to submit to the will of God because it sometimes, brings the believer the cross just as Jesus submitted to the will of his Father in heaven and embraced the cross for our salvation. Thus, submitting to the will of God for us can also mean carry-

The instruction of Jesus to His disciples is that they should not be seen like the acquisitive priests of His day who were only interested in gaining riches. The priests of His day were among the richest in their society and belonged to the aristocratic family.

ing our cross and following Jesus with fidelity. Is this emphasised in Pentecostal Christianity? Not at all, as it is all about miracles, signs and wonders or about material favours.

Because their interest is primarily wealth acquisition, miracles and material favours, they offer a type of Christianity that is attractive to the gullible, and so many Nigerians are gullible. In fact, Pentecostalism has continued to do a lot of damage to the integrity of the truth of the Gospel. Today, if you remove the attraction of money in the announcement of the Gospel, maybe, only the Catholic Church may survive as her fundamental commitment, despite betrayals by some of her priests, is not money but the integrity of the true Gospel of Christ.

By de-emphasizing money or material interest in evangelism, Jesus wants His disciples to be rich in all that really matters such as love, faith, hope, sanctity, mercy, truth, justice and intimacy with God. In this way, they may be able to truly enrich others who they encounter.

Rev. Fr. (Dr) Peter Onyekwelu Okafor is a lecturer of Systematic Theology at Blessed Iwene Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha. Phone: 08064089136, e-Mail: okaforpita1@gmail.com

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

Interview

Y

You were a key member of the immediate past administration of the Archdiocesan CMO. At what point did you decide to run for the office of the president and what was the motivation?

I have never offered myself to run for any office.

I am a strong believer of the fact that leadership in the House of God should be done as in the days of the Apostles. If there is need for any vacancy, brethren should look for the reliable ones amongst them and cast lots to choose who to appoint.

It is not for anyone to bring himself forward. When people start investing resources in canvassing for offices where they are supposed to come and offer a free service, I am not so sure that their intentions are noble and it is manifesting across board in various groups. The Apostles did not print posters to be called by Jesus neither did the Deacons they elected to assist them.

John Aigbokhaode was on Saturday 28th November, 2015, elected president of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Archdiocese of Lagos. A parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ojota, Lagos, and Deanery Coordinator of the Maryland Deanery, John reputed to have accomplished the supervision of 2015 COM Convention and Induction of over 4,000

by His Grace Most Rev. (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos. In this interview with NCR, the CMO President speaks on his election as president of the organisation and the ideas he is hoping to push to make a difference.

Positions and appointments belong to God - Aigbokhaode John Nigerian Catholic Reporter

What innovative ideas are you bringing to the Organisation in order to make it relevant to members?

Well I don’t know of innovations, but there are ideas we are hoping to push to make a difference. We would want to pursue four key points which when well addressed will improve the lot of the organisation in all aspects. Two points relate to the organisation, and two points relate to the individuals that make up the organisation. CMO will be 15 years in the Archdiocese next year. Are we operating like a 15-year old organisation? For the organisation, we intend to work on

Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016 without performing the functions.

I am a living testimony that positions and appointments belong to God who confers it on whomever he pleases. leadership by February 20 to discuss the way forward.

Credibility and Visibility.

We believe that when this is highly positive, membership and other issues will be addressed. For the individuals we will work on Spirituality and Empowerment. We came to church to work out our salvation and CMO is one of the church organs so it must play its role in helping to develop the spirituality of the members. We also know that a hungry man can easily fall prey to temptation so must also make efforts in addressing the empowerment of our members. We are having a general reorientation program for all levels of

Membership mobilisation has not been very easy for past administrations of the Archdiocesan CMO. How does your regime intend to handle this especially as it concerns recruitment of younger people?

We are going to be operating some of our programs through standing committees and one of this committee is charges with Women and Youths affairs. They are to develop programs that will appeal to this segment. As I said earlier, we believe that Credibility and Visibility has a high impact on membership. If we are successful in pushing these programs, we would have addressed the membership issues as well.

How do you intend to handle the other challenges of absenteeism from meetings by Deanery Coordinators; information not reaching parish CMOs; and orderliness at meetings?

We are fortunate to be the first Executive to operate under the new constitution and some of these lapses have been addressed there. We will work with everybody but will throw the book at anyone who feels that he should answer the title

Do you have the intention of reactivating the Archbishop Adewale Martins Annual Football Competition?

The football tournament was a laudable initiative by our predecessors but implementation was where the problem came from and we will seek for the approval of the church authority to revive it and put a more informed team to work on it.

How would you want to be remembered at the end of your regime?

Well, those who nominated me for the job have some expectations. I also have some targets for myself. The level of my meeting these various expectations will answer that question.

What is your message to members?

I am a living testimony that positions and appointments belong to God who confers it on whomever he pleases. I believe that in the house of God, we should always be called to assignments just like the apostles and followers of Christ were called. I therefore want to thank all of you that believed in me enough to call me out for this post. I am very grateful. In every area of your life that fits your profile, may God always make men remember you.

When God took Ezekiel to the valley of dry bones, God wanted him to prophesy and call the bones back to life. Ezekiel was the only living human in the midst of the dry bones, and he was there to bring them back to life. Ezekiel had an assignment. God brought Ezekiel to the dry bones because he could fix it.

Brethren, in your ‘valley of dry bones’, you have an assignment and you must

43 fulfil every assignment God has given you in the ‘dry bones’ around you. You can fix that financial situation or home or marriage that has broken down; you can fix that wobbling career; you can revive that business that is comatose; you can turn things around in that moribund system; you have what it takes to bring the ‘dry bones’ around you back to life. When you know how to get the job done in the midst of people who don’t know how to get the job done, remember, you have an assignment to fulfil. When you have amazing ideas, and you are surrounded by people who are bereft of ideas, remember, your ideas can bring things back to life.

Remember that your assignment is not to sit back and criticize. In Phil 2:3-4, the word of God said, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.”

You have an assignment to transform everything around you that is not working. If you find yourself in a place that needs fixing, just remember that you can fix it. If God brought you to it, He has empowered you to fix it. With divine assistance, Ezekiel called the dry bones back to life. If Ezekiel could do it, you can do it. That ‘valley of dry bones’ is your assignment: face it, solve it.

Today what is the assignment before all of us? To build on the foundation that has been laid for the development of CMO by our founding Fathers.

It is a task for all of us. Please join me to make it happen.

Nigerian Catholic Reporter

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Vol. 3 No.110, March - April, 2016

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