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Most Rev. Dr. Denis Chidi ISIZOH
Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha. NIGERIA DOCE ME, DOMINE, BONITATEM, DISCIPLINAM ET SCIENTIAM
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JOURNAL OF A COUNTRYSIDE BISHOP Most Rev. Denis ISIZOH |
"Entirely for God"
Sunday, 28 March 2021. PALM SUNDAY.
Saturday, 27 March 2021. Usual morning devotions and spiritual exercises. Domine, ne longe facias auxilium tuum a me, ad defensionem meam aspice; quia ego sum vermis et non homo, opprobrium hominum et abiectio plebis.
Referring to the short responsory in our Breviary, why the image of a snare/trap of the fowler/hunter? Preacher Spurgeon: the snare of the fowler is generally noted for its adaptation. You do not find a fowler setting the same snare for one bird as for another; he knows his bird and he adapts his bait to it. He would be an unwise fowler who should go to work with the same machinery to catch the lark that flies on high as the duck that swims along the stream. The fowler is wiser than that: he adapts his snare to the condition of the bird which he desires to take. Satan the fowler does just the same. Satan always "adapts" our temptation to get us at our points of weakness and carelessness.
OUR TODY'S QUOTE: "The real kindness is when you are ready to give up something that you need yourself."
Quiet afternoon. I received Bene Nduka, one of the religious from my hometown, who recently did her final profession of vows in the Secular Institute of St Raphael. May the Lord accept her wholesome sacrifice and pour abundance of his blessings on her.
Throughout this afternoon, I tried to update my website.
At the end of the day, in this year of St Joseph, to him we pray: To thee, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our affliction, and having implored the help of thy thrice holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg thee also to take us under thy protection. By that charity wherewith thou wert united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love with which thou didst cherish the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray that thou wilt look down with gracious eye upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His blood, and wilt succor us in our need by thy power and strength.
Defend, O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen off-spring of Jesus Christ. Keep from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the peril of His life, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under thy patronage, that, following thine example and strengthened by thy help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in Heaven. Amen.
Referring to the short responsory in our Breviary, why the image of a snare/trap of the fowler/hunter? Preacher Spurgeon: the snare of the fowler is generally noted for its adaptation. You do not find a fowler setting the same snare for one bird as for another; he knows his bird and he adapts his bait to it. He would be an unwise fowler who should go to work with the same machinery to catch the lark that flies on high as the duck that swims along the stream. The fowler is wiser than that: he adapts his snare to the condition of the bird which he desires to take. Satan the fowler does just the same. Satan always "adapts" our temptation to get us at our points of weakness and carelessness.
OUR TODY'S QUOTE: "The real kindness is when you are ready to give up something that you need yourself."
Quiet afternoon. I received Bene Nduka, one of the religious from my hometown, who recently did her final profession of vows in the Secular Institute of St Raphael. May the Lord accept her wholesome sacrifice and pour abundance of his blessings on her.
Throughout this afternoon, I tried to update my website.
At the end of the day, in this year of St Joseph, to him we pray: To thee, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our affliction, and having implored the help of thy thrice holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg thee also to take us under thy protection. By that charity wherewith thou wert united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love with which thou didst cherish the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray that thou wilt look down with gracious eye upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His blood, and wilt succor us in our need by thy power and strength.
Defend, O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen off-spring of Jesus Christ. Keep from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the peril of His life, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under thy patronage, that, following thine example and strengthened by thy help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in Heaven. Amen.
Friday, 26 March 2021. Usual early morning greeting to our Blessed Mother. We presented ourselves to the Lord. Tantum ergo Sacramentum veneremur cernui: et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui: præstet fides supplementum sensuum defectui. Genitori, Genitoque laus et jubilatio, salus, honor, virtus quoque sit et benedictio: procedenti ab utroque compar sit laudatio.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.”
I have often thought about the short responsory we say everyday during morning prayers: "It is he who will free me from the snare of the fowler" (our Breviary uses the word: "hunters"). What would this phrase mean? Why does the Church put those words in our mouth every morning. I started reading wide. Thanks be to God, I found an ancient homily book that explained the phrase to me. I am referring to the homily on Psalm 91,3 by Charles H. Spurgeon on 29 March 1857.
Why the image of a snare/trap of the fowler/hunter? Preacher Spurgeon: the fowler's snare is intimately connected with secrecy. "Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird." Therefore the fowler carefully covers up his trap; or, if the trap itself be uncovered he doth well beguile the bird, so that it is utterly ignorant of his intention to take it in the trap, little thinking that the food laid there for its banqueting is really placed there for its enticement and destruction. The fowler, when he goes after his birds, is very careful lest they should discover him. We hear, for instance, that in the taking of wild ducks, in Lincolnshire, a man will hold before his mouth a piece of turf, in order that the smell of his breath may not be perceived by the birds, who are exceedingly wary. The temptations of the world are of this secret sort to a Christian
I was at St Mary's Church, Nnobi, for the funeral of Gabriel Okoye. Requiescat in pace.
At the end of the day, we return to the embrace of our Blessed Mother. The composition by Frederick W. Faber articulates our thoughts: O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church,---all her eyes are on thee;
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.”
I have often thought about the short responsory we say everyday during morning prayers: "It is he who will free me from the snare of the fowler" (our Breviary uses the word: "hunters"). What would this phrase mean? Why does the Church put those words in our mouth every morning. I started reading wide. Thanks be to God, I found an ancient homily book that explained the phrase to me. I am referring to the homily on Psalm 91,3 by Charles H. Spurgeon on 29 March 1857.
Why the image of a snare/trap of the fowler/hunter? Preacher Spurgeon: the fowler's snare is intimately connected with secrecy. "Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird." Therefore the fowler carefully covers up his trap; or, if the trap itself be uncovered he doth well beguile the bird, so that it is utterly ignorant of his intention to take it in the trap, little thinking that the food laid there for its banqueting is really placed there for its enticement and destruction. The fowler, when he goes after his birds, is very careful lest they should discover him. We hear, for instance, that in the taking of wild ducks, in Lincolnshire, a man will hold before his mouth a piece of turf, in order that the smell of his breath may not be perceived by the birds, who are exceedingly wary. The temptations of the world are of this secret sort to a Christian
I was at St Mary's Church, Nnobi, for the funeral of Gabriel Okoye. Requiescat in pace.
At the end of the day, we return to the embrace of our Blessed Mother. The composition by Frederick W. Faber articulates our thoughts: O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church,---all her eyes are on thee;
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Thursday, 25 March 2021. SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD. Dominus ingrediens mundum dixit: Ecce venio ut faciam, Deus, voluntatem tuam. Usual rhythm of spiritual exercises.
Today, we began the celebration of Chrism/Cathedraticum Mass in Onitsha. This ceremony is usually celebrated in the six ecclesiastical regions on our archdiocese.
We began, as usual, with Igbariam region. I was the chief celebrant. Over forty priests concelebration and renewed the priestly promises. As in other years, Archbishop Val Okeke was present and he gave the homily - which, to a large extent, is always an occasion to present his yearly pastoral letter. This year, to commemorate his 40th anniversary of priesthood, he wrote on Priesthood, Gift and Sacrifice. For participation in today's Cathedraticum, in response to the COVID protocol, only three persons were allowed to come from the parishes in Igbariam. For this reason, the arena was almost empty.
The Chrism Mass today did not replace the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The proper was that of the solemnity. During this celebration the oils of catechumen and sick were blessed and the oil of chrism was consecrated. The priests renewed their priestly promise.
O Redemptor, sume carmen temet concinentium.
Arbor foeta alma luce
Hoc sacrandum protulit,
Fert hoc prona praesens turba
Salvatori saeculi.
For the blessing of the oil of the Catechumen, I prayed: Lord God, loving Father, you bring healing to the sick through your Son Jesus Christ. Hear us as we pray to you in faith, and send the Holy Spirit, man's Helper and Friend, upon this oil, which nature has provided to serve the needs of mankind. May your blessing + come upon all who are anointed with this oil, that they may be freed from pain and illness and made well again in body, mind, and soul. Father, may this oil be blessed for our use in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, through whom you continue to make all these good things, O Lord; you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.
Warm reception by Fr Benedict Udogwu, the Parish Priest of Igbariam.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening. At the close of the day, we turn to our Blessed Mother. Peter Canisius noted that one praises God in Mary when one turns to her in song.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
Today, we began the celebration of Chrism/Cathedraticum Mass in Onitsha. This ceremony is usually celebrated in the six ecclesiastical regions on our archdiocese.
We began, as usual, with Igbariam region. I was the chief celebrant. Over forty priests concelebration and renewed the priestly promises. As in other years, Archbishop Val Okeke was present and he gave the homily - which, to a large extent, is always an occasion to present his yearly pastoral letter. This year, to commemorate his 40th anniversary of priesthood, he wrote on Priesthood, Gift and Sacrifice. For participation in today's Cathedraticum, in response to the COVID protocol, only three persons were allowed to come from the parishes in Igbariam. For this reason, the arena was almost empty.
The Chrism Mass today did not replace the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The proper was that of the solemnity. During this celebration the oils of catechumen and sick were blessed and the oil of chrism was consecrated. The priests renewed their priestly promise.
O Redemptor, sume carmen temet concinentium.
Arbor foeta alma luce
Hoc sacrandum protulit,
Fert hoc prona praesens turba
Salvatori saeculi.
For the blessing of the oil of the Catechumen, I prayed: Lord God, loving Father, you bring healing to the sick through your Son Jesus Christ. Hear us as we pray to you in faith, and send the Holy Spirit, man's Helper and Friend, upon this oil, which nature has provided to serve the needs of mankind. May your blessing + come upon all who are anointed with this oil, that they may be freed from pain and illness and made well again in body, mind, and soul. Father, may this oil be blessed for our use in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, through whom you continue to make all these good things, O Lord; you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.
Warm reception by Fr Benedict Udogwu, the Parish Priest of Igbariam.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening. At the close of the day, we turn to our Blessed Mother. Peter Canisius noted that one praises God in Mary when one turns to her in song.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
Wednesday, 24 March 2021. Early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. Nos famulos, o Deus respice. Et gratia nos semper refice. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, sine fine Sanctus. Semper tíbi gloria Sacra sit sub Hostia. We followed our usual pattern of morning devotions.
Returning to the reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar, another factor that weaken priestly fraternity is FRATERNAL DISTANCING. This is how Bishop David presents it: "Fraternal Distancing Perhaps we know some people who live in the same building or work together but never see each other. Sometimes this fact is understandably the result of different schedules. There are times, however, when certain individuals, for whatever reason, make themselves unavailable.
This is not necessarily the case of being introverted. There are simply some among us who choose to go it alone. Not only are we not seen in the building, but we may never attend any priestly gatherings. This “lone ranger”way hurts the entire presbyterate and can have a rippling effect on the People of God. When we choose to lead separate and isolated lives as priests, we remove ourselves from the presbyterate and diminish it.
The isolation may be a result of hurt and friendly fire that is just too painful to absorb. The thought of getting shot at again precludes us from associating with the presbyterate. We can become lost in our hurt."
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You don't need to shout to be heard, People keep quiet to listen to Intelligent People."
Breakfast with then Focolarini in honour of Ruth Mburu now transferred to Italy. I was delighted to have the company of Fr Joseph, Fred, Perpetua.
I had no external activities. But I had no dull moment. I find that there is a lot I can do once I sit at my desk in my study room. So I immerse myself in work throughout today.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta
Returning to the reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar, another factor that weaken priestly fraternity is FRATERNAL DISTANCING. This is how Bishop David presents it: "Fraternal Distancing Perhaps we know some people who live in the same building or work together but never see each other. Sometimes this fact is understandably the result of different schedules. There are times, however, when certain individuals, for whatever reason, make themselves unavailable.
This is not necessarily the case of being introverted. There are simply some among us who choose to go it alone. Not only are we not seen in the building, but we may never attend any priestly gatherings. This “lone ranger”way hurts the entire presbyterate and can have a rippling effect on the People of God. When we choose to lead separate and isolated lives as priests, we remove ourselves from the presbyterate and diminish it.
The isolation may be a result of hurt and friendly fire that is just too painful to absorb. The thought of getting shot at again precludes us from associating with the presbyterate. We can become lost in our hurt."
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You don't need to shout to be heard, People keep quiet to listen to Intelligent People."
Breakfast with then Focolarini in honour of Ruth Mburu now transferred to Italy. I was delighted to have the company of Fr Joseph, Fred, Perpetua.
I had no external activities. But I had no dull moment. I find that there is a lot I can do once I sit at my desk in my study room. So I immerse myself in work throughout today.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta
Some of the Centenary Priests present at the funeral
Fr Andrew Izukanne: "Tu es, Domine, qui restitues hereditatem meam mihi"
Tuesday, 23 March 2021. Spera nel Signore, sii forte, si rinsaldi il tuo cuore e spera nel Signore. We began the day, as usual, before the Lord.
Nearer still nearer, close to Thy heart
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Our Community Mass in Italian. We prayed: Il tuo aiuto, Dio onnipotente, ci renda perseveranti nel tuo servizio, perché anche nel nostro tempo la tua Chiesa si accresca di nuovi membri e si rinnove sempre nello spirito.
At 9.30am, I was at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha for Missa exequialis for Fr Andrew Izukanne. Except the sick ones, all my classmates (1985 Centenary Priests) were there for our beloved Fr Andrew. We even had a uniform chasuble for the funeral.
Archbishop Val Okeke presided over the funeral Mass, I gave the homily and Fr Matthew Obiekezie gave the funeral oration.
A TRANSCRIPT IN ENGLISH OF
MY HOMILY AT THE FUNERAL OF FR ANDREW IZUKANNE
Being called to give a homily on this occasion of the funeral of Fr Andrew is a privilege. I am humbled by it. Why? I have never felt like this before. I firmly believe that I am standing before the relics of a holy man, a saint. Yes, in these last years, I have come to know Fr Andrew closely. Those who have had occasion to be with him will certainly testify that he was indeed a man of God at the confessional and when engaged in spiritual consultation.
Fr Andrew belongs to the set of Priests ordained in 1985, known as Centenary Priests. We were 53 in number (11 dead). Of that total number, seven belonged to Onitsha Archdiocese. As of today, with one belonging to Nnewi, six now belong to Onitsha archdiocese. Our statistics today: 2 dead, 2 in Nigeria and two overseas.
Fr Andrew became the first priest in Ogbaru land. We were there on the day of his ordination. Since then, I have noted his desire and efforts to advance the work of evangelization in his home town. He always showed great interest in promoting vocation to the priesthood and religious life in his home town.
When it is raining, a shelter is very attractive.
When the sun is high, and the temperature is hot, staying under a tree is very attractive.
In a house where there is shouting and scolding, a chapel or any cool room is attractive,
Staying beside a fussy person, a quiet, gentle person is attractive.
STAYING BESIDE FR ANDREW WAS A THING OF JOY! Even at death, I have fond memories of my interaction with him.
Fr Andrew's home parish is St Joseph's Atani. He was baptized in St Joseph's Church Atani. He was ordained priest in St Joseph's Church. And he died in the year of St Joseph. What is more, there are many similarities between his lifestyle and that of St Joseph, the husband of Mary. One could use the words of the psalmist to describe both St Joseph and Fr Andrew: Non sunt loquelae, neque sermones, quorum non audiantur voces eorum. In omnem terram exivit sonus eorum. No speech, no word, no voice is heard, yet their span extends through all the earth, their words to the utmost bounds of the world. (Ps. 18,4-5). Fr Andrew was not an Apostolic noisemaker! He was an effective pastor, leading his flock by example. He spent a good time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He was known as a man of prayer!
Like St Joseph, Fr Andrew tried to avoid embarrassing another person. If we take a look at the Onitsha Archdiocesan Diary, from 1986 to 1988, the date of the priestly ordination of Fr Andrew was written 23 November 1985. From 1999 till this 2021, the date changed to 23 December 1985. For good twenty-two years, this error was repeated. Fr Andrew saw it but did not want to put any person in trouble for the carelessness. He did not want to scold any person. Indeed, I have not heard that he raised his voice against any person. He allowed the mistake to be. Onwero life omelu. Chukwu emego m Fada. He respected the feeling of the other. It did not matter if he was inconvenienced. Some people would differ; his silence over the carelessness was his mark of simplicity and genuine love for the other.
And talking about placement by the Archbishops, let me put this on record. After many years in the Lord's service, the health of Fr Andrew started failing. The Archdiocese did not abandon him. Our Archbishop Val Okeke sent him to India for medical treatment. It was successful. That treatment sustained Fr Andrew for some years. I thank the Archbishop for this pastoral care which he extends to all our priests in need.
Unique Qualities many people have identified in Fr Andrew: simple, gentle, peaceful, patient, generous, appreciative of favours, always smiling, holy, faithful, caring, does not disturb with his needs, ready to assist, corrects calmly. These are qualities of a solid Priest. All of us priests are invited to imitate these qualities.
We thank God for teaching us through the life of this holy man whose mortal remains lie before us. Lord, accept the sacrifices that Fr Andrew made and the different forms of suffering he endured while on earth. Grant him eternal rest in your kingdom. For all us here still struggling in the flesh, let us learn to know you, love you and worship you here on earth to be with you in heaven. Amen.
Nearer still nearer, close to Thy heart
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Our Community Mass in Italian. We prayed: Il tuo aiuto, Dio onnipotente, ci renda perseveranti nel tuo servizio, perché anche nel nostro tempo la tua Chiesa si accresca di nuovi membri e si rinnove sempre nello spirito.
At 9.30am, I was at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha for Missa exequialis for Fr Andrew Izukanne. Except the sick ones, all my classmates (1985 Centenary Priests) were there for our beloved Fr Andrew. We even had a uniform chasuble for the funeral.
Archbishop Val Okeke presided over the funeral Mass, I gave the homily and Fr Matthew Obiekezie gave the funeral oration.
A TRANSCRIPT IN ENGLISH OF
MY HOMILY AT THE FUNERAL OF FR ANDREW IZUKANNE
Being called to give a homily on this occasion of the funeral of Fr Andrew is a privilege. I am humbled by it. Why? I have never felt like this before. I firmly believe that I am standing before the relics of a holy man, a saint. Yes, in these last years, I have come to know Fr Andrew closely. Those who have had occasion to be with him will certainly testify that he was indeed a man of God at the confessional and when engaged in spiritual consultation.
Fr Andrew belongs to the set of Priests ordained in 1985, known as Centenary Priests. We were 53 in number (11 dead). Of that total number, seven belonged to Onitsha Archdiocese. As of today, with one belonging to Nnewi, six now belong to Onitsha archdiocese. Our statistics today: 2 dead, 2 in Nigeria and two overseas.
Fr Andrew became the first priest in Ogbaru land. We were there on the day of his ordination. Since then, I have noted his desire and efforts to advance the work of evangelization in his home town. He always showed great interest in promoting vocation to the priesthood and religious life in his home town.
When it is raining, a shelter is very attractive.
When the sun is high, and the temperature is hot, staying under a tree is very attractive.
In a house where there is shouting and scolding, a chapel or any cool room is attractive,
Staying beside a fussy person, a quiet, gentle person is attractive.
STAYING BESIDE FR ANDREW WAS A THING OF JOY! Even at death, I have fond memories of my interaction with him.
- Fr Andrew was not an eloquent speaker.
- Sometimes he was not very audible.
- He did not have the sweet tongue to impress or deceive superiors ("isa isi", "ife incense").
- He was always true to himself, a frank person.
- His face always radiated the inner glow of holiness and spiritual joy.
- He smiled almost always.
Fr Andrew's home parish is St Joseph's Atani. He was baptized in St Joseph's Church Atani. He was ordained priest in St Joseph's Church. And he died in the year of St Joseph. What is more, there are many similarities between his lifestyle and that of St Joseph, the husband of Mary. One could use the words of the psalmist to describe both St Joseph and Fr Andrew: Non sunt loquelae, neque sermones, quorum non audiantur voces eorum. In omnem terram exivit sonus eorum. No speech, no word, no voice is heard, yet their span extends through all the earth, their words to the utmost bounds of the world. (Ps. 18,4-5). Fr Andrew was not an Apostolic noisemaker! He was an effective pastor, leading his flock by example. He spent a good time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He was known as a man of prayer!
Like St Joseph, Fr Andrew tried to avoid embarrassing another person. If we take a look at the Onitsha Archdiocesan Diary, from 1986 to 1988, the date of the priestly ordination of Fr Andrew was written 23 November 1985. From 1999 till this 2021, the date changed to 23 December 1985. For good twenty-two years, this error was repeated. Fr Andrew saw it but did not want to put any person in trouble for the carelessness. He did not want to scold any person. Indeed, I have not heard that he raised his voice against any person. He allowed the mistake to be. Onwero life omelu. Chukwu emego m Fada. He respected the feeling of the other. It did not matter if he was inconvenienced. Some people would differ; his silence over the carelessness was his mark of simplicity and genuine love for the other.
- How wonderful it will be if we can always say Onwero life omelu when somebody provokes us
And talking about placement by the Archbishops, let me put this on record. After many years in the Lord's service, the health of Fr Andrew started failing. The Archdiocese did not abandon him. Our Archbishop Val Okeke sent him to India for medical treatment. It was successful. That treatment sustained Fr Andrew for some years. I thank the Archbishop for this pastoral care which he extends to all our priests in need.
Unique Qualities many people have identified in Fr Andrew: simple, gentle, peaceful, patient, generous, appreciative of favours, always smiling, holy, faithful, caring, does not disturb with his needs, ready to assist, corrects calmly. These are qualities of a solid Priest. All of us priests are invited to imitate these qualities.
We thank God for teaching us through the life of this holy man whose mortal remains lie before us. Lord, accept the sacrifices that Fr Andrew made and the different forms of suffering he endured while on earth. Grant him eternal rest in your kingdom. For all us here still struggling in the flesh, let us learn to know you, love you and worship you here on earth to be with you in heaven. Amen.
Monday, 22 March 2021. Usual early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. Miserere mihi, Domine, quoniam conculcavit me homo, tota die bellans tribulavit me. This morning we presented ourselves again to the Lord. Ave verum corpus natum de Virgine Maria.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "To smile without condition; to talk without intention, to give without reason and to care without expectation, is the beauty of any relation".
Today in 1998, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II was at Onitsha for the beatification of Blessed Michael Cyprian Iwene Tansi. A good day to pray to our Blessed: O God, who granted many graces to your servant, Priest and Monk, Cyprian Michael Tansi, choosing him as your faithful instrument for evangelization and sanctification of your people, grant also that I may spend my life, loving you and neighbour and serving the Church. Deign to glorify your servant Cyprian Michael and through his intercession to grant me the favour I ask of you .. (here add your personal intentions). Amen.Our Father….
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father...
At 5.00pm, I was at Holy Spirit Church, Omagba, for the funeral vigil Mass for my classmate Fr Andrew Izukanne. Grant, we pray, O Lord, that the soul of Andrew your servant and Priest, whom you honoured with sacred office while lived in this word, may exult for ever in the glorious home of heaven.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "To smile without condition; to talk without intention, to give without reason and to care without expectation, is the beauty of any relation".
Today in 1998, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II was at Onitsha for the beatification of Blessed Michael Cyprian Iwene Tansi. A good day to pray to our Blessed: O God, who granted many graces to your servant, Priest and Monk, Cyprian Michael Tansi, choosing him as your faithful instrument for evangelization and sanctification of your people, grant also that I may spend my life, loving you and neighbour and serving the Church. Deign to glorify your servant Cyprian Michael and through his intercession to grant me the favour I ask of you .. (here add your personal intentions). Amen.Our Father….
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father...
At 5.00pm, I was at Holy Spirit Church, Omagba, for the funeral vigil Mass for my classmate Fr Andrew Izukanne. Grant, we pray, O Lord, that the soul of Andrew your servant and Priest, whom you honoured with sacred office while lived in this word, may exult for ever in the glorious home of heaven.
Benedicat vos Omnipotens Deus.
Sit nomen Domini benedictum
Veni Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium
Sunday, 21 March 2021. FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT. Iudica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta; ab homine iniquo et doloso eripe me, quia tu es Deus meus et fortitudo mea. Usual early morning devotions in our chapel.
Returning to the reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar, another factor that weaken priestly fraternity is COMPETITION. This is how Bishop David presents it: "Part of being a man is being competitive. From our early days as a child, we can make life all about competition. For example, we want mom to love us more than our younger brother. We want to have the best grades in the class. We want to be the best player on the team. At the heart of competition is ego. To have an ego is to be human, however, when it becomes our sole driving force, we go down a slippery slope. It is not uncommon for us priests to subtly compete against our brothers in the presbyterate or the neighboring parish. We love them, but there is something about us that always wants to be better and to rise above them. I suppose it is human nature. We want to have the most competent staff with the most dazzling programs. Some of us can measure all of this by who has the highest collection each week. Ministry, as Jesus established, is never meant to be about competition but a shared commitment to collaborate for the good of the Church. When we compare our work to others, we can make it all about ourselves. I am reminded of the saying, “If you compare, you will despair.”Competition is a subtle form of comparison. Once again, St. Paul offers sound advice when he says, “Each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone, and not with regard to someone else; for each will bear his own load”(Gal 6:4-5)."
At our Community Mass, we said the following Intercessory Prayers:
I was at Christ the King Parish Omor at about 10.00am for a Pastoral visit. My joy as a pastor knew no bounds to observe the fast population growth of Catholics being recorded in this town. Last year I confirmed three hundred and fifty candidates. It was the highest number I ever recorded in this area. Today, the number was still impressive. Two hundred and fifty received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Church attendance here is now the highest in Ayamelum area. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
The reception after the Mass was truly warm. Here I spoke to them about unity and peace, especially after the kidnapping and murder of the town's President General. Soon after the reception, I sped off back to Aguleri. Quick lunch.
5.30pm, at Ideani, I presided at the Funeral vigil Mass for Gregory Okafor. Lord, grant him eternal rest. Amen.
When I returned to Aguleri, it was already dark. Shower, supper, prayer and then, ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Returning to the reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar, another factor that weaken priestly fraternity is COMPETITION. This is how Bishop David presents it: "Part of being a man is being competitive. From our early days as a child, we can make life all about competition. For example, we want mom to love us more than our younger brother. We want to have the best grades in the class. We want to be the best player on the team. At the heart of competition is ego. To have an ego is to be human, however, when it becomes our sole driving force, we go down a slippery slope. It is not uncommon for us priests to subtly compete against our brothers in the presbyterate or the neighboring parish. We love them, but there is something about us that always wants to be better and to rise above them. I suppose it is human nature. We want to have the most competent staff with the most dazzling programs. Some of us can measure all of this by who has the highest collection each week. Ministry, as Jesus established, is never meant to be about competition but a shared commitment to collaborate for the good of the Church. When we compare our work to others, we can make it all about ourselves. I am reminded of the saying, “If you compare, you will despair.”Competition is a subtle form of comparison. Once again, St. Paul offers sound advice when he says, “Each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone, and not with regard to someone else; for each will bear his own load”(Gal 6:4-5)."
At our Community Mass, we said the following Intercessory Prayers:
- For the church, that she may put her trust in Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, and believe in Him through all the seasons of life and death on her spiritual journey - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For refugees, for the oppressed and abandoned, that God may settle them upon their own land, putting His spirit of life in them again - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may give Jesus the sacred tribute of our faith, believing in Him even beyond the death of our hopes and of our loved ones - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That our spirits may be alive because of righteousness, giving room to the divine Spirit of Jesus to work marvels of grace and peace in our souls - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who suffer, whose dreams lie in the tomb, that the divine promise to open all graves and raise the dead may be active, bringing them healing and hope - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our beloved dead, that Jesus, who wept at the loss of His friend Lazarus, may raise them up to the abundant life of heaven, and console those they have left behind - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
I was at Christ the King Parish Omor at about 10.00am for a Pastoral visit. My joy as a pastor knew no bounds to observe the fast population growth of Catholics being recorded in this town. Last year I confirmed three hundred and fifty candidates. It was the highest number I ever recorded in this area. Today, the number was still impressive. Two hundred and fifty received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Church attendance here is now the highest in Ayamelum area. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
The reception after the Mass was truly warm. Here I spoke to them about unity and peace, especially after the kidnapping and murder of the town's President General. Soon after the reception, I sped off back to Aguleri. Quick lunch.
5.30pm, at Ideani, I presided at the Funeral vigil Mass for Gregory Okafor. Lord, grant him eternal rest. Amen.
When I returned to Aguleri, it was already dark. Shower, supper, prayer and then, ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Saturday, 20 March 2021. Usual early morning greetings of our Blessed Mother. Circumdederunt me gemitus mortis, dolores inferni circumdederunt me; et in tribulatione mea invocavi Dominum, et exaudivit de templo sancto suo vocem meam. We are getting deeper and deeper into the Lenten mood. Jesus my Lord, behold at length the day, When I resolve from sin to turn away: O pardon me Jesus; Thy mercy I implore; I will never more offend thee, No, never more. We followed our usual rhythm of spiritual exercises in the morning.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."
At 10.00am, I was at the Shanahan hall, Onitsha, for the plenary meeting of the Pastoral Council of Onitsha Archdiocese. The meeting had a scanty agenda, but some participants suggested many items to complement it. At the end of the meeting I hurried over my lunch and quickly took off for St Theophilus Independent Station.
for Parish Community Rosary.
Fr Peter Obidi received me at the rectory. Soon after my arrival, I went to the Church of St Theophilus and did some catechesis on the devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary. This was followed by the recitation of the rosary. The event was very well attended.
In the evening I thanked the Lord for the strength to accomplish many things today. Our prayer in the minor seminary after Particular Examen was appropriate to conclude the day: O Most Holy Virgin Mary: Mother of God, and likewise my most dear Mother, in your sacred hands, under your powerful protection, and in your compassionate heart, I place now and for ever my body and soul, my hopes and happiness, my pains and afflictions, my actions and pursuits, my life, death and entire being, that through your merits and intercession, my whole existence may be directed to the perfect accomplishment of your holy will and that of your adorable Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."
At 10.00am, I was at the Shanahan hall, Onitsha, for the plenary meeting of the Pastoral Council of Onitsha Archdiocese. The meeting had a scanty agenda, but some participants suggested many items to complement it. At the end of the meeting I hurried over my lunch and quickly took off for St Theophilus Independent Station.
for Parish Community Rosary.
Fr Peter Obidi received me at the rectory. Soon after my arrival, I went to the Church of St Theophilus and did some catechesis on the devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary. This was followed by the recitation of the rosary. The event was very well attended.
In the evening I thanked the Lord for the strength to accomplish many things today. Our prayer in the minor seminary after Particular Examen was appropriate to conclude the day: O Most Holy Virgin Mary: Mother of God, and likewise my most dear Mother, in your sacred hands, under your powerful protection, and in your compassionate heart, I place now and for ever my body and soul, my hopes and happiness, my pains and afflictions, my actions and pursuits, my life, death and entire being, that through your merits and intercession, my whole existence may be directed to the perfect accomplishment of your holy will and that of your adorable Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, 19 March 2021. SOLEMNITY OF ST JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Ecce fidelis servus et prudens, quem constituit Dominus super familiam suam. Today, in Onitsha archdiocese and some dioceses around the world the solemnity of St Joseph was celebrated in a very special way.
I reflected on the qualities of St Joseph, considering his spiritual fatherhood, paterfamilias, consideration for others, humility, docility, ever ready to do the will of God, patience, hard-work, active/effective silence, holiness of life, etc. I know that, as a priest, I have a lot to learn from him.
Our Community Mass was in Latin. We recited the Apostles' Creed in Latin:
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem,
Creatórem cæli et terræ,
et in Iesum Christum, Fílium eius únicum,
Dóminum nostrum,
qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto,
natus ex María Vírgine,
passus sub Póntio Piláto,
crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus,
descéndit ad ínferos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis,
ascéndit ad cælos,
sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis,
inde ventúrus est iudicáre vivos et mórtuos.
Credo in Spíritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam,
sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum,
carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam. Amen.
What a good day to recite the Litany of St Joseph:
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
God our Father in heaven, Lord, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Lord, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Noble son of the House of David, pray for us.
Light of patriarchs, pray for us.
Husband of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Faithful guardian of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the holy family, pray for us.
Joseph, chaste and just, pray for us.
Joseph, prudent and brave, pray for us.
Joseph, obedient and loyal, pray for us.
Pattern of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of workers, pray for us.
Example to parents, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of family life, pray for us.
Comfort of the troubled, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of evil spirits, pray for us.
Protector of the Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray.
God, in your infinite wisdom and love you chose Joseph to be the husband of Mary, the mother of your Son. May we have the help of his prayers in heaven and enjoy his protection on earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
I reflected on the qualities of St Joseph, considering his spiritual fatherhood, paterfamilias, consideration for others, humility, docility, ever ready to do the will of God, patience, hard-work, active/effective silence, holiness of life, etc. I know that, as a priest, I have a lot to learn from him.
Our Community Mass was in Latin. We recited the Apostles' Creed in Latin:
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem,
Creatórem cæli et terræ,
et in Iesum Christum, Fílium eius únicum,
Dóminum nostrum,
qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto,
natus ex María Vírgine,
passus sub Póntio Piláto,
crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus,
descéndit ad ínferos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis,
ascéndit ad cælos,
sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis,
inde ventúrus est iudicáre vivos et mórtuos.
Credo in Spíritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam,
sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum,
carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam. Amen.
What a good day to recite the Litany of St Joseph:
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
God our Father in heaven, Lord, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Lord, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Noble son of the House of David, pray for us.
Light of patriarchs, pray for us.
Husband of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Faithful guardian of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the holy family, pray for us.
Joseph, chaste and just, pray for us.
Joseph, prudent and brave, pray for us.
Joseph, obedient and loyal, pray for us.
Pattern of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of workers, pray for us.
Example to parents, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of family life, pray for us.
Comfort of the troubled, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of evil spirits, pray for us.
Protector of the Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray.
God, in your infinite wisdom and love you chose Joseph to be the husband of Mary, the mother of your Son. May we have the help of his prayers in heaven and enjoy his protection on earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thursday, 18 March 2021.Usual early greetings to our Blessed Mother. Laetetur cor quaerentium Dominum. Quaerite Dominum et confirmamini, quaerite faciem eius semper. In the chapel before the Lord. Jesus, the very thought of thee / With sweetness fills my breast; / But sweeter far thy face to see / And in thy presence rest. Adoration. Office of Lauds.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Quitters and waiters have a varied beginning, but a similar ending. They don't win! Don't wait; don’t quit... Arise and shine with the light of passion right there in you!
At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. In the year of Joseph, to him we turn:
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Husband of Mary, hail!
Chaste as the lily flower
in Eden's peaceful vale.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Quitters and waiters have a varied beginning, but a similar ending. They don't win! Don't wait; don’t quit... Arise and shine with the light of passion right there in you!
At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For the church and her ministers, that like Moses they may be people pleasing to God and capable by their prayer of turning the divine anger into mercy - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For peace, especially in the lands made holy by the patriarchs, the prophets, and the saving work of Jesus - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may be as John the Baptist, with the lamps of our faith and love burning and shining as a testimony to the world - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who have asked for our prayers in a time of illness or distress, that through this Holy Sacrifice God may again do great deeds and wondrous works of healing and grace for them - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For the faithful departed who believed in the One whom God had sent to save us, that they may now hear the voice and see the form of the Father in the heavenly places - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. In the year of Joseph, to him we turn:
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Husband of Mary, hail!
Chaste as the lily flower
in Eden's peaceful vale.
Wednesday, 17 March 2021. FEAST OF ST PATRICK, SECOND PATRON OF NIGERIA. Christ is the chief Shepherd, the leader of his flock, come, let us adore him. Recalling our prayer from the Manual of Prayers for Junior Seminarian. LET US PLACE OURSELVS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND HUMBLY ADORE HIM: Most holy and adorable Trinity, One God in Three Divine Persons, I believe that You are here present, I adore You with the deepest humility, and with all my heart I offer You the homage due to Your sovereign Majesty. Usual morning spiritual exercise.
I continued my reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar. There are many factors that weaken priestly fraternity. The first one considered is GOSSIP. For my reflection, this is how Bishop David presents it: As priests, we are to be men of God’s Word. What a privilege it is to preach in his name and to speak words to the weary that will hopefully rouse them. But sometimes our words can be misdirected and hurtful, especially when they tear down a brother. Sometimes that brother is our predecessor or successor or the man with whom we live. In an attempt to make ourselves look good before others, we can say nasty things about them.
Some of these comments can lead to branding or labeling our brothers. It is particularly sad when one of the victims of our gossip is the bishop. My mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”St. Paul says it even better when he says, “No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear”(Eph 4:29). As priests, we are not only called to impart grace to the faithful but also to each other.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Don’t be the reason someone feels insecure. Be the reason someone feels seen, heard, and supported.”
I was again indoors. There are many projects before me and I am discerning how best to tackle them. This has kept me at my desk for hours today. Sit splendor Domini Dei nostri super nos, et opera manuum nostrarum dirige super nos, et opus manuum nostrarum dirige.
At the end of the day, this is the Year of St Joseph. To this great Custos we turn:
To you, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. By that love which united you to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which you did embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His Blood and to help us in our necessities, by your powerful intercession. Protect, O most provident Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving Father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O most power protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as you did once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent peril to His life, so now defend the Holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us with your unceasing patronage that, imitating your example and supported by your aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and secure everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.
I continued my reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar. There are many factors that weaken priestly fraternity. The first one considered is GOSSIP. For my reflection, this is how Bishop David presents it: As priests, we are to be men of God’s Word. What a privilege it is to preach in his name and to speak words to the weary that will hopefully rouse them. But sometimes our words can be misdirected and hurtful, especially when they tear down a brother. Sometimes that brother is our predecessor or successor or the man with whom we live. In an attempt to make ourselves look good before others, we can say nasty things about them.
Some of these comments can lead to branding or labeling our brothers. It is particularly sad when one of the victims of our gossip is the bishop. My mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”St. Paul says it even better when he says, “No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear”(Eph 4:29). As priests, we are not only called to impart grace to the faithful but also to each other.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Don’t be the reason someone feels insecure. Be the reason someone feels seen, heard, and supported.”
I was again indoors. There are many projects before me and I am discerning how best to tackle them. This has kept me at my desk for hours today. Sit splendor Domini Dei nostri super nos, et opera manuum nostrarum dirige super nos, et opus manuum nostrarum dirige.
At the end of the day, this is the Year of St Joseph. To this great Custos we turn:
To you, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. By that love which united you to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which you did embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His Blood and to help us in our necessities, by your powerful intercession. Protect, O most provident Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving Father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O most power protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as you did once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent peril to His life, so now defend the Holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us with your unceasing patronage that, imitating your example and supported by your aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and secure everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.
Tuesday, 16 March 2021. O voi tutti assetati, venite all'acqua; voi che non avete denaro, venite e dissetatevi con gioia. Usual rhythm of spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Small acts of kindness can make a difference in other peoples lives more than we can imagine.”
Our Community Mass was in Italian. With the Church we prayed: Padre misericordioso, tu hai volute che il Cristo tuo Figlio subisse per noi il supplizio della croce per liberarci dal potere del nemico: donaci di giungere alla gloria della risurrezione.
Indoors today.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Small acts of kindness can make a difference in other peoples lives more than we can imagine.”
Our Community Mass was in Italian. With the Church we prayed: Padre misericordioso, tu hai volute che il Cristo tuo Figlio subisse per noi il supplizio della croce per liberarci dal potere del nemico: donaci di giungere alla gloria della risurrezione.
Indoors today.
Monday, 15 March 2021. Early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. Io confido nel Signore. Esulterò e gioirò per la tua grazia, perché hai guardato all mia miseria. We introduced today the use of the new Italian translation of the Roman Missal. Many modifications of the old text. All of us are now trying to become used to the new text. What a great change to Padre nostro! We now say: non abbandonarci alla tentazione ma liberaci dal male. Happily I noted that this new translation of Our Father was adopted in Igbo language ab initio.
At 10.00am, I was at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha for the funeral Mass and interment of one our great Priests, Fr Patrick Eloka Omutah. Praesta, quaesumus, Domine, ut anima famuli tui Patricii sacerdotis, quem in hoc saeculo commorantem sacris muneribus decorasti, in caelesti sede gloriosa semper exsultet.
At 10.00am, I was at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha for the funeral Mass and interment of one our great Priests, Fr Patrick Eloka Omutah. Praesta, quaesumus, Domine, ut anima famuli tui Patricii sacerdotis, quem in hoc saeculo commorantem sacris muneribus decorasti, in caelesti sede gloriosa semper exsultet.
Sunday Evening "Instruction" and Benediction at St Francis Church, Umuoji.
Sunday, 14 March 2021. FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT. Utinam hodie vocem Domini audiatis: Nolite obdurare corda vestra. Today is LAETARE Sunday, when we have a kind of break about midway through a season of Lent which is otherwise of a penitential character to relax with assurance that we are approaching the Easter celebration. I was very happy to adorn myself with my rose-coloured chasuble. On Gaudete (third of Advent) and Laetare (fourth of Lent) Sundays, this special colour is used in the Liturgy.
Today we celebrate the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis and we pray: Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.
Gradually we have established a pattern of morning devotion we practise here in Iwene Tansi House. Before the Lord in adoration: Tantum ergo Sacramentum veneremur Cenui. Lauds. Benediction. At Mass, we said he following intercessory prayers:
Today we celebrate the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis and we pray: Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.
Gradually we have established a pattern of morning devotion we practise here in Iwene Tansi House. Before the Lord in adoration: Tantum ergo Sacramentum veneremur Cenui. Lauds. Benediction. At Mass, we said he following intercessory prayers:
- For our holy leaders in the church, that like Samuel they may have the grace of discernment to read into our hearts, and the commission to pour out God’s anointing in the assembly, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the grace of forgiveness may be active in nations where sin has caused deep wounds, healing and restoring by divine power the peace that man cannot of himself create, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those preparing for baptism, that like the man born blind, they may now be able to see the truth and believe in Jesus who gives them their spiritual sight, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we who are baptized may live as children of the light, producing in our lives every kind of goodness in righteousness and truth, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Jesus may be the good and gentle shepherd of all who suffer and are passing through a dark valley, giving them courage with the anointing of joy and grace, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our faithful departed ones, that Jesus, the light of the world, may raise them up to the realms of light and peace in heaven, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Working Session of the Onitsha-Owerri Inter Provincial Liturgical Music Commission
Saturday, 13 March 2021. Usual early morning salutation to our Blessed Mother. Ad te Rex summe, omnium Redemptor, oculos nostros sublevamus flentes: exaudi, Christe, supplicantum preces. ATTENDE, DOMINE, ET MISERERE QUIA PECCAVIMUS TIBI. Usual morning spiritual activities in the chapel.
On the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, this is special day to pray for him. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: What we do might not be fancy or catch the eye of the world, but God, who knows and sees all, is aware of our efforts. This is what will lead us to eternal life, and that is all we need.
At 11.00am, I held a meeting for the Onitsha=Owerri Inter-Provincial Liturgical Music Commission. The body was set up by the joint meeting of the Bishops of Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces. Each diocese nominated, at least, one expert in liturgical music. Their task this time was to prepare the liturgical music for the recently approved Igbo Missal. Today we collated all the texts of music for the Prefaces. All those that showed up for the meeting were truly committed. We hope to have something ready for the Bishops' approval by Easter this year. Deus in adiutorium nostrum intende!
On the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, this is special day to pray for him. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: What we do might not be fancy or catch the eye of the world, but God, who knows and sees all, is aware of our efforts. This is what will lead us to eternal life, and that is all we need.
At 11.00am, I held a meeting for the Onitsha=Owerri Inter-Provincial Liturgical Music Commission. The body was set up by the joint meeting of the Bishops of Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces. Each diocese nominated, at least, one expert in liturgical music. Their task this time was to prepare the liturgical music for the recently approved Igbo Missal. Today we collated all the texts of music for the Prefaces. All those that showed up for the meeting were truly committed. We hope to have something ready for the Bishops' approval by Easter this year. Deus in adiutorium nostrum intende!
Friday, 12 March 2021.
1 When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood.
3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4 Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Gradually we are getting deeper and deeper into the mood of Lent. We began the day in the presence of the Lord, following our usual rhythm of spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “From the simplest acts of kindness done for total strangers, to the most deliberate acts of kindness to those wounded souls who are the hardest to love – each act of kindness improves the lives of everyone involved.”
At our Community Mass, which was in Latin, we used the Eucharistic Payer for Reconciliation II. We prayed: Cum nosmetispos a te, Domine, propter peccata nostra avertissemus, ad reconciliationem nos reduxisti, ut ad te tandem conversi nos invicem diligeremus per Filium tuum, quem in mortem pro nobis tradidisti.
At 10.00am, I was at Holy Family Church Awka Etiti for the funeral Mass for James Onwudiwe. Requiescat in pace.
At 5.00pm, I joined St Joseph's Parish Community for the "Stations of the Cross" led by the Catechist. Anyi esekpuoro gi Jesu na-enye gi ekele: Makana Obe Gi di aso ka iji wee gbaputa uwa.... Jesu m; Ahuru m gi n'anya karichaa ihe niile. Eji m obi m niile chegharia na mmehie m mehiere gi. Ekwela ka m kewapu onwe m ozo n'ebe ino. Mee ka m hu gi na anya mbge obula. Bia were m mee ihe masiri gi.
In the early part of the night, I worked at my desk. Soon my eyes became heavy, and retirement to bed followed. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
1 When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood.
3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4 Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Gradually we are getting deeper and deeper into the mood of Lent. We began the day in the presence of the Lord, following our usual rhythm of spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “From the simplest acts of kindness done for total strangers, to the most deliberate acts of kindness to those wounded souls who are the hardest to love – each act of kindness improves the lives of everyone involved.”
At our Community Mass, which was in Latin, we used the Eucharistic Payer for Reconciliation II. We prayed: Cum nosmetispos a te, Domine, propter peccata nostra avertissemus, ad reconciliationem nos reduxisti, ut ad te tandem conversi nos invicem diligeremus per Filium tuum, quem in mortem pro nobis tradidisti.
At 10.00am, I was at Holy Family Church Awka Etiti for the funeral Mass for James Onwudiwe. Requiescat in pace.
At 5.00pm, I joined St Joseph's Parish Community for the "Stations of the Cross" led by the Catechist. Anyi esekpuoro gi Jesu na-enye gi ekele: Makana Obe Gi di aso ka iji wee gbaputa uwa.... Jesu m; Ahuru m gi n'anya karichaa ihe niile. Eji m obi m niile chegharia na mmehie m mehiere gi. Ekwela ka m kewapu onwe m ozo n'ebe ino. Mee ka m hu gi na anya mbge obula. Bia were m mee ihe masiri gi.
In the early part of the night, I worked at my desk. Soon my eyes became heavy, and retirement to bed followed. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Pope Francis instructs Mons. Denis Isizoh on his mission
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Pope Francis prays for Mons. Denis Isizoh
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11 MARCH 2015: St Peter's Square, Vatican City:
Mons. Denis Isizoh takes his leave to return to Nigeria to be consecrated Bishop.
Mons. Denis Isizoh takes his leave to return to Nigeria to be consecrated Bishop.
Pope Francis welcomes Mons. Denis Isizoh
Thursday, 11 March 2021. Salus populi ego sum, dicit Dominus. De quacumque tribulatione clamaverint ad me, exaudiam eos, et ero illorum Dominus in perpetuum. Usual morning spiritual activities in the chapel.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't let people change the loving and caring person you are. Don't let any person get you down. Use the love and goodness inside you to stay strong."
Today in 2015, I had an audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, at St Peter's Square. It was a special occasion to take leave of him to return to Nigeria, following my appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha on 6 February 2015. During the audience, I thanked the Holy Father for the special opportunity to work in the Vatican City during the papacy of Pope John Paul II, Paul Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis. I thanked him for appointing me a bishop. He gave me many pieces of advice on how to be a good Bishop. He recommended areas I should pay attention. He then blessed me and the People of God I would serve in my Episcopal ministry. May God grant me the grace to remain focused. I want to be a good Bishop after the mind of Christ.
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith,
We will be true to thee till death!
At our Community Mass, with the Church we prayed: We implore your majesty most humbly, O Lord, that, as the feast of our salvation draws ever closer, so we may press forward all the more eagerly towards the worthy celebration of the Paschal Mystery.
I spent some hours making entries of my activities into my diary. It is amazing what one accomplishes in a day. It is all by God's special grace.
When the evening came, it was another special opportunity to thank the Lord.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't let people change the loving and caring person you are. Don't let any person get you down. Use the love and goodness inside you to stay strong."
Today in 2015, I had an audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, at St Peter's Square. It was a special occasion to take leave of him to return to Nigeria, following my appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha on 6 February 2015. During the audience, I thanked the Holy Father for the special opportunity to work in the Vatican City during the papacy of Pope John Paul II, Paul Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis. I thanked him for appointing me a bishop. He gave me many pieces of advice on how to be a good Bishop. He recommended areas I should pay attention. He then blessed me and the People of God I would serve in my Episcopal ministry. May God grant me the grace to remain focused. I want to be a good Bishop after the mind of Christ.
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith,
We will be true to thee till death!
At our Community Mass, with the Church we prayed: We implore your majesty most humbly, O Lord, that, as the feast of our salvation draws ever closer, so we may press forward all the more eagerly towards the worthy celebration of the Paschal Mystery.
I spent some hours making entries of my activities into my diary. It is amazing what one accomplishes in a day. It is all by God's special grace.
When the evening came, it was another special opportunity to thank the Lord.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Wednesday, 10 March 2021. Gressus meos dirige secundum eloquium tuum, et non dominetur mei omnis iniustitia. Contemplating the Great Mystery hidden in the tabernacle of our chapel:
Thy Body, Soul, and Godhead, all!
O mystery of love divine!
I cannot compass all I have,
For all Thou hast and art are mine!
Sweet Sacrament! we Thee adore!
O, make us love Thee more and more!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Five types of Persons to surround yourself with: the Inspired, the Motivated, the Open-minded, the Passionate, and the Grateful".
The Psalm-prayer for the first psalm of Lauds today: God of mercy and goodness, when Christ called out to you in torment, you heard him and gave him victory over death because of his love for you. We already know the affection you have for us; fill us with a greater love of your name and we will proclaim you more boldly before men and happily lead them to celebrate your glory.
The rhythm of our spiritual activities remained unchanged for today. After Mass, to conclude our thanksgiving prayers, we said in Igbo language:
AYỊYỌ N’IRU OBE DỊ ASỌ,
Nedụ O Jesu kasị afọọma n’ụsọ,
ewelụ m onwe m sekpulu n’iru Gị,
n’ayọ Gị na nnukwu agụụ nke mkpụlụobi m,
k’itinye n’ime obi m ike mmetuta nke okwukwe, na nchekwube, na ịfụnaanya,
na ezigbo ebele maka njọ m,
n’izuzu sili ike nke mmeghalị,
ka m nọ kịtaa, n’eche, n’elo n’ime obi m
maka ọnya ise nke Gị dị oke ọnụ,
na nnukwu ebele na nwute nke mkpụlụobi m.
N’ofu iru afụ ka m n’afụ ọnya Gi di oke ọnụ anya,
ana m echeta ife nụụ onye amụma Devid kwulu
n’afa Gị n’ebe Ị nọ sị:
“Fa kpọpulu aka m na ụkwụ m
gụọ ọkpụkpụ m nine ọnụ.” [Psalm 21, 17, 18].
Nna anyị nọ n’enuigwe…
Ekene Maria….
Otito dili…
I was indoors updating my journal and working on a liturgical document for use in Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. To our Blessed Mother:
O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Thy Body, Soul, and Godhead, all!
O mystery of love divine!
I cannot compass all I have,
For all Thou hast and art are mine!
Sweet Sacrament! we Thee adore!
O, make us love Thee more and more!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Five types of Persons to surround yourself with: the Inspired, the Motivated, the Open-minded, the Passionate, and the Grateful".
The Psalm-prayer for the first psalm of Lauds today: God of mercy and goodness, when Christ called out to you in torment, you heard him and gave him victory over death because of his love for you. We already know the affection you have for us; fill us with a greater love of your name and we will proclaim you more boldly before men and happily lead them to celebrate your glory.
The rhythm of our spiritual activities remained unchanged for today. After Mass, to conclude our thanksgiving prayers, we said in Igbo language:
AYỊYỌ N’IRU OBE DỊ ASỌ,
Nedụ O Jesu kasị afọọma n’ụsọ,
ewelụ m onwe m sekpulu n’iru Gị,
n’ayọ Gị na nnukwu agụụ nke mkpụlụobi m,
k’itinye n’ime obi m ike mmetuta nke okwukwe, na nchekwube, na ịfụnaanya,
na ezigbo ebele maka njọ m,
n’izuzu sili ike nke mmeghalị,
ka m nọ kịtaa, n’eche, n’elo n’ime obi m
maka ọnya ise nke Gị dị oke ọnụ,
na nnukwu ebele na nwute nke mkpụlụobi m.
N’ofu iru afụ ka m n’afụ ọnya Gi di oke ọnụ anya,
ana m echeta ife nụụ onye amụma Devid kwulu
n’afa Gị n’ebe Ị nọ sị:
“Fa kpọpulu aka m na ụkwụ m
gụọ ọkpụkpụ m nine ọnụ.” [Psalm 21, 17, 18].
Nna anyị nọ n’enuigwe…
Ekene Maria….
Otito dili…
I was indoors updating my journal and working on a liturgical document for use in Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. To our Blessed Mother:
O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Tuesday, 9 March 2021. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. New day. We began it before the Lord. How appropriate the words of the song:
Jesus! my Lord, my God, my all!
How can I love Thee as I ought?
And, how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament! we Thee adore!
O, make us love Thee more and more!
Drawing lessons from my reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar, I recalled the WhatsApp posting I received, which offered ways to prevent "Friendly fire" and promote fraternity in the Presbyterium:
I received the Catholic Nollywood principal officers. May the Lord bless them for their creativity in the entertainment industry. Let them use their opportunities to preach the Gospel.
Quiet afternoon and evening. And when the night came, Il Signore ci conceda una notte serena e un riposo tranquillo. Amen
Jesus! my Lord, my God, my all!
How can I love Thee as I ought?
And, how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament! we Thee adore!
O, make us love Thee more and more!
Drawing lessons from my reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar, I recalled the WhatsApp posting I received, which offered ways to prevent "Friendly fire" and promote fraternity in the Presbyterium:
- Once in a while, pay visit to any Clergy around you and pray with him. You might not know what he's going through.
- When a junior Priest visits a senior Priest, the senior Priest should tell the junior Priest to pray for him; then the senior Priest can say the Benediction. If it is senior visiting junior Priest, the senior Priest should say the prayer and Benediction.
- When a Priest visits another Priest, it is not wrong to give him gift (money & other material things) while going.
- Make it a duty to call any Priest on your phone once in a while and pray with them. Not only when you need them, it is important.
- You can help a fellow Clergy financially or otherwise if God lays it on your heart. We may be class-mates but not Grace-mates. It is not only the laity who can assist the Clergy.
- When you hear anything negative about a fellow Clergy, don't gossip about it, visit the affected Clergy and discuss the issues with him...if you can't do so, pray for him privately but don't gossip about it.
- Always use your gift to help the Ministry of others. Use your gift, knowledge, exposure, experience to help his Church. Your rich Church can donate to village Church where your friend is working. You can connect your fellow Clergy to a particular rich person in your Church to help his Ministry.
I received the Catholic Nollywood principal officers. May the Lord bless them for their creativity in the entertainment industry. Let them use their opportunities to preach the Gospel.
Quiet afternoon and evening. And when the night came, Il Signore ci conceda una notte serena e un riposo tranquillo. Amen
Monday, 8 March 2021. L'anima mia anela e desidera gli atri del Signore. Il mio cuore e la mia carne esultano ne Dio vivente. Usual morning devotions with my closest collaborators. I continued the reading of 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar. This time I considered the sources of the "friendly fire". The author identified three major ones: Gossip, Competition and Fraternal distancing. Are there others I can think of? My mind went to the way Bishops treat their priests. I reflected on specific situations, even around me. What can I do, as Bishop, to make a difference?
Our Community Mass was in Italian. Nella tua continua misericordia, o Padre, purifica e rafforza la tua Chiesa, e poiché non può vivere senza di te, guidala sempre con la tua grazia.
I was at the Bishop's House Nnewi for the 11.00am meeting of the Catholic Bishops working in Anambra State. All of us (Valerinan Okeke, Hilary Okeke, Paulinus Ezeokafor, Peter Okpaleke, Jonas Benson Okoye and Denis Isizoh) were present. O Herr, unser Gott, sei uns freundlich und fördere das Werk unsrer Hände bei uns. Ja, das Werk unsrer Hände wollest du fördern! Truly, a fraternal encounter to compare notes.
After the meeting followed by lunch, I safely returned to Aguleri at about 4.27pm. And at nightfall,
Al termine del giorno,
o sommo Creatore,
vegliaci nel riposo
con amore di Padre.
Our Community Mass was in Italian. Nella tua continua misericordia, o Padre, purifica e rafforza la tua Chiesa, e poiché non può vivere senza di te, guidala sempre con la tua grazia.
I was at the Bishop's House Nnewi for the 11.00am meeting of the Catholic Bishops working in Anambra State. All of us (Valerinan Okeke, Hilary Okeke, Paulinus Ezeokafor, Peter Okpaleke, Jonas Benson Okoye and Denis Isizoh) were present. O Herr, unser Gott, sei uns freundlich und fördere das Werk unsrer Hände bei uns. Ja, das Werk unsrer Hände wollest du fördern! Truly, a fraternal encounter to compare notes.
After the meeting followed by lunch, I safely returned to Aguleri at about 4.27pm. And at nightfall,
Al termine del giorno,
o sommo Creatore,
vegliaci nel riposo
con amore di Padre.
St Joseph's Church, Aguleri: Conferment of Sacrament of Confirmation
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St Joseph's Church, Aguleri: Anointing of the Sick/Elderly
Sunday, 7 March 2021. THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT. Oculi mei semper ad Dominum, quia ipse evellet de laqueo pedes meos. Respice in me et miserere mei, quoniam unicus et pauper sum ego. With the tabernacle door open, we had Community Morning Prayers at 7.00am, followed by breakfast.
At 9.50am, I was in St Joseph's Church, beside my residence here in Aguleri. Today I paid a Pastoral Visit to the parish. The Church was filled to its full capacity. Very large congregation. Earlier the Parish Priest, Fr Matthew Obiekezie, had requested me to administer two Sacraments: Anointing of the sick and elderly and Confirmation. He did what was truly remarkable. He hired a bus to go to the homes of the elderly to bring them to the Church. I have never seen it before and it was wonderful to behold. Some of the elderly people who would not have had opportunity to be touched by a bishop had a unique privilege to stay close to him. I was very delighted.
I started the Mass in the usual way. After the homily, the parish priest presented the elderly and the sick for special prayers to be said for them. The names of those to be anointed were read out - about 63 of them. I followed the Rite of the Anointing of the Sick within Mass: Litany of the anointing, Laying of hands, Prayer over oil, Anointing, and Prayer after anointing: Lord Jesus Christ, You chose to share our human nature, to redeem all people, and to heal the sick. Look with compassion upon your servants… whom we have anointed in your name with this holy oil for the healing of their body and spirit. Support them with your power, comfort them with your protection, and give them the strength to fight against evil. Since you have given them a share in your own passion, help them to find hope in suffering, for you are Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to about a hundred and fifty candidates.
After the Mass, I unveiled and blessed the Church dedication stone, which we could only prepare now - two years after the solemn celebration by Cardinal Arinze. On the stone, we acknowledged that the reconstruction of the Church was sponsored by Sir Willie M. Obiano, supervised by Most Rev. Denis Isizoh during the tenure of Most Rev. Valerian Okeke as archbishop. Lunch at the Rectory refectory. Then there was warm reception in Ama Tansi.
At 9.50am, I was in St Joseph's Church, beside my residence here in Aguleri. Today I paid a Pastoral Visit to the parish. The Church was filled to its full capacity. Very large congregation. Earlier the Parish Priest, Fr Matthew Obiekezie, had requested me to administer two Sacraments: Anointing of the sick and elderly and Confirmation. He did what was truly remarkable. He hired a bus to go to the homes of the elderly to bring them to the Church. I have never seen it before and it was wonderful to behold. Some of the elderly people who would not have had opportunity to be touched by a bishop had a unique privilege to stay close to him. I was very delighted.
I started the Mass in the usual way. After the homily, the parish priest presented the elderly and the sick for special prayers to be said for them. The names of those to be anointed were read out - about 63 of them. I followed the Rite of the Anointing of the Sick within Mass: Litany of the anointing, Laying of hands, Prayer over oil, Anointing, and Prayer after anointing: Lord Jesus Christ, You chose to share our human nature, to redeem all people, and to heal the sick. Look with compassion upon your servants… whom we have anointed in your name with this holy oil for the healing of their body and spirit. Support them with your power, comfort them with your protection, and give them the strength to fight against evil. Since you have given them a share in your own passion, help them to find hope in suffering, for you are Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to about a hundred and fifty candidates.
After the Mass, I unveiled and blessed the Church dedication stone, which we could only prepare now - two years after the solemn celebration by Cardinal Arinze. On the stone, we acknowledged that the reconstruction of the Church was sponsored by Sir Willie M. Obiano, supervised by Most Rev. Denis Isizoh during the tenure of Most Rev. Valerian Okeke as archbishop. Lunch at the Rectory refectory. Then there was warm reception in Ama Tansi.
With Immaculate Heart Sisters of Archbishop Heerey Region
Saturday, 6 March 2021. Miserator et misericors Dominus, patiens et multum misericors. Suavis Dominus universis, et miserationes eius super omnia opera eius. Usual early morning activities. We were in the chapel for adoration, meditation, office of Lauds, and above all, Holy Mass.
The magazine, The Priest, has an interesting article on relationship among priests in this month's edition, entitled 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar. It is all about fraternity in the priesthood and how priests hurt one another by omission and commission. The first part of this article is in praise of the beauty of Fraternity among priests. My today's reflection was on THE BEAUTY OF PRIESTLY FRATERNITY: "Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum."
During our Community Mass we said the following Intercessory prayers (based on the readings of the day):
At 10.00am, I was in Onitsha at the headquarters of the Archbishop Heerey Region of the Immaculate Heart Congregation to celebrate Mass for the Sisters to mark the opening of their regional reunion. After the Mass I visited some of the elderly Sisters in their rooms to pray for them and spend some time to assure them that they were not forgotten in isolation.
Quiet evening at Aguleri. I made my own this prayer from My Catholic Life:
My most generous Lord, You are compassionate beyond what I can fathom. Your mercy and goodness far exceed what any of us deserve. Help me to be eternally grateful for Your goodness and help me to offer that same depth of mercy to those in most need. Jesus, I trust in You.
The magazine, The Priest, has an interesting article on relationship among priests in this month's edition, entitled 'Friendly Fire' in the Presbyterate by Bishop David J. Bonnar. It is all about fraternity in the priesthood and how priests hurt one another by omission and commission. The first part of this article is in praise of the beauty of Fraternity among priests. My today's reflection was on THE BEAUTY OF PRIESTLY FRATERNITY: "Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum."
During our Community Mass we said the following Intercessory prayers (based on the readings of the day):
- For the church, gathered around the table of our merciful Father, welcomed, robed, ringed, and forgiven, that we may glorify Him with our grateful love - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That world leaders may give evidence of God’s compassion when dealing with victims of poverty and disease - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For the prodigal sons and daughters, especially those among our loved ones whom we carry in our hearts, that they may respond to the grace that urges them to come home to their loving Father - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who are returning painfully to the Father through the realms of sickness, financial hardship, loss, and grief, that they may find loving hearts and hands to help them - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who have gone before us in death, that they may be welcomed into the Father’s house with a celebration of rejoicing - Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
At 10.00am, I was in Onitsha at the headquarters of the Archbishop Heerey Region of the Immaculate Heart Congregation to celebrate Mass for the Sisters to mark the opening of their regional reunion. After the Mass I visited some of the elderly Sisters in their rooms to pray for them and spend some time to assure them that they were not forgotten in isolation.
Quiet evening at Aguleri. I made my own this prayer from My Catholic Life:
My most generous Lord, You are compassionate beyond what I can fathom. Your mercy and goodness far exceed what any of us deserve. Help me to be eternally grateful for Your goodness and help me to offer that same depth of mercy to those in most need. Jesus, I trust in You.
Ekwulobia: The Bishops with Governor Willie Obiano.
Friday, 5 March 2021. I started the day with the usual early greetings to our Blessed Mother Mary. With my collaborators we were before the Sanctissimum exposed on our altar. In the mood of Lent: Attende, Domine, et miserere quia peccavimus tibi.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE:“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”
I have always thought about the Short Responsory at Lauds: It is he who will free me from the snare of the hunters...and from the evil word. From Psalm 91,3., expression of confidence that our salvation comes from the Lord. It is not because of our own efforts. We are trapped in the cage of sin. We need external power to rescue us. It is only the Lord who can free us.
After Mass, I had a quick breakfast. Then I set out for Ekwulobia. Today is one year anniversary of the erection of the diocese. When the diocese was inaugurated, it was at the height of COVID19 pandemic. Very few people attended, all fully masked. Many people from different walks of life were invited. There was plan for fundraising to support some priority projects (seminary, office complex etc.).
Mass at 10.00am. Twenty six Bishops including the Apostolic Nuncio concelebrated. After the Mass, there was lunch during which a closed door meeting was held by the Bishops.
Back to Aguleri. Lord, thank you for the day.
Now it is evening; time to cease from labour,
Father, according to thy will and pleasure,
Through the night-season, have thy faithful people
Safe in thy keeping.
Far from our dwellings drive the evil spirits;
Under the shadow of thy wings protect us;
Be thou our guardian through the hours of darkness,
Strong to defend us.
Call we, ere sleeping, on the name of Jesus;
Rise we at day-break, strong to serve thee better;
Order our goings, well begun and ended,
All to thy glory.
Fountain of goodness, bless the sick and needy;
Visit the captive, solace the afflicted;
Shelter the stranger, feed your starving children;
Strengthen the dying.
Father, who neither slumberest nor sleepest,
Thou, to whom darkness is as clear as noonday,
Have us this night-time, for the sake of Jesus,
Safe in thy keeping
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE:“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”
I have always thought about the Short Responsory at Lauds: It is he who will free me from the snare of the hunters...and from the evil word. From Psalm 91,3., expression of confidence that our salvation comes from the Lord. It is not because of our own efforts. We are trapped in the cage of sin. We need external power to rescue us. It is only the Lord who can free us.
After Mass, I had a quick breakfast. Then I set out for Ekwulobia. Today is one year anniversary of the erection of the diocese. When the diocese was inaugurated, it was at the height of COVID19 pandemic. Very few people attended, all fully masked. Many people from different walks of life were invited. There was plan for fundraising to support some priority projects (seminary, office complex etc.).
Mass at 10.00am. Twenty six Bishops including the Apostolic Nuncio concelebrated. After the Mass, there was lunch during which a closed door meeting was held by the Bishops.
Back to Aguleri. Lord, thank you for the day.
Now it is evening; time to cease from labour,
Father, according to thy will and pleasure,
Through the night-season, have thy faithful people
Safe in thy keeping.
Far from our dwellings drive the evil spirits;
Under the shadow of thy wings protect us;
Be thou our guardian through the hours of darkness,
Strong to defend us.
Call we, ere sleeping, on the name of Jesus;
Rise we at day-break, strong to serve thee better;
Order our goings, well begun and ended,
All to thy glory.
Fountain of goodness, bless the sick and needy;
Visit the captive, solace the afflicted;
Shelter the stranger, feed your starving children;
Strengthen the dying.
Father, who neither slumberest nor sleepest,
Thou, to whom darkness is as clear as noonday,
Have us this night-time, for the sake of Jesus,
Safe in thy keeping
Thursday, 4 March 2021. Proba me, Deus, et cognosce semitas meas; vide si via iniquitatis in me est, et deduc me in via aeterna. During this period of Lent, we make great effort to do penance and return to the Lord from our wayward life. This song reminds us of the need for "conversion": I come to Thee once more, my God!
No longer will I roam; For I have sought the wide world through, And never found a home.
OUR TODAY'S THOUGHT: God always provides. If you always share with others, He will provide you with what will be enough for you and all those who partake of your generosity. If you are selfish, He provides you with what is just enough for you.
Usual rhythm of spiritual exercises. After Lauds, Benediction followed. O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of Your Passion: grant, we implore You, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Your Body and Blood, as always to be conscious of the fruit of Your redemption. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
At Community Mass we prayed: O God, who delight in innocence and restore it, direct the hearts of your servants to yourself, that, caught up in the fire of your Spirit, we may be found steadfast in faith and effective in works. The readings at Mass inspired the prayer I found in My Catholic Life, which I now make my own: My Lord of true riches, You chose to be poor in this world as a sign to us that true riches come not with material wealth but with love. Help me to love You, my God, with all my being and to love others as You love them. May I be wise enough to make spiritual riches my single goal in life so that these riches will be enjoyed for all eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
I was at home today, making some phone calls and asking opinions of colleagues on how to go about countering negative influence of Pentecostalism on Christians in Nigeria, without appearing to be a warlord. I strongly believe these phrases of determination: Vouloir c'est pouvoir and Aut viam inveniam aut faciam. Simply put, my position is: where there is will, there is a way. Deus patrum meorum, et Domine misericordiae, qui fecisti omnia verbo tuo, da mihi sapientiam ut mecum sit et mecum laboret,
No longer will I roam; For I have sought the wide world through, And never found a home.
OUR TODAY'S THOUGHT: God always provides. If you always share with others, He will provide you with what will be enough for you and all those who partake of your generosity. If you are selfish, He provides you with what is just enough for you.
Usual rhythm of spiritual exercises. After Lauds, Benediction followed. O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of Your Passion: grant, we implore You, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Your Body and Blood, as always to be conscious of the fruit of Your redemption. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
At Community Mass we prayed: O God, who delight in innocence and restore it, direct the hearts of your servants to yourself, that, caught up in the fire of your Spirit, we may be found steadfast in faith and effective in works. The readings at Mass inspired the prayer I found in My Catholic Life, which I now make my own: My Lord of true riches, You chose to be poor in this world as a sign to us that true riches come not with material wealth but with love. Help me to love You, my God, with all my being and to love others as You love them. May I be wise enough to make spiritual riches my single goal in life so that these riches will be enjoyed for all eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
I was at home today, making some phone calls and asking opinions of colleagues on how to go about countering negative influence of Pentecostalism on Christians in Nigeria, without appearing to be a warlord. I strongly believe these phrases of determination: Vouloir c'est pouvoir and Aut viam inveniam aut faciam. Simply put, my position is: where there is will, there is a way. Deus patrum meorum, et Domine misericordiae, qui fecisti omnia verbo tuo, da mihi sapientiam ut mecum sit et mecum laboret,
Wednesday, 3 March 2021. Non abbandonarmi, Signore, mio Dio, da me non stare lontano; vieni presto in mio aiuto, o Signore, mia salvezza. Usual early greetings to our Blessed Mother. We all assembled in the Chapel to begin our day before the Lord. My mind was troubled by the harm which I see around me. The type of Pentecostalism that is practised in Nigeria: "the prosperity gospel preaching", quest for money, deceit of the people, playing with people's religious sentiments - all this is gradually weakening our Christian faith. The terrible side of it is that many Catholic priests are involved. And some of those who should do something about it seem not to perceive any danger!
In adoration, meditating on this ancient song Adoro Te devote in Igbo: Esekpuelu m gi Chukwu di na nzuzo. Onye no n'ezie n'udi Sakramenti. E ji m obi kwelu n'ife omimi nke a nke ka uche mmadu. Aka, onu, n'anya enwero ike igwa anyi eziokwu di na Sakramenti di aso. O bu nti okwu na-anu okwu Jesu kwere maka n'obu Chukwu.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts a person up.”
With my collaborators, we said the Office of Lauds which was followed by BENEDICTION. Lord our God, in this great sacrament we come into the presence of Jesus Christ, your Son, born of the Virgin Mary and crucified for our salvation. May we who declare our faith in this fountain of love and mercy drink from it the water of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Community Mass was in Italian. With the Church we prayed: Custodisci, o Padre, la tua famiglia nell'impegno delle buone opere; confortala con il tuo aiuto nel cammino della vita e guidala al possesso dei beni eterni.
At breakfast, one of our priests came around to see me. There is an increasing frequency of our priests coming around for breakfast at my table. It is possible that this opportunity could be abused. For me, it is beautiful to have collaborators at table with me. How often our Lord Jesus Christ taught important lessons to his followers in the context of eating together. The highest of the Sacraments, the Eucharist, was instituted by him while sharing a meal together with his closest collaborators.
Indoors, my mind stayed on what to do to counter the effects of Pentecostalism around me. Domine, dirige me in veritate tua, et doce me.
In the evening, at 5.00pm, I celebrated a funeral Vigil Mass for Simon Ubadinihu at Awka Etiti.
Evening came and the night followed: the end of the day. I adopted the prayer, based on today's reading for the Mass, in My Daily Catholic Life as my own: My suffering Lord, You freely embraced the injustice of the Cross with love and courage. You saw beyond the apparent scandal and suffering and transformed the evil done to You into the greatest act of love ever known. Give me the grace to imitate Your perfect love and to do so with the strength and confidence that You had. Jesus, I trust in You.
In adoration, meditating on this ancient song Adoro Te devote in Igbo: Esekpuelu m gi Chukwu di na nzuzo. Onye no n'ezie n'udi Sakramenti. E ji m obi kwelu n'ife omimi nke a nke ka uche mmadu. Aka, onu, n'anya enwero ike igwa anyi eziokwu di na Sakramenti di aso. O bu nti okwu na-anu okwu Jesu kwere maka n'obu Chukwu.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts a person up.”
With my collaborators, we said the Office of Lauds which was followed by BENEDICTION. Lord our God, in this great sacrament we come into the presence of Jesus Christ, your Son, born of the Virgin Mary and crucified for our salvation. May we who declare our faith in this fountain of love and mercy drink from it the water of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Community Mass was in Italian. With the Church we prayed: Custodisci, o Padre, la tua famiglia nell'impegno delle buone opere; confortala con il tuo aiuto nel cammino della vita e guidala al possesso dei beni eterni.
At breakfast, one of our priests came around to see me. There is an increasing frequency of our priests coming around for breakfast at my table. It is possible that this opportunity could be abused. For me, it is beautiful to have collaborators at table with me. How often our Lord Jesus Christ taught important lessons to his followers in the context of eating together. The highest of the Sacraments, the Eucharist, was instituted by him while sharing a meal together with his closest collaborators.
Indoors, my mind stayed on what to do to counter the effects of Pentecostalism around me. Domine, dirige me in veritate tua, et doce me.
In the evening, at 5.00pm, I celebrated a funeral Vigil Mass for Simon Ubadinihu at Awka Etiti.
Evening came and the night followed: the end of the day. I adopted the prayer, based on today's reading for the Mass, in My Daily Catholic Life as my own: My suffering Lord, You freely embraced the injustice of the Cross with love and courage. You saw beyond the apparent scandal and suffering and transformed the evil done to You into the greatest act of love ever known. Give me the grace to imitate Your perfect love and to do so with the strength and confidence that You had. Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday, 2 March 2021. Conserva la luce ai miei occhi, o Signore, perché non mi sorprenda il sonno della morte e il mio nemico non dica: «L’ho vinto!». We started the day in the Lord's presence. Adoro te devote, latens Deitas. As we usually do, we prefaced our Office of Lauds with a series of invocations:
Most Holy Name of Jesus, We adore You
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, Make our hearts like Yours
For the sake of Your sorrowful Passion, Lord, have mercy on us and on the whole world
Our Blessed Mother, Undoer of Knots, Intervene for us.
All you Angels and Archangels, Intercede for us.
St Joseph most holy guardian and the head of the Holy Family, Protect us.
St Charles Lwanga and all You Martyrs of Uganda, Pray for us.
Blessed Michael Cyprian Iwene Tansi, Pray for us.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE "Earn your leadership everyday."
Our Community Mass was in Italian language. We prayed: Custodisci con continua benevolenza, o Padre, la tua Chiesa e poiché, a causa della debolezza umana, non può sostenersi senza di te, il tuo aiuto la liberi sempre da ogni pericolo e la guidi alla salvezza eterna.
I had not special programme today. So, I was indoors. I gave myself time to relax and rest. I am drawn to say every day the daily prayer, following a reflection for the readings of the day's Mass, which I receive each day by email from My Catholic Life. Here is today's prayer: My humble Lord, thank You for the witness of Your humility. You chose to put all people first, even to the point of allowing Yourself to experience the suffering and death which was a consequence of our sins. Give me a heart that is humble, dear Lord, so that You can use me to share Your perfect love with others. Jesus, I trust in You.
Evening came, followed by the night: the end of the day.
Most Holy Name of Jesus, We adore You
Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, Make our hearts like Yours
For the sake of Your sorrowful Passion, Lord, have mercy on us and on the whole world
Our Blessed Mother, Undoer of Knots, Intervene for us.
All you Angels and Archangels, Intercede for us.
St Joseph most holy guardian and the head of the Holy Family, Protect us.
St Charles Lwanga and all You Martyrs of Uganda, Pray for us.
Blessed Michael Cyprian Iwene Tansi, Pray for us.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE "Earn your leadership everyday."
Our Community Mass was in Italian language. We prayed: Custodisci con continua benevolenza, o Padre, la tua Chiesa e poiché, a causa della debolezza umana, non può sostenersi senza di te, il tuo aiuto la liberi sempre da ogni pericolo e la guidi alla salvezza eterna.
I had not special programme today. So, I was indoors. I gave myself time to relax and rest. I am drawn to say every day the daily prayer, following a reflection for the readings of the day's Mass, which I receive each day by email from My Catholic Life. Here is today's prayer: My humble Lord, thank You for the witness of Your humility. You chose to put all people first, even to the point of allowing Yourself to experience the suffering and death which was a consequence of our sins. Give me a heart that is humble, dear Lord, so that You can use me to share Your perfect love with others. Jesus, I trust in You.
Evening came, followed by the night: the end of the day.
Monday, 1 March 2021. New month. It is common that at the beginning of a new month in Nigeria Nigerians send good wishes to one another. A new month is always a new opportunity, new beginning... I make my own the following online write up about the significance of the new month. It is also a prayer:
Another month is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another month with Thee;
Another month of progress, another month of praise,
Another month of proving Thy presence all the days.
Another month of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another month of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another month of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another month of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.
Another month of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another month of training for holier work above;
Another month is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another month for Thee.
We began the day with the Lord in our chapel following our usual rhythm of morning spiritual activities. At Benediction we prayed: O Dinwenụ, Onye hapụụrụ anyị na Sakramentị nke a dị ịtụnanya ncheta nke ahụhụ Gị. Nye anyị, anyị na arịọ Gị, nsọpụrụ nke ihe omimi nke Ahụ na Ọbara Gị, nke ga eme k’anyị nweta elele nzọpụta Gị. Onye dị ndụ n’achị ebighịebi, ebighịebi. Amen.
Our Community Mass was in Italian: O Dio, che hai ordinato la penitenza del corpo come medicina dell’anima, fa’ che ci asteniamo da ogni peccato per avere la forza di osservare i comandamenti del tuo amore.
Betweem 10.15am and 1.20pm, I was in my Office at Aguleri to receive people. Fairly crowded office session, discussing important issues for pastoral activities.
This afternoon I received the results of the COVID19 test I did with my entire staff (driver, gardeners, etc.) and those who have reason to come into my compound often. All of us were declared CORONAVIRUS FREE. Each one of us tested NEGATIVE. We were pleased with this. We now appreciate the need to protect ourselves from outsiders.
Another month is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another month with Thee;
Another month of progress, another month of praise,
Another month of proving Thy presence all the days.
Another month of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another month of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another month of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another month of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.
Another month of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another month of training for holier work above;
Another month is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another month for Thee.
We began the day with the Lord in our chapel following our usual rhythm of morning spiritual activities. At Benediction we prayed: O Dinwenụ, Onye hapụụrụ anyị na Sakramentị nke a dị ịtụnanya ncheta nke ahụhụ Gị. Nye anyị, anyị na arịọ Gị, nsọpụrụ nke ihe omimi nke Ahụ na Ọbara Gị, nke ga eme k’anyị nweta elele nzọpụta Gị. Onye dị ndụ n’achị ebighịebi, ebighịebi. Amen.
Our Community Mass was in Italian: O Dio, che hai ordinato la penitenza del corpo come medicina dell’anima, fa’ che ci asteniamo da ogni peccato per avere la forza di osservare i comandamenti del tuo amore.
Betweem 10.15am and 1.20pm, I was in my Office at Aguleri to receive people. Fairly crowded office session, discussing important issues for pastoral activities.
This afternoon I received the results of the COVID19 test I did with my entire staff (driver, gardeners, etc.) and those who have reason to come into my compound often. All of us were declared CORONAVIRUS FREE. Each one of us tested NEGATIVE. We were pleased with this. We now appreciate the need to protect ourselves from outsiders.
Sunday, 28 February 2021. SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT. Tibi dixit cor meum quaesivi vultum tuum, vultum tuum, Domine, requiram. Ne avertas faciem tuam a me. Today we returned to our usual order of morning spiritual activities: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration/Meditation, Lauds and Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nothing can dim the light that shines from within."
After lunch, I paid a brief visit to one of our elderly retired priests, Fr Michael Esotu, residing at the rectory of St Mary's parish, Alor. I found him in reasonably good heath, noting, though, some of the small challenges he was facing. Considering his age, he looked well. I thanked Fr Izuu Ifem and Fr Sigo Arinze for taking good care of him.
From Alor I drove to Awka Etiti for the funeral vigil Mass for Vincent Ezeani. I met Bishop Peter Okpaleke and Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye there. I asked Bishop Jonas Benson to preside while Bishop Okpaleke preached.
Immediately after Mass, I quickly returned to Aguleri. A quiet evening.
Sub tuum praesidium
confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nothing can dim the light that shines from within."
After lunch, I paid a brief visit to one of our elderly retired priests, Fr Michael Esotu, residing at the rectory of St Mary's parish, Alor. I found him in reasonably good heath, noting, though, some of the small challenges he was facing. Considering his age, he looked well. I thanked Fr Izuu Ifem and Fr Sigo Arinze for taking good care of him.
From Alor I drove to Awka Etiti for the funeral vigil Mass for Vincent Ezeani. I met Bishop Peter Okpaleke and Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye there. I asked Bishop Jonas Benson to preside while Bishop Okpaleke preached.
Immediately after Mass, I quickly returned to Aguleri. A quiet evening.
Sub tuum praesidium
confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta
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Saturday, 27 February 2021. My day began slowly today. I got up reluctantly at about 6.05am. I presented myself to the Lord about 6.45am Our seminarians were already in the chapel. We still combined Lauds and Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "What comes easy won't last long, and what lasts long won't come easy"
At 4.00pm, with Fr Innocent Udolisah and seminarian Cajetan, we drove to St Joseph's Parish Abaata Nsugbe for the Blessing and Laying of the Foundation Stone of their Church. I had expected this project to start long ago. The hall the community uses for Mass now is too small for the population. Fr Joseph Igweagu has taken the bull by the horns. The large turn of the parishioners shows that they have been waiting for the project to start. With joy I said the prayer of the blessing of the foundation block, laid it with the following prayers:
With faith in Jesus Christ,
we lay this block on which a Church will rise.
May it be a place of sacrament and a source of grace,
to the glory of the Father who with the Son and Holy Spirit
lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
After we all recited Pater noster, I concluded:
God of love,
we praise your holy name,
for you have made us your temple by baptism
and inspire us to build on earth
churches dedicated to your worship.
Look favourably upon your children,
for they have come with joy
to begin work on this new church.
Enable them to grow into the temple of your glory,
until, shaped anew by your grace,
they are gathered by your hand into your heavenly city.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Supper in the rectory with a selected number of the parishioners.
Back to Aguleri. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "What comes easy won't last long, and what lasts long won't come easy"
At 4.00pm, with Fr Innocent Udolisah and seminarian Cajetan, we drove to St Joseph's Parish Abaata Nsugbe for the Blessing and Laying of the Foundation Stone of their Church. I had expected this project to start long ago. The hall the community uses for Mass now is too small for the population. Fr Joseph Igweagu has taken the bull by the horns. The large turn of the parishioners shows that they have been waiting for the project to start. With joy I said the prayer of the blessing of the foundation block, laid it with the following prayers:
With faith in Jesus Christ,
we lay this block on which a Church will rise.
May it be a place of sacrament and a source of grace,
to the glory of the Father who with the Son and Holy Spirit
lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
After we all recited Pater noster, I concluded:
God of love,
we praise your holy name,
for you have made us your temple by baptism
and inspire us to build on earth
churches dedicated to your worship.
Look favourably upon your children,
for they have come with joy
to begin work on this new church.
Enable them to grow into the temple of your glory,
until, shaped anew by your grace,
they are gathered by your hand into your heavenly city.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Supper in the rectory with a selected number of the parishioners.
Back to Aguleri. Good night, Lord.
Saturday 20 - Friday 26 February 2021.
I put these days together because I should have spent them in Abuja for the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. The Assembly having been cancelled, I decided to stay indoors to work on my own.
During this period, I started my day with the adoration of the Lord in the opened tabernacle. I combined Lauds and Holy Mass. Our three minor seminarians were always there. It was as if I was on a private retreat.
Two external activities I covered within the period: On 23 February, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria had a zoom conference. About 41 of them participated. And I celebrated the funeral Mass for Bernadette Igwekalor at Sacred Heart Church, Nteje, on 24 February.
I put these days together because I should have spent them in Abuja for the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. The Assembly having been cancelled, I decided to stay indoors to work on my own.
During this period, I started my day with the adoration of the Lord in the opened tabernacle. I combined Lauds and Holy Mass. Our three minor seminarians were always there. It was as if I was on a private retreat.
Two external activities I covered within the period: On 23 February, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria had a zoom conference. About 41 of them participated. And I celebrated the funeral Mass for Bernadette Igwekalor at Sacred Heart Church, Nteje, on 24 February.
Friday, 19 February 2021. Usual early morning greetings of our Blessed Mother. I planned to travel to Minna today for the Episcopal Ordination of the auxiliary bishop of Minna - Mons. Luka Sylvester Gopep. I hurried my morning activities. Early Mass. Lauds to be said in the car. Quick breakfast. I took off to Enugu for the flight to Abuja.
The journey to Enugu was very slow because of unsual heavy traffic due to road works. The weather was very foggy. By the time we got to "Four Corner", I felt I would not make it in time to the airport. I decided to abort the journey. I returned home.
For the rest of the day I was indoors. My steward, Samuel Etim, was at his best in handling the culinary activities.
We should have started the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria's Plenary Assembly the next day till 26 February but this was cancelled by the Administrative Board. Reason: Keeping COVID19 protocol! They opted for a three-hour zoom conference. This gave me many free days to clear my desk of backload of work.
The journey to Enugu was very slow because of unsual heavy traffic due to road works. The weather was very foggy. By the time we got to "Four Corner", I felt I would not make it in time to the airport. I decided to abort the journey. I returned home.
For the rest of the day I was indoors. My steward, Samuel Etim, was at his best in handling the culinary activities.
We should have started the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria's Plenary Assembly the next day till 26 February but this was cancelled by the Administrative Board. Reason: Keeping COVID19 protocol! They opted for a three-hour zoom conference. This gave me many free days to clear my desk of backload of work.
Thursday, 18 February 2021. Dum clamarem ad Dominum exaudivit vocem meam abo his, qui appropinquant mihi. Iacta cogitatum tuum in Domino, et ipse te enutriet. Usual beginning of our day in the chapel.
During our Community Mass we prayed: Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord,
and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must deny himself; he must take up his cross and come with me, says the Lord. "
Before we leave our chapel after Mass, we usually conclude by saying a prayer before the crucifix. We did the same this morning: Behold, O good and sweetest Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a most firm desire of amendment: whilst with deep affection and grief of soul I consider within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious Wounds, having before my eyes that which David, the prophet, long ago spoke in Thine own person concerning Thee, my Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones” [Psalm 21, 17, 18].
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be…We fly to your patronage....
At 10.00am, I was at St Joseph's Church Oraukwu for the funeral of Margaret Okoye. Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Quiet evening but I had time to meet a philanthropist who wanted to inform me about his projects. God bless him.
During our Community Mass we prayed: Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord,
and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must deny himself; he must take up his cross and come with me, says the Lord. "
Before we leave our chapel after Mass, we usually conclude by saying a prayer before the crucifix. We did the same this morning: Behold, O good and sweetest Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a most firm desire of amendment: whilst with deep affection and grief of soul I consider within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious Wounds, having before my eyes that which David, the prophet, long ago spoke in Thine own person concerning Thee, my Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones” [Psalm 21, 17, 18].
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be…We fly to your patronage....
At 10.00am, I was at St Joseph's Church Oraukwu for the funeral of Margaret Okoye. Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Quiet evening but I had time to meet a philanthropist who wanted to inform me about his projects. God bless him.
Wednesday, 17 February 2021. ASH WEDNESDAY. You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made. You overlook people's sins, to bring them to repentance, and you spare them, for you are the Lord our God. Today we begin the season of Lent. Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Three things we are asked to do during this period: Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving. I encouraged the People of God to read First and Second Letters of St Paul to the Corinthians.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
At our Community Mass, ashes were blessed after homily: O God, who desire not the death of sinners, but their conversion, mercifully hear our prayers and in your kindness be pleased to bless + these ashes, which we intend to receive upon our heads, that we, who acknowledge we are but ashes and shall return to dust, may, through a steadfast observance of Lent, gain pardon for sins and newness of life after the likeness of your Risen Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. As in other years for my secretary, Father Innocent Udolisah imposed ashes on me, while I did the same for the rest of the community. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.
A sober day for fasting and prayer.
My divine Lord, I give myself to You this Lent.
Draw me in so that I may come to know You more.
Reveal to me Your divine presence,
dwelling deep within me, calling me to Yourself.
May this Lent, dear Lord,
be glorious as I strengthen my love and devotion
through the discovery of the gift of true prayer.
Jesus, I trust in You.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
At our Community Mass, ashes were blessed after homily: O God, who desire not the death of sinners, but their conversion, mercifully hear our prayers and in your kindness be pleased to bless + these ashes, which we intend to receive upon our heads, that we, who acknowledge we are but ashes and shall return to dust, may, through a steadfast observance of Lent, gain pardon for sins and newness of life after the likeness of your Risen Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. As in other years for my secretary, Father Innocent Udolisah imposed ashes on me, while I did the same for the rest of the community. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.
A sober day for fasting and prayer.
My divine Lord, I give myself to You this Lent.
Draw me in so that I may come to know You more.
Reveal to me Your divine presence,
dwelling deep within me, calling me to Yourself.
May this Lent, dear Lord,
be glorious as I strengthen my love and devotion
through the discovery of the gift of true prayer.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday, 16 February 2021. Sii per me una roccia di rifugio, un luogo fortificato che mi salva. Tu sei mia rupe e mia fortezza: guidami per amore del tuo nome. Starting the day before the Sanctissimum is an incomparable experience. No wonder the early Christians in order to express the necessity of Sunday when they convened and celebrated the Holy Eucharist, told their persecutors: "sine dominico non possumus". What they actually affirmed was and which we firmly profess is: sine Eucaristia non possumus.
Usual rhythm of spiritual activities. Adoro te devote, latens Deitas, quae sub his figuris vere latitas: tibi se cor meum totum subiicit, quia te contemplans totum deficit....Iesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio, oro fiat illud quod tam sitio; ut te revelata cernens facie, visu sim beatus tuae gloriae.
Recalling the visit of Pope John Paul II and reflecting on part of his address to Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria: "The priest must be a leaven in the Nigerian community of today. In a country in which many are over-concerned with making money, the priest by word and example must call attention to higher values. Man does not live by bread alone. The priest must identify with the poor, so as to be able to bring them the uplifting Gospel of Christ. Remember that Jesus applied these words to himself: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Good News to the poor”..
At our Community Mass, we prayed: O Dio, che hai promesso di abitare in coloro che ti amano con cuore retto e sincero, donaci la grazia di diventare tua degna dimora.
Today, the remaining members of my household presented themselves for the COVID19 test and their samples were taken. We now await the results.
At the end of the day, I said this prayer inspired by the readings of today. which is offered by "My Catholic Life"_ My loving Lord, I thank You for Your unwavering commitment to sacrifice Yourself for us all. I thank You for this unfathomable depth of true love. Give me the grace I need, dear Lord, to turn away from all forms of selfish love so as to imitate and participate in Your most perfect sacrificial love. I do love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You and others with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Usual rhythm of spiritual activities. Adoro te devote, latens Deitas, quae sub his figuris vere latitas: tibi se cor meum totum subiicit, quia te contemplans totum deficit....Iesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio, oro fiat illud quod tam sitio; ut te revelata cernens facie, visu sim beatus tuae gloriae.
Recalling the visit of Pope John Paul II and reflecting on part of his address to Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria: "The priest must be a leaven in the Nigerian community of today. In a country in which many are over-concerned with making money, the priest by word and example must call attention to higher values. Man does not live by bread alone. The priest must identify with the poor, so as to be able to bring them the uplifting Gospel of Christ. Remember that Jesus applied these words to himself: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Good News to the poor”..
At our Community Mass, we prayed: O Dio, che hai promesso di abitare in coloro che ti amano con cuore retto e sincero, donaci la grazia di diventare tua degna dimora.
Today, the remaining members of my household presented themselves for the COVID19 test and their samples were taken. We now await the results.
At the end of the day, I said this prayer inspired by the readings of today. which is offered by "My Catholic Life"_ My loving Lord, I thank You for Your unwavering commitment to sacrifice Yourself for us all. I thank You for this unfathomable depth of true love. Give me the grace I need, dear Lord, to turn away from all forms of selfish love so as to imitate and participate in Your most perfect sacrificial love. I do love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You and others with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Monday, 15 February 2021. A new day which the Lord has given us with so many opportunities to do good embedded in it. We present ourselves in our nothingness before the Lord, asking him to give us strength and faith to do his will, to make good use of his gifts to us.
Recalling the visit of Pope John Paul II and reflecting on part of his address to Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria: "No state of life escapes temptations and you will try to identify your own. By God’s grace and with persevering effort, you must strive to resist whatever temptation may come your way: whether, for example, to laxity in discipline, or to laziness, instability, unavailability, too much travelling or dissipation of apostolic energy. Relying on grace, you will reject temptations against celibacy by watchfulness, prayer and mortification. You will refuse to be captured by the attraction of material things and will not put your joy in money, big cars, and a high position in society. Party politics are not for you. It is the proper area of the lay apostolate. Rather you are the chaplains of the laity, who in political matters should assume ther own distinctive role. In strengthening you against temptation the Sacrament of Penance has great importance for every priest. Here, for our own lives, we ministers of reconciliation find Christ’s healing and sustaining action, his forgiving and merciful love."
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Life is not so much what you accomplish as what you overcome."
The spread of COVID19 is becoming a matter of great concern around us. It would seem that there are variants of it everywhere. I decided to protect myself and all my collaborators. I invited our healthcare officers to come and test me and all my collaborators. They came this morning to take the sample of some of us.
At 10.00am I was at St Joseph's Cathedral Ekwulobia for the funeral of Msgr. John Bosco Akam and Msgr Martin Ezeokoli. Full cathedral. I did the Final Commendation. May God grant them eternal rest in his kingdom. I returned home immediately after Mass in Ekwulobia.
At the end of the day, I turned to our Blessed Mother;
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye cherubim,
Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!
Recalling the visit of Pope John Paul II and reflecting on part of his address to Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria: "No state of life escapes temptations and you will try to identify your own. By God’s grace and with persevering effort, you must strive to resist whatever temptation may come your way: whether, for example, to laxity in discipline, or to laziness, instability, unavailability, too much travelling or dissipation of apostolic energy. Relying on grace, you will reject temptations against celibacy by watchfulness, prayer and mortification. You will refuse to be captured by the attraction of material things and will not put your joy in money, big cars, and a high position in society. Party politics are not for you. It is the proper area of the lay apostolate. Rather you are the chaplains of the laity, who in political matters should assume ther own distinctive role. In strengthening you against temptation the Sacrament of Penance has great importance for every priest. Here, for our own lives, we ministers of reconciliation find Christ’s healing and sustaining action, his forgiving and merciful love."
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Life is not so much what you accomplish as what you overcome."
The spread of COVID19 is becoming a matter of great concern around us. It would seem that there are variants of it everywhere. I decided to protect myself and all my collaborators. I invited our healthcare officers to come and test me and all my collaborators. They came this morning to take the sample of some of us.
At 10.00am I was at St Joseph's Cathedral Ekwulobia for the funeral of Msgr. John Bosco Akam and Msgr Martin Ezeokoli. Full cathedral. I did the Final Commendation. May God grant them eternal rest in his kingdom. I returned home immediately after Mass in Ekwulobia.
At the end of the day, I turned to our Blessed Mother;
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye cherubim,
Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!
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Pastoral visit to St Peter's Parish, Oze-Nkwelle.
Sunday, 14 February 2021. SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in locum refugii, ut salvum me facias. Quoniam firmamentum meum et refugium meum est tu, et propter nomen tuum dux mihi eris, et enutries me. Usual morning devotions.
Recalling Pope John Paul's address to Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria, for my reflection: "No priest can work all by himself. He works with his brother priests and under the leadership of the bishop, who is their father, brother, co-worker and friend. The authentic priest will maintain the love and unity of the presbyterium. He will reverence and obey his bishop as he solemnly promised on ordination day. The presbyterium of the bishop with all his priests, diocesan and religious, should function as a family, as an apostolic team marked with joy, mutual understanding and fraternal love. The presbyterium exists so that, through the renewal of Christ’s Sacrifice, the mystery of Christ’s saving love may enter the lives of God’s people. priests must not forget to help their brother priests who are in difficulty: moral, spiritual, financial or otherwise. And the sick and the old priests find in your warmth of brotherly charity both solace and support."
At 10.00am, I was at St Peter's Church, Oze Nkwelle, for a pastoral visit. This is a very small church community. Fr Collins Ogbannu is the parish priest. They neither have a rectory nor a decent church building. We celebrated Mass under the scorching sun. Lord, I commend this little flock into your hands!
Recalling Pope John Paul's address to Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria, for my reflection: "No priest can work all by himself. He works with his brother priests and under the leadership of the bishop, who is their father, brother, co-worker and friend. The authentic priest will maintain the love and unity of the presbyterium. He will reverence and obey his bishop as he solemnly promised on ordination day. The presbyterium of the bishop with all his priests, diocesan and religious, should function as a family, as an apostolic team marked with joy, mutual understanding and fraternal love. The presbyterium exists so that, through the renewal of Christ’s Sacrifice, the mystery of Christ’s saving love may enter the lives of God’s people. priests must not forget to help their brother priests who are in difficulty: moral, spiritual, financial or otherwise. And the sick and the old priests find in your warmth of brotherly charity both solace and support."
At 10.00am, I was at St Peter's Church, Oze Nkwelle, for a pastoral visit. This is a very small church community. Fr Collins Ogbannu is the parish priest. They neither have a rectory nor a decent church building. We celebrated Mass under the scorching sun. Lord, I commend this little flock into your hands!
Saturday, 13 February 2021. Today, thirty nine years ago, Pope John Paul II came on papal visit to Onitsha. An unforgetable event. Millions of people gathered to see him. Awada was discovered! It was the first time I saw a Pope live! We thank the Lord for the blessings that followed that special visit. Over the spot where he celebrated Mass, a Church stands today. This Church is named after two apostles: Saints John and Paul. It should have been named St John Paul after the Pope himself, but he was not yet beatified or canonized at the time of the construction of the Church. That spot is a sanctified place - holy ground.!
When he came to our seminary - Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu, I sat in front seat and clearly witnessed his interaction with the then Governor of Anambra State - Chief Jim Nwobodo. He addressed the Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria. To see him in person was something that has remained vivid in my mind. Little did I know that in less than ten years I would live and work very close to him for over a decade. How great is your name O Lord our God through all the earth. I reread his words to Priests when he came to our seminary. I reflect over sections of his speech in the coming days.
Pope John Paul II spoke to us: "No priest can carry out his ministry well unless he lives in union with Christ. His life, like Christ’s, must be marked by self-sacrifice, zeal for the spreading of the Kingdom of God, unblemished chastity, unstained charity. All this is possible only when the priest is a man of prayer and Eucharistic devotion. By praying the Liturgy of the Hours in union with the Church he will find strength and joy for the apostolate. In silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament he will be constantly renewed in his consecration to Jesus Christ and confirmed in his permanent commitment to priestly celibacy. By invoking Mary the Mother of Jesus, the priest will be sustained in his generous service to all Christ’s brothers and sisters in the world. Yes, the priest must not allow the passing needs of the active apostolate to elbow out or eat into his prayer life. He must not be so engrossed with working for God that he is in danger of forgetting God himself. He will remember that our Saviour warned us that without him we can do nothing. Without him, we can fish all night and still catch nothing.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self."
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayers:
I was still indoors for today. This time I started clearing my crowded table. And so when the dusk arrived and was followed by darkness, this song could only come naturally:
The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended;
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
When he came to our seminary - Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu, I sat in front seat and clearly witnessed his interaction with the then Governor of Anambra State - Chief Jim Nwobodo. He addressed the Priests and Seminarians in Nigeria. To see him in person was something that has remained vivid in my mind. Little did I know that in less than ten years I would live and work very close to him for over a decade. How great is your name O Lord our God through all the earth. I reread his words to Priests when he came to our seminary. I reflect over sections of his speech in the coming days.
Pope John Paul II spoke to us: "No priest can carry out his ministry well unless he lives in union with Christ. His life, like Christ’s, must be marked by self-sacrifice, zeal for the spreading of the Kingdom of God, unblemished chastity, unstained charity. All this is possible only when the priest is a man of prayer and Eucharistic devotion. By praying the Liturgy of the Hours in union with the Church he will find strength and joy for the apostolate. In silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament he will be constantly renewed in his consecration to Jesus Christ and confirmed in his permanent commitment to priestly celibacy. By invoking Mary the Mother of Jesus, the priest will be sustained in his generous service to all Christ’s brothers and sisters in the world. Yes, the priest must not allow the passing needs of the active apostolate to elbow out or eat into his prayer life. He must not be so engrossed with working for God that he is in danger of forgetting God himself. He will remember that our Saviour warned us that without him we can do nothing. Without him, we can fish all night and still catch nothing.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self."
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- Christ became man to make us sons of God and he intercedes for us before God our Father. Let us thank him for his loving mercy, and pray: – Open to us the treasures of your love.
- You have enlightened us in baptism: we consecrate our day to you. – Open to us the treasures of your love.
- Fill us with praise of you today: may we take your word with us wherever we may go. – Open to us the treasures of your love.
- Teach us to respond to your word like Mary our Mother: may your word be fruitful in us.– Open to us the treasures of your love.
- Give us courage when things go wrong: strengthen us with faith in you, with hope in your promises and with love of your will. – Open to us the treasures of your love.
I was still indoors for today. This time I started clearing my crowded table. And so when the dusk arrived and was followed by darkness, this song could only come naturally:
The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended;
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
Friday, 12 February 2021. Early greetings to our Blessed Mother. In our chapel, the Lord waited for us. One by one we came in to adore him. Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Qualities of a good leader: Integrity, ability to delegate, communication, self awareness, gratitude, learning agility, influence, and empathy.
For my meditation, I continued reflecting on another section of Konopka's article, MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS. How do we pray the Mass mindfully and purposefully. His recommendation: 2c) To say each Mass as our first. People notice when we rush and are inattentive. In the days of a shortage of priests, many people in the pew are afraid to ask us to be better because they are afraid any complaint will mean they will be without a priest. We owe them more than a perfunctory Mass; we owe God more than a quick hello. Being stewards of the mysteries (the motto of the seminary I attended) means to take care of them with our willingness to experience God with his people.
As yesterday, I was indoors. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Qualities of a good leader: Integrity, ability to delegate, communication, self awareness, gratitude, learning agility, influence, and empathy.
For my meditation, I continued reflecting on another section of Konopka's article, MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS. How do we pray the Mass mindfully and purposefully. His recommendation: 2c) To say each Mass as our first. People notice when we rush and are inattentive. In the days of a shortage of priests, many people in the pew are afraid to ask us to be better because they are afraid any complaint will mean they will be without a priest. We owe them more than a perfunctory Mass; we owe God more than a quick hello. Being stewards of the mysteries (the motto of the seminary I attended) means to take care of them with our willingness to experience God with his people.
As yesterday, I was indoors. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta
Thursday, 11 February 2021. OUR LADY OF LOURDES. Salve, sancta parens, enixa puerpera Regem, qui caelum terramque regit in saecula saeculorum. Today is World Day of the Sick - "an observation introduced by Pope John Paul II as a way for believers to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses." As if to live throught the experience, I had slight indisposition today. Appropriate prayer to adopt: Lord God, we place our worries in your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your will and know that whatever you do, you do for the love of us. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Be bold when you love, Be calm when you win.. Changing the face can change nothing.. But, facing the change can change everything."
For my meditation, I continued reflecting on another section of Konopka's article, MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS. How do we pray the Mass mindfully and purposefully. His recommendation: 2b) To be aware of our words and actions, especially our pace. I am always mildly amused that it seems whoever can say Mass the fastest wins a medal —like many of the road races I used to run. We have created an environment in which our people expect the same. Here is where we need to lead in the liturgy. Purposefully signing ourselves and being aware of our hands and gestures (not rigidly but with purpose), placing the bread and wine on the altar slowly and mindfully saying the words of institution, etc. Using incense and allowing it to enfold the gifts and altar, to enfold the people, and, at a funeral, to wrap the casket in our love as we say our final goodbye. Recently, I took a weekend off and attended Mass at a parish. With this article in the back of my mind, I watched the presider hold up the broken Host, ne2ver looked at it, said the words, “Behold the Lamb of God …”and hurried on. I know how judgmental it sounds, but this is the perfect example of celebrating mindlessly, not mindfully.
I was indoors for rest and attention to my health. I had the joy of having all my siblings visiting me at the same time. We had great moment, cracking family jokes, eating together. "One love keep us together!Our parents must have watchëd the scene with great satisfaction for the great job they did in us.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Be bold when you love, Be calm when you win.. Changing the face can change nothing.. But, facing the change can change everything."
For my meditation, I continued reflecting on another section of Konopka's article, MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS. How do we pray the Mass mindfully and purposefully. His recommendation: 2b) To be aware of our words and actions, especially our pace. I am always mildly amused that it seems whoever can say Mass the fastest wins a medal —like many of the road races I used to run. We have created an environment in which our people expect the same. Here is where we need to lead in the liturgy. Purposefully signing ourselves and being aware of our hands and gestures (not rigidly but with purpose), placing the bread and wine on the altar slowly and mindfully saying the words of institution, etc. Using incense and allowing it to enfold the gifts and altar, to enfold the people, and, at a funeral, to wrap the casket in our love as we say our final goodbye. Recently, I took a weekend off and attended Mass at a parish. With this article in the back of my mind, I watched the presider hold up the broken Host, ne2ver looked at it, said the words, “Behold the Lamb of God …”and hurried on. I know how judgmental it sounds, but this is the perfect example of celebrating mindlessly, not mindfully.
I was indoors for rest and attention to my health. I had the joy of having all my siblings visiting me at the same time. We had great moment, cracking family jokes, eating together. "One love keep us together!Our parents must have watchëd the scene with great satisfaction for the great job they did in us.
Wednesday, 10 February 2021. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. MEMORIAL OF ST SCHOLASTICA. O quam pulchra es virgo Christi, quae coronam Domini digna fuisti accipere, coronam perpetuae virginitatis. Adoration. I prayed in a special way for our monastery and the nuns of St Scholastica Benedictine Abbey, Umuoji. A prayer too for Bishop Hilary Okeke on the anniversary (2002) of his Episcopal ordination: O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Hilary, whom you have set at the head of your Church of Nnewi as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides, so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life.
For my meditation, I continued reflecting on another section of Konopka's article, MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS. How do we pray the Mass mindfully and purposefully. His recommendation: 2a) It starts in the sacristy. The vesting prayers in the old liturgy served a purpose to remind the priest what he was about to do. Without getting into the liturgical wars, a mindful practice would be putting the vestments on purposefully and prayerfully. To cover ourselves with the alb to remind ourselves of our foundational call of baptism; to kiss the stole and put in on to remind ourselves of our call to serve, and the chasuble to remind ourselves that the mystery about to be done is not about us, but about God. We must grow small, so he can shine, à la John the Baptist."
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Dealing with the stuff of bootlickers and traitors: 'you are as popular and relevant as you hold power'".
I stayed indoors, recalling that this date last year we celebrated Missa exequialis at St Michael's Church Ogbunike to bid my sister Anastasia Amaka Uwaje farewell. O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your handmaid Anastasia, whom you have called to journey to you, and, since she hoped and believed in you, grant that she may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
For my meditation, I continued reflecting on another section of Konopka's article, MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS. How do we pray the Mass mindfully and purposefully. His recommendation: 2a) It starts in the sacristy. The vesting prayers in the old liturgy served a purpose to remind the priest what he was about to do. Without getting into the liturgical wars, a mindful practice would be putting the vestments on purposefully and prayerfully. To cover ourselves with the alb to remind ourselves of our foundational call of baptism; to kiss the stole and put in on to remind ourselves of our call to serve, and the chasuble to remind ourselves that the mystery about to be done is not about us, but about God. We must grow small, so he can shine, à la John the Baptist."
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Dealing with the stuff of bootlickers and traitors: 'you are as popular and relevant as you hold power'".
I stayed indoors, recalling that this date last year we celebrated Missa exequialis at St Michael's Church Ogbunike to bid my sister Anastasia Amaka Uwaje farewell. O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your handmaid Anastasia, whom you have called to journey to you, and, since she hoped and believed in you, grant that she may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
Tuesday, 9 February 2021. Here we come before the Lord to report that we are about to start a new day, to beg for his guidance, to thank him for all his blessings, and above all, to adore him.
Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
I began to read the article by Father Thomas Konopka published in the February 2021 magazine, The Priest. The article, entitled MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS, touches on one of the challenges which older priests encounter. After many years in the priesthood, we tend to grow used to the sacraments. We become too familiar with the things we do. The original zeal, devotion, and deep spiritual involvement begin to wane. The article by Konopka makes recommendations on how to recover "our first love" in the ministry. I read the article section by section and slowly, a small portion each day, for a deep reflection. For today, Konopka recommends: 1) "A solid daily prayer life and the daily practice of mindfulness. Saying morning and evening prayer purposefully. We all use the excuse “I am too busy.”My challenge to myself is this: You have it on your phone! Pray the Rosary slowly, feel the beads, immerse yourself in the mystery. Walk from the rectory to the church (or from the car) slowly with an awareness of feet hitting the pavement. Mindfulness is developing an awareness of what I am doing right now. Sometimes it is just being aware of the breath. The research shows that to develop this mindset, it must be done daily. Since we are all unique, find your own way, but do it!"
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others."
Today is the anniversary (2002) of the Episcopal ordination of Archbishop Val. A prayer: O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Valerian, whom you have set at the head of your Church of Onitsha as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides, so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. To follow COVID19 protocol, I did not go to Onitsha for supper.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. We turn to our Blessed Mother: Souviens-toi, ô très pieuse Vierge Marie, qu’on n’a jamais entendu dire qu’aucun de ceux qui ont eu recours à ta protection, qui ont imploré ton assistance et réclamé ton secours, ait été abandonné. Animé d’une pareille confiance, je resours à toi ô Vierge des vierges. Je me présente devant toi, pécheur repentant. Ne rejette pas mes prières, ô Mère du Verbe, mais écoute-les favorablement et daigne les exaucer. Amen
Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
I began to read the article by Father Thomas Konopka published in the February 2021 magazine, The Priest. The article, entitled MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS, touches on one of the challenges which older priests encounter. After many years in the priesthood, we tend to grow used to the sacraments. We become too familiar with the things we do. The original zeal, devotion, and deep spiritual involvement begin to wane. The article by Konopka makes recommendations on how to recover "our first love" in the ministry. I read the article section by section and slowly, a small portion each day, for a deep reflection. For today, Konopka recommends: 1) "A solid daily prayer life and the daily practice of mindfulness. Saying morning and evening prayer purposefully. We all use the excuse “I am too busy.”My challenge to myself is this: You have it on your phone! Pray the Rosary slowly, feel the beads, immerse yourself in the mystery. Walk from the rectory to the church (or from the car) slowly with an awareness of feet hitting the pavement. Mindfulness is developing an awareness of what I am doing right now. Sometimes it is just being aware of the breath. The research shows that to develop this mindset, it must be done daily. Since we are all unique, find your own way, but do it!"
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others."
Today is the anniversary (2002) of the Episcopal ordination of Archbishop Val. A prayer: O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Valerian, whom you have set at the head of your Church of Onitsha as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides, so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. To follow COVID19 protocol, I did not go to Onitsha for supper.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. We turn to our Blessed Mother: Souviens-toi, ô très pieuse Vierge Marie, qu’on n’a jamais entendu dire qu’aucun de ceux qui ont eu recours à ta protection, qui ont imploré ton assistance et réclamé ton secours, ait été abandonné. Animé d’une pareille confiance, je resours à toi ô Vierge des vierges. Je me présente devant toi, pécheur repentant. Ne rejette pas mes prières, ô Mère du Verbe, mais écoute-les favorablement et daigne les exaucer. Amen
Monday, 8 February 2021. Usual rhythm of morning spiritual exercises: Adoration, Meditation, and Lauds, which is always started with this ancient prayer: Lord God, I offer this Divine Office to you, together with the adoration and praise of the angels and saints in heaven, as well as that of all the priests of your Church and all other consecrated persons. I present to you, holy Father, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this chorus of prayer, made holy in the Heart of Jesus and made one with His most holy prayer. May all the words of this prayer be acts of pure love, adoration, thanksgiving, satisfaction, trust, and surrender to your holy Will. Let this prayer be for my weak self a spiritual communion, an act of humility, and of perfect self-denial; and may it be a sacrifice of praise and glory to you, O Blessed Trinity. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not let people change the loving and caring person you are. Do not let any person get you down. Use the love and goodness inside you to stay strong."
Holy Mass celebrated and Breakfast taken, I was in my office at Aguleri from 10.15am to 1.30pm. Domine, fecisti me servum amoris tui,
Quiet evening. My indisposition was still with me. At night: Noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedat mihi Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not let people change the loving and caring person you are. Do not let any person get you down. Use the love and goodness inside you to stay strong."
Holy Mass celebrated and Breakfast taken, I was in my office at Aguleri from 10.15am to 1.30pm. Domine, fecisti me servum amoris tui,
Quiet evening. My indisposition was still with me. At night: Noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedat mihi Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
Sunday, 7 February 2021. 5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Venite, adoremus Deum, et procidamus ante Dominum, qui fecit nos; quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster. To this invitation in our Manual of Prayers for Junior Seminarians: LET US PLACE OURSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND HUMBLY ADORE HIM, we used to pray and now I pray: Impressed with a lively sense of the presence of Your Supreme Majesty, I adore you most profoundly, O my God, I believe in you because you are truth itself. I hope in you because you are infinitely good. I love you with all my heart because you are lovable above all things, and for your sake I love my neighbour as myself. Amen. Usual morning spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Your greatest trophies are the tears you wipe away from people's faces not the things you acquire."
At 10.00am, I was at St Patrick's Parish Awkuzu. It was my first pastoral visit since after the dedication of the Church two years ago. In these two years, the major change that had taken place was the arrival of a new parish priest - Fr Cletus Okoye. This is an experienced priest, with whom I had worked in Nnobi region when he was the parish priest of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Umuoji. I am pleased to meet him here again, this time in Igbariam region.
The People of God were well prepared for the pastoral visit. Over a hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. I found the Church building well maintained. All repairs made.
I was impressed by the personal efforts Fr Linus Okika was making to develop the people. He built a school to promote education of the young. He got the money from his savings when he was studying overseas. He does not regard the school development as a personal project. He handed over everything to the parish. He still tries to help to keep the school going. I commend him in a special way.
Grand reception organised for me. I saw many familiar faces. The people are very welcoming. Dancing. Feasting. All these form part of the celebration! May God abundantly bless the people and the work of evangelization in Awkuzu!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Your greatest trophies are the tears you wipe away from people's faces not the things you acquire."
At 10.00am, I was at St Patrick's Parish Awkuzu. It was my first pastoral visit since after the dedication of the Church two years ago. In these two years, the major change that had taken place was the arrival of a new parish priest - Fr Cletus Okoye. This is an experienced priest, with whom I had worked in Nnobi region when he was the parish priest of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Umuoji. I am pleased to meet him here again, this time in Igbariam region.
The People of God were well prepared for the pastoral visit. Over a hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. I found the Church building well maintained. All repairs made.
I was impressed by the personal efforts Fr Linus Okika was making to develop the people. He built a school to promote education of the young. He got the money from his savings when he was studying overseas. He does not regard the school development as a personal project. He handed over everything to the parish. He still tries to help to keep the school going. I commend him in a special way.
Grand reception organised for me. I saw many familiar faces. The people are very welcoming. Dancing. Feasting. All these form part of the celebration! May God abundantly bless the people and the work of evangelization in Awkuzu!
Saturday, 6 February 2021. Tamquam aurum in fornace probavit electos Dominus, et quasi holocausti hostiam accepit illos; et in tempore erit respectus illorum: quoniam donum et pax erit electis Dei. Memorial of St Paul Miki, a Japanese Jesuit Priest. Very successful missionary who when persecution of the Catholics arose, was arrested together with twenty-five others, were mocked and tortured and eventually taken to Nagasaki, bound to crosses and speared.
At our Community Mass, we prayed: O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."
For some days now, healthwise, I had small indisposition. But it did not prevent me from going to St Mary's Church Ugwunadagbe Aguleri for Community Rosary. Great confidence in our Blessed Mother - Salus infirmorum! As I expected, she did not disappoint. Ezigbo Nne m Marịa, Nne nke Chukwu, biko búrú ekpere m tata bugara nwa Gị Jesu. Mee obi m ka o jupụta na grasịa nke Chukwu. Nyere m aka ibi ńdụ di mma n’ụwa a, ka m were soro ndị Mmụọọma na ndị Nsọ niile kwee ukwe otito nke Chukwu n’ala eze eluigwe.
It was a good turn out of the People of God at St Mary's Church Ugwunadagbe. I began with instruction on the devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary. I spoke at length on the use of the rosary I feel that there is an urgent need to promote family and personal rosary in our society today. Many are beginning to consider saying the rosary as something meant for children at Block Rosary Centres. I am worried that the traditional Catholic devotions are no longer promoted by many priests. In its place we have improvised prayer ministries. Pentecostalism is gradually eroding centuries of Catholic tradition of pious devotions. I am burning with the desire to do something about this erosion. I pray God to show me the way to go. Deus, da mihi sedium tuarum assistricem sapientiam, quoniam ego sum servus tuus.
At our Community Mass, we prayed: O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."
For some days now, healthwise, I had small indisposition. But it did not prevent me from going to St Mary's Church Ugwunadagbe Aguleri for Community Rosary. Great confidence in our Blessed Mother - Salus infirmorum! As I expected, she did not disappoint. Ezigbo Nne m Marịa, Nne nke Chukwu, biko búrú ekpere m tata bugara nwa Gị Jesu. Mee obi m ka o jupụta na grasịa nke Chukwu. Nyere m aka ibi ńdụ di mma n’ụwa a, ka m were soro ndị Mmụọọma na ndị Nsọ niile kwee ukwe otito nke Chukwu n’ala eze eluigwe.
It was a good turn out of the People of God at St Mary's Church Ugwunadagbe. I began with instruction on the devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary. I spoke at length on the use of the rosary I feel that there is an urgent need to promote family and personal rosary in our society today. Many are beginning to consider saying the rosary as something meant for children at Block Rosary Centres. I am worried that the traditional Catholic devotions are no longer promoted by many priests. In its place we have improvised prayer ministries. Pentecostalism is gradually eroding centuries of Catholic tradition of pious devotions. I am burning with the desire to do something about this erosion. I pray God to show me the way to go. Deus, da mihi sedium tuarum assistricem sapientiam, quoniam ego sum servus tuus.
Friday, 5 February 2021. Ecce iam sequitur Agnum pro nobis crucifixum strenua virgo, pudoris hostia, victima castitatis. MEMORIAL OF ST AGATHA - Blessed virgin who by denying herself and taking up her cross imitated the Lord, the spouse for virgins and prince of martyrs. Usual morning spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't let an ingrate stop you from making others Great."
At 10.00am I was at Our Lady of Assumption Church, Ogidi, for the funeral Mass of ma Roseline Chidii Okonkwo (mother of Fr Izunna Okonkwo, Obiora Okonkwo and others). Some Bishops from different parts of Nigeria, including Archbishop Augustine Akubueze (President of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria), attended. Obiora Okonkwo built the chapel of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. May Roseline rest in perfect peace in the Lord. Amen.
Quiet time back home in Aguleri.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't let an ingrate stop you from making others Great."
At 10.00am I was at Our Lady of Assumption Church, Ogidi, for the funeral Mass of ma Roseline Chidii Okonkwo (mother of Fr Izunna Okonkwo, Obiora Okonkwo and others). Some Bishops from different parts of Nigeria, including Archbishop Augustine Akubueze (President of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria), attended. Obiora Okonkwo built the chapel of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. May Roseline rest in perfect peace in the Lord. Amen.
Quiet time back home in Aguleri.
Thursday, 4 February 2021. I woke up in Abuja. 7.00am: concelebrated Mass at St Gabriel's Chaplaincy. Breakfast.
At 8.30am, we started the day's meeting, aiming at concluding by 1.00pm. We achieved the goal we set for ourselves. Quick lunch. I headed to the airport to catch my flight to Owerri. Smooth journey. My collaborators were at the airport to take me home.
Safe return to Aguleri. Ekene dili Chukwu.
At 8.30am, we started the day's meeting, aiming at concluding by 1.00pm. We achieved the goal we set for ourselves. Quick lunch. I headed to the airport to catch my flight to Owerri. Smooth journey. My collaborators were at the airport to take me home.
Safe return to Aguleri. Ekene dili Chukwu.
Wednesday, 3 February 2021. Usual early conversation with our Blessed Mother. I had to hurry to Enugu to catch the flight for Abuja for the meeting of the Administrative Board of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. Smooth flight. Venue for the meeting: Catholic Resource Centre (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria), Abuja.
The Admin Board Meeting started at 5.00pm and went on till 7.00pm when we went for supper break. We continued till about 10.00pm.
Happy end of the day. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
The Admin Board Meeting started at 5.00pm and went on till 7.00pm when we went for supper break. We continued till about 10.00pm.
Happy end of the day. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Tuesday, 2 February 2021. THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD. Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui. Secundum nomen tuum, Deus. Before the Lord we fell on our knees, recalling one of the hymns of this holy period of Lent: Remember, Lord, though frail we be, By your own kind hand were we made; And help us, lest our frailty cause your great name to be betrayed. Usual rhythm of our morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "A satisfied life is better than a successful life because our success is measured by others. But our satisfaction is measure by our own soul, mind and heart."
Our Community Mass began with candle procession from our corridor into the chapel. Blessing of the Candles: O God, source and origin of all light, who on this day showed to the just man Simeon the Light for revelation to the Gentiles, we humbly ask that, in answer to your people's prayers, you may be pleased to sanctify with your blessing + these candles, which we are eager to carry in praise of your name, so that, treading the path of virtue, we may reach that light which never fails. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Procession into our chapel, while singing: Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloria plebis tuae Israel.
Holy Mass continued inside our chapel. We said the following intercessory prayers during the Mass:
As other years, I scheduled a celebration with all the Consecrated Men and Women working in Onitsha Archdiocese. But concerned about the rapid spread of coronavirus during this second wave, I cancelled the celebration. On this day, I prayed for all the Consecrated working in our archdiocese. This is a day to thank them for very many things they are doing to sustain and advance the work of evangelization in our archdiocese. Many of them work with great zeal and devotion in carrying our their missionary assignment.
For all the Consecrated Men and Women, I made this prayer (from Dublin) my own:
As they walk the roads of the world,
may religious men and women be splendid witnesses,
effective proclaimers, companions and neighbours
for the men and women with whom they share the pilgrimage of life
in the joys and struggles of daily living.
Standing at the crossroads of untrodden paths,
may consecrated life travel onwards in exodus along the
streets of history, with a faith which recognises the
wisdom of weakness, a contemplative gaze of faith which sees
God dwelling in their lives and an unconditional love which
offers healing balm for a broken world.
Clothed anew in the joy of the Gospel,
may the encounter with the Risen Christ strengthen them
as they inaugurate new seasons of prophecy in service to the Church,
building the Kingdom of God here on earth along
open horizons and avenues of hope.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, may religious communities
continue to be sacred places where the mystery
of the human touches the divine mystery.
Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, grant all
a prophet’s voice to wake up the world with the
Gospel of life, reawakening in the hearts of
many the longing for God. AMEN.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "A satisfied life is better than a successful life because our success is measured by others. But our satisfaction is measure by our own soul, mind and heart."
Our Community Mass began with candle procession from our corridor into the chapel. Blessing of the Candles: O God, source and origin of all light, who on this day showed to the just man Simeon the Light for revelation to the Gentiles, we humbly ask that, in answer to your people's prayers, you may be pleased to sanctify with your blessing + these candles, which we are eager to carry in praise of your name, so that, treading the path of virtue, we may reach that light which never fails. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Procession into our chapel, while singing: Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloria plebis tuae Israel.
Holy Mass continued inside our chapel. We said the following intercessory prayers during the Mass:
- For the priests of the church, that they may allow the divine High Priest to purify and refine them as precious and pleasing sacrifices in His honor. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That those who are engaged in the struggle for life, for the poor, for peace and justice, may feel within themselves the eventual victory of the King of Glory, the Lord of Hosts. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all consecrated souls, all who have vowed themselves to the Lord’s service, that this day dedicated to them may bring the grace of renewed fervor and joy. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For the aged, that like Simeon and Anna they may experience the intimate consolation of the Holy Spirit, and the joy of beholding the face of Jesus. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all of us at this festive Eucharist, who surround the altar with our shining lights and proclaim Jesus as the Light of the World, that we may offer ourselves as He did in the temple, fully and without reservation, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our beloved departed, especially those undergoing the Lord’s purification, that this Holy Sacrifice may bring them release into heaven. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
As other years, I scheduled a celebration with all the Consecrated Men and Women working in Onitsha Archdiocese. But concerned about the rapid spread of coronavirus during this second wave, I cancelled the celebration. On this day, I prayed for all the Consecrated working in our archdiocese. This is a day to thank them for very many things they are doing to sustain and advance the work of evangelization in our archdiocese. Many of them work with great zeal and devotion in carrying our their missionary assignment.
For all the Consecrated Men and Women, I made this prayer (from Dublin) my own:
As they walk the roads of the world,
may religious men and women be splendid witnesses,
effective proclaimers, companions and neighbours
for the men and women with whom they share the pilgrimage of life
in the joys and struggles of daily living.
Standing at the crossroads of untrodden paths,
may consecrated life travel onwards in exodus along the
streets of history, with a faith which recognises the
wisdom of weakness, a contemplative gaze of faith which sees
God dwelling in their lives and an unconditional love which
offers healing balm for a broken world.
Clothed anew in the joy of the Gospel,
may the encounter with the Risen Christ strengthen them
as they inaugurate new seasons of prophecy in service to the Church,
building the Kingdom of God here on earth along
open horizons and avenues of hope.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, may religious communities
continue to be sacred places where the mystery
of the human touches the divine mystery.
Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, grant all
a prophet’s voice to wake up the world with the
Gospel of life, reawakening in the hearts of
many the longing for God. AMEN.
Monday, 1 February 2021. New month. We thanked the Lord for the new opportunities to do good. We offered Mass of Blessed Iwene Tansi.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The only place you find success before work is in the dictionary."
At 4.00pm, we held Regnum Christi Foundation meeting at the Archbishop's house Onitsha. The Foundation is Cardinal Arinze's charity outlet. Monsignor Hippolyte Adigwe is the chairman. There are about seven other members. The meeting today was to discuss how to disburse this year's charity fund to those who requested help. Every year, the list of those who beg for help is growing longer and longer. It is to be mentioned that four dioceses are included on the list of beneficiaries. These diocese acts as outlets to reach out to the poor.
I was back to Aguleri in time for supper in my house. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The only place you find success before work is in the dictionary."
At 4.00pm, we held Regnum Christi Foundation meeting at the Archbishop's house Onitsha. The Foundation is Cardinal Arinze's charity outlet. Monsignor Hippolyte Adigwe is the chairman. There are about seven other members. The meeting today was to discuss how to disburse this year's charity fund to those who requested help. Every year, the list of those who beg for help is growing longer and longer. It is to be mentioned that four dioceses are included on the list of beneficiaries. These diocese acts as outlets to reach out to the poor.
I was back to Aguleri in time for supper in my house. Good night, Lord.
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Work in progress - New St Stephen's Church, Ogbunike - 31 December 2021
Community of Blessed Iwene Tansi station, Ogbunike
Sunday, 31 January 2021. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Salvos nos fac, Dómine Deus noster, et cóngrega nos de natiónibus, ut confiteámur nómini sancto tuo, et gloriémur in laude tua. Our usual morning spiritual activities. It is truly calm to be in the presence of the Lord.
PRAYER OF ST FRANCIS:
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
Where there is hatred, let your love increase
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace
Where there is hatred, we will show his love
Where there is injury, we will never judge
Where there is striving, we will speak his peace
To the millions crying for release
We will be his instruments of peace
Where there is blindness, we will pray for sight
Where there is darkness, we will shine his light
Where there is sadness, we will bear their grief
To the millions crying for relief
We will be your instruments of peace
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
Where there is hatred, let your love increase
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nothing lasts forever. Not even your troubles."
At 10.15am, I was at Azu Ogbunike, near the new market for "Building Materials". I was here on my first Pastoral visit to Blessed Iwene Tansi out Station. I was delighted by who and what I saw: a large and enthusiastic congregation, inside a wide "batcher", loudspeakers mounted all around, etc. The Parish Priest, Fr Augustine Ezeanya, assured me that number of persons in the Church "was real" because he did not announce that I was coming. The turn out today was the actual Church goers in the area. I was touched. After Mass, there was welcome address. Lunch was served to everybody. Impressed, I decided to make my visit to them an annual event - Sunday following 20 January - feast of Blessed Iwene Tansi.
From Blessed Iwene Tansi station, I went with some community leaders to supervise St Stephen Church building project at Ogbamgba. Lunch at the St Stephen Rectory Azu Ogbunike.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening. It is the end of the month. Deus cordis mei, et pars mea, Deus in aeternum.
PRAYER OF ST FRANCIS:
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
Where there is hatred, let your love increase
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace
Where there is hatred, we will show his love
Where there is injury, we will never judge
Where there is striving, we will speak his peace
To the millions crying for release
We will be his instruments of peace
Where there is blindness, we will pray for sight
Where there is darkness, we will shine his light
Where there is sadness, we will bear their grief
To the millions crying for relief
We will be your instruments of peace
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
Where there is hatred, let your love increase
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nothing lasts forever. Not even your troubles."
At 10.15am, I was at Azu Ogbunike, near the new market for "Building Materials". I was here on my first Pastoral visit to Blessed Iwene Tansi out Station. I was delighted by who and what I saw: a large and enthusiastic congregation, inside a wide "batcher", loudspeakers mounted all around, etc. The Parish Priest, Fr Augustine Ezeanya, assured me that number of persons in the Church "was real" because he did not announce that I was coming. The turn out today was the actual Church goers in the area. I was touched. After Mass, there was welcome address. Lunch was served to everybody. Impressed, I decided to make my visit to them an annual event - Sunday following 20 January - feast of Blessed Iwene Tansi.
From Blessed Iwene Tansi station, I went with some community leaders to supervise St Stephen Church building project at Ogbamgba. Lunch at the St Stephen Rectory Azu Ogbunike.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening. It is the end of the month. Deus cordis mei, et pars mea, Deus in aeternum.
Saturday, 30 January 2021. Benedícta es tu, Virgo María, a Dómino Deo excélso præ ómnibus muliéribus super terram; quia nomen tuum ita magnificávit, ut non recédat laus tua de ore hóminum. We took our place before the Eucharistic Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value."
Reflection on the Priestly identity from the magazine The Priests the current January edition.
Material for Meditation: "The source of my (priestly) identity must remain always one and the same: contemplative communion with the Triune God who invites me, through a life of discipleship and mission, to union with himself. Consequently, we can ask ourselves:
We continue to be works in progress. This is why we examine ourselves: to fulfill our wonderful calling and to remain true to our being. How succinctly St. John Paul put it: “Within the Church as ‘mystery,’the priest is called, by his ongoing formation, to safeguard and develop in faith his awareness of the total and marvelous truth of his being: He is a minister of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God (cf. 1 Cor 4:1). …This should be the case with every priest, if he wishes to remain true to his being” (Pastores Dabo Vobis , 73).
Each day, we are given the grace and opportunity to become more deeply what our God has made of us: men of the mystery, servants and ministers of that great mystery, which is the font of all light, truth and fulfillment. Let’s never forget that."
Celebration of the usual parts of our morning devotion. Mass of Our Lady, Mother of the Church.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value."
Reflection on the Priestly identity from the magazine The Priests the current January edition.
Material for Meditation: "The source of my (priestly) identity must remain always one and the same: contemplative communion with the Triune God who invites me, through a life of discipleship and mission, to union with himself. Consequently, we can ask ourselves:
- What are my primary motivators at this point in my life? How have my desires and longings evolved since my ordination? Have I become numb to the desire for holiness?
- Are there other identities that have obscured my core identity as a priest?
- What are my most frequent temptations?
- Do I too often allow my interior to be cluttered with frivolous, off-color, empty content from television and the internet?
- Do I entertain unhealthy curiosities? Do I vicariously enjoy a lifestyle —one I have presumably sacrificed —by watching inappropriate things?
- Is priestly ministry for me just a series of functions? Have I perhaps even come to tolerate disordered and sinful habits (especially in the area of chastity) with the rationalization that “I can still function as a priest”?
We continue to be works in progress. This is why we examine ourselves: to fulfill our wonderful calling and to remain true to our being. How succinctly St. John Paul put it: “Within the Church as ‘mystery,’the priest is called, by his ongoing formation, to safeguard and develop in faith his awareness of the total and marvelous truth of his being: He is a minister of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God (cf. 1 Cor 4:1). …This should be the case with every priest, if he wishes to remain true to his being” (Pastores Dabo Vobis , 73).
Each day, we are given the grace and opportunity to become more deeply what our God has made of us: men of the mystery, servants and ministers of that great mystery, which is the font of all light, truth and fulfillment. Let’s never forget that."
Celebration of the usual parts of our morning devotion. Mass of Our Lady, Mother of the Church.
St Edward's Church Eziowelle: After Funeral Mass for "miracolata" Joy Anaduaka
With the Postulator Msgr Emma Nwosu and Member of Tribunal Fr David Ozoemenam, Persons in white: husband and children of Joy.
With the Postulator Msgr Emma Nwosu and Member of Tribunal Fr David Ozoemenam, Persons in white: husband and children of Joy.
Friday, 29 January 2021. Cantate Doino canticum novum, cantate Domino, omnis terra. Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu eius, sanctitas et magnificentia in sanctificatione eius. Usual morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well."
At 9.50am, I was at St Edward's Church, Eziowelle, for the funeral Mass for "miracolata" Joy Obiageli Anaduaka. I presided at the Eucharistic celebration. Msgr Emmanuel Nwosu preached and Fr. David Ozoemenam did the Final Commedation. The Church was almost full: Sisters, Catholic Women Organization, Members of Blessed Iwene Tansi Solidarity Movement and the Church Community of Eziowelle.
I call Joy Anaduaka "miracolata" because sometime ago in the midst of her very serious health challenges, she came before Blessed Iwene Tansi's relics at Holy Trinity Cathedral Basilica and begged our saint to intervene to heal her. She obtained a complete healing such that she went home and was able to conceive and bear a child when every expert was convinced that it was impossible. Her case is under investigation as a miracle. She recovered very well from her sickness. She became a case of somebody who was cured miraculously - MIRACOLATA! The miracle: she was cured well enough to take in, go through period of pregnancy and deliver safely her baby girl - ONYINYECHUKWU.
We are hoping that this miracle will lead to the canonization of Blessed Iwene Tansi. Let all my readers pray for this intention so that very soon we shall be able to say: SAINT CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI, PRAY FOR US.
Some months after the safe delivery of her baby, she became sick again. She died at the age of forty one. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
TRIBUTE BY THE POSTULATION CAUSE OF BLESSED IWENE TANSI
TRIBUTE TO A PRIVILEGED CHRISTIAN MOTHER MRS JOY ANADUAKA
The news of your sudden return home to the Father came to us with mixed feelings, displeasure because we are going to miss a rare gem and joy because you are going home to the Father who loved you so much and whom you have known and served so well in your late life. You were in love with Jesus, in love with his priests and his church, in love with the Sacrifice of Mass, in love with your family and you had a great concern for the welfare or your family and salvation of all. Your husband and children will miss greatly your caring affection.
Death, our Christian faith teaches us, is a beginning not an end however a cruel separation from loved ones. In death there is certainly the very real pain and sorrow of physical separation but life continues in eternity. We are born for heaven and we end this life of tears to bein our life of endless happiness.
It is not long we in the for the Cause of Blessed Iwene Tansi have known you. Your devotion to the Blessed Iwene Tansi brought us together in the later part of your life. You are so devoted and in love with the Blessed that God granted you an extraordinary healing through his intercession.
You had a share of our world's suffering and pain. You carried your cross with great joy and resignation to the will of the Almighty. And with such complete surrender you were always smiling and always filled with joy. You teach us that our real conflict is the inner conflict, that no one in the world can change truth that what we can do and should do is to seek truth and serve it when we have found it.
We will miss your friendly and extraordinary sense of humor and spontaneous generosity. May you rest in peace.
Rev. Msgr Emmanuel NWOSU
(For the Postulation for the Cause of Bl Tansi. Jan 18, 2021)
----------------
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well."
At 9.50am, I was at St Edward's Church, Eziowelle, for the funeral Mass for "miracolata" Joy Obiageli Anaduaka. I presided at the Eucharistic celebration. Msgr Emmanuel Nwosu preached and Fr. David Ozoemenam did the Final Commedation. The Church was almost full: Sisters, Catholic Women Organization, Members of Blessed Iwene Tansi Solidarity Movement and the Church Community of Eziowelle.
I call Joy Anaduaka "miracolata" because sometime ago in the midst of her very serious health challenges, she came before Blessed Iwene Tansi's relics at Holy Trinity Cathedral Basilica and begged our saint to intervene to heal her. She obtained a complete healing such that she went home and was able to conceive and bear a child when every expert was convinced that it was impossible. Her case is under investigation as a miracle. She recovered very well from her sickness. She became a case of somebody who was cured miraculously - MIRACOLATA! The miracle: she was cured well enough to take in, go through period of pregnancy and deliver safely her baby girl - ONYINYECHUKWU.
We are hoping that this miracle will lead to the canonization of Blessed Iwene Tansi. Let all my readers pray for this intention so that very soon we shall be able to say: SAINT CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI, PRAY FOR US.
Some months after the safe delivery of her baby, she became sick again. She died at the age of forty one. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
TRIBUTE BY THE POSTULATION CAUSE OF BLESSED IWENE TANSI
TRIBUTE TO A PRIVILEGED CHRISTIAN MOTHER MRS JOY ANADUAKA
The news of your sudden return home to the Father came to us with mixed feelings, displeasure because we are going to miss a rare gem and joy because you are going home to the Father who loved you so much and whom you have known and served so well in your late life. You were in love with Jesus, in love with his priests and his church, in love with the Sacrifice of Mass, in love with your family and you had a great concern for the welfare or your family and salvation of all. Your husband and children will miss greatly your caring affection.
Death, our Christian faith teaches us, is a beginning not an end however a cruel separation from loved ones. In death there is certainly the very real pain and sorrow of physical separation but life continues in eternity. We are born for heaven and we end this life of tears to bein our life of endless happiness.
It is not long we in the for the Cause of Blessed Iwene Tansi have known you. Your devotion to the Blessed Iwene Tansi brought us together in the later part of your life. You are so devoted and in love with the Blessed that God granted you an extraordinary healing through his intercession.
You had a share of our world's suffering and pain. You carried your cross with great joy and resignation to the will of the Almighty. And with such complete surrender you were always smiling and always filled with joy. You teach us that our real conflict is the inner conflict, that no one in the world can change truth that what we can do and should do is to seek truth and serve it when we have found it.
We will miss your friendly and extraordinary sense of humor and spontaneous generosity. May you rest in peace.
Rev. Msgr Emmanuel NWOSU
(For the Postulation for the Cause of Bl Tansi. Jan 18, 2021)
----------------
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
- Mrs Joy Obiageli Anaduaka was born on 16 September 1979 by Late Mr & Mrs James Nwankwo Okwuo, a very devout ANGLICAN family of Ifite Awkuzu
- She studied at Progressive Primary School Awkuzu, Girls' Secondary School Nteje, and Federal Polytechnics Oko.
- She got married to Jude Tochukwu Anaduaka in 2008. The marriage was blessed with Franklyn Ifechukwu, Collins Kaosisochukwu, Cynthia Chukwumaobim and Maxmiliana Onyinyechukwu (miracle child).
- She died on 29 November 2020.
Thursday, 28 January 2021. I woke up in Abuja. Early conversation with our Blessed Mother.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."
With Bshop Jonas Benson Okoye, smooth flight from Abuja to Enugu.
Back to Aguleri truly tired. Priest friend on holidays from USA visited for overnight stay. Early supper. To our Blessed Mother we turn:
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
sancta Dei Genitrix:
nostras deprecationes
ne despicias in necessitatibus:
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."
With Bshop Jonas Benson Okoye, smooth flight from Abuja to Enugu.
Back to Aguleri truly tired. Priest friend on holidays from USA visited for overnight stay. Early supper. To our Blessed Mother we turn:
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
sancta Dei Genitrix:
nostras deprecationes
ne despicias in necessitatibus:
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
Wednesday, 27 January 2021. Early usual morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. Brief greetings to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament but I had to leave for Enugu to take a flight to Abuja.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
Air Peace was very punctual. Smooth flight to Abuja.
At about 6.00pm, we held a meeting of AHOBITES (All Hallows Old Boys Association) at Grand Fela Hotel and Suites to celebrate the promotion and the success of a member in his career in life. Wonderful occasion to interact with classmates and colleagues I had not seen for several years.
Supper. Quiet rest for the night. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
Air Peace was very punctual. Smooth flight to Abuja.
At about 6.00pm, we held a meeting of AHOBITES (All Hallows Old Boys Association) at Grand Fela Hotel and Suites to celebrate the promotion and the success of a member in his career in life. Wonderful occasion to interact with classmates and colleagues I had not seen for several years.
Supper. Quiet rest for the night. Good night, Lord.
Tuesday, 26 January 2021. MEMORIAL OF SAINT TIMOTHY AND SAINT TITUS. Annuntiate inter gentes gloriam eius, in omnibus populis mirabilia eius, quoniam magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else."
During Lauds we said the following intercessory prayer:
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else."
During Lauds we said the following intercessory prayer:
- Christ, the good shepherd, laid down his life for his sheep. Let us praise him with grateful hearts, as we pray: – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
- Christ our Lord, in the holy pastors you reveal your love for us; may we never be deprived of the care you show through them. – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
- Through your sacred ministers you are present in our midst as the shepherd of our souls; never cease to guide us through their teaching and encouragement. – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
- In the saints who lead your people, you manifest your power of healing souls and bodies; remain always with us to renew our lives in holiness. – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
- By the example of the saints you instruct your faithful in the ways of wisdom and love; through our pastors, help us grow to the full stature of perfection. – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me
Monday, 25 January 2021. FEAST OF CONVERSATION OF ST PAUL. Scio cui credidi, et certus sum quia potens est depositum meum servare in illum diem, iustus iudex. Usual morning spiritual activities: Adoration, Meditation, Lauds, Benediction, followed by Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."
I found this interesting LITANY OF ST PAUL. It is for private use only.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Queen conceived without Original Sin, pray for us.
Saint Paul, pray for us.
Apostle of the Gentiles, Vessel of election, pray for us.
St. Paul, who wast rapt to the third heaven, pray for us.
St. Paul, who heard things not given to man to utter, pray for us.
St. Paul, who knew nothing but Christ and Him crucified, pray for us.
St. Paul, whose love for Christ was stronger than death, pray for us.
St. Paul, who wished to be dissolved and to be with Christ, pray for us.
St. Paul, whose zeal knew no bounds, pray for us.
St. Paul, who made thyself all to all, to gain all to Christ, pray for us.
St. Paul, who called thyself prisoner of Christ for us, pray for us.
St. Paul, who wast jealous of us with the jealousy of God, pray for us.
St. Paul, who gloried only in the Cross of Christ, pray for us.
St. Paul, who bore in thy body the mortification of Christ, pray for us.
St. Paul, who exclaimed: "With Christ I am nailed to the cross!" pray for us.
St. Paul, that we may awake and sin no more, pray for us.
That we may not receive the grace of God in vain, pray for us.
That we may walk in newness of life, pray for us.
That we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling, pray for us.
That we may put on the armor of God, pray for us.
That we may stand against the deceits of the wicked one, pray for us.
That we may stand fast to the last, pray for us.
That we may press forward to the mark, pray for us.
That we may win the crown, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. The great Saint Paul, vessel of election, is indeed worthy to be glorified,
R. For he also deserved to possess the twelfth throne
Let Us Pray.
O God, Who hast taught the whole world by the preaching of blessed Paul the Apostle, grant that we who celebrate his memory may, by following his example, be drawn unto Thee, Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Except visiting the sick in the hospital some time after lunch, I was indoors for a good part of today.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."
I found this interesting LITANY OF ST PAUL. It is for private use only.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Queen conceived without Original Sin, pray for us.
Saint Paul, pray for us.
Apostle of the Gentiles, Vessel of election, pray for us.
St. Paul, who wast rapt to the third heaven, pray for us.
St. Paul, who heard things not given to man to utter, pray for us.
St. Paul, who knew nothing but Christ and Him crucified, pray for us.
St. Paul, whose love for Christ was stronger than death, pray for us.
St. Paul, who wished to be dissolved and to be with Christ, pray for us.
St. Paul, whose zeal knew no bounds, pray for us.
St. Paul, who made thyself all to all, to gain all to Christ, pray for us.
St. Paul, who called thyself prisoner of Christ for us, pray for us.
St. Paul, who wast jealous of us with the jealousy of God, pray for us.
St. Paul, who gloried only in the Cross of Christ, pray for us.
St. Paul, who bore in thy body the mortification of Christ, pray for us.
St. Paul, who exclaimed: "With Christ I am nailed to the cross!" pray for us.
St. Paul, that we may awake and sin no more, pray for us.
That we may not receive the grace of God in vain, pray for us.
That we may walk in newness of life, pray for us.
That we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling, pray for us.
That we may put on the armor of God, pray for us.
That we may stand against the deceits of the wicked one, pray for us.
That we may stand fast to the last, pray for us.
That we may press forward to the mark, pray for us.
That we may win the crown, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. The great Saint Paul, vessel of election, is indeed worthy to be glorified,
R. For he also deserved to possess the twelfth throne
Let Us Pray.
O God, Who hast taught the whole world by the preaching of blessed Paul the Apostle, grant that we who celebrate his memory may, by following his example, be drawn unto Thee, Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Except visiting the sick in the hospital some time after lunch, I was indoors for a good part of today.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Sunday, 24 January 2021. Early morning at Gwagwalada, Abuja. I left the seminary for the airport at about 6.15am. Thanks again to Fr Dan Ihunnia MSP. Our flight at 10.00am Air Peace was very punctual. We landed safely at Enugu. Fr Mike Odenigbo and Onyeka the driver were at the airport. We drove straight to Meloch Best Western Awka, where a birthday celebration was being hosted for me by my family and my closest collaborators.
Lord, thank you for my life and for many opportunities you have given me to serve you and your people. In all things, ad maiorem tuam gloriam! Teach me humility in approach, simplicity in association, generosity of heart, and holiness of life
Late in the evening, I returned to Aguleri. I celebrated Mass at night, praying: Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works.
Lord, thank you for my life and for many opportunities you have given me to serve you and your people. In all things, ad maiorem tuam gloriam! Teach me humility in approach, simplicity in association, generosity of heart, and holiness of life
Late in the evening, I returned to Aguleri. I celebrated Mass at night, praying: Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works.
National Missionary of St Paul Seminary Abuja. Some of the Staff and "Religious" participants in the 2021 Lecture.
Saturday, 23 January 2021. At the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul. Early morning in the chapel for long meditation and personal prayers. I was delighted that the Blessed Sacrament was exposed on the altar at the centre of the chapel. Moment of adoration...
Holy God, we praise thy name!
Lord of all, we bow before thee,
All on earth thy scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite thy vast domain,
Everlasting is thy reign.
After the holy hour, I was invited to the sacristy to vest for Mass. Holy Mass with Lauds. I presided. and the priests on the staff concelebrated. I also gave a brief homily.
Breakfast in the Fathers'refectory followed. Soon I was ushered into the hall for the annual conference of St Paul. Over a hundred and fifty participants. The Rector, Rev. Fr Dr Pius Akaniyene EKPE welcomed all of us. With me at table to address the audience was supposed to be Rt Rev. Moses Buke Tabwaye, but he sent a representative. It was a very lively interaction that lasted for about three hours.
Late lunch in the Fathers' refectory. Long conversation after. I wanted to retire soon to my room and have a quiet evening, but the staff organized a pre-birthday for me and formal dinner. Thanks to all who helped to make the event a success. I enjoyed good Italian coffee provided by Fr Linus Tombari Kpalap. The entire staff was particularly friendly. God bless them all.
Holy God, we praise thy name!
Lord of all, we bow before thee,
All on earth thy scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite thy vast domain,
Everlasting is thy reign.
After the holy hour, I was invited to the sacristy to vest for Mass. Holy Mass with Lauds. I presided. and the priests on the staff concelebrated. I also gave a brief homily.
Breakfast in the Fathers'refectory followed. Soon I was ushered into the hall for the annual conference of St Paul. Over a hundred and fifty participants. The Rector, Rev. Fr Dr Pius Akaniyene EKPE welcomed all of us. With me at table to address the audience was supposed to be Rt Rev. Moses Buke Tabwaye, but he sent a representative. It was a very lively interaction that lasted for about three hours.
Late lunch in the Fathers' refectory. Long conversation after. I wanted to retire soon to my room and have a quiet evening, but the staff organized a pre-birthday for me and formal dinner. Thanks to all who helped to make the event a success. I enjoyed good Italian coffee provided by Fr Linus Tombari Kpalap. The entire staff was particularly friendly. God bless them all.
Friday, 22 January 2021. Usual morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. I had scheduled to leave very early in the morning for Owerri to concelebrate the 9.30am Missa exequialis for Mons. Raphael Madu, but I received a message late last night that, because Mons Raphael died of COVID19, he would be buried very early in the morning before the funeral. From the funeral, I would have taken a flight from Imo airport Owerri to Abuja for a lecture tomorrow at Gwagwalada. I decided that it was not necessary travelling to Owerri just for Mass without the body of Mons. Madu. So, I stayed back to celebrate the Mass in my chapel.
We had our usual community morning spiritual exercises. We celebrated a Requiem Mass for Mons. Raphael Madu. Aperiat ei Dominus paradisi ianuam, ut ad illam patriam revertatur, ubi mors non est, ubi gaudium aeternm perseverat.
After lunch, I travelled to Abuja via Asaba airport. I was visiting the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul Gwagwalada Abuja for the 2021 Annual St Paul Lecture on Collaboration among Christian Churches. Managing Current Social Upheavals in the Nigerian Context.
Smooth landing. Fr Dan Ihunna MSP was at the airport to receive me. Safe arrival at the seminary. Warm welcome by the Rector and the staff. Quick supper. Short discussion about the programme of the next day.
Good night, Lord.
We had our usual community morning spiritual exercises. We celebrated a Requiem Mass for Mons. Raphael Madu. Aperiat ei Dominus paradisi ianuam, ut ad illam patriam revertatur, ubi mors non est, ubi gaudium aeternm perseverat.
After lunch, I travelled to Abuja via Asaba airport. I was visiting the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul Gwagwalada Abuja for the 2021 Annual St Paul Lecture on Collaboration among Christian Churches. Managing Current Social Upheavals in the Nigerian Context.
Smooth landing. Fr Dan Ihunna MSP was at the airport to receive me. Safe arrival at the seminary. Warm welcome by the Rector and the staff. Quick supper. Short discussion about the programme of the next day.
Good night, Lord.
Thursday, 21 January 2021. With my community members, we started our day following what is now established as our tradition. We presented ourselves to the Lord, letting him know our plans for the day and asking him to bless us and our activities of the day.
I made my own this prayer from My Catholic Life, based on today's readings: My all-powerful Lord, I thank You for the grace You have given me to proclaim the truth of Your saving message to those whom I encounter every day. Help me to fulfill my mission to preach in both word and deed and to do so with the gentle yet powerful authority given me by You. I offer myself to Your service, dear Lord. Do with me as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.
At 10.00am, I was at St Theresa's Church, Nnobi, for the funeral of Maria Nwachukwu. O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your handmaid Maria, whom you have called this day to journey to you, and, since she hoped and believed in yu, grant that she may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
I spent the afternoon and the evening to organise myself for my journey to Owerri and to Abuja tomorrow. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum. Redemisti me, Domine, Deus veritatis.
I made my own this prayer from My Catholic Life, based on today's readings: My all-powerful Lord, I thank You for the grace You have given me to proclaim the truth of Your saving message to those whom I encounter every day. Help me to fulfill my mission to preach in both word and deed and to do so with the gentle yet powerful authority given me by You. I offer myself to Your service, dear Lord. Do with me as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.
At 10.00am, I was at St Theresa's Church, Nnobi, for the funeral of Maria Nwachukwu. O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your handmaid Maria, whom you have called this day to journey to you, and, since she hoped and believed in yu, grant that she may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
I spent the afternoon and the evening to organise myself for my journey to Owerri and to Abuja tomorrow. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum. Redemisti me, Domine, Deus veritatis.
Recalling our celebration at the Shrine in 2020
Wednesday, 20 January 2021. FEAST OF BLESSED MICHAEL CYPRIAN IWENE TANSI, Patron of Nigerian Priests.
It was decided that we would not hold special Mass at Blessed Iwene Tansi shrine this year. Reason: respecting the State instruction on controlling the spread of Coronavirus. We encouraged our priests to celebrate Masses in private and in their parish churches, observing the COVID19 protocol.
Today is a special day to reflect on what Fr Hilary Anisiobi (Parish Priest of Aguleri in 1998 when Blessed Iwene Tansi was beatified by Pope John Paul II) said during the Thanksgiving Mass in Aguleri after the beatification. Fr Anisiobi himself, now 93 years old, is a spiritual son of Blessed Iwene Tansi.
AN ADDRESS TO BLESSED FATHER CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI
By Fr Hilary M. Anisiobi (16 May 1998)
Blessed Father Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi of Aguleri Town, Aguleri Region,
I, Father Hilary-Mary Anisiobi of Umuajana Umudioka, the Parish Priest of Aguleri, together with the Parish Vicar, Father Paul Nwakor, as well as the Entire Clergy, Religious and the dwellers of the Region, welcome you lovingly to Aguleri along withe the team of pilgrims led by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Albert K. Obiefuna, the current Archbishop of Onitsha, the part and parcel of which is the Aguleri Episcopal Region.
I AM FORTUNATE
Father, I count myself one of the most fortunate souls that are alive to endeavour to practice orthodox Christianity in the Nigeria of today. You mean a lot to Aguleri, Nigeria, the West African countries in general, and to me in particular. I picked the faith on the day I saw you for the first time in my life! I became a Catholic Catechumen on the very day you began to be the Parish Priest of the seventeen-town Parish of Dunukofia with St Anthony Umudioka as the mother station, on January 1st 1940. You gave me my First Holy Communion in 1941. You passed me for Confirmation, and stood beside me when Bishop Charles Heerey (Later Archdiocese - Archbishop in 1950), confirmed me in 1941.
I ATTENDED YOUR MASSES
I attended your weekday Masses, and Sunday Masses attentively and listen to the soul-nourishing sermons which you imparted fearlessly to us those five years.
MY OBSERVATION
I observed your capability in practising the Virtue of living the Commandments of God, practising almsgiving, mortification of all the senses, self denials, adoration/veneration of the Eucharistic Lord Jesus Christ present in our Tabernacles. Father, I closely observed your practice of hard work, protection of widows, concern for the sick, the needy, the disinherited, the disabled, the bereaved, the imprisoned, the wayfarers, seminarians, aspirants and gospel messengers including your teachers and catechists! I never observed you scolding them in public!
You formed contemporary Christian families and the later ones through the Pre-marriage training centres located in your former parishes.
Your target has been the formation of the whole man for worthy service to God and humanity for the attainment of the eternal life with God in heaven
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS!
Teaching us to pray daily for the souls in Purgatory and also supplicate the saints to come to our aid daily, made us to understand the meaning of the Communion of Saints even while we were yet junior primary school pupils.
VIRTUES SPECIALLY STRESSED FOR US
You extolled perpetual virginity, premarital virginity, life long chastity acording to one's state in life, honest, truthfulness, and readiness to die rather than yield to a mortal sin! You stressed the mastery of one's tongue unspeakably!
INITIATION OF THE IDEA OF THE CAUSE
It was one of your spiritual sons, His Grace Archbishop Arinze, now Francis Cardinal Arinze who put your name in the list of those whose cause should be processed. God bless him.
WE THANK GOD POPE JOHN PAUL II DECLARED YOU BLESSED ON 22 MARCH 1998
I am now your distant successor as the Parish Priest of Aguleri. I occupy the room which you occupied, and wish seriously to reach where you are! Help me to form souls towards heroic CANONISABLE sanctity, both within Aguleri and beyond. Help boys and girls to live the Gospel energetically.
Beg Jesus to make all of us perfect Christians and admissible to Beatific Vision in the end.
We thank God that you have been declared Blessed. Ask God to grant Heaven to all those who worked towards the achievement of this reality.
I remain Your spiritual son.
At the Community Mass we celebrated in my chapel, we prayed: Deus, qui in beato Cypriano Michaele, presbytero apostolicum pastoris zelum monachi conversationi iunxisti, concede nobis, eius intercessione, ut in oratione perseverantes, regni tui adventum indesinenter quaeramus.
No prayer to Blessed Tansi today is superfluous. More prayers!
LITANY IN HONOUR OF BLESSED IWENE TANSI
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy: Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us: Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, , have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity one God, , have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, lover of the poor, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, father of the needy, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, servant of the sick, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, friend of lepers, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, protector of virgins, widows and orphans, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, zealous for the conversion of sinners, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, dedicated to atonement, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, heroic in self-sacrifice and virtues, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, eager for humiliations, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, model of humility, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, victim of love of neighbour, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, apostle of Christian charity, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, consoler of the afflicted, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, fervent in prayer, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, ardent lover of Jesus crucified, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, devoted son of Our Lady, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, most patient in suffering, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, helper of the dying, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, lover of monastic apostolate, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, wonder worker for the sick, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, Lord.
Pray for us, O Blessed Iwene Tansi, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
O God, who granted many graces to your Servant, Priest and Monk, Blessed Michael Cyprian Tansi, choosing him as your faithful instrument for evangelization and sanctification of your people, grant also that I may spend my life loving you and my neighbour and serving the Church. Deign to glorify your Servant, Blessed Iwene Tansi, and through his intercession to grant me the favour I now ask in faith (here mention your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
It was decided that we would not hold special Mass at Blessed Iwene Tansi shrine this year. Reason: respecting the State instruction on controlling the spread of Coronavirus. We encouraged our priests to celebrate Masses in private and in their parish churches, observing the COVID19 protocol.
Today is a special day to reflect on what Fr Hilary Anisiobi (Parish Priest of Aguleri in 1998 when Blessed Iwene Tansi was beatified by Pope John Paul II) said during the Thanksgiving Mass in Aguleri after the beatification. Fr Anisiobi himself, now 93 years old, is a spiritual son of Blessed Iwene Tansi.
AN ADDRESS TO BLESSED FATHER CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI
By Fr Hilary M. Anisiobi (16 May 1998)
Blessed Father Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi of Aguleri Town, Aguleri Region,
I, Father Hilary-Mary Anisiobi of Umuajana Umudioka, the Parish Priest of Aguleri, together with the Parish Vicar, Father Paul Nwakor, as well as the Entire Clergy, Religious and the dwellers of the Region, welcome you lovingly to Aguleri along withe the team of pilgrims led by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Albert K. Obiefuna, the current Archbishop of Onitsha, the part and parcel of which is the Aguleri Episcopal Region.
I AM FORTUNATE
Father, I count myself one of the most fortunate souls that are alive to endeavour to practice orthodox Christianity in the Nigeria of today. You mean a lot to Aguleri, Nigeria, the West African countries in general, and to me in particular. I picked the faith on the day I saw you for the first time in my life! I became a Catholic Catechumen on the very day you began to be the Parish Priest of the seventeen-town Parish of Dunukofia with St Anthony Umudioka as the mother station, on January 1st 1940. You gave me my First Holy Communion in 1941. You passed me for Confirmation, and stood beside me when Bishop Charles Heerey (Later Archdiocese - Archbishop in 1950), confirmed me in 1941.
I ATTENDED YOUR MASSES
I attended your weekday Masses, and Sunday Masses attentively and listen to the soul-nourishing sermons which you imparted fearlessly to us those five years.
MY OBSERVATION
I observed your capability in practising the Virtue of living the Commandments of God, practising almsgiving, mortification of all the senses, self denials, adoration/veneration of the Eucharistic Lord Jesus Christ present in our Tabernacles. Father, I closely observed your practice of hard work, protection of widows, concern for the sick, the needy, the disinherited, the disabled, the bereaved, the imprisoned, the wayfarers, seminarians, aspirants and gospel messengers including your teachers and catechists! I never observed you scolding them in public!
You formed contemporary Christian families and the later ones through the Pre-marriage training centres located in your former parishes.
Your target has been the formation of the whole man for worthy service to God and humanity for the attainment of the eternal life with God in heaven
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS!
Teaching us to pray daily for the souls in Purgatory and also supplicate the saints to come to our aid daily, made us to understand the meaning of the Communion of Saints even while we were yet junior primary school pupils.
VIRTUES SPECIALLY STRESSED FOR US
You extolled perpetual virginity, premarital virginity, life long chastity acording to one's state in life, honest, truthfulness, and readiness to die rather than yield to a mortal sin! You stressed the mastery of one's tongue unspeakably!
INITIATION OF THE IDEA OF THE CAUSE
It was one of your spiritual sons, His Grace Archbishop Arinze, now Francis Cardinal Arinze who put your name in the list of those whose cause should be processed. God bless him.
WE THANK GOD POPE JOHN PAUL II DECLARED YOU BLESSED ON 22 MARCH 1998
I am now your distant successor as the Parish Priest of Aguleri. I occupy the room which you occupied, and wish seriously to reach where you are! Help me to form souls towards heroic CANONISABLE sanctity, both within Aguleri and beyond. Help boys and girls to live the Gospel energetically.
Beg Jesus to make all of us perfect Christians and admissible to Beatific Vision in the end.
We thank God that you have been declared Blessed. Ask God to grant Heaven to all those who worked towards the achievement of this reality.
I remain Your spiritual son.
At the Community Mass we celebrated in my chapel, we prayed: Deus, qui in beato Cypriano Michaele, presbytero apostolicum pastoris zelum monachi conversationi iunxisti, concede nobis, eius intercessione, ut in oratione perseverantes, regni tui adventum indesinenter quaeramus.
No prayer to Blessed Tansi today is superfluous. More prayers!
LITANY IN HONOUR OF BLESSED IWENE TANSI
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy: Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us: Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, , have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity one God, , have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, lover of the poor, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, father of the needy, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, servant of the sick, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, friend of lepers, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, protector of virgins, widows and orphans, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, zealous for the conversion of sinners, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, dedicated to atonement, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, heroic in self-sacrifice and virtues, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, eager for humiliations, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, model of humility, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, victim of love of neighbour, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, apostle of Christian charity, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, consoler of the afflicted, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, fervent in prayer, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, ardent lover of Jesus crucified, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, devoted son of Our Lady, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, most patient in suffering, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, helper of the dying, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, lover of monastic apostolate, pray for us.
Blessed Iwene Tansi, wonder worker for the sick, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, Lord.
Pray for us, O Blessed Iwene Tansi, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
O God, who granted many graces to your Servant, Priest and Monk, Blessed Michael Cyprian Tansi, choosing him as your faithful instrument for evangelization and sanctification of your people, grant also that I may spend my life loving you and my neighbour and serving the Church. Deign to glorify your Servant, Blessed Iwene Tansi, and through his intercession to grant me the favour I now ask in faith (here mention your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Tuesday, 19 January 2021. Nel nome di Gesù ogni ginocchio si pieghi in cielo, in terra e sotto terra, e ogni lingua proclami che Gesù Cristo è il Signore a gloria di Dio Padre. Usual morning spiritual exercises. To our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist: Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
Our community Mass was in Italian and we celebrated the Votive Mass of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Following the readings of the day, we said the following Intercessory prayers:
Heb 6:10-20, Ps 111, Mark 2:23-28
I realise that I am having many priest-guests for my breakfast these days. Well, I welcome the development as opportunity to be available to my collaborators. Sacerdotes tui induantur iustitiam, sancti tui exsultent. Lord, show me how best to serve your people.
I was indoors for a good part of the day trying to update myself intellectually - reading and writing. I had time for some physical exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
Our community Mass was in Italian and we celebrated the Votive Mass of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Following the readings of the day, we said the following Intercessory prayers:
Heb 6:10-20, Ps 111, Mark 2:23-28
- For the great gift of unity among the disciples of Jesus, that illumined by the truth we may allow God to multiply and bless us under one faith and one baptism, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For peace in our hearts, our homes and our world, that God may send deliverance to all the people who cry to Him in their great need For the grace of hope, that we who have God’s oath as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, may through faith and patience inherit all that He has promised, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all the special needs that have been entrusted to our prayers, that Jesus, who defended His disciples in their need, may make himself the merciful Lord of every distressing situation, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our beloved departed ones who died in hope, that their purification may be shortened through the merits of this Holy Sacrifice, and they may soon be with Jesus beyond the veil, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
I realise that I am having many priest-guests for my breakfast these days. Well, I welcome the development as opportunity to be available to my collaborators. Sacerdotes tui induantur iustitiam, sancti tui exsultent. Lord, show me how best to serve your people.
I was indoors for a good part of the day trying to update myself intellectually - reading and writing. I had time for some physical exercises.
Monday, 18 January 2021. Dio ci amò di amore eterno: mandò il suo Figlio unigenito come vittima di espiazione per i nostri peccati, anzi non per i nostri soltanto, ma per quelli di tutto il mondo. In adoration before the Lord exposed. My thoughts returned to the book by Emile Neubert: Mary and the Priestly Ministry: similarities and parallels between the priest and Mary. Listed:
Our community Mass today was in Italian. We celebrated votive Mass of the Mercy of God, praying: O Dio, la tua misericordia è infinita, senze limite è la tua tenerezza: accresci beigno la fede del popolo a te consacrato, affinché tutti comprendano, con sapienze, quale amore li ha creati, quale sangue li ha redenti, quale Spirito li ha rigenerati.
I had a chain of activities today. Breakfast with Fr Fred Ndimaeme and my secretaries. Then I held office from 10.00am to 1.30pm. For lunch, I had the joy of hosting Fr Justin Nwogueze C.S.Sp., my spiritual son who through my instrumentality was raised to the Priesthood in 2016. Fr Justin is working in Cape Verde. Our meeting today provided an occasion to listen to the story of his efforts to spread the good news in the Portuguese-speaking country of West Africa. In my heart I was singing our Blessed Mother's "Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo" for the great missionary work Fr Justin and the other Spiritans are doing in the world. On occasion like this, the missionary song would come to mind:
I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
HERE I AM, LORD. IS IT I, LORD/ I HAVE HEARD YOU CALLING IN THE NIGHT.
I WILL GO, LORD, IF YOU LEAD ME. I WILL HOLD YOUR PEOPLE IN MY HEART.
Evening came and night followed: Domine, noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedas nobis.
- The Blessed Virgin “gave substantial existence to Christ-priest when she gave him a physical body”(p. 35). The priest, in turn, makes present Christ’s body in the Eucharist. Mary offers up the divine Victim to “to accede to the will of God and obtain grace for humankind,”and the priest “offers up the same Victim for special purposes and on behalf of particular individuals”(p. 36).
- Mary’s participation in the mysteries of the Incarnation and redemption makes her the spiritual mother of souls. The priest exercises a spiritual paternity with regard to souls, and “he acts in the name of two mothers —Mary and the Church”(p. 37)
Our community Mass today was in Italian. We celebrated votive Mass of the Mercy of God, praying: O Dio, la tua misericordia è infinita, senze limite è la tua tenerezza: accresci beigno la fede del popolo a te consacrato, affinché tutti comprendano, con sapienze, quale amore li ha creati, quale sangue li ha redenti, quale Spirito li ha rigenerati.
I had a chain of activities today. Breakfast with Fr Fred Ndimaeme and my secretaries. Then I held office from 10.00am to 1.30pm. For lunch, I had the joy of hosting Fr Justin Nwogueze C.S.Sp., my spiritual son who through my instrumentality was raised to the Priesthood in 2016. Fr Justin is working in Cape Verde. Our meeting today provided an occasion to listen to the story of his efforts to spread the good news in the Portuguese-speaking country of West Africa. In my heart I was singing our Blessed Mother's "Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo" for the great missionary work Fr Justin and the other Spiritans are doing in the world. On occasion like this, the missionary song would come to mind:
I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
HERE I AM, LORD. IS IT I, LORD/ I HAVE HEARD YOU CALLING IN THE NIGHT.
I WILL GO, LORD, IF YOU LEAD ME. I WILL HOLD YOUR PEOPLE IN MY HEART.
Evening came and night followed: Domine, noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedas nobis.
Sunday, 17 January 2021. SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Omnis terra adóret te, Deus, et psallat tibi; psalmum dicat nómini tuo, Altíssime. As usual, we started the day before our Blessed Lord, hidden in a box made by human hands. Recalling this song we sang from in our minor seminary days:
My God, how wonderful thou art,
thy majesty how bright!
How beautiful thy mercy seat,
in depths of burning light!
Wondrous are thine eternal years,
O everlasting Lord,
by holy angels day and night
unceasingly adored!
At our community Mass today, reflecting on today's readings. we said the following intercessory prayers.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Just before closing the day and placing myself in the hands the Lord, I received the sad news of the death of Mons Raph Madu of Owerri Archdiocese. This pained me very much. I have known him for nearly forty years. We were seminarians together in Nigeria and international students overseas. Providence brought us together in Abuja. He did marvelously well as the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. Words can never fully express his greatness. Some days ago, shortly before he took ill, we agreed he would visit and spend some days with me in Aguleri. In prayer:
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine;
Domine, exaudi vocem meam. Fiant aures tuae intendentes in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine, Domine, quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est; et propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo ejus: speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem, speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia, et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus iniquitatibus ejus.
GRANT, WE PRAY, O LORD,
THAT THE SOUL OF RAPHAEL, YOUR SERVANT AND PRIEST,
WHOM YOU HONOURED WITH SACRED OFFICE,
WHILE HE LIVED IN THIS WORLD,
MAY EXULT FOR EVER IN THE GLORIOUS HOME OF HEAVEN.
My God, how wonderful thou art,
thy majesty how bright!
How beautiful thy mercy seat,
in depths of burning light!
Wondrous are thine eternal years,
O everlasting Lord,
by holy angels day and night
unceasingly adored!
At our community Mass today, reflecting on today's readings. we said the following intercessory prayers.
- For our holy leaders and priests, that they may be familiar with the ways of the Lord and able to teach the young how to listen for and respond to God’s call, as Eli did with Samuel. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That God’s justice may be announced in the vast assembly of the nations, so that morality and respect for life may re-emerge and prevail. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For vocations; that from the midst of families sensitive to God’s will, young people may emerge who know they are looking for Jesus, who stay with Him and follow His call. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For purity of life and conduct, especially among the young, that each Christian may guard and respect His body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Jesus may intervene in the lives of the poor, the sick, the grieving and oppressed, sending His followers to help them and supporting them in their hearts. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our faithful departed, who tried to keep their ears open to obedience while they walked on this earth, that God may purify them and reward their devotion with the joys of paradise. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Just before closing the day and placing myself in the hands the Lord, I received the sad news of the death of Mons Raph Madu of Owerri Archdiocese. This pained me very much. I have known him for nearly forty years. We were seminarians together in Nigeria and international students overseas. Providence brought us together in Abuja. He did marvelously well as the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. Words can never fully express his greatness. Some days ago, shortly before he took ill, we agreed he would visit and spend some days with me in Aguleri. In prayer:
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine;
Domine, exaudi vocem meam. Fiant aures tuae intendentes in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine, Domine, quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est; et propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo ejus: speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem, speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia, et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus iniquitatibus ejus.
GRANT, WE PRAY, O LORD,
THAT THE SOUL OF RAPHAEL, YOUR SERVANT AND PRIEST,
WHOM YOU HONOURED WITH SACRED OFFICE,
WHILE HE LIVED IN THIS WORLD,
MAY EXULT FOR EVER IN THE GLORIOUS HOME OF HEAVEN.
Saturday, 16 January 2021. Early conversation with our Blessed Mother. Usual morning spiritual devotions. Adoration, Meditation, Lauds, Benediction, followed by Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “That best portion of a good man’s life: his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” Prayer flowing from the readings of today, especially the call of the Levi:
My dear Lord, thank You for calling us all to follow You without hesitation.
Thank You for the joy of being Your disciple.
Give me the grace to always know Your will
for my life and help me to respond to You with total abandonment and trust.
Jesus, I trust in You.
This morning, at 10.00am, I met in our Conference room here in Aguleri, the newly constituted members of the Onitsha-Owerri Ecclesiastical Inter-Provincial Liturgical Music Commission. These members were personally selected by the Bishops. The major assignment of this body is to collate, examine, correct and recommend for approval by the bishops the musical setting/composition of the new translation of the Roman Missal in Igbo. The attendance was very good. We met for over two hours. We agreed on how the task would be executed. Our target is to have the work completed by Easter time this year.
Evening outing to visit the sick in the hospital. My close collaborators joined me. Curfew at Aguleri and Umueri borders after the recent violence in the communities. Nostra Signora, Regina pacis: ora pro nobis.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “That best portion of a good man’s life: his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” Prayer flowing from the readings of today, especially the call of the Levi:
My dear Lord, thank You for calling us all to follow You without hesitation.
Thank You for the joy of being Your disciple.
Give me the grace to always know Your will
for my life and help me to respond to You with total abandonment and trust.
Jesus, I trust in You.
This morning, at 10.00am, I met in our Conference room here in Aguleri, the newly constituted members of the Onitsha-Owerri Ecclesiastical Inter-Provincial Liturgical Music Commission. These members were personally selected by the Bishops. The major assignment of this body is to collate, examine, correct and recommend for approval by the bishops the musical setting/composition of the new translation of the Roman Missal in Igbo. The attendance was very good. We met for over two hours. We agreed on how the task would be executed. Our target is to have the work completed by Easter time this year.
Evening outing to visit the sick in the hospital. My close collaborators joined me. Curfew at Aguleri and Umueri borders after the recent violence in the communities. Nostra Signora, Regina pacis: ora pro nobis.
Friday, 15 January 2021. Early Mass with Lauds in the Generalate Chapel of Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy (SMMM). I presided. at the Eucharistic celebration. At the end of the Mass, just before the final blessing, Fr Ignatius Obinwa, our president, expressed our gratitude to the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy. Special gratitude to Fr Ben Okike who was our chief host for the year. Thanks especially to the cohosts: Fr James Michael Okpalonwuka and Fr Onyema Anozie.
Breakfast in the refectory of the SMMM. Then came the time to hug one another and to say arrivederci - till next year. We are looking forward to our meeting in Ikot Ekpene: 12 - 14 January, 2022, Deo volente.
I returned safely back to Aguleri.
Breakfast in the refectory of the SMMM. Then came the time to hug one another and to say arrivederci - till next year. We are looking forward to our meeting in Ikot Ekpene: 12 - 14 January, 2022, Deo volente.
I returned safely back to Aguleri.
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2021 Reunion of Bigard 85 - Centenary Priests in Umuahia
BIGARD 85/CENTENARY PRIESTS
FIRST ROW (L->R): James Ibekwe, Andrew Izukanne, Romanus Ochemba, Ignatius Obinwa, Denis Isizoh, James Michael Okpalonwuka,
Christopher Umoh, Desmond Agbaka, and Benedict Okike.
SECOND ROW (L->R): Paul Dimude, Onyema Anozie, John Obilor, Bernard Okafor, and Innocent Njoku
FIRST ROW (L->R): James Ibekwe, Andrew Izukanne, Romanus Ochemba, Ignatius Obinwa, Denis Isizoh, James Michael Okpalonwuka,
Christopher Umoh, Desmond Agbaka, and Benedict Okike.
SECOND ROW (L->R): Paul Dimude, Onyema Anozie, John Obilor, Bernard Okafor, and Innocent Njoku
Thursday, 14 January 2021. At Umuahia. Morning meditation at the Chapel of Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy. Bigard 85 Priests in reunion was accommodated here. From the Sons' house, we drove to the Christ the King Church Umuahia for Holy Mass with the Parish Community. At this Mass, the old Church was about 65% full. A very lively worshipping community.
I presided at the Mass. Fr John Obilor gave the homily. We all Bigard 85 concelebrated. Fr Ignatius Obinwa, our president, addressed the parishioners. The people were truly very welcoming. Songs of joy. Beautiful words. It was clear that there was a good rapport between Fr Benedict Okike and his parishioners.
Group photographs. Lively interaction with the people of God.
After unvesting, we were treated to a special, sumptuous breakfast prepared by Fr Ben Okike. We had a long conversation on many issues: experiences in priestly life, health matters, ageing gracefully, etc.
During this happy moment together, I took out time to participate in an international Zoom meeting on interreligious relations coordinated by the officials of Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican City.
We were out on excursion to the War Museum, Ojukwu bunker and other places of interest in Umuahia.
We returned to CKC for lunch and long conversation. A beautiful reminder of Psalm 133: Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum! We returned to the Generalate of Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy. Some family friends visited to welcome me to Umuahia. Vespers and supper with the Sons.
Good night, Lord.
I presided at the Mass. Fr John Obilor gave the homily. We all Bigard 85 concelebrated. Fr Ignatius Obinwa, our president, addressed the parishioners. The people were truly very welcoming. Songs of joy. Beautiful words. It was clear that there was a good rapport between Fr Benedict Okike and his parishioners.
Group photographs. Lively interaction with the people of God.
After unvesting, we were treated to a special, sumptuous breakfast prepared by Fr Ben Okike. We had a long conversation on many issues: experiences in priestly life, health matters, ageing gracefully, etc.
During this happy moment together, I took out time to participate in an international Zoom meeting on interreligious relations coordinated by the officials of Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican City.
We were out on excursion to the War Museum, Ojukwu bunker and other places of interest in Umuahia.
We returned to CKC for lunch and long conversation. A beautiful reminder of Psalm 133: Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum! We returned to the Generalate of Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy. Some family friends visited to welcome me to Umuahia. Vespers and supper with the Sons.
Good night, Lord.
Wednesday, 13 January 2021. Usual morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Perform a random act of kindness for someone: a smile, compliment, or a favor just for fun. These will multiply and spread very rapidly.”
At 10.00am, I was at St Martha house, Onitsha, for the first statutory plenary meeting of the year by the Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province. This meeting should have taken place yesterday. But out of respect for Bishop Ochiagha whose funeral was surprisingly fixed yesterday - on the date of our provincial meeting - by Orlu diocese, we moved to today.
The meeting of Bishops was rather prolonged because of many important issues that came up. At almost 2.30pm, I took leave of the Bishops, had a rushed lunch, and then went to Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor to see a patient on admission. From there, I drove with my driver to Umuahia for the annual reunion of Bigard 85 Centenary Priests - my classmates.
Great evening at Christ the King Parish, Umuahia! Fr Benedict Okike brought together his parishioners to receive us. Bishop Michael Ukpong, the auxiliary bishop, was there. The choir was superb! Sumptuous supper! It was truly a happy evening.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Perform a random act of kindness for someone: a smile, compliment, or a favor just for fun. These will multiply and spread very rapidly.”
At 10.00am, I was at St Martha house, Onitsha, for the first statutory plenary meeting of the year by the Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province. This meeting should have taken place yesterday. But out of respect for Bishop Ochiagha whose funeral was surprisingly fixed yesterday - on the date of our provincial meeting - by Orlu diocese, we moved to today.
The meeting of Bishops was rather prolonged because of many important issues that came up. At almost 2.30pm, I took leave of the Bishops, had a rushed lunch, and then went to Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor to see a patient on admission. From there, I drove with my driver to Umuahia for the annual reunion of Bigard 85 Centenary Priests - my classmates.
Great evening at Christ the King Parish, Umuahia! Fr Benedict Okike brought together his parishioners to receive us. Bishop Michael Ukpong, the auxiliary bishop, was there. The choir was superb! Sumptuous supper! It was truly a happy evening.
Tuesday, 12 January 2021. Usual early morning spiritual exercises. Today would be a crowded day for me.
At 9.25am, I was at Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu for Missa exequalis for Bishop Gregory Ochiagha, our one time rector at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Philosophy Campus (Now St Joseph's Seminary) Ikot Ekpene. Aged 89. About 36 Bishops were in attendance. It was a roll call of sorts of "Who is Who?" - Many distinguished persons from all works of life in Nigeria and beyond were there. Archbishop Anthony Obinna presided at the Funeral Mass. Bishop John Okoye gave homily. Archbishop Augustine Akubueze did the Final Commendation. After, there were very many long speeches in praise of Bishop Ochiagha. He was finally interred at one corner of the large cathedral which he (Bishop Ochiagha) built himself. In prayer: Grant , we pray, almighty God, that the soul of your departed servant Bishop Gregory, to whom you committed the care of your family, may, with the manifold fruit of his labours, enter into the eternal gladness of his Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Quick lunch in Orlu. I quickly made my way to Awka Etiti. Fr Paul Ihebighi hosted me at the rectory of St Joseph Awka Etiti. At 4.45pm I left the rectory to the residence of pa Cornelius Izuegbunam. With Bishop Hilary Okeke and some priests we concelebrated a funeral vigil Mass for pa Cornelius. Requiem in pace Domini.
Back to Aguleri shortly before 8.00pm. Lord, thank you for the strength to accomplish all I set out to do today.
At 9.25am, I was at Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu for Missa exequalis for Bishop Gregory Ochiagha, our one time rector at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Philosophy Campus (Now St Joseph's Seminary) Ikot Ekpene. Aged 89. About 36 Bishops were in attendance. It was a roll call of sorts of "Who is Who?" - Many distinguished persons from all works of life in Nigeria and beyond were there. Archbishop Anthony Obinna presided at the Funeral Mass. Bishop John Okoye gave homily. Archbishop Augustine Akubueze did the Final Commendation. After, there were very many long speeches in praise of Bishop Ochiagha. He was finally interred at one corner of the large cathedral which he (Bishop Ochiagha) built himself. In prayer: Grant , we pray, almighty God, that the soul of your departed servant Bishop Gregory, to whom you committed the care of your family, may, with the manifold fruit of his labours, enter into the eternal gladness of his Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Quick lunch in Orlu. I quickly made my way to Awka Etiti. Fr Paul Ihebighi hosted me at the rectory of St Joseph Awka Etiti. At 4.45pm I left the rectory to the residence of pa Cornelius Izuegbunam. With Bishop Hilary Okeke and some priests we concelebrated a funeral vigil Mass for pa Cornelius. Requiem in pace Domini.
Back to Aguleri shortly before 8.00pm. Lord, thank you for the strength to accomplish all I set out to do today.
Monday, 11 January 2021. FIRST MONDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME. We return to the ordinary time of the year. How would I spend the ordinary time of this year? The Church puts on our lips the type of thoughts that would guide this period of the year: Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen.
For Reflection today, my mind turns to the book Mary and Priestly Ministry by Emile Neubert. My attention is drawn particularly to the "FIVE REASONS MARY LOVES PRIESTS" In his book, Emile Neubert notes that Mary loves all of the faithful “with an incomparable love,”but she loves priests “with an altogether unique love”for five main reasons:
I accompanied Fr Michael Anyichie and his family to the graveyard for the interment. Requiescat in pace.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening.
For Reflection today, my mind turns to the book Mary and Priestly Ministry by Emile Neubert. My attention is drawn particularly to the "FIVE REASONS MARY LOVES PRIESTS" In his book, Emile Neubert notes that Mary loves all of the faithful “with an incomparable love,”but she loves priests “with an altogether unique love”for five main reasons:
- Because Mary sees that a priest has a greater resemblance to her divine Son.
- Because Jesus loves his priests with a distinctive love and Mary shares all the feelings of her Son.
- Because priests give “worldwide efficacy to the mission of her Son”and they make the blood he shed “efficacious in souls.”
- Because Mary, under the cross, prayed and offered her sufferings in union with Christ, priest and victim, and she ceaselessly prays for the sanctification and success of priests who make present her Son in the sacrifice of the Mass.
- Because Mary needs priests so that she can carry out her mission of giving Christ to the world.
I accompanied Fr Michael Anyichie and his family to the graveyard for the interment. Requiescat in pace.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening.
Sunday, 10 January 2021. BAPTISM OF THE LORD. Baptizáto Dómino, apérti sunt cæli, et sicut colúmba super eum Spíritus mansit, et vox Patris intónuit: Hic est Fílius meus diléctus, in quo mihi bene complácui. In humble adoration before the Lord, recalling the our Baptismal promises: Ekwere m mkwa na mbosi Baptisma, na-aga m efe Chukwu n'elu uwa, na aga m eche nti n'okwu nke Nzuko, na aga m aju otuto nke ajo mmuo. (Nyere m aka,) nyere m aka, O Maria, ka m wee debe ihe m kwere na nkwa. (Nyere m aka,) nyere m aka, O Maria, ka m wee debe ihe m kwere na nkwa.
Continuing our reflection from the magazine, THE PRIEST, and quoting the 1950 apostolic exhortation, Menti Nostrae , which focused on the development of holiness in the priestly life, Pope Pius XII refers to Mary as the “Mother of Priests,”and speaks of priests as “sons of the Virgin Mary,”and he calls upon all priests “to love her with an ardent piety, invoke her with perfect confidence, and frequently implore her strong protection”(No. 49).
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “If you want to fly give up everything that weighs you down."
At our community Mass we prayed with the Church: O God, whose Only Begotten Son has appeared in our very flesh, grant, we pray, that we may be inwardly transformed.
We said the following intercessory prayers:
Continuing our reflection from the magazine, THE PRIEST, and quoting the 1950 apostolic exhortation, Menti Nostrae , which focused on the development of holiness in the priestly life, Pope Pius XII refers to Mary as the “Mother of Priests,”and speaks of priests as “sons of the Virgin Mary,”and he calls upon all priests “to love her with an ardent piety, invoke her with perfect confidence, and frequently implore her strong protection”(No. 49).
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “If you want to fly give up everything that weighs you down."
At our community Mass we prayed with the Church: O God, whose Only Begotten Son has appeared in our very flesh, grant, we pray, that we may be inwardly transformed.
We said the following intercessory prayers:
- For our Holy Father, our bishops and priests, that they may be servants whom the Lord upholds and upon whom He puts His Spirit. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For the victory of justice in every nation; that the Lord may raise up leaders who will work for life and for sound moral values in our world. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may have a deeper appreciation of the great grace of our own baptism, and that we may become sons and daughters in whom the Father is well pleased. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Jesus may anoint us with power through the Holy Spirit to go about doing good in His name. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US
- For those who are suffering and tempted to lose heart— the bruised reeds and smoldering wicks of our day— that they may not be broken or quenched by the indifference of others, but helped and consoled. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our faithful departed ones, that in Jesus they may be brought out of confinement and darkness into the full light of heaven’s joy and glory. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Saturday, 9 January 2021. Usual first morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. Continuing our reflection from the magazine, THE PRIEST, and quoting the 1950 apostolic exhortation, Menti Nostrae , which focused on the development of holiness in the priestly life, Pope Pius XII refers to Mary as the “Mother of Priests,”and he reminds priests, “When you meet very serious difficulties in the path of holiness and the exercise of your ministry, turn your eyes and your mind trustfully to her who is the Mother of the Eternal Priest and therefore the loving Mother of all Catholic priests”(No. 141).
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Never regret anything that made you smile.”
At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Never regret anything that made you smile.”
At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For the whole church, that she may give glory to the grace of being begotten by God in her life of loving prayer and humble service. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may take hold of the confidence we have in God that He hears us if we ask according to His will, and that we may boldly request that our civil leaders walk in the ways of life, morality, justice, and peace. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For vocations to the priestly and religious life; that the Bridegroom may have many friends whose joy consists in preparing His way and listening for His voice. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the Lord who loves His people and adorns the lowly with victory, may hear our prayers for all those who are in a season of distress and suffering, giving them cause to exult in glory again. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Jesus, true God and eternal life, may receive our loved ones who have departed this earthly existence into the glory and joy of His kingdom. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Friday, 8 January 2021. In princípio et ante sǽcula Deus erat Verbum, et ipse nasci dignátus est Salvátor mundi. We take our seats, as usual in the morning, before the Lord who is ever ready to welcome us. We prostrate in adoration.
I found very interesting an article written in this month's magazine, THE PRIEST, entitled, "Mary, Mother of Priests," by Dr Robert Fastiggi. Starting from today and in the coming days, I'll quote sections of the article for personal reflection. Quoting the 1950 apostolic exhortation, Menti Nostrae , which focused on the development of holiness in the priestly life, Pope Pius XII states, “Our Lady loves everyone with a most tender love, but she has a particular predilection for priests who are the living image of Jesus Christ”(No. 142).
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another.”
With the Church, we prayed: Deus, qui per Fílium tuum æternitátis tuæ lumen cunctis géntibus suscitásti,
da plebi tuæ fulgórem plenum sui Redemptóris agnóscere, ut ad perpétuam claritátem per eius increménta pervéniat.
I stayed indoors to organise my desk and my life.
I found very interesting an article written in this month's magazine, THE PRIEST, entitled, "Mary, Mother of Priests," by Dr Robert Fastiggi. Starting from today and in the coming days, I'll quote sections of the article for personal reflection. Quoting the 1950 apostolic exhortation, Menti Nostrae , which focused on the development of holiness in the priestly life, Pope Pius XII states, “Our Lady loves everyone with a most tender love, but she has a particular predilection for priests who are the living image of Jesus Christ”(No. 142).
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another.”
With the Church, we prayed: Deus, qui per Fílium tuum æternitátis tuæ lumen cunctis géntibus suscitásti,
da plebi tuæ fulgórem plenum sui Redemptóris agnóscere, ut ad perpétuam claritátem per eius increménta pervéniat.
I stayed indoors to organise my desk and my life.
Thursday, 7 January 2021. Early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. We found ourselves before the Lord in adoration.
Sweet Sacrament divine,
Hid in thine earthly home,
Lo, round thy lowly shrine,
With suppliant hearts we come;
Jesu, to thee our voice we raise
In songs of love and heartfelt praise:
Sweet Sacrament divine.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
At 10.00am, I presided at Mass in the Holy Family Church Umuoji for the funeral of ma Veronica Modundulue (mother of Umuoji nun living in Italy). Immediately after Mass, I rushed back to Aguleri to prepare myself for a funeral vigil Mass. Hurried lunch at home.
Then I headed to Agulu for the 5.00pm funeral vigil Mass for Capt. Chinenye Florence Okoye (sister of Fr Augustine Nweke). It would obviously be a very difficult experience these days for Fr Augustine and his family with series of deaths coming to them starting with their beloved mother to others including, and especially, the young and promising sister, the Captain.We pray for them: Requiescant in pace Domini. Amen.
Sweet Sacrament divine,
Hid in thine earthly home,
Lo, round thy lowly shrine,
With suppliant hearts we come;
Jesu, to thee our voice we raise
In songs of love and heartfelt praise:
Sweet Sacrament divine.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
At 10.00am, I presided at Mass in the Holy Family Church Umuoji for the funeral of ma Veronica Modundulue (mother of Umuoji nun living in Italy). Immediately after Mass, I rushed back to Aguleri to prepare myself for a funeral vigil Mass. Hurried lunch at home.
Then I headed to Agulu for the 5.00pm funeral vigil Mass for Capt. Chinenye Florence Okoye (sister of Fr Augustine Nweke). It would obviously be a very difficult experience these days for Fr Augustine and his family with series of deaths coming to them starting with their beloved mother to others including, and especially, the young and promising sister, the Captain.We pray for them: Requiescant in pace Domini. Amen.
Wednesday, 6 January 2020. Pópulus qui ambulábat in ténebris, vidit lucem magnam; habitántibus in regióne umbræ mortis, lux orta est eis. Usual morning devotions
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart”.
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayers:
At 11.00am, we went to the Chapel for Missa. Mass for the Immaculate Heart Sisters working everywhere in the world. It was a good moment to pray for their projects. We remembered those of them now retired. We prayed for their dead, especially those of them that died in the last one year.
Lunch followed. The interesting part was the conversation on different engagements of the Sisters in the apostolate. Little token of good wishes. Prayers and blessing. Good bye, dear Sisters. Bis anderes jahres!
At 7.15pm, I was at Onitsha for Vespers and Supper with Cardinal Arinze and Archbishop Val. I went with Fr Innocent Udolisah. Cardinal would start tomorrow the journey of his return to Rome after his holidays with us. Very happy interaction with the Fathers living in the compound of Holy Trinity Cathedral Onitsha.
We returned safely to Aguleri.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
nor let me go astray;
through darkness and perplexity
point Thou the heavenly way.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
that, when the flood is past,
I may eternal brightness see,
and share Thy joy at last.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart”.
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- The Word of God, eternally begotten of the Father, became in the fullness of time a child born for us and a son given to us. Let us praise him: – Blessed be the Lord.
- Lord Jesus, be with us today; help us to live as men who have heard the good news of salvation. – Blessed be the Lord.
- Sun of Justice, radiance of God’s glory and light of the world; help those who live in darkness and find no answer to their problems. – Blessed be the Lord.
- For us you became a child at Bethlehem; renew the childlike simplicity of our faith. – Blessed be the Lord.
- You are the living bread, the source of eternal life; fill our hearts with joy through the sacrament of your body and blood. – Blessed be the Lord.
At 11.00am, we went to the Chapel for Missa. Mass for the Immaculate Heart Sisters working everywhere in the world. It was a good moment to pray for their projects. We remembered those of them now retired. We prayed for their dead, especially those of them that died in the last one year.
Lunch followed. The interesting part was the conversation on different engagements of the Sisters in the apostolate. Little token of good wishes. Prayers and blessing. Good bye, dear Sisters. Bis anderes jahres!
At 7.15pm, I was at Onitsha for Vespers and Supper with Cardinal Arinze and Archbishop Val. I went with Fr Innocent Udolisah. Cardinal would start tomorrow the journey of his return to Rome after his holidays with us. Very happy interaction with the Fathers living in the compound of Holy Trinity Cathedral Onitsha.
We returned safely to Aguleri.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
nor let me go astray;
through darkness and perplexity
point Thou the heavenly way.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
that, when the flood is past,
I may eternal brightness see,
and share Thy joy at last.
Tuesday, 5 January 2021. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. Stepping out my room to approach our Lord in the chapel. Before our Blessed Lord we prostrate in adoration and prayer:
Nearer still nearer, close to Thy heart
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Make each day your masterpiece."
Indoors, to rest and updated my office records.
Nearer still nearer, close to Thy heart
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Make each day your masterpiece."
Indoors, to rest and updated my office records.
Monday, 4 January 2021. Dies sanctificátus illúxit nobis: veníte, gentes, et adoráte Dóminum, quia descéndit lux magna super terram. Usual morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "What defines us is how well we rise after falling.”
At our community Mass, we said the following intercessory prayer:
After the Mass and a good lunch we made our way back home.
Later in the evening, I received some young family friends in audience.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "What defines us is how well we rise after falling.”
At our community Mass, we said the following intercessory prayer:
- For the church, that she may be faithful to the Spirit of God who acknowledges Jesus come in the flesh, and that she may give witness to Him at all times - Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That the kings and rulers of the earth may give heed and serve the Lord with fear, keeping His ways of justice, life, and peace - Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That the repentance demanded by Jesus may be in our hearts as we continually turn from the ways of the world to the dominion of the Gospel - Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That Jesus, who cured every disease and illness among the people of His own time, may hear our prayers for all those who need His healing touch today - Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For our beloved dead, that as they remained in Jesus during this passing life, they may now see Him face to face in the life that has no end - Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
After the Mass and a good lunch we made our way back home.
Later in the evening, I received some young family friends in audience.
Sunday, 3 January 2021. EPHIPHANT SUNDAY. Dies sanctificátus illúxit nobis: veníte, gentes, et adoráte Dóminum, quia descéndit lux magna super terram. We followed our usual pattern of spiritual exercizes.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”
At the Mass in our chapel, we said the following Opening Prayer: O God, whose eternal Word adorns the face of the heavens yet accepted from the Virgin Mary the frailty of our flesh, grant, we pray, that he who appeared among us as the splendour of truth may go forth in the fullness of power for the redemption of the world. For the intercessory prayers:
At 11.00am, I was at Abube Nando for the Priestly Silver jubilee thanksgiving of Fr Fred Ndimaeme. Many Priests were in attendance including Bishop Michael Kalu Ukpong (Auxiliary of Umuahia) his classmate and others. Well coordinated activities. Fr Fred (Abela) knows how to organise events.
I started the Mass. Then after the liturgy of the Word, Fr Fred continued the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Finally I gave the blessing at the end of Mass. Bishop was present in choir-dress.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came and night followed : the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”
At the Mass in our chapel, we said the following Opening Prayer: O God, whose eternal Word adorns the face of the heavens yet accepted from the Virgin Mary the frailty of our flesh, grant, we pray, that he who appeared among us as the splendour of truth may go forth in the fullness of power for the redemption of the world. For the intercessory prayers:
- For the church, gathered as never before from all nations, that her holiness may shine out as a guiding star to bring to Jesus those who are still in the great darkness, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For world leaders, that God may endow them with His judgment, so that they may govern His afflicted ones with justice and respect for the human dignity of each person, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That wise men of every country and every religious background may come to understand the truth that Jesus alone is God made flesh and the Savior of the world, and place their gifts gratefully at His feet, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That we who live in power and safety like Jerusalem of old may not miss the star rising over our heads, leading those with eyes to see down to humble Bethlehem with its hidden King, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For all who travel a dark path through sickness, poverty, oppression, and every form of misery, that they may be overjoyed to find a star of guidance leading them to the mercy of God, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For our beloved departed ones, that they may come to rest in the radiant presence of the Savior whom they sought in the shadows of this passing world, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
At 11.00am, I was at Abube Nando for the Priestly Silver jubilee thanksgiving of Fr Fred Ndimaeme. Many Priests were in attendance including Bishop Michael Kalu Ukpong (Auxiliary of Umuahia) his classmate and others. Well coordinated activities. Fr Fred (Abela) knows how to organise events.
I started the Mass. Then after the liturgy of the Word, Fr Fred continued the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Finally I gave the blessing at the end of Mass. Bishop was present in choir-dress.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came and night followed : the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Saturday, 2 January 2021. A bright new day! The first day I woke up this new year in my house. The lyrics of the song by Nathaniel Obasi frequently comes to mind: Imela, Imela, Okaka, Onyeker'uwa. Imela, Imela
Eze mo.
We did not hold usual community spiritual exercises today. Each person prayed on his/her own.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded there."
Early breakfast for all my household - my closest assistants. Soon we set out for Affa for 11.00am Mass. Today, the Odenigbo family had a double celebration: 35th wedding and 75th birthday anniversaries. The entire Iwene Tansi house made the journey to Affa. The first port of call was the home of Stephen and Caroline Odenigbo - parents of my assistant secretary, Fr Michael Odenigbo. Blessing of their home.
We moved over to St John the Baptist Church Affa. There, we celebrated Mass of thanksgiving for the family of Odenigbo. With the Odenigbos we prayed: O God, the Father of every gift, we confess that all we have and are comes down from you; teach us to recognize the effects of your boundless care and to love you with a sincere heart and with all our strength.
This day, last year, my beloved sister Amaka Ann Uwaje, departed this world. Still painful to recall. In prayer, O God, giver of pardon and loving author of our salvation, grant, we pray you, in your mercy, that, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, and all your Saints, my sister Anastasia, who have passed from this world, may attain a share in eternal happiness.
Eze mo.
We did not hold usual community spiritual exercises today. Each person prayed on his/her own.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded there."
Early breakfast for all my household - my closest assistants. Soon we set out for Affa for 11.00am Mass. Today, the Odenigbo family had a double celebration: 35th wedding and 75th birthday anniversaries. The entire Iwene Tansi house made the journey to Affa. The first port of call was the home of Stephen and Caroline Odenigbo - parents of my assistant secretary, Fr Michael Odenigbo. Blessing of their home.
We moved over to St John the Baptist Church Affa. There, we celebrated Mass of thanksgiving for the family of Odenigbo. With the Odenigbos we prayed: O God, the Father of every gift, we confess that all we have and are comes down from you; teach us to recognize the effects of your boundless care and to love you with a sincere heart and with all our strength.
This day, last year, my beloved sister Amaka Ann Uwaje, departed this world. Still painful to recall. In prayer, O God, giver of pardon and loving author of our salvation, grant, we pray you, in your mercy, that, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, and all your Saints, my sister Anastasia, who have passed from this world, may attain a share in eternal happiness.
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Friday, 1 January 2021. We began the day while we were celebrating Mass at St Vincent's Church, Ogbunike. It was a "cross over" Mass. Just before the conclusion of the Mass, I invited Fr Hilary Anisiobi (aged 92, the oldest priest in Onitsha archdiocese, still very lucid) to wish the people a Happy New Year. He declared his wish for all the People of God: "Unu nine ga ejegbado Enuigwe oooo!"
From the sacristy after the Mass, we (all the priests and religious together with all our seminarians who were present for the Mass) went to the rectory. There, the Parish Priest - Fr Augustine Ogbunuko, prepared the first meal of the year for us. We ate. We drank. We exchanged New Year greetings. I returned to my brother CheChe's house for a little rest.
7.00am - Breakfast with my brother's family. Then, I took off for Aguleri to prepare for the New Year celebration with the People of God in Umueze Anam. We had about one hour stop over at Aguleri. Then, we drove to Umueze-Anam.
At 11.00am, I was in Umueze Anam and there was a large turn out of people. They gathered to start the New Year with me. It was an appointed day for the outing of their YOUTH CULTURAL DANCE . I presided at the Holy Mass during which about twenty five persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The people moved over to one large part of the compound where seats were arranged for today's special event. With traditional music, I was led into the arena.
The Youth of Umueze Anam rolled out many entertainment shows they prepared for us. Dances accord to age-sets. Spectacular. Fantastic. Something of eternal beauty. We were thoroughly entertained. Donations for the group. Lunch for all. Great day in Umueze Anam, thanks to the parish priest, Fr Peter Nwachukwu OCD.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening.
My short impromptu prayer for the New Year:
Lord, I thank you for the opportunities to work in your vineyard in 2020. There were moments of joy.There were many challenges including the the pandemic of Coronavirus. You never left us without hope.
I am sorry for the things I did not do well, for my offences against your love and for the opportunities to do good which I missed.
Now I thank you for the New Year. I beg you, give me the strength to do great and small things for you and your people. All I have is yours. Bless your gifts in me. Take all the glory and grant me your graces that I may be veritable instrument of your love and peace in the world. In your infinite kindness, Lord, show me creative ways to carry out my episcopal duties among the people you entrusted to my care.
To our Blessed Mother: Ricordari, o piissima Vergine Maria, non essersi mai udito al mondo che alcuno abbia ricorso al tuo patrocinio, implorato il tuo aiuto, chiesto la tua protezione e sia stato abbandonato. Animato da tale confidenza, a te ricorro, o Madre, Vergine delle Vergini, a te vengo e, peccatore contrito, innanzi a te mi prostro. Non volere, o Madre del Verbo, disprezzare le mie preghiere, ma ascoltami propizia ed esaudiscimi. Amen.
From the sacristy after the Mass, we (all the priests and religious together with all our seminarians who were present for the Mass) went to the rectory. There, the Parish Priest - Fr Augustine Ogbunuko, prepared the first meal of the year for us. We ate. We drank. We exchanged New Year greetings. I returned to my brother CheChe's house for a little rest.
7.00am - Breakfast with my brother's family. Then, I took off for Aguleri to prepare for the New Year celebration with the People of God in Umueze Anam. We had about one hour stop over at Aguleri. Then, we drove to Umueze-Anam.
At 11.00am, I was in Umueze Anam and there was a large turn out of people. They gathered to start the New Year with me. It was an appointed day for the outing of their YOUTH CULTURAL DANCE . I presided at the Holy Mass during which about twenty five persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The people moved over to one large part of the compound where seats were arranged for today's special event. With traditional music, I was led into the arena.
The Youth of Umueze Anam rolled out many entertainment shows they prepared for us. Dances accord to age-sets. Spectacular. Fantastic. Something of eternal beauty. We were thoroughly entertained. Donations for the group. Lunch for all. Great day in Umueze Anam, thanks to the parish priest, Fr Peter Nwachukwu OCD.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening.
My short impromptu prayer for the New Year:
Lord, I thank you for the opportunities to work in your vineyard in 2020. There were moments of joy.There were many challenges including the the pandemic of Coronavirus. You never left us without hope.
I am sorry for the things I did not do well, for my offences against your love and for the opportunities to do good which I missed.
Now I thank you for the New Year. I beg you, give me the strength to do great and small things for you and your people. All I have is yours. Bless your gifts in me. Take all the glory and grant me your graces that I may be veritable instrument of your love and peace in the world. In your infinite kindness, Lord, show me creative ways to carry out my episcopal duties among the people you entrusted to my care.
To our Blessed Mother: Ricordari, o piissima Vergine Maria, non essersi mai udito al mondo che alcuno abbia ricorso al tuo patrocinio, implorato il tuo aiuto, chiesto la tua protezione e sia stato abbandonato. Animato da tale confidenza, a te ricorro, o Madre, Vergine delle Vergini, a te vengo e, peccatore contrito, innanzi a te mi prostro. Non volere, o Madre del Verbo, disprezzare le mie preghiere, ma ascoltami propizia ed esaudiscimi. Amen.
Thursday, 31 December 2020. Last day of the year. I sat down before the Lord to thank Him for the gift of life, despite the challenge of the COVID19 pandemic. My people suffered all kinds of hardship: no food, sickness, etc. There were many good things that took place this year.
We gathered before the Lord: to thank Him for His favours; to ask pardon for the sins we committed and for our omissions; to beg to meet us at points of need; and to for the graces that we need to persevere in the doing good. The Church's special hymn of thanksgiving, Te Deum:
We praise you, O God:
we acclaim you as the Lord.
Everlasting Father,
all the world bows down before you.
All the angels sing your praise,
the hosts of heaven and all the angelic powers,
all the cherubim and seraphim
call out to you in unending song:
Holy, Holy, Holy,
is the Lord God of angel hosts!
The heavens and the earth are filled
with your majesty and glory.
The glorious band of apostles,
the noble company of prophets,
the white-robed army who shed their blood for Christ,
all sing your praise.
And to the ends of the earth
your holy Church proclaims her faith in you:
Father, whose majesty is boundless,
your true and only Son, who is to be adored,
the Holy Spirit sent to be our Advocate.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
Son of the eternal Father.
When you took our nature to save mankind
you did not shrink from birth in the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the power of death
opening the Father’s kingdom to all who believe in you.
Enthroned at God’s right hand in the glory of the Father,
you will come in judgement according to your promise.
You redeemed your people by your precious blood.
Come, we implore you, to our aid.
Grant us with the saints
a place in eternal glory.
The final part of the hymn may be omitted:
Lord, save your people
and bless your inheritance.
Rule them and uphold them
for ever and ever.
Day by day we praise you:
we acclaim you now and to all eternity.
In your goodness, Lord, keep us free from sin. *
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
May your mercy always be with us, Lord,
for we have hoped in you.
In you, Lord, we put our trust:
we shall not be put to shame.
All our usual morning devotions were followed.
At lunch time I hosted one of the couples I wedded recently. I had lunch with them and spent a good part of the day with them.
With my driver, Onyeka, and two seminarians working with me, I traveled to Ogbunike to join in the "Cross-over" celebration in St Vincent's Parish. I checked into my brother CheChe's house (as I have been doing in the past two years now). Then, at 9.00pm, I went to the Church compound to join in the rosary procession around the field of St Vincent's parish, Ogbunike.
At 10.30pm we started the Mass. The church was full. The following priests concelebrated the Mass with me: Fr Augustine Ogbunuko (PP), Fr Chukwuemeka Anyaegbunam C.S.Sp., and Fr Hilary Anisiobi. Most of Ogbunike seminarians were present. The Mass lasted till 12.14am of the first day of the New Year 2021.
We gathered before the Lord: to thank Him for His favours; to ask pardon for the sins we committed and for our omissions; to beg to meet us at points of need; and to for the graces that we need to persevere in the doing good. The Church's special hymn of thanksgiving, Te Deum:
We praise you, O God:
we acclaim you as the Lord.
Everlasting Father,
all the world bows down before you.
All the angels sing your praise,
the hosts of heaven and all the angelic powers,
all the cherubim and seraphim
call out to you in unending song:
Holy, Holy, Holy,
is the Lord God of angel hosts!
The heavens and the earth are filled
with your majesty and glory.
The glorious band of apostles,
the noble company of prophets,
the white-robed army who shed their blood for Christ,
all sing your praise.
And to the ends of the earth
your holy Church proclaims her faith in you:
Father, whose majesty is boundless,
your true and only Son, who is to be adored,
the Holy Spirit sent to be our Advocate.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
Son of the eternal Father.
When you took our nature to save mankind
you did not shrink from birth in the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the power of death
opening the Father’s kingdom to all who believe in you.
Enthroned at God’s right hand in the glory of the Father,
you will come in judgement according to your promise.
You redeemed your people by your precious blood.
Come, we implore you, to our aid.
Grant us with the saints
a place in eternal glory.
The final part of the hymn may be omitted:
Lord, save your people
and bless your inheritance.
Rule them and uphold them
for ever and ever.
Day by day we praise you:
we acclaim you now and to all eternity.
In your goodness, Lord, keep us free from sin. *
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
May your mercy always be with us, Lord,
for we have hoped in you.
In you, Lord, we put our trust:
we shall not be put to shame.
All our usual morning devotions were followed.
At lunch time I hosted one of the couples I wedded recently. I had lunch with them and spent a good part of the day with them.
With my driver, Onyeka, and two seminarians working with me, I traveled to Ogbunike to join in the "Cross-over" celebration in St Vincent's Parish. I checked into my brother CheChe's house (as I have been doing in the past two years now). Then, at 9.00pm, I went to the Church compound to join in the rosary procession around the field of St Vincent's parish, Ogbunike.
At 10.30pm we started the Mass. The church was full. The following priests concelebrated the Mass with me: Fr Augustine Ogbunuko (PP), Fr Chukwuemeka Anyaegbunam C.S.Sp., and Fr Hilary Anisiobi. Most of Ogbunike seminarians were present. The Mass lasted till 12.14am of the first day of the New Year 2021.
AHOBITES 71, Women's Wing and Youth's Wing
AHOBITES 71 and Women's wing
AHOBITES 71 at Ufuma
Wednesday, 30 December 2020. Our usual morning devotions. The words of the Book of Wisdom (18, 14-15) describes the mood of the moment: When a profound silence covered all things and night was in the middle of its course, your all-powerful Word, O Lord, bounded from heaven’s royal throne.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayers:
This year, Dr & Dr/Mrs Hilary Okoli hosted us in their country house. We usually begin with Mass and end up with lunch. So, for this year, we went to St Paul's Church Umueji Ufuna for Mass. I presided. Then we moved over to Dr Okoli's home for the social side of the celebration.
At the end, we all returned to our homes safely. Thanks be to God.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- Let us pray to Christ in whom all things are restored by the Father’s will. – Most loving Son of God, hear our prayer.
- Son of God, in the fullness of time you became a man: share with us your love for everyone. – Most loving Son of God, hear our prayer.
- You emptied yourself to enrich us with your glory: make us selfless ministers of your gospel. – Most loving Son of God, hear our prayer.
- You brought light into the darkness of our lives: guide all our actions in the ways of virtue, justice and peace. – Most loving Son of God, hear our prayer.
- May our hearts be disposed to hear your word and so be able to do good for ourselves and for our fellow-men.– Most loving Son of God, hear our prayer.
This year, Dr & Dr/Mrs Hilary Okoli hosted us in their country house. We usually begin with Mass and end up with lunch. So, for this year, we went to St Paul's Church Umueji Ufuna for Mass. I presided. Then we moved over to Dr Okoli's home for the social side of the celebration.
At the end, we all returned to our homes safely. Thanks be to God.
Tuesday, 29 December 2020. Usual early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. Sic Deus diléxit mundum, ut Fílium suum Unigénitum daret, ut omnis qui credit in eum non péreat, sed hábeat vitam ætérnam. Adoration, meditatiion, lauds and holy Mass. Fr Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, VC of Veritas University Abuja was visiting. We prayed for Fr Innocent Udolisah on his birthday, and we sang "Happy birthday to you...."
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
The Preface of the Mass underlines the significance of the Season of Christmas: For in the mystery of the Word made flesh a new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that, as we recognize in him God made visible, we may be caught up through him in love of things invisible.
At 4.00pm Governor Willie Obiano hosted Cardinal Arinze for Christmas 2020 sit-together in his country home in Aguleri. I accompanied the Cardinal. A good number of Brothers of Saint Stephen were present. It was a special moment. At the request of the Governor, the Cardinal prayed for him and his family, and prayed for Ndi Anambra. He finally blessed all present and willingly extended this blessing to all people of good will.
Back to my residence, I joined my secretary, Fr Innocent Udolisah, and friends for the cutting of his birthday cake. Congrats. Congrats. Congrats.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
The Preface of the Mass underlines the significance of the Season of Christmas: For in the mystery of the Word made flesh a new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that, as we recognize in him God made visible, we may be caught up through him in love of things invisible.
At 4.00pm Governor Willie Obiano hosted Cardinal Arinze for Christmas 2020 sit-together in his country home in Aguleri. I accompanied the Cardinal. A good number of Brothers of Saint Stephen were present. It was a special moment. At the request of the Governor, the Cardinal prayed for him and his family, and prayed for Ndi Anambra. He finally blessed all present and willingly extended this blessing to all people of good will.
Back to my residence, I joined my secretary, Fr Innocent Udolisah, and friends for the cutting of his birthday cake. Congrats. Congrats. Congrats.
Monday, 28 December 2020. FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS. Innocéntes pro Christo infántes occísi sunt, ipsum sequúntur Agnum sine mácula, et dicunt semper: Glória tibi, Dómine. What a joy to begin my day today before the Lord. Recalling this beautiful song:
Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see
And in thy presence rest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
At Mass today, we prayed: O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant, we pray, that the faith in you which we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life.
And we said the following intercessory prayers:
Back to Aguleri - quiet evening.
Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see
And in thy presence rest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
At Mass today, we prayed: O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant, we pray, that the faith in you which we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life.
And we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For the church, that like St. Joseph she may be obedient to every command of the Lord that protects and delivers the innocent members of the Body of Jesus. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For the rulers of this world, that they may not be like Herod, thinking only of preserving their own power, but use that power to uphold the dignity of every human being under their jurisdiction. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For children who are at risk in our world: the abandoned, those who come into this world with defects and diseases, and those who need access to clean water and medical care, that they may be loved and helped in the name of Jesus. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For mothers who have made the tragic choice of abortion and are now bewailing deep within their souls the loss of their children, that Jesus may be for them an offering for sin and the forgiveness that heals them. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For all of us, that we may walk in the light, preserving fellowship with one another, and allowing the Blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all sin. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For those who have died, that Jesus, our Advocate with the Father, may release them from every impediment to their entry into His glorious kingdom. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
Back to Aguleri - quiet evening.
Sunday, 27 December 2020. FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY. Venérunt pastóres festinántes, et invenérunt Maríam et Ioseph et Infántem pósitum in præsépio. As yesterday, I woke up at Awka, said my prayers, without my community and no early morning adoration of the Sanctissimum in the chapel. I long to go back to our community rhythm of spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, ... failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.”
At about 8.45am, I set out for Mass at St Gabriel's Church, Umunnachi. I arrived Umunnachi too early and had to wait for nearly 40 minutes before we started the Mass. This time of waiting gave me opportunity to see the newly rebuilt St Gabriel's Church where we used to come to serve Mass in the early seventies. My town, Ogbunike, Umunnachi and several other towns belonged to Dunukofia parish. It was a thing of great joy to be identified as parish altar boy. We trekked to any town in the parish where our priests fixed Sunday Mass. Distance was not our problem. We covered some kilometres and were able to arrive on time for Mass anywhere in the parish. So, I was lost in thoughts about the past while admiring the beautifully constructed new St Gabriel's Church.
I was in Umunnachi to celebrate Mass of thanksgiving on the 80th birthday of my friend Obi Egbuna, Agbalanze of Umunnachi. I knew him as a young priest. Now a widower, old and sick, his children organised a celebration for him.
We prayed: O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practising the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.
Before the final blessing, I waited for the Parish Priest, Fr Gabriel Ogbaji, to conduct his "cashless" bazaar fund raising. Final blessing followed. Enyemaka anyi di n'aha Onyenweanyi - Onye mere eluigwe n'ala. Ka Chineke ji ike niile gozie unu: Nna na Nwa na Mmuo Nso. Amen.
From Umunnachi I went straight to St Michael's parish Ogbunike to support their bazaar fund raising, Brief stay to encourage the people. From there I went to my brother's home for lunch.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, ... failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.”
At about 8.45am, I set out for Mass at St Gabriel's Church, Umunnachi. I arrived Umunnachi too early and had to wait for nearly 40 minutes before we started the Mass. This time of waiting gave me opportunity to see the newly rebuilt St Gabriel's Church where we used to come to serve Mass in the early seventies. My town, Ogbunike, Umunnachi and several other towns belonged to Dunukofia parish. It was a thing of great joy to be identified as parish altar boy. We trekked to any town in the parish where our priests fixed Sunday Mass. Distance was not our problem. We covered some kilometres and were able to arrive on time for Mass anywhere in the parish. So, I was lost in thoughts about the past while admiring the beautifully constructed new St Gabriel's Church.
I was in Umunnachi to celebrate Mass of thanksgiving on the 80th birthday of my friend Obi Egbuna, Agbalanze of Umunnachi. I knew him as a young priest. Now a widower, old and sick, his children organised a celebration for him.
We prayed: O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practising the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.
Before the final blessing, I waited for the Parish Priest, Fr Gabriel Ogbaji, to conduct his "cashless" bazaar fund raising. Final blessing followed. Enyemaka anyi di n'aha Onyenweanyi - Onye mere eluigwe n'ala. Ka Chineke ji ike niile gozie unu: Nna na Nwa na Mmuo Nso. Amen.
From Umunnachi I went straight to St Michael's parish Ogbunike to support their bazaar fund raising, Brief stay to encourage the people. From there I went to my brother's home for lunch.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Saturday, 26 December 2020. FEAST OF ST STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR. Apértæ sunt iánuæ cæli beáto Stéphano, qui in número Mártyrum invéntus est primus, et ídeo triúmphat in cælis coronátus. I woke up in Awka. I said my prayers but without my community, and no early morning adoration.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Being defeated is often a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent."
I had my breakfast at 7.30am. Soon after, I set out from Awka for Ogbunike. At about 10.00am, I was at St Stephen's Parish Ogbunike for my annual stay with the people for their patronal Feast day. I have kept this annual event since my priestly ordination in 1985.
Holy Mass well attended. After, Fr Augustine Ezeanya offered lunch to his parishioners.
I used the occasion of my visit to the parish to supervise the progress of their new church building project. Slow progress.
I returned to Awka to continue my break from heavy pastoral activities. Quiet evening.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Being defeated is often a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent."
I had my breakfast at 7.30am. Soon after, I set out from Awka for Ogbunike. At about 10.00am, I was at St Stephen's Parish Ogbunike for my annual stay with the people for their patronal Feast day. I have kept this annual event since my priestly ordination in 1985.
Holy Mass well attended. After, Fr Augustine Ezeanya offered lunch to his parishioners.
I used the occasion of my visit to the parish to supervise the progress of their new church building project. Slow progress.
I returned to Awka to continue my break from heavy pastoral activities. Quiet evening.
The Chijiugos at Christmas 2020
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Friday, 25 December 2020,
CHRISTMAS DAY. I was very happy to wake up feeling the love of God for us which is manifested in the coming of the Infant Jesus into our world. I felt the love of those that collaborate with me to the mission of Christ. Holy Mass with my household at 7.00am. Breakfast. Then followed a family chat with a family in crisis. I tried to bring peace to them. Gesù, Re della pace, abbi pietà. I went to CheChe's (my brother) house for a family Christmas' get-together. The Joy of being with all my siblings together with all their children! Singing, dancing, eating.... Then I visited some family friends before retiring at Awka for a three-day Christmas' break. |
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Thursday, 24 December 2020. Early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. Ecce iam venit plenitúdo témporis, in quo misit Deus Fílium suum in terram. Our community life began with our daily appointment with the Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Be happy not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything."
At our community Mass, we prayed: Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, that those who trust in your compassion may find solace and relief in your coming.
Quiet day in preparation for the celebration of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.
Gaudeámus omnes in Dómino, quia Salvátor noster natus est in mundo. Hódie nobis de cælo pax vera descéndit. At 10.00pm, I celebrated Christmas Vigil Mass at St Joseph's Church Aguleri. About eight Priests, including Fr Dr Aloysius Obiwulu of Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu, concelebrated. With the Church we prayed: O God, who have made this most sacred night radiant with the splendour of the true light, grant, we pray, that we, who have known the mysteries of his light on earth, may also delight in his gladness in heaven. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, (one) God, for ever and ever. Amen.
My homily was on the origin and the significance of the Christmas Crib.
At about 12.45am, we concluded the Mass. I greeted orally the Priests and Sisters but I did offer the usual cocktail party after Midnight Mass as I used to do in the previous years. COVID19 was to be blamed. I returned to my residence with my guest - Fr Dr Aloysius Obiwulu. Good morning, Lord.
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Be happy not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything."
At our community Mass, we prayed: Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, that those who trust in your compassion may find solace and relief in your coming.
Quiet day in preparation for the celebration of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.
Gaudeámus omnes in Dómino, quia Salvátor noster natus est in mundo. Hódie nobis de cælo pax vera descéndit. At 10.00pm, I celebrated Christmas Vigil Mass at St Joseph's Church Aguleri. About eight Priests, including Fr Dr Aloysius Obiwulu of Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu, concelebrated. With the Church we prayed: O God, who have made this most sacred night radiant with the splendour of the true light, grant, we pray, that we, who have known the mysteries of his light on earth, may also delight in his gladness in heaven. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, (one) God, for ever and ever. Amen.
My homily was on the origin and the significance of the Christmas Crib.
At about 12.45am, we concluded the Mass. I greeted orally the Priests and Sisters but I did offer the usual cocktail party after Midnight Mass as I used to do in the previous years. COVID19 was to be blamed. I returned to my residence with my guest - Fr Dr Aloysius Obiwulu. Good morning, Lord.
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Wednesday, 23 December 2020. Nascétur nobis párvulus, et vocábitur Deus, Fortis; in ipso benedicéntur omnes tribus terræ. Increased tempo as we approach the greatest event in human history:
O come desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Usual morning devotions. I had many seminarian holiday-makers in our chapel today. They usually flock around me during their holidays. Some of them previously worked in my house but now are in various stages of formation in the seminary. It is our responsibility to look after the future workers in the Lord's field. We must help them grow up.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Be selective in your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right."
At Mass, we prayed with the Church: Almighty ever-living God, as we see how the Nativity of your Son according to the flesh draws near, we pray that to us, your unworthy servants, mercy may flow from your Word, who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary and establish among us his dwelling, Jesus Christ our Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We said the following intercessory prayers:
After breakfast, I had to stay downstairs for a long time because there were streams of visitors coming to bring me Christmas presents. Lord, thank you for the gift of several friends and well-wishers. Help me to justify the confidence and the love they have for me.
This afternoon, with my siblings and cousins we gathered around my only surviving maternal uncle, Peter Anyakora, at Nkwelle Ezunaka. It was a great moment of interaction after several years. I brought them to our grandfather's house: to know one another, to tell stories of the past and laugh together, to eat and drink and to ask about the welfare of one another. I had almost fifty persons. They were delighted to identify with me as their brother and cousin. At the end, I prayed for them and blessed them.
The "O-antiphon" for today: O Immanuel, you are our king and our judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Saviour. O come and save us, Lord our God.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
O come desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Usual morning devotions. I had many seminarian holiday-makers in our chapel today. They usually flock around me during their holidays. Some of them previously worked in my house but now are in various stages of formation in the seminary. It is our responsibility to look after the future workers in the Lord's field. We must help them grow up.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Be selective in your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right."
At Mass, we prayed with the Church: Almighty ever-living God, as we see how the Nativity of your Son according to the flesh draws near, we pray that to us, your unworthy servants, mercy may flow from your Word, who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary and establish among us his dwelling, Jesus Christ our Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We said the following intercessory prayers:
- For our Holy Father, our bishops and priests, that they may be purified ever more in the refining fire of God’s love, so that they may offer His divine sacrifices in a way most pleasing to him. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That the King of all nations, the Keystone of the arch of humanity, our Lord Jesus, may bring peace to all the troubled areas of our world. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For those whose hearts and tongues have been bound in distrust and apathy before God, that a new experience of His mercy may open their mouths in gratitude and praise. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That we who share in this Eucharist, who are visited suddenly in our interior temple by the Lord whom we seek, may welcome all His work in our hearts today. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For the intentions of all who are suffering, lonely, or at the mercy of the winter weather, for all who need our prayer, and for our beloved dead. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
After breakfast, I had to stay downstairs for a long time because there were streams of visitors coming to bring me Christmas presents. Lord, thank you for the gift of several friends and well-wishers. Help me to justify the confidence and the love they have for me.
This afternoon, with my siblings and cousins we gathered around my only surviving maternal uncle, Peter Anyakora, at Nkwelle Ezunaka. It was a great moment of interaction after several years. I brought them to our grandfather's house: to know one another, to tell stories of the past and laugh together, to eat and drink and to ask about the welfare of one another. I had almost fifty persons. They were delighted to identify with me as their brother and cousin. At the end, I prayed for them and blessed them.
The "O-antiphon" for today: O Immanuel, you are our king and our judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Saviour. O come and save us, Lord our God.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Tuesday, 22 December 2020. Attóllite, portæ, cápita vestra, et elevámini, portæ æternáles, et introíbit rex glóriæ. We live this period of Advent in hope of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, singing: O come, now Rod of Jesse’s stem, from every foe deliver them that trust your mighty power to save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. REJOICE! REJOICE EMMANUEL SHALL COME TO YOU, O ISRAEL!
We followed the usual rhythm of our morning spiritual activities: adoration, meditation and personal prayers, Office of Lauds, and Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Working on yourself is the hardest part of life. Keep growing up, no matter where you are."
In the early evening at Education House, Onitsha Archdiocesan Secretariat, I was in a meeting in company of other Anambra Catholic Bishops with some representatives of the people to talk about the activities of those in government in favour of the governed. It was a great discovery for me! I found incredible goodness and goodwill in some people often given bad publicity in TV and social media. I have since learnt to be patient and careful in interpreting and talking about the decisions and activities of those in public service
Intercessions at Vespers:
The "O-antiphon" for today: O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man, whom you made from clay.
And the night came: the end of the day. To our Blessed Mother we sing:
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye cherubim, Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!
We followed the usual rhythm of our morning spiritual activities: adoration, meditation and personal prayers, Office of Lauds, and Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Working on yourself is the hardest part of life. Keep growing up, no matter where you are."
In the early evening at Education House, Onitsha Archdiocesan Secretariat, I was in a meeting in company of other Anambra Catholic Bishops with some representatives of the people to talk about the activities of those in government in favour of the governed. It was a great discovery for me! I found incredible goodness and goodwill in some people often given bad publicity in TV and social media. I have since learnt to be patient and careful in interpreting and talking about the decisions and activities of those in public service
Intercessions at Vespers:
- God is light: if we live and move in light, there is love between us. – Lord Jesus, help us to love one another.
- May we who are called Christians, be known by our love. – Lord Jesus, help us to love one another.
- Without love the world cannot be at peace: rid our world of hatred and fear. – Lord Jesus, help us to love one another.
- Help husbands and wives to find comfort in sorrow and strength in trials; grant them enduring love. – Lord Jesus, help us to love one another.
- Lord, keep all the dead in your care: those we have loved and those no one remembers. – Lord Jesus, help us to love one another.
The "O-antiphon" for today: O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man, whom you made from clay.
And the night came: the end of the day. To our Blessed Mother we sing:
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye cherubim, Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!
Monday, 21 December 2020. Modo véniet Dominátor Dóminus, et vocábitur nomen eius Emmánuel, quia Nobíscum-Deus. Lord, here we are in our nothingness. We adore you and declare: Thy Body, Soul and Godhead, all! O mystery of love divine! I cannot compass all I have, For all Thou hast and art is mine! Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore! Oh, make us love Thee more and more. Oh, make us love Thee more and more.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Being honest may not get you a lot of FRIENDS but it will always get you the RIGHT ONES."
At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
This evening, I drove myself, accompanied by Fr Michael Odenigbo, to pay a brief visit to Fr Augustine Okonkwo and Fr Thaddeus Ngwoke at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Umuleri. It was a brotherly visit to promote happy priestly life. With them we said the Vespers, singing the "O-antiphon" for today: O Risisng Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Being honest may not get you a lot of FRIENDS but it will always get you the RIGHT ONES."
At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For the whole church, waiting for the imminent approach of her beloved Savior and Bridegroom, that she may soon hear His voice rejoicing over her with gladness and renewing her in His love. Lord, hear us: Lord graciously hear us.
- That our nation may learn to be a people whose God is the Lord, a people in whose midst the plan of the Lord takes precedence, so that He may bless us with His peace. Lord, hear us: Lord graciously hear us.
- That the love which impelled Mary to bring Jesus to her cousin under the humble guise of family service may be the same impetus that supports all our actions during this holy season. Lord, hear us: Lord graciously hear us.
- For all who are suffering in body, mind or spirit, that the expectant Virgin may visit them and surprise them with her joy. Lord, hear us: Lord graciously hear us.
- For our dear departed ones, that they may find that the winter is past for them, that the divine lover is calling them to arise and enter the eternal bliss of heaven. Lord, hear us: Lord graciously hear us.
This evening, I drove myself, accompanied by Fr Michael Odenigbo, to pay a brief visit to Fr Augustine Okonkwo and Fr Thaddeus Ngwoke at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Umuleri. It was a brotherly visit to promote happy priestly life. With them we said the Vespers, singing the "O-antiphon" for today: O Risisng Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya (in statue) stands tall among his people at Nnokwa
Sunday, 20 December 2020. FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Roráte, cæli, désuper, et nubes pluant iustum; aperiátur terra et gérminet Salvatórem. In adoration and meditation before our Lord. Thoughts about Archbishop Ezeanya filled my mind. Today, 67 years ago he was ordained a catholic priest. To the Lord I presented him. Somehow, I am very confident that he is in heaven. He was a great archbishop who lived a saintly life. I knew him at a very close range, especially in his last years here on earth.
Community Mass with my collaborators.
At 10.ooam, I was at St Mary's Parish, Nnokwa, for a pastoral visit. Their large church was full to its capacity. About 418 candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Immediately after Mass, we went behind the church to unveil and bless the giant statue erected in honour of Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya. The statue was sponsored by Nnokwa community.
During the reception, the following welcome address was read:
"We heartily welcome and thank your Lordship Most Rev. Denis Chidi Isizoh for making out time to be here today on a pastoral visit that has the agenda of: 1. Administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to our children. 2. The unveiling of Late Archbishop S.N. Ezeanya’s statue in the church compound. It is worthy to note here that the public remembrance of our late Archbishop S.N. Ezeanya was resuscitated by your Lordship just last year. Thank you for reawakening in us the culture of honouring our father in faith which aligns us with the advice contained in the Letter to the Hebrews? “Remember your leaders who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their example.” (Heb, 13,17).
"We would wish to say welcome to our parish our dear Bishop but we cannot welcome you to a place and to an event you are so much part of. Coming to our parish yearly as you are now used to doing is like a home coming to you. We can only pass a word of acknowledgement of your highly esteemed presence and deep gratitude to you for find out time out of your very busy schedule to visit us.
"Whenever we look back and reminisce on the wonderful relationship that has been built between you and this parish over the years, we cannot but thank God for the gift of a very humble and amiable personality like you to the Archdiocese of Onitsha. You are a special gift to us and we are so blessed to have you visit our parish again today. Your presence in our parish usually go a long way to reignite the flame of communion, which is a huge part of what you have come to celebrate today and to pray with us. Nnukwu Nna anyi, anyi bu ndi Nnokwa na-asi: “Onye di ka gi akokwana anyi”.
"We cannot fail to point out here that in a few years of your episcopacy, so many landmark achievements have been recorded in the Archdiocese. St Mary’s Catholic Church, Nnokwa, has not been left out, as you were the brain behind the inauguration of annual anniversary Mass for late Archbishop S.N. Ezeanya. Your Lordship, we shall ever remain grateful to you for this singular honour given to our dear late Archbishop Ezeanya because this has made our town to have a pride of place among the other towns within the Archdiocese of Onitsha. This annual anniversary Mass for the late Archbishop Ezeanya, as we all know, is geared towards watering the ground for his beatification, if it if pleases the Lord to grant him that honour. Here today also, your Lordship, you administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to our children that have been rigorously prepared for this special day. Their very expectations of the day have just been satisfied and the yearnings of their young souls quenched by your visit to our parish in total fulfillment of what the gospel of St Matthew wrote that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”(Mt 5,6).
"Our dear Bishop, it is not an overstatement to say that we highly treasure these your visits, especially to listen to your words of wisdom and encouragement which linger in our memories long after you have gone back. We pray that the good Lord will continue to be with you, grant you good health and more wisdom to keep shepherding the flock of God entrusted to your care."
There were dances, personal greetings and gifts, eating and drinking, etc. Thanks be to God for a happy and friendly interaction with His People.
At the end, from Nnokwa we drove to the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity to join in the celebration of the newly built AVOMA auditorium and their presentation of this year's Christmas carols. Heavy traffic. The carol was scheduled to be in front of the Basilica. The arena was full. Our Archbishop Val was there.Surprisingly the music scene was dominated by Chinedu Okoli, better known by his stage name Flavour, a Nigerian singer. songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I stayed there briefly before heading home to Aguleri.
Late evening. Office of Vespers antiphon - O key of David and sceptre of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close, no one can open. O come and lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. And the night followed: the end of the day - Il Signore ci conceda una notte serena e un riposo tranquillo. Amen.
Community Mass with my collaborators.
At 10.ooam, I was at St Mary's Parish, Nnokwa, for a pastoral visit. Their large church was full to its capacity. About 418 candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Immediately after Mass, we went behind the church to unveil and bless the giant statue erected in honour of Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya. The statue was sponsored by Nnokwa community.
During the reception, the following welcome address was read:
"We heartily welcome and thank your Lordship Most Rev. Denis Chidi Isizoh for making out time to be here today on a pastoral visit that has the agenda of: 1. Administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to our children. 2. The unveiling of Late Archbishop S.N. Ezeanya’s statue in the church compound. It is worthy to note here that the public remembrance of our late Archbishop S.N. Ezeanya was resuscitated by your Lordship just last year. Thank you for reawakening in us the culture of honouring our father in faith which aligns us with the advice contained in the Letter to the Hebrews? “Remember your leaders who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their example.” (Heb, 13,17).
"We would wish to say welcome to our parish our dear Bishop but we cannot welcome you to a place and to an event you are so much part of. Coming to our parish yearly as you are now used to doing is like a home coming to you. We can only pass a word of acknowledgement of your highly esteemed presence and deep gratitude to you for find out time out of your very busy schedule to visit us.
"Whenever we look back and reminisce on the wonderful relationship that has been built between you and this parish over the years, we cannot but thank God for the gift of a very humble and amiable personality like you to the Archdiocese of Onitsha. You are a special gift to us and we are so blessed to have you visit our parish again today. Your presence in our parish usually go a long way to reignite the flame of communion, which is a huge part of what you have come to celebrate today and to pray with us. Nnukwu Nna anyi, anyi bu ndi Nnokwa na-asi: “Onye di ka gi akokwana anyi”.
"We cannot fail to point out here that in a few years of your episcopacy, so many landmark achievements have been recorded in the Archdiocese. St Mary’s Catholic Church, Nnokwa, has not been left out, as you were the brain behind the inauguration of annual anniversary Mass for late Archbishop S.N. Ezeanya. Your Lordship, we shall ever remain grateful to you for this singular honour given to our dear late Archbishop Ezeanya because this has made our town to have a pride of place among the other towns within the Archdiocese of Onitsha. This annual anniversary Mass for the late Archbishop Ezeanya, as we all know, is geared towards watering the ground for his beatification, if it if pleases the Lord to grant him that honour. Here today also, your Lordship, you administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to our children that have been rigorously prepared for this special day. Their very expectations of the day have just been satisfied and the yearnings of their young souls quenched by your visit to our parish in total fulfillment of what the gospel of St Matthew wrote that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”(Mt 5,6).
"Our dear Bishop, it is not an overstatement to say that we highly treasure these your visits, especially to listen to your words of wisdom and encouragement which linger in our memories long after you have gone back. We pray that the good Lord will continue to be with you, grant you good health and more wisdom to keep shepherding the flock of God entrusted to your care."
There were dances, personal greetings and gifts, eating and drinking, etc. Thanks be to God for a happy and friendly interaction with His People.
At the end, from Nnokwa we drove to the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity to join in the celebration of the newly built AVOMA auditorium and their presentation of this year's Christmas carols. Heavy traffic. The carol was scheduled to be in front of the Basilica. The arena was full. Our Archbishop Val was there.Surprisingly the music scene was dominated by Chinedu Okoli, better known by his stage name Flavour, a Nigerian singer. songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I stayed there briefly before heading home to Aguleri.
Late evening. Office of Vespers antiphon - O key of David and sceptre of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close, no one can open. O come and lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. And the night followed: the end of the day - Il Signore ci conceda una notte serena e un riposo tranquillo. Amen.
Saturday, 19 December 2020. Qui ventúrus est véniet et non tardábit, et iam non erit timor in fínibus nostris, quóniam ipse est Salvátor noster. Our day began with the adoration of our Lord hidden in the tabernacle. Adoro Te, o panis coelice, O Domine, o Deus maxime. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, sine fine sanctus.
Semper Tibi gloria sacra sit sub hostia.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When you make a commitment, you build hope. When you keep it, you build trust."
Today, eighty-three years ago in 1937, Blessed Michael Cyprian Iwene Tansi was raised to the priesthood by Archbishop Charles Heerey at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam. He lived "entirely for God." This is an event that must always be recalled with gratitude to God
Cardinal Arinze presided at our community Mass. At the end I thanked him for staying with us this past one week. He, in turn, thanked us for hospitality. After breakfast, we waived goodbye to him. He proceeded to Mbaukwu for the wedding of Igwe Peter Nwokike Aniukwu of Mbaukwu.
At 10.00am, I was at St Mary's Inland Town Onitsha for the wedding of Anselm Onuora and Matilda Peace Abba. I imparted solemn blessing on them at the end of Mass:
Evening came: Vespers antiphon - O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim, O come to deliver us, and do not delay. And the night followed. Good night, Lord.
Semper Tibi gloria sacra sit sub hostia.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When you make a commitment, you build hope. When you keep it, you build trust."
Today, eighty-three years ago in 1937, Blessed Michael Cyprian Iwene Tansi was raised to the priesthood by Archbishop Charles Heerey at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam. He lived "entirely for God." This is an event that must always be recalled with gratitude to God
Cardinal Arinze presided at our community Mass. At the end I thanked him for staying with us this past one week. He, in turn, thanked us for hospitality. After breakfast, we waived goodbye to him. He proceeded to Mbaukwu for the wedding of Igwe Peter Nwokike Aniukwu of Mbaukwu.
At 10.00am, I was at St Mary's Inland Town Onitsha for the wedding of Anselm Onuora and Matilda Peace Abba. I imparted solemn blessing on them at the end of Mass:
- May God the eternal Father keep you of one heart in love for one another, that the peace of Christ may dwell in you and abide always in your home. Amen.
- May you be blessed in your children, have solace in your friends and ejoy true peace with everyone. Amen
- May you be witnesses in the world to God's charity, so that the afflicted and needy who have known your kindness may one day receive you thankfully into the eternal dwelling of God. Amen.
Evening came: Vespers antiphon - O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim, O come to deliver us, and do not delay. And the night followed. Good night, Lord.
Friday, 18 December 2020. Early morning greetings of our Blessed Mother. Rex noster advéniet Christus, quem Ioánnes prædicávit Agnum esse ventúrum. Usual rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
At our community Mass, Cardinal Arinze presided. I concelebrated with my secretaries, Fr Innocent Udolisah and Fr Michael Odenigbo. Mons. Hypolite Adigwe, who was visiting, joined us for the Mass. We prayed: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who are weighed down from of old by slavery beneath the yoke of sin, may be set free by the newness of the long-awaited Nativity of your Only Begotten Son.
At 9.50am, I was at Igbariam for the funeral of pa Cajetan Makasi, father of Kate - my brother CheChe's wife. On our way to the church, we stopped at Makasi's house to join the parish priest, Fr Benedict Udeogwu, to pray and close the caskette of the dead. Then, in the church of St Anthony of Padua Igbariam, I celebrated Missa esequialis. I was present for the burial in Makasi's compound. Requiescat in pace.
Evening came: Office of Vespers antiphon - O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power. And the night followed: the end of the day - The Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
At our community Mass, Cardinal Arinze presided. I concelebrated with my secretaries, Fr Innocent Udolisah and Fr Michael Odenigbo. Mons. Hypolite Adigwe, who was visiting, joined us for the Mass. We prayed: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who are weighed down from of old by slavery beneath the yoke of sin, may be set free by the newness of the long-awaited Nativity of your Only Begotten Son.
At 9.50am, I was at Igbariam for the funeral of pa Cajetan Makasi, father of Kate - my brother CheChe's wife. On our way to the church, we stopped at Makasi's house to join the parish priest, Fr Benedict Udeogwu, to pray and close the caskette of the dead. Then, in the church of St Anthony of Padua Igbariam, I celebrated Missa esequialis. I was present for the burial in Makasi's compound. Requiescat in pace.
Evening came: Office of Vespers antiphon - O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power. And the night followed: the end of the day - The Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
At our community Mass with Cardinal Arinze
Thursday, 17 December 2020. Læténtur cæli et exsúltet terra, quia Dóminus noster véniet, et páuperum suórum miserébitur. Usual morning spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't compare your progress with that of others. We all need our own time to travel our own distance."
Cardinal Arinze presided at the Eucharistic celebration. At Collect we prayed: O God, Creator and Redeemer of human nature, who willed that your Word should take flesh in an ever-virgin womb, look with favour on our prayers, that your Only Begotten Son, having taken to himself our humanity, may be pleased to grant us a share in his divinity. We also said the following intercessory prayers:
This evening we began the "O-Antiphons". O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't compare your progress with that of others. We all need our own time to travel our own distance."
Cardinal Arinze presided at the Eucharistic celebration. At Collect we prayed: O God, Creator and Redeemer of human nature, who willed that your Word should take flesh in an ever-virgin womb, look with favour on our prayers, that your Only Begotten Son, having taken to himself our humanity, may be pleased to grant us a share in his divinity. We also said the following intercessory prayers:
- For the whole church, drawing nearer now to the radiant coming of Jesus in the flesh, that with her leaders she may be sustained in joy and hope. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That God may endow with judgment the leaders of nations, that they might govern their peoples with justice. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That the genealogy of Jesus may encourage us with the reality of His human nature, and we may understand that it is a brother of ours who comes with divine power to save us. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For all who have asked our prayers during a time of distress and pain, that God may defend the afflicted among the people, and save the children of the poor. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That our Blessed Mother, who kept the secret of the first Advent in her adoring heart, may bring into the full light of glory all whom the Father has called from this world. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
This evening we began the "O-Antiphons". O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.
Wednesday, 16 December 2020. Véniet Dóminus et non tardábit, et illuminábit abscóndita tenebrárum, et manifestábit se ad omnes gentes. Usual morning spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. Every story has an end, but in life every end is just a new beginning."
I was indoors in the morning hours to receive streams of well-wishers who came to give me Christmas gifts and ask for my blessings. In prayer: Lord, thank you for your gift of many friends. Teach me to spread your love among your people.
Working lunch on Blessed Iwene Tansi. The afternoon passed quietly.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. Every story has an end, but in life every end is just a new beginning."
I was indoors in the morning hours to receive streams of well-wishers who came to give me Christmas gifts and ask for my blessings. In prayer: Lord, thank you for your gift of many friends. Teach me to spread your love among your people.
Working lunch on Blessed Iwene Tansi. The afternoon passed quietly.
Tuesday, 15 December 2020. In Owerri. I woke quite early. Salutations to our Blessed Mother. By 6.30am I was at the Cathedral of Maria Assumpta, Owerri. Concelebrated Mass at 7.00am. Archbishop Valerian Okeke presided. Bishop Camillus Umoh gave the homily.
Soon after the Mass, I set out for journey home. Smooth drive. I reached Aguleri at about 9.35am.
Lunch with my guest. For the rest of the day, I gave my body some rest.
Soon after the Mass, I set out for journey home. Smooth drive. I reached Aguleri at about 9.35am.
Lunch with my guest. For the rest of the day, I gave my body some rest.
Monday, 14 December 2020. Early morning salutations to our Blessed. In the chapel: adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament -
Sweet Sacrament divine,
hid in thine earthly home,
lo, round thy lowly shrine,
with suppliant hearts we come;
Jesus, to thee our voice we raise
in songs of love and heartfelt praise:
sweet Sacrament divine.
Sweet Sacrament of peace,
dear home for every heart,
where restless yearnings cease
and sorrows all depart;
there in thine ear all trustfully
we tell our tale of misery:
sweet Sacrament of peace.
Meditation, office of Lauds, followed by Holy Mass - in concelebration with Cardinal Arinze who presided.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Patience is not the ability to wait, but how you act while you are waiting."
I had early lunch before I took off to Owerri to attend the meeting of Bishops of the old Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province (ONITSHA - Onitsha, Enugu, Awka, Nsukka, Awgu, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia; OWERRI - Owerri, Umuahia, Orlu, Okigwe, Ahiara and Aba; CALABAR - Calabar, Ogoja, Port Harcourt, Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo). Poor attendance from Calabar province. Only Bishop Camillus Umoh attended.
At 4.00pm, Archbishop Obinna warmly welcomed us. We had a two-hour session. Holy Mass with the People of God followed at about 6.30pm in the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri. Supper in the newly constructed Jubilee Auditorium. Then, we retired to a hotel for the night.
Sweet Sacrament divine,
hid in thine earthly home,
lo, round thy lowly shrine,
with suppliant hearts we come;
Jesus, to thee our voice we raise
in songs of love and heartfelt praise:
sweet Sacrament divine.
Sweet Sacrament of peace,
dear home for every heart,
where restless yearnings cease
and sorrows all depart;
there in thine ear all trustfully
we tell our tale of misery:
sweet Sacrament of peace.
Meditation, office of Lauds, followed by Holy Mass - in concelebration with Cardinal Arinze who presided.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Patience is not the ability to wait, but how you act while you are waiting."
I had early lunch before I took off to Owerri to attend the meeting of Bishops of the old Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province (ONITSHA - Onitsha, Enugu, Awka, Nsukka, Awgu, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia; OWERRI - Owerri, Umuahia, Orlu, Okigwe, Ahiara and Aba; CALABAR - Calabar, Ogoja, Port Harcourt, Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo). Poor attendance from Calabar province. Only Bishop Camillus Umoh attended.
At 4.00pm, Archbishop Obinna warmly welcomed us. We had a two-hour session. Holy Mass with the People of God followed at about 6.30pm in the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri. Supper in the newly constructed Jubilee Auditorium. Then, we retired to a hotel for the night.
Concelebrating Priests with Charles and Maria Sokei
With Very Rev. Fr Godwin Okolo
With Fr Innocent Udolisah (L) and Fr Michael Odenigbo (R)
Sunday, 13 December 2020. THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Gaudéte in Dómino semper: íterum dico, gaudéte. Dóminus enim prope est. Today is called GAUDETE SUNDAY. This name is taken from the entrance antiphon of the Mass, which is: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near - a quotation from Philippians 4,4-5. We followed our usual morning rhythm of spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When you choose to forgive those who have hurt you, you take away their power."
At our community Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
At 10.00am, I was at Christ the King Parish, Onitsha, for two events: 40th Wedding anniversary of Maria and Charles Sokei and reception of my two secretaries, Fr Innocent Udolisah and Michael Odenigbo, both of whom happen to come from the same parish.
Although violet colour is used during the period of Advent, on a Gaudete Sunday, where available, rose chasuble is used. I had the joy of using rose colour today.
Symbolically, Charles and Maria renewed their love for one another. Very kind words from each of them to the other. I praised both for the long years they have lived together despite different challenges they had gone through. After 40 years they "still stick together." May the Lord sustain them in His infinite love. Amen.
Before the congregation, I thanked my secretaries for their great collaboration.
Fr Godwin Okolo (I call him "the high priest") and his parishioners were gracious. Gifts to all of us visiting the parish. We were treated to a special lunch in the rectory.
Cardinal Arinze arrived this afternoon for a quiet period of rest.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When you choose to forgive those who have hurt you, you take away their power."
At our community Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- That our holy shepherds in the church may prolong in our midst the role of John the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord in our hearts by their preaching and the witness of their lives. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For the prophets of our own day, especially those who suffer for their stance on justice and morality, that they may have the faith in Jesus which will see them through their time of trial. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For the grace of patience in our relations with ourselves, with one another, and with our God; for the gift of graceful waiting during the slow process of growth and progress. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That we may enlarge our expectations of God, who promises more joy and glory than we know how to imagine, and that our faith may create the space God looks for to fill with His blessing. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That Jesus, who gave sight to the blind and cured lepers and made the deaf hear, may also hear us when we intercede for those who are most in need of healing and mercy. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That our faithful departed may be among God’s ransomed ones who enter Zion singing and crowned with everlasting joy. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
At 10.00am, I was at Christ the King Parish, Onitsha, for two events: 40th Wedding anniversary of Maria and Charles Sokei and reception of my two secretaries, Fr Innocent Udolisah and Michael Odenigbo, both of whom happen to come from the same parish.
Although violet colour is used during the period of Advent, on a Gaudete Sunday, where available, rose chasuble is used. I had the joy of using rose colour today.
Symbolically, Charles and Maria renewed their love for one another. Very kind words from each of them to the other. I praised both for the long years they have lived together despite different challenges they had gone through. After 40 years they "still stick together." May the Lord sustain them in His infinite love. Amen.
Before the congregation, I thanked my secretaries for their great collaboration.
Fr Godwin Okolo (I call him "the high priest") and his parishioners were gracious. Gifts to all of us visiting the parish. We were treated to a special lunch in the rectory.
Cardinal Arinze arrived this afternoon for a quiet period of rest.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Saturday, 12 December 2020. Usual morning devotions. After the stay in Abuja, it was beautiful to return to our practice of starting the day before the Lord. Beginning day before the Sanctissimum gives me a sense of direction for the day. Often I try to lay before Him my programme of the day. I pray for guidance. I pray for strength and courage. I pray for the people I would encounter during the day. In the Lord, hidden in the tabernacle, I lay to rest my worries. I say to Him: in manus tuas. Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
Psalm 139 touches me profoundly:
Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even though you are far away.
You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live.
Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it.
You are all around me. You are behind me and in front of me. You hold me in your power.
I'm amazed at how well you know me. It's more than I can understand.
How can I get away from your Spirit? Where can I go to escape from you?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the deepest parts of the earth, you are also there.
Suppose I were to rise with the sun in the east and then cross over to the west where it sinks into the ocean.
Your hand would always be there to guide me. Your right hand would still be holding me close.
Suppose I were to say, "I'm sure the darkness will hide me. The light around me will become as dark as night."
Even that darkness would not be dark to you. The night would shine like the day, because darkness is like light to you.
You created the deepest parts of my being. You put me together inside my mother's body.
How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well.
None of my bones was hidden from you when you made me inside my mother's body. That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth. When you were putting me together there, your eyes saw my body even before it was formed. You planned how many days I would live. You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them.
God, your thoughts about me are priceless. No one can possibly add them all up.
If I could count them, they would be more than the grains of sand. If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up, you would still be there with me.
At 10.00am, I was at St Edward's Catholic Church for the funeral of Chuba Charles Amobi. Many Priests concelebrated. Cardinal Francis Arinze presided while I did the Final Commendation. Requiescat in pace.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Psalm 139 touches me profoundly:
Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even though you are far away.
You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live.
Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it.
You are all around me. You are behind me and in front of me. You hold me in your power.
I'm amazed at how well you know me. It's more than I can understand.
How can I get away from your Spirit? Where can I go to escape from you?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the deepest parts of the earth, you are also there.
Suppose I were to rise with the sun in the east and then cross over to the west where it sinks into the ocean.
Your hand would always be there to guide me. Your right hand would still be holding me close.
Suppose I were to say, "I'm sure the darkness will hide me. The light around me will become as dark as night."
Even that darkness would not be dark to you. The night would shine like the day, because darkness is like light to you.
You created the deepest parts of my being. You put me together inside my mother's body.
How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well.
None of my bones was hidden from you when you made me inside my mother's body. That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth. When you were putting me together there, your eyes saw my body even before it was formed. You planned how many days I would live. You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them.
God, your thoughts about me are priceless. No one can possibly add them all up.
If I could count them, they would be more than the grains of sand. If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up, you would still be there with me.
At 10.00am, I was at St Edward's Catholic Church for the funeral of Chuba Charles Amobi. Many Priests concelebrated. Cardinal Francis Arinze presided while I did the Final Commendation. Requiescat in pace.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Friday, 11 December 2020. Still in Abuja. At about 11.00am, I was at the airport for my flight to Asaba. Flight delayed but eventually got home safely.
Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Confitemini Deo deorum, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Confitemini Domino dominorum, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Qui facit mirabilia magna solus, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Confitemini Deo deorum, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Confitemini Domino dominorum, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Qui facit mirabilia magna solus, quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Thursday, 10 December 2020. I woke up this morning in Abuja. Short period of adoration with Office of Lauds, in private, at St Gabriel's chapel.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have - GRATITUDE."
The Bishops concelebrated holy Mass at 7.00am. I presided and also gave a brief homily. Soon after we had our breakfast.
At 9.00am, we started the second session of our board meeting. This took us to 1.00pm when we concluded the meeting with the Office of Afternoon Prayers, followed by lunch.
In the evening Fr Mike Umoh accompanied me for an outing. I used the late evening to organize my programme of pastoral activities for the early part of next year.
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have - GRATITUDE."
The Bishops concelebrated holy Mass at 7.00am. I presided and also gave a brief homily. Soon after we had our breakfast.
At 9.00am, we started the second session of our board meeting. This took us to 1.00pm when we concluded the meeting with the Office of Afternoon Prayers, followed by lunch.
In the evening Fr Mike Umoh accompanied me for an outing. I used the late evening to organize my programme of pastoral activities for the early part of next year.
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night
Wednesday, 9 December 2020. Usual early greetings to our Blessed Mother. Véniet Dóminus et non tardábit, et illuminábit abscóndita tenebrárum, et manifestábit se ad omnes gentes. The day began with the usual early greetings to our Lady. Every other morning spiritual activity took place in an accelerated format.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't fear change. You may lose something good, but you may also gain something great."
At Mass, we said the following Collect: Almighty God, who command us to prepare the way for Christ the Lord, grant in your kindness, we pray, that no infirmity may weary us as we long for the comforting presence of our heavenly physician. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
I hurried my breakfast and headed towards Asaba airport. Flight to Abuja on Air Peace Boeing 737. Very many passengers. Smooth flight. We landed safely in Abuja. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria driver at the airport to receive me. He took me to the Catholic Resource Centre (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria headquarters) Durumi, Abuja.
At 5.00pm, we started the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria (CBCN) Administrative Board meeting. About 11 of us in attendance. End of this session at about 7.30pm. Vespers followed by Supper. End of the day.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't fear change. You may lose something good, but you may also gain something great."
At Mass, we said the following Collect: Almighty God, who command us to prepare the way for Christ the Lord, grant in your kindness, we pray, that no infirmity may weary us as we long for the comforting presence of our heavenly physician. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
I hurried my breakfast and headed towards Asaba airport. Flight to Abuja on Air Peace Boeing 737. Very many passengers. Smooth flight. We landed safely in Abuja. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria driver at the airport to receive me. He took me to the Catholic Resource Centre (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria headquarters) Durumi, Abuja.
At 5.00pm, we started the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria (CBCN) Administrative Board meeting. About 11 of us in attendance. End of this session at about 7.30pm. Vespers followed by Supper. End of the day.
After Mass: Newly professed Brothers and their Superior General
Tuesday, 8 December 2020. SOLEMNITY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
We followed the order of our morning spiritual activities: Sitting in silence before the Lord, Adoration/Meditation, Office of Lauds, and Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "One day, you will be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one."
During our community Mass we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For the whole church, keeping this festival of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, which is a sign of our own vocation to holiness, that we may gratefully cooperate with our grace as Mary did. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That Mary, Queen of Peace, may hear the anguished prayers for peace that rise from the hearts of her suffering children, and intercede with her divine Son for the conversion of heart which alone brings true peace. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For all who want to hide from God as they feel the guilt of their sin, that God may find them and continue the dialogue until truth does its cleansing work and salvation triumphs in Jesus. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For all the sick and suffering who have been recommended to our prayers, that with Mary Immaculate, they may let it be done to them according to God’s word, surrendering to His grace in peace. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For our loved ones who have died, that God who chose them may cleanse them and make them immaculate for the praise of His glory in heaven. Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
Lunch in Cardinal Arinze's residence.
Back to Aguleri, I had a quiet evening.
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye cherubim,
Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!
Monday, 7 December 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST AMBROSE. In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os eius, et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus; stolam glóriæ índuit eum. We are adore the true body born of the Virgin Mary - Ave verum...
Hail, true body
born of the Virgin Mary,
Who truly suffered, sacrificed
on the Cross for man,
Whose pierced side overflowed
with water and blood,
Be for us a foretaste
in the test of death.
We followed our usual rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "We tend to forget that happiness does not come as a result of getting something we do not have, but by appreciating what we do have."
I was home throughout today. In the afternoon, I had a working lunch with a professor to discuss funding education in a tertiary institution. Lord, show me how to do something great for your people, without noise!
Hail, true body
born of the Virgin Mary,
Who truly suffered, sacrificed
on the Cross for man,
Whose pierced side overflowed
with water and blood,
Be for us a foretaste
in the test of death.
We followed our usual rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "We tend to forget that happiness does not come as a result of getting something we do not have, but by appreciating what we do have."
I was home throughout today. In the afternoon, I had a working lunch with a professor to discuss funding education in a tertiary institution. Lord, show me how to do something great for your people, without noise!
Sunday, 6 December 2020. SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Pópulus Sion, ecce Dóminus véniet ad salvándas gentes; et audítam fáciet Dóminus glóriam vocis suæ in lætítia cordis vestri. To our blessed Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist we address: Isi ala ikpere ala k'anyi n'etiri Sakramenti ukwu. Mana emume nke di ohuru nochiri anya aja nke ochie. Okwukwe n'emeju ihe nke nti na anya enweghi ike inye. Otito na ngori diiri Nna na Nwa, ngozi ndu ike n'ebube diaziri ha. Otito di elu dikwuaziri Ya Onye si na Nna na Nwa puta. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one."
At 10.00am, I was at St Peter's Parish Ojoto. It was my second pastoral visit. The Parish Priest - Fr Godwin Muodum - prepared the people well for this spiritual exercise. Their church being very small, we celebrated Mass in the space in front of the Rectory. On the side of the people, there was a good turn out. In order to establish closeness to the people, had to give the homily in the middle of the square under the scorching sun. Strangely, I did not feel the heat of the sun. The Lord wanted His people to hear His words well. He shielded me from the heat of the sun. About a hundred and fifty persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
There was reception immediately after Mass. Very enthusiastic and happy people. Speeches. Dances. Then I went into the rectory where I had close interaction with the Priests. Good lunch.
Before departure I went to the site of the new church to bless the foundation. I am very hopeful that by June 2021 block work will almost be completed. We rely on the Lord: nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum, in vanum laborant, qui aedificant eam.
We drove straight from Ojoto to Abacha for the funeral vigil Mass for Michael Okosa (brother of Fr Nicholas Okosa. We arrived about two hours earlier that the scheduled time for the Mass. I went to the Father's house in Abacha to sit down and wait for the scheduled time.
At 5.00pm, I presided at the funeral vigil Mass in the compound of Okosa in Abacha. Many priests were able to join us. From Abacha I drove back to Aguleri.
At the close of the day, I thanked the Lord for all that I was able to accomplish. It was all by His grace. Our Blessed Mother is always by our side:
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
sancta Dei Genitrix:
nostras deprecationes
ne despicias in necessitatibus:
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one."
At 10.00am, I was at St Peter's Parish Ojoto. It was my second pastoral visit. The Parish Priest - Fr Godwin Muodum - prepared the people well for this spiritual exercise. Their church being very small, we celebrated Mass in the space in front of the Rectory. On the side of the people, there was a good turn out. In order to establish closeness to the people, had to give the homily in the middle of the square under the scorching sun. Strangely, I did not feel the heat of the sun. The Lord wanted His people to hear His words well. He shielded me from the heat of the sun. About a hundred and fifty persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
There was reception immediately after Mass. Very enthusiastic and happy people. Speeches. Dances. Then I went into the rectory where I had close interaction with the Priests. Good lunch.
Before departure I went to the site of the new church to bless the foundation. I am very hopeful that by June 2021 block work will almost be completed. We rely on the Lord: nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum, in vanum laborant, qui aedificant eam.
We drove straight from Ojoto to Abacha for the funeral vigil Mass for Michael Okosa (brother of Fr Nicholas Okosa. We arrived about two hours earlier that the scheduled time for the Mass. I went to the Father's house in Abacha to sit down and wait for the scheduled time.
At 5.00pm, I presided at the funeral vigil Mass in the compound of Okosa in Abacha. Many priests were able to join us. From Abacha I drove back to Aguleri.
At the close of the day, I thanked the Lord for all that I was able to accomplish. It was all by His grace. Our Blessed Mother is always by our side:
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
sancta Dei Genitrix:
nostras deprecationes
ne despicias in necessitatibus:
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
Saturday, 5 December 2020. Usual early greetings to our Blessed Mother. Our antiphon for the day: Veni, et osténde nobis fáciem tuam, Dómine, qui sedes super Chérubim, et salvi érimus. We followed our morning rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, and the best things come to those who don't give up."
At Mass today, we prayed: Deus, qui, ad liberándum humánum genus a vetustátis condicióne, Unigénitum tuum in hunc mundum misísti, largíre devóte exspectántibus supérnæ tuæ grátiam pietátis, ut ad veræ perveniámus prǽmium libertátis. And we said the following intercessory prayer:
For a good part of today, I was indoors: reading and writing. I try to update myself in secular and religious affairs.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. I said this prayer tonight:
Visita populum tuum, Domine;
Ecclesiam tuam coaduna.
Papam nostrum Francisco conserva
Episcopos nostros protege.
Missionarios dirige.
Sacerdotes indue iustitia.
Religiosos sanctifica.
Inimicitias exstingue.
Pueros gratia tua nutri.
Iuvenes in sapientia fac proficere.
Senes sustenta et consolare.
Amicis nostris munera largire
Defunctos sanctis accense.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, and the best things come to those who don't give up."
At Mass today, we prayed: Deus, qui, ad liberándum humánum genus a vetustátis condicióne, Unigénitum tuum in hunc mundum misísti, largíre devóte exspectántibus supérnæ tuæ grátiam pietátis, ut ad veræ perveniámus prǽmium libertátis. And we said the following intercessory prayer:
- For the church, that it will ever be a place where the lowly can find joy in the Lord and the poor rejoice in God’s love, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For peace, that the tyrant may be no more, and all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, and that the threat of war may be kept from us by the Prince of Peace, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For all those who feel engulfed in the world’s misuse of Christmas, that through Advent liturgies, penance services, and special practices in Church and home they may be steadied and sustained in their spiritual preparation, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- For all who seek healing from the Lord Jesus and pursue Him with their longing, that they may have the confidence He asks in order to work His miracles, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
- That our beloved departed ones may be purified quickly and be free to gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and receive His bounty in the land of the living, Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us.
For a good part of today, I was indoors: reading and writing. I try to update myself in secular and religious affairs.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. I said this prayer tonight:
Visita populum tuum, Domine;
Ecclesiam tuam coaduna.
Papam nostrum Francisco conserva
Episcopos nostros protege.
Missionarios dirige.
Sacerdotes indue iustitia.
Religiosos sanctifica.
Inimicitias exstingue.
Pueros gratia tua nutri.
Iuvenes in sapientia fac proficere.
Senes sustenta et consolare.
Amicis nostris munera largire
Defunctos sanctis accense.
Friday, 4 December 2020. Before the Sanctissimum we adore. Today is Friday when we usual turn our minds to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
Usual morning devotions: Adoration with meditation, office of Lauds, and Benediction. Holy Mass followed.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Break the habit. Talk about your joys."
At 4.00pm, a meeting was held by Catholic Bishops working in Anambra State to reflect on aspects of rights, justice and fairness in our State.
Happy conclusion of the day.
Usual morning devotions: Adoration with meditation, office of Lauds, and Benediction. Holy Mass followed.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Break the habit. Talk about your joys."
At 4.00pm, a meeting was held by Catholic Bishops working in Anambra State to reflect on aspects of rights, justice and fairness in our State.
Happy conclusion of the day.
Thursday, 3 December 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER. Confitebor tibi in populis, Domine, et narrabo nomen tuum fratribus meis. Usual morning spiritual activities. Today we prayed in a special way for Cardinal Francis Arinze on the feast day of his patronal saint.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "No matter what knocks you down in life, get up and keep going. NEVER GIVE UP. Great blessings come as a result of great perseverance. With COURAGE and PERSEVERANCE you will surely climb the highest mountain of life."
At Mass we prayed: O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier won many peoples to yourself, grant that the hearts of the faithful may burn with the same zeal for the faith and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice in an abundance of offspring.
In the evening, at 5.00pm in Awka Etiti, presided at the funeral vigil Mass for the mother of Fr Chris Ifem. Requiescat in pace.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "No matter what knocks you down in life, get up and keep going. NEVER GIVE UP. Great blessings come as a result of great perseverance. With COURAGE and PERSEVERANCE you will surely climb the highest mountain of life."
At Mass we prayed: O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier won many peoples to yourself, grant that the hearts of the faithful may burn with the same zeal for the faith and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice in an abundance of offspring.
In the evening, at 5.00pm in Awka Etiti, presided at the funeral vigil Mass for the mother of Fr Chris Ifem. Requiescat in pace.
Wednesday, 2 December 2020. Early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. We did not have our usual community spiritual exercises. Instead person prayed in private.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
Breakfast 7.00am. Soon I left home for the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.
At 9.00am, concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica by the Priests of Onitsha Archdiocese to mark the end of the year. Many priests were late. It is always difficult to beat the traffic into Onitsha during the morning rush hours for work. After Mass, we went over to the Shanahan Hall for the meeting. This would be the last Plenary Meeting of the Onitsha Archdiocesan Presbyterium for the year 2020.
I stayed for lunch after the meeting. This provided good opportunity for me to thank many priests in Aguleri, Nnobi and Igbariam regions for the great priestly spirit the showed throughout the year.
Back to Aguleri - a quiet evening.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
Breakfast 7.00am. Soon I left home for the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.
At 9.00am, concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica by the Priests of Onitsha Archdiocese to mark the end of the year. Many priests were late. It is always difficult to beat the traffic into Onitsha during the morning rush hours for work. After Mass, we went over to the Shanahan Hall for the meeting. This would be the last Plenary Meeting of the Onitsha Archdiocesan Presbyterium for the year 2020.
I stayed for lunch after the meeting. This provided good opportunity for me to thank many priests in Aguleri, Nnobi and Igbariam regions for the great priestly spirit the showed throughout the year.
Back to Aguleri - a quiet evening.
Tuesday, 1 December 2020. Ecce Dóminus véniet, et omnes sancti eius cum eo; et erit in die illa lux magna. Usual morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."
In the magazine The Priest for December 2020, I found this prayer:
Prayer for Fidelity Father, Son, and Spirit, aid me in my quest for fidelity. Help me to escape the clutch of my own ego control and to find the peace I so ardently seek. You gave me the words of eternal life. You taught me how to pray, “Hallowed be thy name.”May thy kingdom on earth reign in me now as it shall in the life to come. Sustain me with the Eucharistic bread and wine of life.Unworthy as I am to ask your forgiveness for the wrongdoing I have done, I thank you for it and I promise to do my best to extend this grace to every soul in need. Most of all, Father, guide me along the path of salvation and deliver me from all that blocks my fidelity to you. Guided by your light, I promise to convey a message of joy, not of sorrow, of thanksgiving, not of regret to the wounded ones you have deigned to entrust to my care. Amen.
Table work activities during the day.
In the evening, funeral Vigil Mass for Fr Julius Ututo at St Michael's Parish Umudim Nnewi. Bishop Hilary Okeke presided. I came to identify with and pray for Fr Julius Ututo whom I have known for a long time in Onitsha archdiocese as a gentle and hard-working priest. He suffered blindness during his last years on earth. May Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest grant him rich reward for his priestly ministry on earth. With him I prayed to the Lord: Tu es, Domine, qui restitues hereditatem meam mihi.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."
In the magazine The Priest for December 2020, I found this prayer:
Prayer for Fidelity Father, Son, and Spirit, aid me in my quest for fidelity. Help me to escape the clutch of my own ego control and to find the peace I so ardently seek. You gave me the words of eternal life. You taught me how to pray, “Hallowed be thy name.”May thy kingdom on earth reign in me now as it shall in the life to come. Sustain me with the Eucharistic bread and wine of life.Unworthy as I am to ask your forgiveness for the wrongdoing I have done, I thank you for it and I promise to do my best to extend this grace to every soul in need. Most of all, Father, guide me along the path of salvation and deliver me from all that blocks my fidelity to you. Guided by your light, I promise to convey a message of joy, not of sorrow, of thanksgiving, not of regret to the wounded ones you have deigned to entrust to my care. Amen.
Table work activities during the day.
In the evening, funeral Vigil Mass for Fr Julius Ututo at St Michael's Parish Umudim Nnewi. Bishop Hilary Okeke presided. I came to identify with and pray for Fr Julius Ututo whom I have known for a long time in Onitsha archdiocese as a gentle and hard-working priest. He suffered blindness during his last years on earth. May Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest grant him rich reward for his priestly ministry on earth. With him I prayed to the Lord: Tu es, Domine, qui restitues hereditatem meam mihi.
Monday, 30 November 2020. FEAST OF ST ANDREW. Dóminus secus mare Galilǽæ vidit duos fratres, Petrum et Andréam, et vocávit eos: Veníte post me, fáciam vos fíeri piscatóres hóminum. Usual morning rhythm of spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “There are three things you can do with your life: You can waste it, you can spend it, or you can invest it. The best use of your life is to invest it in something that will last longer than your time on Earth.”
During the Office of Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayers:
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “There are three things you can do with your life: You can waste it, you can spend it, or you can invest it. The best use of your life is to invest it in something that will last longer than your time on Earth.”
During the Office of Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- Since we have received from the apostles our heavenly inheritance, let us thank our Father for all his blessings. – LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
- Praise to you Lord God, for the gift of Christ’s body and blood, handed on by the apostles, to give us strength and life – LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
- For the table of your word, served by the apostles, to bring us light and joy; – LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
- For your holy Church, built on the apostles, to make us all one body – LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
- For the washing of baptism and penance, entrusted to the apostles, to cleanse our hearts from sin; – LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
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Among the People of God in Umueri
Welcome by the oldest member of the Church Community, Umueri
Veni, Creator Spiritus: Tu septiformis munere
Sunday, 29 November 2020. FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Ad te levávi ánimam meam, Deus meus, in te confído, non erubéscam. Neque irrídeant me inimíci mei, étenim univérsi qui te exspéctant non confundéntur. St John the Baptist invites us to prepare ourselves and the way of the Lord, by shedding "old leaves" of sin and imperfection, making straight the winding paths, filling up valleys and lowering down mountains.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The best portion of a good man’s life is his little nameless, unencumbered acts of kindness and of love.”
During our Community Mass, we said the following intercessory prayer:
The Church was full. About sixty persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. On this First Sunday of Advent we prayed: Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.
The reception in the old church was very warm. There was very good interaction between the People of God and myself. We praise the Lord. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The best portion of a good man’s life is his little nameless, unencumbered acts of kindness and of love.”
During our Community Mass, we said the following intercessory prayer:
- For the whole church, summoned again to wake from sleep, to throw off the works of darkness and to put on the armor of light, that we may respond joyously to this message, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the Lord’s house may be established on the highest peak, and all nations stream toward Him for instruction and counsel, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may stay awake, ready and watching for the coming of our Lord and Master, that His arrival may not be a disruption of our lives, but the goal of all our desires, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For the grace to keep our souls in silence and vigilance, alert to the many small arrivals of the Lord that come through events and circumstances, and through those we love, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those whose Advent is full of pain, illness, loneliness, hunger, and poverty, that we may be willing to reach out to them and assist them in their every need, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our faithful departed, who have set foot within the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem, that they may enjoy everlasting peace, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
The Church was full. About sixty persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. On this First Sunday of Advent we prayed: Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.
The reception in the old church was very warm. There was very good interaction between the People of God and myself. We praise the Lord. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
Saturday, 28 November 2020. Loquétur Dóminus pacem in plebem suam, et super sanctos suos, et in eos qui convertúntur ad ipsum. Usual morning devotions. Last day of the ordinary time of the year.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayer:
After Mass, I invited the Archbishop to lunch in my residence. He gladly accepted. From there we went to join Governor Willie Obiano and the Exco members of Anambra State Government to supervise the on-going construction work at the site of the Anambra State International Passenger/Cargo airport, Umueri. Unbelievable! Fantastic! Am I in a dreamworld? I prayed: Quia qui coepit hoc opus bonum, perficiet.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayer:
- God the Father has adopted us as brothers of his only Son, and through the ages has stayed with us and kept us in his love. Let us ask him for the needs of the world. LORD, HELP US AS WE WORK.
- We pray for all who plan and build in our cities: give them respect for every human value. LORD, HELP US AS WE WORK.
- Pour out your Spirit on artists, craftsmen, and musicians: may their work bring variety, joy, and inspiration to our lives. LORD, HELP US AS WE WORK.
- Be with us as the cornerstone of all that we build: for we can do nothing well without your aid. LORD, HELP US AS WE WORK.
- You have created us anew in the resurrection of your Son: give us the strength to create a new life, and a new world. LORD, HELP US AS WE WORK.
After Mass, I invited the Archbishop to lunch in my residence. He gladly accepted. From there we went to join Governor Willie Obiano and the Exco members of Anambra State Government to supervise the on-going construction work at the site of the Anambra State International Passenger/Cargo airport, Umueri. Unbelievable! Fantastic! Am I in a dreamworld? I prayed: Quia qui coepit hoc opus bonum, perficiet.
Friday, 27 November 2020. Coeur de Jésus sauvez le monde, que l’univers vous soit soumis en Vous seul notre espoir se fonde Seigneur, Seigneur, Vous nous l’avez promis. It is always a wonderful experience to start each day recollected before our Lord Jesus Christ hidden in the tabernacle. Deduc me, Domine, in via tua, et ingrediar in veritate tua; laetetur cor meum, ut timeat nomen tuum. Usual morning usual activities in our community. Votive Mass of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When we are wrong and we surrender, we are HONEST; when we are in doubt and we surrender, we are WISE; and when we are right and we surrender, it means that we VALUE RELATIONS."
At 10.00am, I was at the novitiate of the Brothers of St Stephen for the funeral of Br John Iheanacho. He was the immediate elder brother of my driver, Onyeka and he belonged to the Congregation of the Brothers of St Stephen. At the Missa exequalis, Cardinal Arinze was principal celebrant and homilist and Archbishop Valerian Okeke conducted the Final Commendation. I concelebrated with about five other priests.
Brother John was buried at the Brothers of St Stephen Cemetery, Nkwelle Ezunaka. Requiescat in pace. I returned to Aguleri immediately after the interment.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. To our Blessed Mother we turn:
O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church,---all her eyes are on thee;
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When we are wrong and we surrender, we are HONEST; when we are in doubt and we surrender, we are WISE; and when we are right and we surrender, it means that we VALUE RELATIONS."
At 10.00am, I was at the novitiate of the Brothers of St Stephen for the funeral of Br John Iheanacho. He was the immediate elder brother of my driver, Onyeka and he belonged to the Congregation of the Brothers of St Stephen. At the Missa exequalis, Cardinal Arinze was principal celebrant and homilist and Archbishop Valerian Okeke conducted the Final Commendation. I concelebrated with about five other priests.
Brother John was buried at the Brothers of St Stephen Cemetery, Nkwelle Ezunaka. Requiescat in pace. I returned to Aguleri immediately after the interment.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. To our Blessed Mother we turn:
O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church,---all her eyes are on thee;
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Thursday, 26 November 2020. Loquétur Dóminus pacem in plebem suam, et super sanctos suos, et in eos qui convertúntur ad ipsum. Usual morning devotions.
At 10.00am, I was at St Joseph's Church Oraukwu for the funeral Mass for pa Onuora. Requiescat in pace.
At 10.00am, I was at St Joseph's Church Oraukwu for the funeral Mass for pa Onuora. Requiescat in pace.
Wednesday, 25 November 2020. In nomine Iesu omne genu flectatur, caelestium, terrestrium et infernorum; et omnis lingua confiteatur quia Dominus Iesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris. As usual, we assembled before the Lord in adoration: Holy God, we praise Thy Name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee!
All on earth Thy scepter claim, All in Heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign.
Votive Mass of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Goodbye is the best ever gift that you can receive from worse friends. Never hesitate to wave it back. Be bold to say no to what always keep you static!"
Bishop Ernest Obodo joined me for lunch. His efforts to engage in different agricultural projects are worth exploring and imitating.
At 5.00pm, I was in Ejighinandu village of Awka Etiti for the funeral vigil Mass for the eternal repose of pa Patrick Adimike. Bishops Hilary Okeke and Peter Okpaleke with very many priests concelebrated. Requiescat in pace.
At night we prayed: Il signore ci conceda una notte serena e un riposo tranquillo. Amen
All on earth Thy scepter claim, All in Heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign.
Votive Mass of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Goodbye is the best ever gift that you can receive from worse friends. Never hesitate to wave it back. Be bold to say no to what always keep you static!"
Bishop Ernest Obodo joined me for lunch. His efforts to engage in different agricultural projects are worth exploring and imitating.
At 5.00pm, I was in Ejighinandu village of Awka Etiti for the funeral vigil Mass for the eternal repose of pa Patrick Adimike. Bishops Hilary Okeke and Peter Okpaleke with very many priests concelebrated. Requiescat in pace.
At night we prayed: Il signore ci conceda una notte serena e un riposo tranquillo. Amen
Opening and Blessing of Chapel of Adoration at St Anthony's Parish, Nteje.
Tuesday, 24 November 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST ANDREW DUNG-LAC AND HIS COMPANIONS. Nobis absit gloriári nisi in cruce Dómini nostri Iesu Christi. Verbum enim crucis nobis, qui salvi facti sumus, virtus Dei est. Usual rhythm of morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Blames after each failure keep lessons unlearned. When you fall, rise quickly and learn your lessons...Blames will never make change; applied lessons will do!"
After the Mass today, I took a long walk round my compound accompanied by Mons. Ekpenyong.
I was indoors for a good part of today happily working at my desk. I thank God that I can sit for hours reading and writing.
At 4.00pm, I was at the rectory of St Anthony's Parish for the blessing of a chapel build by the family of Ozua. I blessed the tabernacle: Lord and Father of all holiness, from whom the true bread from heaven has come down to us, bless us and + the tabernacle we have prepared for the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood. Through our adoration of your Son present in the Eucharist, lead us to a closer union with the mystery of redemption. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
With Mons. Ekpenyong and Fr Innocent Udolisah, I was at Awka for supper at my sister's home.
Back to Aguleri. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Blames after each failure keep lessons unlearned. When you fall, rise quickly and learn your lessons...Blames will never make change; applied lessons will do!"
After the Mass today, I took a long walk round my compound accompanied by Mons. Ekpenyong.
I was indoors for a good part of today happily working at my desk. I thank God that I can sit for hours reading and writing.
At 4.00pm, I was at the rectory of St Anthony's Parish for the blessing of a chapel build by the family of Ozua. I blessed the tabernacle: Lord and Father of all holiness, from whom the true bread from heaven has come down to us, bless us and + the tabernacle we have prepared for the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood. Through our adoration of your Son present in the Eucharist, lead us to a closer union with the mystery of redemption. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
With Mons. Ekpenyong and Fr Innocent Udolisah, I was at Awka for supper at my sister's home.
Back to Aguleri. Good night, Lord.
Monday, 23 November 2020. Early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. Usual morning devotions. The visiting Mons. Michael Ekpenyong (former Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria) was present. Today Cardinal Francis Arinze clocked sixty two years as a Priest. Remembering that song of offering of self to God: Tu es, Domine, qui restitues hereditatem meam mihi, we prayed: Holy Father, who, by no merit of your son Francis, chose him for communion with eternal priesthood of your Christ and for the ministry of your Church, grant that he may remain an ardent yet gentle preacher of the Gospel and a faithful steward of your mysteries.
At 11.00am, I was at the Education House of the Archdiocese of Onitsha for the meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Anambra State. All the bishops (Valerian Okeke, Hilary Okeke, Paulinus Ezeokafor, Peter Okpaleke, Jonas Benson Okoye and Denis Isizoh) were present for the meeting.
Quiet evening. I gave time for a relaxed dinner with the visiting Mons. Ekpenyong.
At 11.00am, I was at the Education House of the Archdiocese of Onitsha for the meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Anambra State. All the bishops (Valerian Okeke, Hilary Okeke, Paulinus Ezeokafor, Peter Okpaleke, Jonas Benson Okoye and Denis Isizoh) were present for the meeting.
Quiet evening. I gave time for a relaxed dinner with the visiting Mons. Ekpenyong.
Sunday, 22 November 2020. SOLEMNITY OF JESUS CHRIST THE UNIVERSAL KING. Dignus est Agnus, qui occisus est, accipere virtutem et divinitatem et sapientiam et fortitudinem et honorem. Ipsi gloria et imperium in saecula saeculorum. I remember my write up on the kingdom of Christ. "A Christian is a person of hope. He or she prays for the coming of God’s kingdom: “eternal and universal kingdom”, “a kingdom of truth and life”, “a kingdom of holiness and grace”, and “a kingdom of justice, love and peace”.29 But the kingdom is not just in the future, it is already inaugurated in Christ and it is “among you” (Luke 17,21). Christians must bear witness to this kingdom, which is already present, by the way they live and by their activities in the society. They must be the “light” and the “salt” of the earth. In the face of aggression, they must continue to speak the language of peace. Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5,9)."
Today, in Nigeria, we observe "Corpus Christi" procession in our towns and villages. This year because of COVID19, all parishes were asked to proceed around the Church premises only.
Here at St Joseph Aguleri, the Sanctissimum was brought to my compound. After some minutes of veneration, there was Benediction. The procession continued.
Almighty ever-living God,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of the universe,
grant, we pray,
that the whole creation, set free from slavery,
may render your majesty service
and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.
Today, in Nigeria, we observe "Corpus Christi" procession in our towns and villages. This year because of COVID19, all parishes were asked to proceed around the Church premises only.
Here at St Joseph Aguleri, the Sanctissimum was brought to my compound. After some minutes of veneration, there was Benediction. The procession continued.
Almighty ever-living God,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of the universe,
grant, we pray,
that the whole creation, set free from slavery,
may render your majesty service
and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.
Saturday, 21 November 2020. Ave verum corpus natum... Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, having truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, from whose pierced side water and blood flowed: Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death! O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus, O Jesus, son of Mary. Our usual order of morning devotion: Adoration - Meditation - Office of Lauds.
At Mass we said the following intercessory prayers:
At Mass we said the following intercessory prayers:
- That our Blessed Mother may live the mystery of her presence in the house of the Lord again in today’s church, radiating her hidden attraction to enkindle us all in God’s service, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For peace; that Mary, Queen of Peace may bring into God’s presence the peace offerings of prayer and penance she has harvested from her children, to turn the tide of world events back to the God of peace, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we who ponder God’s word within His temple and share the fruits of this perfect sacrifice may rededicate ourselves with Mary to His service, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who are in need of Mary’s tender care in their sickness, poverty, or grief, that with her we may go forth from this holy temple to serve and love them in Jesus’ name, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our dear ones who have died, that they may be brought into God’s heavenly temple with gladness and joy, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Friday, 20 November 2020. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et populo et natione, et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum. This morning we celebrated Votive Mass of the Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We followed our usual rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.”
At Mass we prayed: Deus, qui pretioso Unigeniti tui Sanguine universos homines redemisti, conserva in nobis opus misericordiae tuae, ut, nostrae salutes mysterium iugiter recolentes, et eiusdem fructum consequi mereamur.
I was indoors to take care of my crowded working table.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.”
At Mass we prayed: Deus, qui pretioso Unigeniti tui Sanguine universos homines redemisti, conserva in nobis opus misericordiae tuae, ut, nostrae salutes mysterium iugiter recolentes, et eiusdem fructum consequi mereamur.
I was indoors to take care of my crowded working table.
Thursday, 19 November 2020. Invocation of our Blessed Mother. I woke up this morning at Nsukka, University Guest house. There was no opportunity for adoration and my other usual morning spiritual activities. Breakfast at the restaurant. Soon we prepared for the Mass.
We did not start the Mass at 10.00am. The seating arrangement was no child's play. Thousands of people were present. Anybody who was anybody in Nsukka diocese was present. The Cathedral was massive. Many canopies were set up outside. I praise the competence and the calmness of the coordinators. Soon the bishops were on procession - the last to enter the cathedral. Over thirty Catholic Bishops from different parts of Nigeria were present. The two elders in the province: Bishop Francis Okobo (emeritus of Nsukka, who started the Cathedral thirty years ago) and Bishop Anthony Gbuji (emeritus of Enugu), were both present. Bishop Godfrey led the procession, blessing the people gathered as he proceeded to the altar.
I cannot think of any cathedral larger than this in Nigeria. The design of the cathedral was super. The artistic work unparalleled.
It was a very solemn celebration. Bishop Godfrey Onah was at his best. He handled the ceremonies with perfection that is characteristic of him. His homily was on the significance of the cathedral, its features, and the meaning of today's consecration of the Church and the People of God. It was a thing of joy, a wonderful spectacle, to see Bishop Godfrey Onah and his predecessor, Bishop Francis Okobo, anointing the altar at the same time.
At the end, I returned to Aguleri with songs of gratitude to God in my heart.
We did not start the Mass at 10.00am. The seating arrangement was no child's play. Thousands of people were present. Anybody who was anybody in Nsukka diocese was present. The Cathedral was massive. Many canopies were set up outside. I praise the competence and the calmness of the coordinators. Soon the bishops were on procession - the last to enter the cathedral. Over thirty Catholic Bishops from different parts of Nigeria were present. The two elders in the province: Bishop Francis Okobo (emeritus of Nsukka, who started the Cathedral thirty years ago) and Bishop Anthony Gbuji (emeritus of Enugu), were both present. Bishop Godfrey led the procession, blessing the people gathered as he proceeded to the altar.
I cannot think of any cathedral larger than this in Nigeria. The design of the cathedral was super. The artistic work unparalleled.
It was a very solemn celebration. Bishop Godfrey Onah was at his best. He handled the ceremonies with perfection that is characteristic of him. His homily was on the significance of the cathedral, its features, and the meaning of today's consecration of the Church and the People of God. It was a thing of joy, a wonderful spectacle, to see Bishop Godfrey Onah and his predecessor, Bishop Francis Okobo, anointing the altar at the same time.
At the end, I returned to Aguleri with songs of gratitude to God in my heart.
Wednesday, 18 November 2020. Isti sunt sancti, qui accepérunt benedictiónem a Dómino et misericórdiam a Deo salutári suo, quia hæc est generátio quæréntium Dóminum. MEMORIAL OF ST ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. Our usual rhythm of morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Living together is an art. It's a patient art, it's a beautiful art, it's fascinating.
At our community Mass we prayed: O God, by whose gift Saint Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and revered Christ in the poor, grant, through her intercession, that we may serve with unfailing charity the needy and those afflicted.
Today, I was at St Kevin's Church Nnobi for the funeral Mass for ma Catherine Okafor. Requiescat in pace. Immediately after the Mass, I returned home for lunch. Then I set out for Nsukka.
God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He's swift to repay,
All those who bear the burden of the day.
God gives His people strength.
Smooth journey to Nsukka, where many bishops, including the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria (Archbishop Antonio Guido Fillipazzi), and very large number of the People of God, were gathering for the dedication of St Theresa's Cathedral. We began this evening with Vespers followed by well organised dinner.
Those of us Bishops from Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province were given accommodation at the Guest house of the University of Nigeria Nsukka. We retired to bed, looking forward to the great event of the next day - the consecration of the cathedral of St Theresa Nsukka by Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Living together is an art. It's a patient art, it's a beautiful art, it's fascinating.
At our community Mass we prayed: O God, by whose gift Saint Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and revered Christ in the poor, grant, through her intercession, that we may serve with unfailing charity the needy and those afflicted.
Today, I was at St Kevin's Church Nnobi for the funeral Mass for ma Catherine Okafor. Requiescat in pace. Immediately after the Mass, I returned home for lunch. Then I set out for Nsukka.
God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He's swift to repay,
All those who bear the burden of the day.
God gives His people strength.
Smooth journey to Nsukka, where many bishops, including the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria (Archbishop Antonio Guido Fillipazzi), and very large number of the People of God, were gathering for the dedication of St Theresa's Cathedral. We began this evening with Vespers followed by well organised dinner.
Those of us Bishops from Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province were given accommodation at the Guest house of the University of Nigeria Nsukka. We retired to bed, looking forward to the great event of the next day - the consecration of the cathedral of St Theresa Nsukka by Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah.
Tuesday, 17 November 2020. I did not participate in our usual community spiritual exercises. I had early early breakfast. Soon I was on my way to Blessed Iwene Tansi for the inauguration of the new academic year. Holy Mass at 7.30am. Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. Breakfast followed.
Soon after the breakfast, I took a walk to All Hallows Seminary Onitsha, just to see the compound. Nostalgia to see the places where I spent time during my years of formation in the minor seminary.
At 9.30am we assembled in the hall of Blessed Iwene Tansi for the inaugural lecture given be Rev. Dr Jude Udechukwu: Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi: A Model for Formators and Seminarians of Blessed Iwene Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha, in the ongoing Quest for Inculturation in Igboland. Excellent paper, well delivered. I had the privilege to pronounce the solemn words of the inauguration of 2020/2021 Academic Year: IN THE NAME OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, AND BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED ON ME BY THE HOLY SEE AND THE BISHOPS OF THIS ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE, I, ON THIS 17TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2020, DECLARE THIS ACADEMIC AND FORMATION YEAR OPEN.
I left immediately for home after the function. I had a busy evening at my desk.
Soon after the breakfast, I took a walk to All Hallows Seminary Onitsha, just to see the compound. Nostalgia to see the places where I spent time during my years of formation in the minor seminary.
At 9.30am we assembled in the hall of Blessed Iwene Tansi for the inaugural lecture given be Rev. Dr Jude Udechukwu: Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi: A Model for Formators and Seminarians of Blessed Iwene Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha, in the ongoing Quest for Inculturation in Igboland. Excellent paper, well delivered. I had the privilege to pronounce the solemn words of the inauguration of 2020/2021 Academic Year: IN THE NAME OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, AND BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED ON ME BY THE HOLY SEE AND THE BISHOPS OF THIS ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE, I, ON THIS 17TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2020, DECLARE THIS ACADEMIC AND FORMATION YEAR OPEN.
I left immediately for home after the function. I had a busy evening at my desk.
Monday, 16 November 2020: Usual early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. As early as 6.00am, my guests from Abuja were all up. It was a thing of great joy for me hosting the department of Communications under my supervision as their liaison Bishop with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria. I exchanged greeting with them, prayed and blessed them. Sister Vera Mariette provided them with snacks. We waved them goodbye as their bus left our compound on their way to Abuja. Padre Mike Umoh, the director, soon travelled to Asaba airport with Fr Innocent Udolisah.
Our community followed our usual morning spiritual activities. Today, we had our inter-Provincial (Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces) Bishops' Meeting in Umuahia. Good meeting.
Our guests from Abuja phoned to report their safe arrival home Deo gratias!
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Our community followed our usual morning spiritual activities. Today, we had our inter-Provincial (Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces) Bishops' Meeting in Umuahia. Good meeting.
Our guests from Abuja phoned to report their safe arrival home Deo gratias!
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
With the Staff of Communications Dept Abuja, led by the Director: Padre Mike Umoh
Holy Family Parish, Awka Etiti: Cutting the Church Dedication Cake
Holy Family Church, Awka Etiti: Certificate of Church Dedication
DEDICATION OF HOLY FAMILY CHURCH, AWKA ETITI
Lord, may our prayer ascend as incense in your sight.
Lord, may our prayer ascend as incense in your sight.
Sunday, 15 November 2020. In domum Domini laetantes ibimus. Today, I had the joy and privilege of dedicating Holy Family Church Awka Etiti. This Church would have been dedicated several months ago but we could not accomplish it because of COVID19 pandemic which forced us to suspend public gathering.
At Collect, we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, pour out your grace upon this place and extend the gift of your help to all who call upon you, that the power of your word and of the Sacraments may strengthen here the hearts of all the faithful. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I consecrated the Church and all of us - the People God - with the following prayer:
Father in heaven, Source of holiness and true purpose, it is right that we praise and glorify your name. For today we come before you, to dedicate to your lasting service this house of prayer, this temple of worship,
this home in which we are nourished by your word and your sacraments.
The Church is fruitful, made holy by the blood of Christ: a bride made radiant with his glory, a virgin splendid in the wholeness of her faith, a mother blessed through the power of the Spirit. The Church is holy, your chosen vineyard: its branches envelop the world, its tendrils, carried on the tree of the cross, reach up to the kingdom of heaven. The Church is favored, the dwelling place of God on earth: a temple built of living stones, founded on the apostles with Jesus Christ its corner stone. The Church is exalted, a city set on a mountain: a beacon to the whole world, bright with the glory of the Lamb, and echoing the prayers of her saints.
Lord, send your Spirit from heaven to make this church an ever-holy place, and this altar a ready table for the sacrifice of Christ. Here may the waters of baptism overwhelm the shame of sin; here may your people die to sin and live again through grace as your children. Here may your children, gathered around your altar, celebrate the memorial of the Paschal Lamb, and be fed at the table of Christ’s word and Christ’s body. Here may prayer, the Church’s banquet, resound through heaven and earth as a plea for the world’s salvation. Here may the poor find justice, the victims of oppression, true freedom. From here may the whole world clothed in the dignity of the children of God, enter with gladness your city of peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
With the dedication of Holy Family Church, ad maiorem Dei gloriam, I am happy to say that all the parish Churches in Awka Etiti are now dedicated. Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum, neque elati sunt oculi mei, neque ambulavi in magnis neque in mirabilibus super me. The work of deepening the faith of the Faithful continues.
My guests from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria accompanied me to Awka Etiti. When we returned, we had a parting dinner tonight. I was delighted that they joined me to share my experience in rural evangelization. In my Visitors' book, they expressed their joy of being with me these days.
When I went to bed, I thanked the Lord for the blessings of the day. Inner joy with song of gratitude welling up inside me:
To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
At Collect, we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, pour out your grace upon this place and extend the gift of your help to all who call upon you, that the power of your word and of the Sacraments may strengthen here the hearts of all the faithful. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I consecrated the Church and all of us - the People God - with the following prayer:
Father in heaven, Source of holiness and true purpose, it is right that we praise and glorify your name. For today we come before you, to dedicate to your lasting service this house of prayer, this temple of worship,
this home in which we are nourished by your word and your sacraments.
The Church is fruitful, made holy by the blood of Christ: a bride made radiant with his glory, a virgin splendid in the wholeness of her faith, a mother blessed through the power of the Spirit. The Church is holy, your chosen vineyard: its branches envelop the world, its tendrils, carried on the tree of the cross, reach up to the kingdom of heaven. The Church is favored, the dwelling place of God on earth: a temple built of living stones, founded on the apostles with Jesus Christ its corner stone. The Church is exalted, a city set on a mountain: a beacon to the whole world, bright with the glory of the Lamb, and echoing the prayers of her saints.
Lord, send your Spirit from heaven to make this church an ever-holy place, and this altar a ready table for the sacrifice of Christ. Here may the waters of baptism overwhelm the shame of sin; here may your people die to sin and live again through grace as your children. Here may your children, gathered around your altar, celebrate the memorial of the Paschal Lamb, and be fed at the table of Christ’s word and Christ’s body. Here may prayer, the Church’s banquet, resound through heaven and earth as a plea for the world’s salvation. Here may the poor find justice, the victims of oppression, true freedom. From here may the whole world clothed in the dignity of the children of God, enter with gladness your city of peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
With the dedication of Holy Family Church, ad maiorem Dei gloriam, I am happy to say that all the parish Churches in Awka Etiti are now dedicated. Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum, neque elati sunt oculi mei, neque ambulavi in magnis neque in mirabilibus super me. The work of deepening the faith of the Faithful continues.
My guests from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria accompanied me to Awka Etiti. When we returned, we had a parting dinner tonight. I was delighted that they joined me to share my experience in rural evangelization. In my Visitors' book, they expressed their joy of being with me these days.
When I went to bed, I thanked the Lord for the blessings of the day. Inner joy with song of gratitude welling up inside me:
To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
Saturday, 14 November 2020. Deus in loco sancto suo; Deus, qui inhabitare facit unanimes in domo, ipse dabit virtutem et fortitudinem plebi suae. Usual early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother.I woke up this morning feeling exceptionally happy.
My excitement can only be understood if we pay attention to the story of the Catholic Church in this town. In 1924, the earliest missionaries opened a seminary in the whole of the Southern Vicariate of Nigeria (comprising the present ecclesiastical jurisdictions of Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Ekwulobia, Enugu, Nsukka, Awgu, Abakaliki, Owerri, Ahiara, Aba, Umuahia, Orlu, Calabar, Ikot Ekpene, Ogoja, Uyo and Port Harcourt). There was nothing special in the area, except large expanse of land, thinly populated and surrounded by strong, numerous, greedy and belligerent communities. In the past, there was no time one insect or another was not sucking the blood of the inhabitants. During the night, mosquitoes had their time, and in the day time, the insects locally called ibuba reigned. Igbariam people were chased out their land by powerful neighbours. The missionaries saw them wandering around, took pity on them, and helped them to return to their homeland. In gratitude, the people gave them a large piece of land. It was here that the first seminary - St Paul's Seminary - was built. It was this seminary that metamorphosed into Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu of today.
The seminary in Igbariam produced many illustrious priests and lay faithful. Among the students trained in Igbariam was Blessed Michael Cyprian Tansi.
The growth of Christianity was slow but steady. It took more than sixty years before a foundation of a modern permanent structure of St Anthony's Church Igbariam was laid. It took another thirty years for Christians to begin to manifest that the seed of the catholic faith sown in them has sprouted and is gradually growing to become a tree.
Today the Church of St Anthony Igbariam is to be consecrated. A visible sign that the Church has come to stay in Igbariam. Thanks to Fr Benedict Udeogwu (the parish priest and the coordinator of the construction work on the modern St Anthony Church) and Barr. Ken Uba (the principal donor for the construction).
I arrived for a 10.00am Mass, the people of God were assembled but there were a few places where there was need to put finishing touches, especially in the arrangement of pews. I waited patiently.
Holy Mass started at 11.00am. The people were enthusiastic. Choir - George Handel Music Academy.
At the end of a two-hour solemn liturgy of dedication of a church, I was delighted to sign the document which proclaimed:
DIONYSIUS C. ISIZOH
Dei et Apostolicae Sedis gratia,
Episcopus Titularis Legiensis et Auxiliaris Onitshaensis
Benedicite Dominum omnes electi eius agite dies laetitiae et confitemini illi
Fidem facimus et testamur, Ecclesiam istam S. Antonii apud Igbariamensis
sollemniter Dei gloriae eiusque populi sanctificationi ad sacra mysteria celebranda dicatam esse. Anno Domini Duomilaviginti Mensis Novembris Die Quattuordecim, Datum Onitshaensis, sub sigillo nostro,
My excitement can only be understood if we pay attention to the story of the Catholic Church in this town. In 1924, the earliest missionaries opened a seminary in the whole of the Southern Vicariate of Nigeria (comprising the present ecclesiastical jurisdictions of Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Ekwulobia, Enugu, Nsukka, Awgu, Abakaliki, Owerri, Ahiara, Aba, Umuahia, Orlu, Calabar, Ikot Ekpene, Ogoja, Uyo and Port Harcourt). There was nothing special in the area, except large expanse of land, thinly populated and surrounded by strong, numerous, greedy and belligerent communities. In the past, there was no time one insect or another was not sucking the blood of the inhabitants. During the night, mosquitoes had their time, and in the day time, the insects locally called ibuba reigned. Igbariam people were chased out their land by powerful neighbours. The missionaries saw them wandering around, took pity on them, and helped them to return to their homeland. In gratitude, the people gave them a large piece of land. It was here that the first seminary - St Paul's Seminary - was built. It was this seminary that metamorphosed into Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu of today.
The seminary in Igbariam produced many illustrious priests and lay faithful. Among the students trained in Igbariam was Blessed Michael Cyprian Tansi.
The growth of Christianity was slow but steady. It took more than sixty years before a foundation of a modern permanent structure of St Anthony's Church Igbariam was laid. It took another thirty years for Christians to begin to manifest that the seed of the catholic faith sown in them has sprouted and is gradually growing to become a tree.
Today the Church of St Anthony Igbariam is to be consecrated. A visible sign that the Church has come to stay in Igbariam. Thanks to Fr Benedict Udeogwu (the parish priest and the coordinator of the construction work on the modern St Anthony Church) and Barr. Ken Uba (the principal donor for the construction).
I arrived for a 10.00am Mass, the people of God were assembled but there were a few places where there was need to put finishing touches, especially in the arrangement of pews. I waited patiently.
Holy Mass started at 11.00am. The people were enthusiastic. Choir - George Handel Music Academy.
At the end of a two-hour solemn liturgy of dedication of a church, I was delighted to sign the document which proclaimed:
DIONYSIUS C. ISIZOH
Dei et Apostolicae Sedis gratia,
Episcopus Titularis Legiensis et Auxiliaris Onitshaensis
Benedicite Dominum omnes electi eius agite dies laetitiae et confitemini illi
Fidem facimus et testamur, Ecclesiam istam S. Antonii apud Igbariamensis
sollemniter Dei gloriae eiusque populi sanctificationi ad sacra mysteria celebranda dicatam esse. Anno Domini Duomilaviginti Mensis Novembris Die Quattuordecim, Datum Onitshaensis, sub sigillo nostro,
Friday, 13 November 2020. Cor Iesu Sacratissimum, miserere nobis. In adoration, this beautiful song naturally comes to mind: Had I but Mary's sinless heart / With which to love Thee, dearest King,
Oh, with what ever fervent praise, / Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing!
Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore! / Oh, make us love Thee more and more.
Oh, make us love Thee more and more.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "No one can grow if he does not accept his smallness."
We followed our rhythm of spiritual exercises: meditation, office of Lauds. At Mass we prayed: Fac nos, Domine Deus, Filii tui virtutibus indui et affectibus inflammari, ut, eius imagini conformes effecti, aeternae redemptuionis mereamur esse participes.
At 10.00am, I was at All Saints Church Awgbu for the Requiem Mass for Paulinus Oboshi (Obe). He was a great wielder at Onitsha. I always admired his devotion to duty. He was friendly to many priests and religious. His brother, Jude Oboshi, is a religious priest and his son a diocesan priest. May he rest in perfect peace. Amen.
I returned briefly to Aguleri for lunch. At 4.00pm, I was at St Anthony's parish Igbariam for Confirmation.
About one hundred and fifty candidates were made new soldiers of Christ.
This evening, I received officially my guests from Abuja (staff of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria): Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, Otumba Jide Fadugba-Pinheiro, Josef Ishu, Lucy Arogundade, Stephen Ofuru, Fidelia Agbaluga, Emmanuel Eko and Henry Chimezie Mba. Dinner and accommodation. A pleasant evening with them all!
In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum!
Oh, with what ever fervent praise, / Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing!
Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore! / Oh, make us love Thee more and more.
Oh, make us love Thee more and more.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "No one can grow if he does not accept his smallness."
We followed our rhythm of spiritual exercises: meditation, office of Lauds. At Mass we prayed: Fac nos, Domine Deus, Filii tui virtutibus indui et affectibus inflammari, ut, eius imagini conformes effecti, aeternae redemptuionis mereamur esse participes.
At 10.00am, I was at All Saints Church Awgbu for the Requiem Mass for Paulinus Oboshi (Obe). He was a great wielder at Onitsha. I always admired his devotion to duty. He was friendly to many priests and religious. His brother, Jude Oboshi, is a religious priest and his son a diocesan priest. May he rest in perfect peace. Amen.
I returned briefly to Aguleri for lunch. At 4.00pm, I was at St Anthony's parish Igbariam for Confirmation.
About one hundred and fifty candidates were made new soldiers of Christ.
This evening, I received officially my guests from Abuja (staff of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria): Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, Otumba Jide Fadugba-Pinheiro, Josef Ishu, Lucy Arogundade, Stephen Ofuru, Fidelia Agbaluga, Emmanuel Eko and Henry Chimezie Mba. Dinner and accommodation. A pleasant evening with them all!
In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum!
Thursday, 12 November 2020. Usual morning devotions. Before our Blessed Lord present in the Holy Eucharist: veneremur cernui.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
At Mass we prayed: O God, who are glorified in the Bishop Saint Martin both by his life and death,
make new, we pray, the wonders of your grace in our hearts, that neither death nor life may separate us from your love.
At 5.00pm, I joined Nnokwa people to commemorate the passing on of Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya to eternity. For the past three years I come to St Mary's Church Nnokwa every year to mark this great event in the life of the people. He was a good man, an erudite scholar, great pastor and a holy bishop. May the Lord grant him eternal rest in His Kingdom.
This evening the entire staff of the department for Communication from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, came over to Anambra State to spend the weekend with me. For this first night, I quartered them at Meloch Best Western Hotel, Awka. I look forward to having quality time with them in the coming days.
As darkness descends on our world, I turn to our Blessed Mother: Nous te saluons, Vierge Marie, servante du Seigneur. Ta foi nous a donné l'Enfant de la promesse, la source de la vie. Ève nouvelle, montre-nous le Sauveur, Jésus Christ, notre frère, Sainte Mere de Dieu.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
At Mass we prayed: O God, who are glorified in the Bishop Saint Martin both by his life and death,
make new, we pray, the wonders of your grace in our hearts, that neither death nor life may separate us from your love.
At 5.00pm, I joined Nnokwa people to commemorate the passing on of Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya to eternity. For the past three years I come to St Mary's Church Nnokwa every year to mark this great event in the life of the people. He was a good man, an erudite scholar, great pastor and a holy bishop. May the Lord grant him eternal rest in His Kingdom.
This evening the entire staff of the department for Communication from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, came over to Anambra State to spend the weekend with me. For this first night, I quartered them at Meloch Best Western Hotel, Awka. I look forward to having quality time with them in the coming days.
As darkness descends on our world, I turn to our Blessed Mother: Nous te saluons, Vierge Marie, servante du Seigneur. Ta foi nous a donné l'Enfant de la promesse, la source de la vie. Ève nouvelle, montre-nous le Sauveur, Jésus Christ, notre frère, Sainte Mere de Dieu.
Wednesday, 11 November 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS. Avec les saints du ciel, nous chantons la louange de Dieu. Usual morning spiritual exercises. I found interesting these lines from the magazine The Priest, November 2020 edition. I used it as food for thought, OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “To be holy does not require being a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves. Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by laboring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain”
At 10.00am, I was at St Paul's Catholic Church Nnobi for the funeral of ma Benardette Nnemelu. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
At 10.00am, I was at St Paul's Catholic Church Nnobi for the funeral of ma Benardette Nnemelu. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
Tuesday, 10 November 2020. Early greetings to our Blessed Mother. We assembled as usual before the Lord. Adoro Te, o panis coelice, O Domine, o Deus maxime. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, sine fine sanctus. Semper Tibi gloria sacra sit sub hostia. Then we followed our usual rhythm of spiritual activities: Adoration - Meditation - Office of Lauds - Benediction - Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: If you are on top, always remind yourself that you're NOT more special than others; it's just a privilege that you're enjoying. Be calm. Be submissive. Be Humble. Be Reasonable. Be Accountable. Be Respectful. Show Love to others even when they make mistakes.
The prayer of the Christian Youth, which Mons. Otteh taught often comes to mind: O Lord, give me courage to do what is hard; courage to say no to sin; courage to hold off the quitter in me.
Give me a clean mind and clean speech; clean eyes and clean hands. Let me cherish cleanness, and recognize that it brings happiness. Let me appreciate that in purity all good things grow.
Give me a gift for kindness, so that I may never hurt another. Teach me to control my temper and my tongue, so that they do not become the instruments of cruelty. I know my own importance, Lord, but let me never fail to see that others have importance, too.
Give me strength of spirit to defeat self-pity. If I am lonesome, lead me to the knowledge that to be loved I must be lovable; that I will have no real friends until I earn them.
Give me that bigness I will need to be cheerfully obedient. Remove from my personality a sullen spirit. Teach me to take orders, so that some day I will know how to give them reasonably.
Give me zest and drive to conquer laziness. Never let me feel that I can be served without serving, or get without giving. Instruct my heart in the love of work, so I may know the joy of rest.
Give me that peace of mind which comes from knowing that I will never lead another to sin. By your grace, may no one be cheapened because he kept my company. Let all who love me, learn to love you more.
Give me, finally, such brightness, laughter and grace, that you will find in me a temple which will please you as Mary pleased you Amen
I worked very hard to put order in my room. For long hours I sat down to clear my desk.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Sauve-nous, Seigneur, quand nous veillons ; garde-nous quand nous dormons : nous veillerons avec le Christ, et nous reposerons en paix.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: If you are on top, always remind yourself that you're NOT more special than others; it's just a privilege that you're enjoying. Be calm. Be submissive. Be Humble. Be Reasonable. Be Accountable. Be Respectful. Show Love to others even when they make mistakes.
The prayer of the Christian Youth, which Mons. Otteh taught often comes to mind: O Lord, give me courage to do what is hard; courage to say no to sin; courage to hold off the quitter in me.
Give me a clean mind and clean speech; clean eyes and clean hands. Let me cherish cleanness, and recognize that it brings happiness. Let me appreciate that in purity all good things grow.
Give me a gift for kindness, so that I may never hurt another. Teach me to control my temper and my tongue, so that they do not become the instruments of cruelty. I know my own importance, Lord, but let me never fail to see that others have importance, too.
Give me strength of spirit to defeat self-pity. If I am lonesome, lead me to the knowledge that to be loved I must be lovable; that I will have no real friends until I earn them.
Give me that bigness I will need to be cheerfully obedient. Remove from my personality a sullen spirit. Teach me to take orders, so that some day I will know how to give them reasonably.
Give me zest and drive to conquer laziness. Never let me feel that I can be served without serving, or get without giving. Instruct my heart in the love of work, so I may know the joy of rest.
Give me that peace of mind which comes from knowing that I will never lead another to sin. By your grace, may no one be cheapened because he kept my company. Let all who love me, learn to love you more.
Give me, finally, such brightness, laughter and grace, that you will find in me a temple which will please you as Mary pleased you Amen
I worked very hard to put order in my room. For long hours I sat down to clear my desk.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Sauve-nous, Seigneur, quand nous veillons ; garde-nous quand nous dormons : nous veillerons avec le Christ, et nous reposerons en paix.
Monday, 9 November 2020. FEAST OF DEDICATION OF ST JOHN LATERAN BASILICA. Ecce tabernaculum Dei cum hominibus! Et habitabit cum eis, et ipsi populus eius erunt, et ipse Deus cum eis erit eorum Deus. Good to be home. It was a very happy moment for me to reunite with my Blessed Iwene Tansi Community and to start my day with the adoration of the Sanctissimum exposed. Esekpuorom Gi, Chukwu di na nzuzo. Onye no n'ezie n'udi Sakramenti. Ejim obim kwere n'ihe omimi nkea nke ka uche mmadu.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Happy people focus on what they have, unhappy people focus on what is missing."
At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Happy people focus on what they have, unhappy people focus on what is missing."
At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For our leaders and teachers in the church, who build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ in their proclamation of His Gospel, that their work may be blessed: Lord, hear us - LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those in a position of power and influence in the world, that they may take God as their refuge and their strength and do His work for life, justice, and peace: Lord, hear us - LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all the members of the church, watered by the flow from God’s sanctuary in her sacraments, that we may produce works of mercy and grace: Lord, hear us - LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Jesus may cleanse and purify the house of God that is within each of us, making us holy and righteous in His sight: Lord, hear us - LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who need our prayers in a time of distress, sickness, or bereavement, that living waters of healing and hope may flow again in their lives: Lord, hear us - LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, that as they were part of God’s temple on earth, they may rejoice in His house forever in heaven: Lord, hear us - LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Ogbunike: at the end of Mass during Pastoral Visit 2020
LORD, pour your blessings on your children....
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful.
Sunday, 8 November 2020. On my arrival from Port Harcourt airport soon after 1.00am, I began the day by going to the chapel briefly to thank the Lord for my safe return from Italy. Then I went to the refectory for a hot meal. I went to my bed soon after. Three hours' sleep. I was ready for the Pastoral visit to St Vincent's Church Ogbunike.
Holy Mass started at about 11.15am. I was delighted to meet a community who understood the challenges I went through to be with them. Over two hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Very warm reception by the Community after the Mass.
Back to Aguleri, I needed time to rest. And so, ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Holy Mass started at about 11.15am. I was delighted to meet a community who understood the challenges I went through to be with them. Over two hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Very warm reception by the Community after the Mass.
Back to Aguleri, I needed time to rest. And so, ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Saturday, 7 November 2020. On Ethiopian flight (ET 703) from Rome. Arrival at Addis Ababa at 7.10am. Our next flight took off from Addis Ababa at 9.35am (Ethiopian time) and landed in Abuja at about 1.03pm. The immigration formalities was rapid.
Soon we were at the domestic terminal to take Air Peace to Owerri. It was a very challenging experience. The flight was originally scheduled for 3.00pm. It was changed to 1.30pm, then to 4.30pm and, finally, it was cancelled. A good Samaritan helped us to get on Air Peace flight going to Port Harcourt. The flight originally scheduled to depart at 4.30pm eventually took off at 7.15pm. We arrived Port Harcourt at about 9.30pm.
We were warmly received by Fr Innocent Udeolisah and Fr Barth Uba and others. We left immediately for Onitsha. I reached Aguleri some minutes after 1.00am.
Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.
Soon we were at the domestic terminal to take Air Peace to Owerri. It was a very challenging experience. The flight was originally scheduled for 3.00pm. It was changed to 1.30pm, then to 4.30pm and, finally, it was cancelled. A good Samaritan helped us to get on Air Peace flight going to Port Harcourt. The flight originally scheduled to depart at 4.30pm eventually took off at 7.15pm. We arrived Port Harcourt at about 9.30pm.
We were warmly received by Fr Innocent Udeolisah and Fr Barth Uba and others. We left immediately for Onitsha. I reached Aguleri some minutes after 1.00am.
Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.
Friday, 6 November 2020. Non abbandonarmi, Signore, mio Dio, da me non stare lontano; vieni presto in mio aiuto, o Signore, mia salvezza.Usual morning spiritual exercises according to the custom in this Vatican community.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The three ‘C’s’ of Leadership are Consideration, Caring, and Courtesy. Be Polite to everyone.”
Our community Mass was presided by Cardinal Arinze. We prayed: Dio onnipotente e misericordioso, tu solo puoi dare ai tuoi fedeli il dono di servirti in modo lodevole e degno; fa’ che camminiamo senza ostacoli verso i beni da te promessi.
With the assistance Fr Oliver Ezeani I picked a number of things I planned to take home. Lunch. Final packing. I was finally ready for the airport. Before we left home at about 7.30pm, I went to the chapel to say this litany to Jesus, true God and Son of the Father:
A GESÙ, VERO DIO, FIGLIO DEL PADRE
Gesù, vero Dio, Figlio del Padre. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, vero uomo, nato da Maria. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù Redentore del mondo. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, Messia e Salvatore. A te la lode e la gloria.
Nostro fratello ed amico. A te la lode e la gloria.
Nostra guida e avvocato. A te la lode e la gloria.
Nostro cammino e meta. A te la lode e la gloria.
Nostra pace e riposo. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, luce d’eterna luce. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, stella radiosa del mattino. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, alba dell’uomo nuovo. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, giorno senza tramonto. A te la lode e la gloria.
Cristo, parola vivente del Padre. A te la lode e la gloria.
Cristo rivelatore del Padre. A te la lode e la gloria.
Cristo, annunziatore della buona novella. A te la lode e la gloria.
Cristo, profeta del Regno. A te la lode e la gloria.
Divino Maestro. A te la lode e la gloria.
Sommo Sacerdote. A te la lode e la gloria.
Re della gloria. A te la lode e la gloria.
Unico Mediatore. A te la lode e la gloria.
Signore della gloria, crocifisso. A te la lode e la gloria.
Signore, risorto da morte. A te la lode e la gloria.
Signore, asceso alla destra del Padre. A te la lode e la gloria.
Signore, datore dello Spirito. A te la lode e la gloria.
Smooth check-in. Soon we were ready for boarding. Flight take off at 1135pm.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The three ‘C’s’ of Leadership are Consideration, Caring, and Courtesy. Be Polite to everyone.”
Our community Mass was presided by Cardinal Arinze. We prayed: Dio onnipotente e misericordioso, tu solo puoi dare ai tuoi fedeli il dono di servirti in modo lodevole e degno; fa’ che camminiamo senza ostacoli verso i beni da te promessi.
With the assistance Fr Oliver Ezeani I picked a number of things I planned to take home. Lunch. Final packing. I was finally ready for the airport. Before we left home at about 7.30pm, I went to the chapel to say this litany to Jesus, true God and Son of the Father:
A GESÙ, VERO DIO, FIGLIO DEL PADRE
Gesù, vero Dio, Figlio del Padre. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, vero uomo, nato da Maria. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù Redentore del mondo. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, Messia e Salvatore. A te la lode e la gloria.
Nostro fratello ed amico. A te la lode e la gloria.
Nostra guida e avvocato. A te la lode e la gloria.
Nostro cammino e meta. A te la lode e la gloria.
Nostra pace e riposo. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, luce d’eterna luce. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, stella radiosa del mattino. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, alba dell’uomo nuovo. A te la lode e la gloria.
Gesù, giorno senza tramonto. A te la lode e la gloria.
Cristo, parola vivente del Padre. A te la lode e la gloria.
Cristo rivelatore del Padre. A te la lode e la gloria.
Cristo, annunziatore della buona novella. A te la lode e la gloria.
Cristo, profeta del Regno. A te la lode e la gloria.
Divino Maestro. A te la lode e la gloria.
Sommo Sacerdote. A te la lode e la gloria.
Re della gloria. A te la lode e la gloria.
Unico Mediatore. A te la lode e la gloria.
Signore della gloria, crocifisso. A te la lode e la gloria.
Signore, risorto da morte. A te la lode e la gloria.
Signore, asceso alla destra del Padre. A te la lode e la gloria.
Signore, datore dello Spirito. A te la lode e la gloria.
Smooth check-in. Soon we were ready for boarding. Flight take off at 1135pm.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Courtesy visit by HRH Peter Anukwu (Igwe Mbaukwu) to His Eminence, Cardinal Arinze
Thursday, 5 November 2020. I woke up to a new day in the Vatican City. Usual early greetings to our Blessed Mother Mary. In the chapel, before our Lord hidden in the tabernacle we assembled: O salutaris hostia, Quae caeli pandis ostium: bella premunt hostilia, da robur fer auxilium. Uni trinoque Domino sit sempiterna gloria: qui vitam sine termino nobis donet in patria. Adoration. Meditation. Office of Lauds.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: The sun loves the moon so much, he dies every night just to let her breathe.
At the community Mass which I presided, we prayed: O Dieu qui avez établi votre Fils unique Sauveur du genre humain, et avez ordonné qu’on l’appelât Jésus, faites, dans votre miséricorde, que nous jouissions dans les cieux de la vue de celui dont nous vénérons le saint nom sur la terre.
Today, I received the results of our COVID19 tests and it reads: Richiesta 11047049: Materiale: Tampone rino-faringo - PCR Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, Reazione di amplificazione genica: NEGATIVA. The result was uploaded to the website of Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control and I received a nod of approval to enter Nigeria as COVID19 free person. With this result, which was within 72 hours before our flight out of Italy, I was ready for my journey back to Nigeria.
Igwe Mbaukwu with his wife paid a courtesy visit to Cardinal Arinze. I joined in welcoming the royal visitors. I know Igwe to be very kind to the Pallottine Fathers in Nigeria.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: The sun loves the moon so much, he dies every night just to let her breathe.
At the community Mass which I presided, we prayed: O Dieu qui avez établi votre Fils unique Sauveur du genre humain, et avez ordonné qu’on l’appelât Jésus, faites, dans votre miséricorde, que nous jouissions dans les cieux de la vue de celui dont nous vénérons le saint nom sur la terre.
Today, I received the results of our COVID19 tests and it reads: Richiesta 11047049: Materiale: Tampone rino-faringo - PCR Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, Reazione di amplificazione genica: NEGATIVA. The result was uploaded to the website of Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control and I received a nod of approval to enter Nigeria as COVID19 free person. With this result, which was within 72 hours before our flight out of Italy, I was ready for my journey back to Nigeria.
Igwe Mbaukwu with his wife paid a courtesy visit to Cardinal Arinze. I joined in welcoming the royal visitors. I know Igwe to be very kind to the Pallottine Fathers in Nigeria.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Wednesday, 4 November 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST CHARLES BORROMEO. Adoration/Meditation. I prayed in a special way for the patients and staff of St Charles' Borromeo Hospital Onitsha. A day to remember Most Rev. Charles Heerey, the great missionary Archbishop of Onitsha, who conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on me at Ogidi on 10 August 1965. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. I received the happy news that the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ in Nigeria has started the Cause of his beatification. I pray that the Lord may bless their efforts. I remembered too Mons. Charles Ikeme, Samamkwe Odobro - eminent priest of Enugu diocese, erudite and holy. He has already celebrated sixty-two years' anniversary as a Priest. May God ever bless this my distinguished elder in the Priesthood!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Don’t compare yourself to others. Be like the sun and the moon and shine when it is your time.
Usual Office of Lauds and Holy Mass. After breakfast, Cardinal Arinze, Sr Amalachukwu Oguadimma and myself, we went to the Vatican City clinic for COVID19 test in preparation for our travel to Nigeria. Inserting the cotton wool deep inside the nose to take liquid sample is always very painful experience. We all had to endure it anyway. We returned home to wait for the result the following day.
I spent the rest of the day reaching out to my friends and colleagues I could not meet physically due to COVID19 restrictions. There was fear of second wave of infection of the virus. Dominus fortitudo plebi suae et refugium salvationum christi sui est. Salvum fac populum tuum et benedic hereditati tuae.
At the end of the day, we turn to the Lord:
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Don’t compare yourself to others. Be like the sun and the moon and shine when it is your time.
Usual Office of Lauds and Holy Mass. After breakfast, Cardinal Arinze, Sr Amalachukwu Oguadimma and myself, we went to the Vatican City clinic for COVID19 test in preparation for our travel to Nigeria. Inserting the cotton wool deep inside the nose to take liquid sample is always very painful experience. We all had to endure it anyway. We returned home to wait for the result the following day.
I spent the rest of the day reaching out to my friends and colleagues I could not meet physically due to COVID19 restrictions. There was fear of second wave of infection of the virus. Dominus fortitudo plebi suae et refugium salvationum christi sui est. Salvum fac populum tuum et benedic hereditati tuae.
At the end of the day, we turn to the Lord:
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Tuesday, 3 November 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST MARTIN DE PORRES. Ne derelínquas me, Dómine Deus meus,ne discédas a me; inténde in adiutórium meum, Dómine, virtus salútis meæ. Usual morning adoration and meditation according to the traditional in the Cardinal Arinze residence. I followed it for more than a quarter of a century. I slightly modified it when I started my own household.
Before the Lord, one can only but appreciate the profundity of the song lyrics Imeela by Nathaniel Bassey: this I use as food for thought and OUR TODAY'S QUOTE.
When I think upon your goodness
And your faithfulness each day
I'm convinced it's not because I am worthy
to receive the kind of love that you give
But I'm grateful for your mercy
And I'm grateful for your grace
And because of how you've poured out yourself
I have come to sing this song out in praise
IMEELA, hmm IMEELA
OKAKA, ONYEKERUWA, ONYEKERUWA
IMEELA, IMEELA, hee...
EZE M, ooo, EZE M, ooo.
Who am I Lord? Who am I, Lord, to sing your praises?
Who am I to worship you, Lord? Who am I to worship you? Oh yeah eh eh.
It’s your blood that makes the difference in me
And made a way and made a way to enter into your throne, into your throne
I could not come near your presence.
I could never sing your song no oh oh. I could never sing your song yeah eh eh
But the sacrifice on Calvary’s tree.
IMEELA …
At the morning prayer, we said the following intercessory prayers:
1. A Compact Pontifical for a Countryside Pastoral Ministry,
2. Cantus Passionis (Christus, Synagoga and Chronista),
3. Order of Holy Week Ceremonies.
I started putting my things together for my homeward journey.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Before the Lord, one can only but appreciate the profundity of the song lyrics Imeela by Nathaniel Bassey: this I use as food for thought and OUR TODAY'S QUOTE.
When I think upon your goodness
And your faithfulness each day
I'm convinced it's not because I am worthy
to receive the kind of love that you give
But I'm grateful for your mercy
And I'm grateful for your grace
And because of how you've poured out yourself
I have come to sing this song out in praise
IMEELA, hmm IMEELA
OKAKA, ONYEKERUWA, ONYEKERUWA
IMEELA, IMEELA, hee...
EZE M, ooo, EZE M, ooo.
Who am I Lord? Who am I, Lord, to sing your praises?
Who am I to worship you, Lord? Who am I to worship you? Oh yeah eh eh.
It’s your blood that makes the difference in me
And made a way and made a way to enter into your throne, into your throne
I could not come near your presence.
I could never sing your song no oh oh. I could never sing your song yeah eh eh
But the sacrifice on Calvary’s tree.
IMEELA …
At the morning prayer, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- By shedding his blood for us, Christ gathered together a new people from every corner of the earth. Let us pray to him: CHRIST, BE MINDFUL OF YOUR PEOPLE.
- Christ, our king and redeemer: help us to know your power and your love. CHRIST, BE MINDFUL OF YOUR PEOPLE.
- Christ, our hope and courage: sustain us throughout the day. CHRIST, BE MINDFUL OF YOUR PEOPLE.
- Christ, our joy and solace: CHRIST, BE MINDFUL OF YOUR PEOPLE.
1. A Compact Pontifical for a Countryside Pastoral Ministry,
2. Cantus Passionis (Christus, Synagoga and Chronista),
3. Order of Holy Week Ceremonies.
I started putting my things together for my homeward journey.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Monday, 2 November 2020. ALL SOULS DAY. I woke up in the Vatican City. Meditation before the Sanctissimum. Today - a good day to reflect on death and to pray for all our beloved dead. I celebrated all together three Masses for the dead.
Sicut Iesus mórtuus est et resurréxit, ita et Deus eos qui dormiérunt per Iesum addúcet cum eo. Et sicut in Adam omnes moriúntur, ita et in Christo omnes vivificabúntur. At our first community Mass, which was said in the morning, Cardinal Arinze presided. We prayed: Listen kindly to our prayers, O Lord, and, as our faith in your Son, raised from the dead, is deepened, so may our hope of resurrection for your departed servants also find new strength.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.”
For the good part of today, I stayed indoors. COVID19 pandemic is certainly real in Italy. I had stories from those affected directly and indirectly in the past few months. But the fear did not prevent me from meeting some of my Italian close friends. Some of them came to greet me, with their masks, while maintaining social distancing during our meeting.
Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat eis. Our second Community Mass was said soon after the Angelus. I presided. We prayed: O God, glory of the faithful and life of the just, by the Death and Resurrection of whose Son we have been redeemed, look mercifully on your departed servants, that, just as they professed the mystery of our resurrection, so they may merit to receive the joys of eternal happiness.
Deus, qui suscitávit Iesum a mórtuis, vivificábit et mortália córpora nostra, propter inhabitántem Spíritum eius in nobis. Our third Community Mass was said in the evening. The Cardinal presided. We prayed: O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son, having conquered death, should pass over into the realm of heaven, grant, we pray, to your departed servants that, with the mortality of this life overcome, they may gaze eternally on you, their Creator and Redeemer.
Alma Redemptóris Mater,
quæ pérvia cæli porta manes,
et stella maris,
succúrre cadénti,
súrgere qui curat, pópulo;
tu quæ genuísti, natúra miránte,
tuum sanctum Genitórem,
Virgo prius ac postérius,
Gabriélis ab ore
sumens illud Ave,
peccatórum miserére.
Sicut Iesus mórtuus est et resurréxit, ita et Deus eos qui dormiérunt per Iesum addúcet cum eo. Et sicut in Adam omnes moriúntur, ita et in Christo omnes vivificabúntur. At our first community Mass, which was said in the morning, Cardinal Arinze presided. We prayed: Listen kindly to our prayers, O Lord, and, as our faith in your Son, raised from the dead, is deepened, so may our hope of resurrection for your departed servants also find new strength.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.”
For the good part of today, I stayed indoors. COVID19 pandemic is certainly real in Italy. I had stories from those affected directly and indirectly in the past few months. But the fear did not prevent me from meeting some of my Italian close friends. Some of them came to greet me, with their masks, while maintaining social distancing during our meeting.
Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat eis. Our second Community Mass was said soon after the Angelus. I presided. We prayed: O God, glory of the faithful and life of the just, by the Death and Resurrection of whose Son we have been redeemed, look mercifully on your departed servants, that, just as they professed the mystery of our resurrection, so they may merit to receive the joys of eternal happiness.
Deus, qui suscitávit Iesum a mórtuis, vivificábit et mortália córpora nostra, propter inhabitántem Spíritum eius in nobis. Our third Community Mass was said in the evening. The Cardinal presided. We prayed: O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son, having conquered death, should pass over into the realm of heaven, grant, we pray, to your departed servants that, with the mortality of this life overcome, they may gaze eternally on you, their Creator and Redeemer.
Alma Redemptóris Mater,
quæ pérvia cæli porta manes,
et stella maris,
succúrre cadénti,
súrgere qui curat, pópulo;
tu quæ genuísti, natúra miránte,
tuum sanctum Genitórem,
Virgo prius ac postérius,
Gabriélis ab ore
sumens illud Ave,
peccatórum miserére.
Sunday, 1 November 2020. SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS. Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem festum celebrantes sub honore Sanctorum omnium: de quorum solemnitate gaudent angeli, et collaudant Filium Dei. Nostalgia for the celebration of this Solemnity, remembering when we were seminarians at All Hallows Seminary Onitsha. Those were days of "Monsignor" Otteh and Monsignor Achebe: both great rectors of our time. I recall the preparation of the choir, different cultural groups; the cleaning and painting of the compound. It was very festive. Our parents came for the feast. Oh the band drilling displays, Atilogwu and Nkpokiti dances, Masquerades and and Igba Eze dance. From 1974 I was at the music keyboard to accompany the choir. I remained the chief organist till my Priestly ordination in 1985. Today I thanked the Lord for those past experiences. They prepared us for the present.
Today I prayed for all All Hallows' Seminary Old Boys, for the seminarians today and for all the formators past and present.
At the community Mass (said in Igbo), which Cardinal Arinze presided, we said the Opening prayer: Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints,
bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long.
Here in Rome, there was added event for our joyful celebration. Today, Cardinal Arinze clocked 88 years of age. With his household (Fr Tony Ezeugo, Sr Maria Amalachukwu Oguadimma IHM and Sr Geraldine Mariette Mgbemena IHM), we gave him Goodwishes-card and we sang a "Happy Birthday" song.
I stayed indoors for a good part of today.
During prayers in the evening, after the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, there was Office of Vespers, followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and the Benediction. We concluded with this beautiful hymn: Salve mater....
Today I prayed for all All Hallows' Seminary Old Boys, for the seminarians today and for all the formators past and present.
At the community Mass (said in Igbo), which Cardinal Arinze presided, we said the Opening prayer: Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints,
bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long.
Here in Rome, there was added event for our joyful celebration. Today, Cardinal Arinze clocked 88 years of age. With his household (Fr Tony Ezeugo, Sr Maria Amalachukwu Oguadimma IHM and Sr Geraldine Mariette Mgbemena IHM), we gave him Goodwishes-card and we sang a "Happy Birthday" song.
I stayed indoors for a good part of today.
During prayers in the evening, after the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, there was Office of Vespers, followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and the Benediction. We concluded with this beautiful hymn: Salve mater....
(L - R) St Peter's Basilica, Secretariat of State, Apostolic Palace
Serene photo I took from the window of my accommodation facility in the Vatican City
Morning of 1 November 2020.
Serene photo I took from the window of my accommodation facility in the Vatican City
Morning of 1 November 2020.
Saturday, 31 October 2020. Another day in the Vatican City. Usual Meditation, Office of Lauds and Holy Mass. Before the Lord we gather.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “If you do not get out of the box you have been raised in, you would not understand how much bigger the world is.”
With Fr Oliver Ezeani, we moved around to buy a few things I would need for my house at Aguleri. I tried to find where I could print and bind my "Compact Pontifical"but I found the price quoted very outrageous. I decided to print the whole work with my printer. This helped me to cut costs. Lord teach me to be frugal in order to share with those in greater need.
I did not go to far places because of COVID19..
To end the month of October specially dedicated to St Joseph, our prayer:
To you, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. By that love which united you to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which you did embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His Blood and to help us in our necessities, by your powerful intercession. Protect, O most provident Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving Father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O most power protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as you did once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent peril to His life, so now defend the Holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us with your unceasing patronage that, imitating your example and supported by your aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and secure everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.
V. Blessed Joseph, head and guardian of the Holy Family
R. Protect us.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “If you do not get out of the box you have been raised in, you would not understand how much bigger the world is.”
With Fr Oliver Ezeani, we moved around to buy a few things I would need for my house at Aguleri. I tried to find where I could print and bind my "Compact Pontifical"but I found the price quoted very outrageous. I decided to print the whole work with my printer. This helped me to cut costs. Lord teach me to be frugal in order to share with those in greater need.
I did not go to far places because of COVID19..
To end the month of October specially dedicated to St Joseph, our prayer:
To you, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. By that love which united you to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which you did embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His Blood and to help us in our necessities, by your powerful intercession. Protect, O most provident Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving Father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O most power protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as you did once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent peril to His life, so now defend the Holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us with your unceasing patronage that, imitating your example and supported by your aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and secure everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.
V. Blessed Joseph, head and guardian of the Holy Family
R. Protect us.
Friday, 30 October 2020. New day in the Vatican City. Usual community spiritual exercise here, slightly different from mine at home. We begin our daily activity with the Lord in the chapel. Si Deus pro nobis, quis contra nos?
At 11.30am, with Cardinal Arinze leading me, we had a special meeting with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro during which I handed over to him an important document - the work of the Tribunal for the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. I begged the Lord to bless our efforts in Nigeria to conclude happily this Cause started some years ago.
This morning I was in the office of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to report to duty following the papal appointment as member of the dicastery. It was a renewal of old friendship and cordial relations with the staff. I pledged to do all in my power to promote the work of the Pontifical Council.
I concluded the compilation of my "Compact Pontifical" for my ministry at home.
At 11.30am, with Cardinal Arinze leading me, we had a special meeting with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro during which I handed over to him an important document - the work of the Tribunal for the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. I begged the Lord to bless our efforts in Nigeria to conclude happily this Cause started some years ago.
This morning I was in the office of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to report to duty following the papal appointment as member of the dicastery. It was a renewal of old friendship and cordial relations with the staff. I pledged to do all in my power to promote the work of the Pontifical Council.
I concluded the compilation of my "Compact Pontifical" for my ministry at home.
Thursday, 29 October 2020. I woke up in the Vatican City and started the day with my usual early conversation with our Blessed Mother. Morning meditation in the chapel. Here I miss my home practice of the daily exposition of the Sanctissimum. But we gathered before the Lord hidden in the tabernacle. Welling up from the depth of our being was this sung:
Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.”
I was the chief-celebrant at our community Mass today. The language used was French. We celebrated Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist. Our Opening prayer: Dieu notre Père, dans le mystère pascal de ton Fils tu as accompli la rédemption du monde; puisque nous sommes rassemblés pour annoncer dans cette eucharistie la mort et la résurrection du Christ, fais que nous ressentions davantage les effets de ton oeuvre de salut.
This morning I moved around to locate where I would get some of the things I hope to take home to enrich my episcopal ministry. I had dozens of invitation from friends and past colleagues. But this is not a good time to interact with many people. Wearing masks and maintaining distance of about one metre or more discourage any form socialization. I politely declined all the invitations.
I was at the Congregation of Causes of Saints to book appointment with the new Prefect of the Congregation.
Lunch in the community. Preparation of liturgical materials I use at home for printing and binding here kept me indoors. Community vespers and supper. As the day ended, I thanked the Lord:
O Saviour, bless us ere we go;
Thy word into our minds instil,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
The day is done, its hours have run;
And thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.”
I was the chief-celebrant at our community Mass today. The language used was French. We celebrated Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist. Our Opening prayer: Dieu notre Père, dans le mystère pascal de ton Fils tu as accompli la rédemption du monde; puisque nous sommes rassemblés pour annoncer dans cette eucharistie la mort et la résurrection du Christ, fais que nous ressentions davantage les effets de ton oeuvre de salut.
This morning I moved around to locate where I would get some of the things I hope to take home to enrich my episcopal ministry. I had dozens of invitation from friends and past colleagues. But this is not a good time to interact with many people. Wearing masks and maintaining distance of about one metre or more discourage any form socialization. I politely declined all the invitations.
I was at the Congregation of Causes of Saints to book appointment with the new Prefect of the Congregation.
Lunch in the community. Preparation of liturgical materials I use at home for printing and binding here kept me indoors. Community vespers and supper. As the day ended, I thanked the Lord:
O Saviour, bless us ere we go;
Thy word into our minds instil,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
The day is done, its hours have run;
And thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Wednesday, 28 October 2020. Our flight from Addis Ababa (ET 702) touched down at Fiumicino Airport Rome at about 3.45am. O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
It was great returning to Rome after nearly two years. COVID19 pandemic hit the world in the last eight months. Italy was particularly affected. I stepped out of the aircraft to face the cold winter. Strict passport control at the Rome entry points. After crossing all the immigration hurdles, I entered Rome, the eternal city. I had to wait at the taxi port for over an hour before I got the first taxicab of the day which took me into the city. The cost of taxi (Euro 48) did not change. Mask was compulsory. Social distancing was observed every where. I reached Rome (Largo del Colonnato 3) in time to join in the community Mass. I am happy to be in the community I have always cherished for many years.Breakfast...plenty of stories to tell! Rest.
I was out to get the feel of the city during this difficult period of dealing with COVID19 pandemic.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Nostalgic feelings sleeping very close to the dome of St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Ss Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
It was great returning to Rome after nearly two years. COVID19 pandemic hit the world in the last eight months. Italy was particularly affected. I stepped out of the aircraft to face the cold winter. Strict passport control at the Rome entry points. After crossing all the immigration hurdles, I entered Rome, the eternal city. I had to wait at the taxi port for over an hour before I got the first taxicab of the day which took me into the city. The cost of taxi (Euro 48) did not change. Mask was compulsory. Social distancing was observed every where. I reached Rome (Largo del Colonnato 3) in time to join in the community Mass. I am happy to be in the community I have always cherished for many years.Breakfast...plenty of stories to tell! Rest.
I was out to get the feel of the city during this difficult period of dealing with COVID19 pandemic.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Nostalgic feelings sleeping very close to the dome of St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Ss Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Tuesday, 27 October 2020. Early rising at Catholic Resource Centre, Abuja.
Father, I want to be with You
And do the things You do.
Father, I want to speak the words
That You are speaking too.
Father, I want to love the ones
That You will draw to You,
For I know that I am one with You.
Fr Cyril Nwafor came around again to take me to the airport. May God eternally reward him. Smooth check in. My coronavirus test result was accepted and soon I went to board the Ethiopian flight to Addis Ababa. First leg (Abuja to Addis Ababa) of our journey: 4 hours 50 minutes. We had a stop-over of about two hours. The flight of the second segment (Addis Ababa to Rome) took off at 11.20pm Abuja time for Rome. All night flight.
Salva nos, Dómine, vigilántes, custódi nos dormiéntes, ut vigilémus cum Christo et requiescámus in pace.
Nunc dimíttis servum tuum, Dómine,*
secúndum verbum tuum in pace,
quia vidérunt óculi mei*
salutáre tuum,
quod parásti*
ante fáciem ómnium populórum,
lumen ad revelatiónem géntium*
et glóriam plebis tuæ Israel.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Salva nos, Dómine, vigilántes, custódi nos dormiéntes, ut vigilémus cum Christo et requiescámus in pace.
Father, I want to be with You
And do the things You do.
Father, I want to speak the words
That You are speaking too.
Father, I want to love the ones
That You will draw to You,
For I know that I am one with You.
Fr Cyril Nwafor came around again to take me to the airport. May God eternally reward him. Smooth check in. My coronavirus test result was accepted and soon I went to board the Ethiopian flight to Addis Ababa. First leg (Abuja to Addis Ababa) of our journey: 4 hours 50 minutes. We had a stop-over of about two hours. The flight of the second segment (Addis Ababa to Rome) took off at 11.20pm Abuja time for Rome. All night flight.
Salva nos, Dómine, vigilántes, custódi nos dormiéntes, ut vigilémus cum Christo et requiescámus in pace.
Nunc dimíttis servum tuum, Dómine,*
secúndum verbum tuum in pace,
quia vidérunt óculi mei*
salutáre tuum,
quod parásti*
ante fáciem ómnium populórum,
lumen ad revelatiónem géntium*
et glóriam plebis tuæ Israel.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Salva nos, Dómine, vigilántes, custódi nos dormiéntes, ut vigilémus cum Christo et requiescámus in pace.
Monday, 26 October 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. I was a little bit tired, but I needed to move on, trusting that in ipso enim vivimus, et movemur, et sumus. Before the Lord we gathered. Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee With sweetness fills my breast; But sweeter far thy face to see And in thy presence rest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Focus on being productive instead of busy.”
Usual rhythm of morning spiritual activities. After breakfast I spent some time to arrange my luggage for my travel. I had a little anxiety because the person sent to Awka for signature on my COVID19 test result did not understand the urgency. Fr Innocent was able to handle the situation. I received the result in time for me not to be late for my flight from Asaba to Abuja. The result of my test was negative. So, there was nothing to prevent my journey. Thanks to Fr Izunna Okonkwo, CEO of St Charles Borromeo hospital, Onitsha.
At about 3.00pm our flight, Air Peace, took off from Asaba for Abuja. It was my first leg of the journey to Rome via Addis Ababa. Smooth journey, thanks be to God. At Abuja, Fr Cyril Nwafor was at hand to convey me to Durumi where I stayed overnight at the Catholic Resource Centre (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria).
Quiet evening at the Centre. To our Blessed Mother I turn: Sous l'abri de ta miséricorde, nous nous réfugions, Sainte Mère de Dieu. Ne méprise pas nos prières quand nous sommes dans l'épreuve, mais de tous les dangers délivre-nous toujours, Vierge glorieuse et bénie.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Focus on being productive instead of busy.”
Usual rhythm of morning spiritual activities. After breakfast I spent some time to arrange my luggage for my travel. I had a little anxiety because the person sent to Awka for signature on my COVID19 test result did not understand the urgency. Fr Innocent was able to handle the situation. I received the result in time for me not to be late for my flight from Asaba to Abuja. The result of my test was negative. So, there was nothing to prevent my journey. Thanks to Fr Izunna Okonkwo, CEO of St Charles Borromeo hospital, Onitsha.
At about 3.00pm our flight, Air Peace, took off from Asaba for Abuja. It was my first leg of the journey to Rome via Addis Ababa. Smooth journey, thanks be to God. At Abuja, Fr Cyril Nwafor was at hand to convey me to Durumi where I stayed overnight at the Catholic Resource Centre (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria).
Quiet evening at the Centre. To our Blessed Mother I turn: Sous l'abri de ta miséricorde, nous nous réfugions, Sainte Mère de Dieu. Ne méprise pas nos prières quand nous sommes dans l'épreuve, mais de tous les dangers délivre-nous toujours, Vierge glorieuse et bénie.
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The joy of a shepherd!
Priestly solidarity!
New soldiers of Christ!
"All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord."
Sunday, 25 October 2020. 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Lætétur cor quæréntium Dóminum.Quǽrite Dóminum, et confirmámini, quǽrite fáciem eius semper. With my household we followed our usual pattern of starting a new day. We gathered before the Lord to reflect on His goodness to us and to ask for grace to accomplish our tasks today. During our morning Lauds we prayed:
God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He's swift to repay,
All those who bear the burden of the day.
God gives His people strength.
God gives His people hope.
If we but trust in His word, our prayers are always heard.
He warmly welcomes anyone who's erred.
God gives His people hope.
God gives His people love.
If we but open wide our hearts, He's sure to do His part.
He's always the first to make a start.
God gives His people love.
God gives His people peace.
When sorrow fills us to the brim, and courage grows dim,
He lays to rest our restlessness in Him.
God gives His people peace.
- Let us thank our Saviour, who came into this world that God might be with us. – We praise you, O Lord, and we thank you.
- We welcome you with praise, you are the Daystar, the first fruits from the dead: let us rise with you to walk in the light of Easter. – We praise you, O Lord, and we thank you.
- Help us on this day of rest to see goodness in all your creatures: open our eyes and our hearts to your love in the world. – We praise you, O Lord, and we thank you.
- Lord, we meet around your table as your family: help us to see that our bitterness is forgotten, our discord is resolved, and our sins are forgiven. – We praise you, O Lord, and we thank you.
- We pray for all Christian families: may your Spirit deepen their unity in faith and love. – We praise you, O Lord, and we thank you.
God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He's swift to repay,
All those who bear the burden of the day.
God gives His people strength.
God gives His people hope.
If we but trust in His word, our prayers are always heard.
He warmly welcomes anyone who's erred.
God gives His people hope.
God gives His people love.
If we but open wide our hearts, He's sure to do His part.
He's always the first to make a start.
God gives His people love.
God gives His people peace.
When sorrow fills us to the brim, and courage grows dim,
He lays to rest our restlessness in Him.
God gives His people peace.
Saturday, 24 October 2020. Usual morning spiritual activities. MEMORIAL OF ST ANTHONY MARY CLARET. Bishop. A day to remember all the Claretians. In a special way, I prayed for the Nigeria members. This prayer to the great saint: St. Anthony Mary Claret, during your life on earth, you often comforted the afflicted and showed such tender love and compassion for the sick and sinful. Intercede for us, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues in heavenly glory. Look with pity on us and grant our prayer, if such be the will of God.
Make our troubles your own. Speak a word for us to the Immaculate Heart of Mary to obtain, by her powerful intercession, the grace we yearn for so ardently, and a blessing to strengthen us during life. Assist us at the hour of death and lead us to a happy eternity. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another.”
This morning I received the healthcare workers from St Charles Borromeo Hospital to take sample of fluid from my throat and nostril in order to conduct COVID19 test. This was necessary in view of my plan to travel to the Vatican City.
I was indoors for a good part of today, giving myself time to relax. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Make our troubles your own. Speak a word for us to the Immaculate Heart of Mary to obtain, by her powerful intercession, the grace we yearn for so ardently, and a blessing to strengthen us during life. Assist us at the hour of death and lead us to a happy eternity. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another.”
This morning I received the healthcare workers from St Charles Borromeo Hospital to take sample of fluid from my throat and nostril in order to conduct COVID19 test. This was necessary in view of my plan to travel to the Vatican City.
I was indoors for a good part of today, giving myself time to relax. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Friday, 23 October 2020. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et populo et natione, et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum. On bended knee and bowed heads we acknowledge: Ave verum, corpus natum de Maria Virgine. Vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine. Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded there.”
In our community, we celebrated the Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We prayed: O God, who by the Precious Blood of your Only Begotten Son have redeemed the whole world, preserve in us the work of your mercy, so that, ever honouring the mystery of our salvation, we may merit to obtain its fruits.
I was indoors throughout today to carry out some special assignment.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded there.”
In our community, we celebrated the Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We prayed: O God, who by the Precious Blood of your Only Begotten Son have redeemed the whole world, preserve in us the work of your mercy, so that, ever honouring the mystery of our salvation, we may merit to obtain its fruits.
I was indoors throughout today to carry out some special assignment.
Welcome to Rome, young man!
First meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1989 |
Blessing of a father!
Last meeting with Pope John Paul II in 2004 |
Thursday, 22 October 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST POPE JOHN PAUL II. The Lord chose him for himself as high priest, and, opening his treasure house, made him rich in all good things. Usual morning spiritual activities. Today, I recall with gratitude to God the first day I saw in person Pope John Paul II. It was on 12 February 1982. He visited us at Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu. We prepared for his visit. He came in the evening, addressed us and blessed us. Great day in my life! I never imagined that seven years later I would live very close to him, interact with him one on one, work under him for several years, eat with him, take people to him, etc. A great privilege. I saw him when he was young - in his sixties. I met him too when he was very old and sick. He loved God and His people. He was deeply spiritually and truly human. With great reverence, I always say: I touched a saint!
At Mass this morning we prayed: O God, who are rich in mercy and who willed that Saint John Paul the Second should preside as Pope over your universal Church, grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching, we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ, the sole redeemer of mankind, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
From 11.30am to about 2.00pm, I glued my eyes to a computer screen participating in a ZOOM emergency meeting of the Administrative Board of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. My network today was terribly epileptic, but I managed to participate fully in the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, I was truly hungry. Good lunch. But no rest for me. I had to go back to my table to articulate a few points from our meeting.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Father, I place into your hands
the things I cannot do,
Father, I place into your hands
the things that I've been through.
Father, I place into your hands
the way that I should go,
For I know I always can trust you.
At Mass this morning we prayed: O God, who are rich in mercy and who willed that Saint John Paul the Second should preside as Pope over your universal Church, grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching, we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ, the sole redeemer of mankind, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
From 11.30am to about 2.00pm, I glued my eyes to a computer screen participating in a ZOOM emergency meeting of the Administrative Board of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. My network today was terribly epileptic, but I managed to participate fully in the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, I was truly hungry. Good lunch. But no rest for me. I had to go back to my table to articulate a few points from our meeting.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Father, I place into your hands
the things I cannot do,
Father, I place into your hands
the things that I've been through.
Father, I place into your hands
the way that I should go,
For I know I always can trust you.
Wednesday, 21 October 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. News filtering through that last night in Lagos some young people involved in EndSars# demonstration were murdered and many things were looted or destroyed in Lekki area of Lagos.
Our prayer this morning was for peace in our society. We celebrated Mass for Harmony in the society. We prayed: O God, who have taught your Church to keep all the heavenly commandments by loving you and loving our neighbour, grant us a spirit of peace and grace, so that your entire family may be devoted to you wholeheartedly and united in purity of intent.
At 9.20am, I was at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral Nnewi for the funeral of Fr Edmund Nwagbala. His death remains a mystery. He was burnt to death in circumstances yet to be fully explained and understood. Very well attended funeral. Bishop Hilary Okeke presided and I did the final Commendation. May the gentle soul of Fr Tombo rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Back to Aguleri. Very sober evening. As I retired to bed for the night: In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum. Redemisti nos, Domine, Deus veritatis.
Our prayer this morning was for peace in our society. We celebrated Mass for Harmony in the society. We prayed: O God, who have taught your Church to keep all the heavenly commandments by loving you and loving our neighbour, grant us a spirit of peace and grace, so that your entire family may be devoted to you wholeheartedly and united in purity of intent.
At 9.20am, I was at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral Nnewi for the funeral of Fr Edmund Nwagbala. His death remains a mystery. He was burnt to death in circumstances yet to be fully explained and understood. Very well attended funeral. Bishop Hilary Okeke presided and I did the final Commendation. May the gentle soul of Fr Tombo rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Back to Aguleri. Very sober evening. As I retired to bed for the night: In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum. Redemisti nos, Domine, Deus veritatis.
Tuesday, 20 October 2020. Before the Lord we presented ourselves. "LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp." Adoration and meditation.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Good. Better. Best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.”
Today my brother Archbishop Val Okeke celebrated his sixty-seventh birthday. We offered prayers for God's abundant blessings on him. Our Mass this morning was for his intentions. May God ever sustain him in His infinite love.
At about 4.00pm I went to Onitsha with my secretary and his assistant: Fr Innocent Udolisah and Fr Michael Odenigbo respectively. Fr Innocent drove us. We first went to Madam Ngozi Nwanosike, the CWO Director, to pay her a condolence visit following the death of her husband, Andy. The we went over to pay a courtesy visit to Mrs Theresa Onukwuba (Osinigwe), mama Fr Martin. A great, noble woman and very close friend of my mother.
From these two visits we went to the Archbishop's house for a birthday party in honour of our Archbishop Val. Okeke. Simple party, not overstretched. We returned safely back to Aguleri.
I was already feeling very sleepy when we returned. In prayer: Nella veglia salvaci, Signore, nel sonno non ci abbandonare: il cuore vegli con Cristo e il corpo riposi nella pace. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Good. Better. Best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.”
Today my brother Archbishop Val Okeke celebrated his sixty-seventh birthday. We offered prayers for God's abundant blessings on him. Our Mass this morning was for his intentions. May God ever sustain him in His infinite love.
At about 4.00pm I went to Onitsha with my secretary and his assistant: Fr Innocent Udolisah and Fr Michael Odenigbo respectively. Fr Innocent drove us. We first went to Madam Ngozi Nwanosike, the CWO Director, to pay her a condolence visit following the death of her husband, Andy. The we went over to pay a courtesy visit to Mrs Theresa Onukwuba (Osinigwe), mama Fr Martin. A great, noble woman and very close friend of my mother.
From these two visits we went to the Archbishop's house for a birthday party in honour of our Archbishop Val. Okeke. Simple party, not overstretched. We returned safely back to Aguleri.
I was already feeling very sleepy when we returned. In prayer: Nella veglia salvaci, Signore, nel sonno non ci abbandonare: il cuore vegli con Cristo e il corpo riposi nella pace. Good night, Lord.
Monday, 19 October 2020. Ogni epoca tramanda, o Dio, le tue opere e proclama le tue gesta mirabili.
Dolce nella memoria resta il ricordo della tua bontà e l’esultanza per la tua giustizia. Usual pattern of spiritual exercises in the morning. With my household we began our day before the Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is.”
Our language for Mass today was Italian. At the Opening prayer, we begged the Lord: Dio onnipotente ed eterno, crea in noi un cuore generoso e fedele, perché possiamo sempre servirti con lealtà e purezza di spirito.
From 10.00am till 1.20pm I was in my office at Aguleri to meet the people who came to consult me. One of the groups that came to see me today the Catholic Charismatic Movement Onitsha Archdiocese. Usually, I go on all-night-crusade with them. In the past three years, I used to choose a town of primary evangelization status for an overnight Crusade. The members of the Catholic Charismatic Movement would storm such a selected town and conduct visitation to ALL families to pray with them and invite them to respond to the call of Christ to follow Him. They do this home visitation from 6.00pm to 6.00am the next day. I would join them in the morning, preaching in the village Square for about two hours. Then we would hold a prayer session for the people of the selected town. We would create opportunity for administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Then we would conclude with a Holy Mass. With great pain in my heart, for this year because of COVID19, I cancelled this great spiritual exercise. Domine Deus virtutum, converte nos, et ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus.
Late lunch. Short rest. Then back to my desk for work. I have often jokingly said: There is no rest for the wicked! We must all become wicked to laziness and lack of creativity. We cry to the Lord:
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene--one step enough for me.
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
Dolce nella memoria resta il ricordo della tua bontà e l’esultanza per la tua giustizia. Usual pattern of spiritual exercises in the morning. With my household we began our day before the Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is.”
Our language for Mass today was Italian. At the Opening prayer, we begged the Lord: Dio onnipotente ed eterno, crea in noi un cuore generoso e fedele, perché possiamo sempre servirti con lealtà e purezza di spirito.
From 10.00am till 1.20pm I was in my office at Aguleri to meet the people who came to consult me. One of the groups that came to see me today the Catholic Charismatic Movement Onitsha Archdiocese. Usually, I go on all-night-crusade with them. In the past three years, I used to choose a town of primary evangelization status for an overnight Crusade. The members of the Catholic Charismatic Movement would storm such a selected town and conduct visitation to ALL families to pray with them and invite them to respond to the call of Christ to follow Him. They do this home visitation from 6.00pm to 6.00am the next day. I would join them in the morning, preaching in the village Square for about two hours. Then we would hold a prayer session for the people of the selected town. We would create opportunity for administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Then we would conclude with a Holy Mass. With great pain in my heart, for this year because of COVID19, I cancelled this great spiritual exercise. Domine Deus virtutum, converte nos, et ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus.
Late lunch. Short rest. Then back to my desk for work. I have often jokingly said: There is no rest for the wicked! We must all become wicked to laziness and lack of creativity. We cry to the Lord:
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene--one step enough for me.
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
Some of the Priest-concelebrants.
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Deo gratias - our Church is dedicated! Certificate of Dedication.
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Presentation of the completed Church and request for dedication. Handing over the keys of the Church
Sunday, 18 October 2020. 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Ego clámavi, quóniam exaudísti me, Deus; inclína aurem tuam, et exáudi verba mea. Custódi me, Dómine, ut pupíllam óculi; sub umbra alárum tuárum prótege me. Usual morning devotions with my closest collaborators.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.”
At 10.00am, I was at Oraukwu for the dedication of St Albert the Great Church. A magnificent Church whose finishing touches were directed by Fr Francis Aronu. It was built in honour of Archbishop Albert Obiefuna. I offered the prayer of consecration and said interalia:
Lord,
send your Spirit from heaven
to make this church an ever-holy place,
and this altar a ready table for the sacrifice of Christ.
Here may the waters of baptism
overwhelm the shame of sin;
here may your people die to sin
and live again through grace as your children.
Here may your children,
gathered around your altar,
celebrate the memorial of the Paschal Lamb,
and be fed at the table
of Christ’s word and Christ’s body.
Here may prayer, the Church’s banquet,
resound through heaven and earth
as a plea for the world’s salvation.
Here may the poor find justice,
the victims of oppression, true freedom.
From here may the whole world
clothed in the dignity of the children of God,
enter with gladness your city of peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
After the Mass, there was entertainment provided for the people. Inside the rectory, I had good interaction with the priests. In the welcome address, the people said:
We thank God for this wonderful day, and we glorify His most Holy Name. We are highly excited to welcome you in our midst to pray with us, bless us and, more importantly dedicate our church to God. This day will ever remain fresh and green in our grateful hearts….It is praiseworthy to note here that within a few years of your episcopacy in the archdiocese as the auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha, a lot of achievements have been recorded, especially in the area of organization, administration, unity, peace, justice and pastoral apostolate. You love reaching out to those in the furthest end of the archdiocese. Hence, we become beneficiaries of your thoughtfulness by this dedication of our Church today.
Your Lordship, you are a special gift to our generation, a seasoned administrator, a humble and simple chief shepherd, source of inspiration and encouragement to many who have come your way, in a nutshell, you are of integrity and like John the Baptist, pointing not to yourself but beyond to our Lord Jesus Christ in your teachings and homilies. There is so much more we can say to describe what a wonderful bishop you are but there are no words to describe the love we have for you.
I was back to Aguleri in the evening. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.”
At 10.00am, I was at Oraukwu for the dedication of St Albert the Great Church. A magnificent Church whose finishing touches were directed by Fr Francis Aronu. It was built in honour of Archbishop Albert Obiefuna. I offered the prayer of consecration and said interalia:
Lord,
send your Spirit from heaven
to make this church an ever-holy place,
and this altar a ready table for the sacrifice of Christ.
Here may the waters of baptism
overwhelm the shame of sin;
here may your people die to sin
and live again through grace as your children.
Here may your children,
gathered around your altar,
celebrate the memorial of the Paschal Lamb,
and be fed at the table
of Christ’s word and Christ’s body.
Here may prayer, the Church’s banquet,
resound through heaven and earth
as a plea for the world’s salvation.
Here may the poor find justice,
the victims of oppression, true freedom.
From here may the whole world
clothed in the dignity of the children of God,
enter with gladness your city of peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
After the Mass, there was entertainment provided for the people. Inside the rectory, I had good interaction with the priests. In the welcome address, the people said:
We thank God for this wonderful day, and we glorify His most Holy Name. We are highly excited to welcome you in our midst to pray with us, bless us and, more importantly dedicate our church to God. This day will ever remain fresh and green in our grateful hearts….It is praiseworthy to note here that within a few years of your episcopacy in the archdiocese as the auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha, a lot of achievements have been recorded, especially in the area of organization, administration, unity, peace, justice and pastoral apostolate. You love reaching out to those in the furthest end of the archdiocese. Hence, we become beneficiaries of your thoughtfulness by this dedication of our Church today.
Your Lordship, you are a special gift to our generation, a seasoned administrator, a humble and simple chief shepherd, source of inspiration and encouragement to many who have come your way, in a nutshell, you are of integrity and like John the Baptist, pointing not to yourself but beyond to our Lord Jesus Christ in your teachings and homilies. There is so much more we can say to describe what a wonderful bishop you are but there are no words to describe the love we have for you.
I was back to Aguleri in the evening. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
Saturday, 17 October 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. We followed our usual pattern of morning devotions: Adoration, meditation, Lauds, and Benediction.
ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH. Christo confíxus sum cruci; vivo autem, iam non ego: vivit vero in me Christus;
in fide vivo Fílii Dei, qui diléxit me, et trádidit semetípsum pro me. We prayed at Mass: Almighty ever-living God, who adorn the sacred body of your Church with the confessions of holy Martyrs, grant, we pray, that, just as the glorious passion of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which we celebrate today, brought him eternal splendour,
so it may be for us unending protection.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.”
Today, we celebrated the anniversary of the first major miracle which God granted through Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. We thanked the Lord and prayed: O God, in the priest Blessed Michael Tansi, you join the apostolic zeal of a Pastor to the way of life of a monk. Grant us by his intercession that persevering in prayer, we seek untiringly the coming of Your kingdom. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We did not bring together large group for this celebration because of COVID19 restrictions. We continue to pray for the Canonization and we invite all to join in this prayer:
PRAYER FOR THE CANONIZATION OF BLESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL TANSI:
O God who granted many graces to your servant, priest and monk, Cyprian Michael Tansi, choosing him as your faithful instrument for evangelization and sanctification of your people, grant also that I may spend my life, loving you and my neighbour and serving the church. Deign to glorify your servant, Cyprian Michael, and through his intercession, to grant me the favour I now ask in faith (intention here) Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
At 4.00pm, I was at St Albert the Great Parish Oraukwu for Mass during which I administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH. Christo confíxus sum cruci; vivo autem, iam non ego: vivit vero in me Christus;
in fide vivo Fílii Dei, qui diléxit me, et trádidit semetípsum pro me. We prayed at Mass: Almighty ever-living God, who adorn the sacred body of your Church with the confessions of holy Martyrs, grant, we pray, that, just as the glorious passion of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which we celebrate today, brought him eternal splendour,
so it may be for us unending protection.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.”
Today, we celebrated the anniversary of the first major miracle which God granted through Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. We thanked the Lord and prayed: O God, in the priest Blessed Michael Tansi, you join the apostolic zeal of a Pastor to the way of life of a monk. Grant us by his intercession that persevering in prayer, we seek untiringly the coming of Your kingdom. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We did not bring together large group for this celebration because of COVID19 restrictions. We continue to pray for the Canonization and we invite all to join in this prayer:
PRAYER FOR THE CANONIZATION OF BLESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL TANSI:
O God who granted many graces to your servant, priest and monk, Cyprian Michael Tansi, choosing him as your faithful instrument for evangelization and sanctification of your people, grant also that I may spend my life, loving you and my neighbour and serving the church. Deign to glorify your servant, Cyprian Michael, and through his intercession, to grant me the favour I now ask in faith (intention here) Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
At 4.00pm, I was at St Albert the Great Parish Oraukwu for Mass during which I administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
Friday, 16 October 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST MARGARET ALACOQUE. Today's memorial inspired us to reflect on the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was St Margaret Alacoque, who received revelations on the form of this devotion: reception of Holy Communion on the first Friday of each month, Eucharistic adoration during a "Holy hour"on Thursdays and celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Cor Iesu sacratissimum, miserere nobis. Today was a good day to make reparations to our Lord who loves us profoundly:
O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold, we kneel before you and offer you our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against your holy name, for all the injuries done to you in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward your Immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against your spouse, the holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, you who have said: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you", we pray and beseech you for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in your name, to God the Father, with whom you live and reign in the unity of the Holy Spirit world without end. Amen
We followed our usual morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Unsuccessful people make their decisions based on their current situations. Successful people make their decisions based on where they want to be.”
At 10.00am, I celebrated a funeral Mass at St Joseph's Church Aguleri for an extra ordinary member of our local Church, Theresa Onukwue. This woman did not belong to the class of the rich and the powerful women in Aguleri community. She impressed me by her extraordinary simplicity. She was a poor widow, very pious and, like St Anna in bible, she was found always around the church. She came every morning to sweep the church compound. Her visibility around the church attracted my attention. She was very consistent in practising her faith in very simple ways. God called her to our heavenly home after proper fortifications with the Church's Sacraments. Requiescat in pace Domini.
Home based activities for the rest of the day.
O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold, we kneel before you and offer you our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against your holy name, for all the injuries done to you in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward your Immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against your spouse, the holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, you who have said: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you", we pray and beseech you for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in your name, to God the Father, with whom you live and reign in the unity of the Holy Spirit world without end. Amen
We followed our usual morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Unsuccessful people make their decisions based on their current situations. Successful people make their decisions based on where they want to be.”
At 10.00am, I celebrated a funeral Mass at St Joseph's Church Aguleri for an extra ordinary member of our local Church, Theresa Onukwue. This woman did not belong to the class of the rich and the powerful women in Aguleri community. She impressed me by her extraordinary simplicity. She was a poor widow, very pious and, like St Anna in bible, she was found always around the church. She came every morning to sweep the church compound. Her visibility around the church attracted my attention. She was very consistent in practising her faith in very simple ways. God called her to our heavenly home after proper fortifications with the Church's Sacraments. Requiescat in pace Domini.
Home based activities for the rest of the day.
Thursday, 15 October 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST THERESA OF AVILA. Quemádmodum desíderat cervus ad fontes aquárum, ita desíderat ánima mea ad te, Deus. Sitívit ánima mea ad Deum fortem vivum. As usual, with my household we presented ourselves to the Lord, asking Him to bless us and direct our activities today. Adoro te o panis caelice, o Domine o Deus maxime. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, sine fine Sanctus. Semper tíbi gloria Sacra sit sub Hostia.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Work hard in silence, let your success be the noise.”
I prayed for my mother and those who go by the name Theresa. During the Mass today, the readings were taken from: Rom 8:22-27, Ps 19, John 15:1-8. We said the following intercessory prayers:
Home based activities for the rest of the day.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Work hard in silence, let your success be the noise.”
I prayed for my mother and those who go by the name Theresa. During the Mass today, the readings were taken from: Rom 8:22-27, Ps 19, John 15:1-8. We said the following intercessory prayers:
- For all of us, the members of the church, saved in hope, graced with the first fruits of the Spirit, yet groaning for the redemption of our bodies, that we may wait with the patience of endurance and the effort of good works, Lord, Hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the fear of the Lord and respect for His ordinances may become the abiding motivation of our world leaders as they direct the policies of our age, Lord, Hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may glorify the Father by remaining in His Son, the true vine, bearing much fruit and becoming truly the disciples of Jesus, Lord, Hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who follow St. Teresa along the Carmelite way of prayer, that the Spirit may come to the aid of their weakness, interceding for them with inexpressible groaning and obtaining all that they need from the Father of Mercy, Lord, Hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those undergoing the pruning of illness or distress, that our fervent prayer and this Holy Sacrifice may bring them relief and new growth, Lord, Hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our departed dear ones, that as they remained in Jesus during this life, so they may now be found in Him among the glories of the heavenly kingdom, Lord, Hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Home based activities for the rest of the day.
Wednesday, 14 October 2020. Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine, Dómine, quis sustinébit? Quia apud te propitiátio est. This morning I got up at about 4.15am. But I was still feeling very sleepy. I remained on my bed and slept off again. Eventually I got up at 5.50am. Thanks be to God for the gift of sleep. A good sleep helps to reset the body system clock, it refreshes the brain network and keeps a person healthy. I felt great this morning. Domine, dirige me in veritate tua, et doce me, quia tu es Deus salvator meus, et te sustinui tota die. One song, today's hymn for Lauds, easily came to mind:
Now that the daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high,
That He, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm today.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”
Usual morning spiritual activities. At Lauds we prayed:
I had for lunch the family of Francis Ejike, my classmate and friend. Wonderful interaction and a good opportunity to travel down the memory lane. Thanks be to God for the gift of friendship. Unguento et variis odoribus delectatur cor, et bonis amici consiliis anima dulcoratur. Yes, “Sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Now that the daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high,
That He, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm today.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”
Usual morning spiritual activities. At Lauds we prayed:
- Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy, he gave us new birth into a living hope by his Son’s resurrection from the dead. To him we pray: – Father, give us your strength.
- Turn our eyes to Jesus Christ your Son. May he lead us in our faith and bring it to perfection. – Father, give us your strength.
- We pray for cheerfulness and a generous heart; may we bring joy to our homes, to our work, and to all whom we meet. – Father, give us your strength.
- We pray for all who are working today; be with them at home and in the city, in the factory and in the fields. – Father, give us your strength.
- We pray for those who have no work; we pray for the disabled and the sick, for those who cannot find work, and for those who are retired. – Father, give us your strength.
I had for lunch the family of Francis Ejike, my classmate and friend. Wonderful interaction and a good opportunity to travel down the memory lane. Thanks be to God for the gift of friendship. Unguento et variis odoribus delectatur cor, et bonis amici consiliis anima dulcoratur. Yes, “Sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Tuesday, 13 October 2020. Respice, Dominum, in testamentum tuum, et animas pauperum tuorum ne obliviscaris in finem. Before the Lord hidden in the tabernacle we assemble. One of the thoughts in my mind was the sad news that the flooding in the riverine areas around us would soon come and it would bring much suffering to the people. In the past, such flooding forced people to abandon their homes to live in camps. Not easy experience! When we put together the hardship brought about by COVID19 and now the imminent flood disaster, it is clear that our people here will suffer terribly. Today, we presentded to the Lord these challenges and begged: Deus virtutum, converte nos, illustra faciem tuam, et salvi erimus.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”
At Mass today, we prayed for the victims of the flood and those suffering hunger in the world and, in a special way, those of them around us in this part of the world. For them we offered the Mass and prayed: O God, who, being both good and almighty, provide for all creatures, give us, we pray, an effective love for our brothers and sisters who suffer hunger, so that famine may be banished and that they may have strength to serve you with free and untroubled hearts.
Trouble is gradually brewing in Nigeria. Young people are asking for end of Police brutality in Nigeria. There is this hashtag: EndSARS#.
Again, I was indoors today, with a special task to accomplish.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”
At Mass today, we prayed for the victims of the flood and those suffering hunger in the world and, in a special way, those of them around us in this part of the world. For them we offered the Mass and prayed: O God, who, being both good and almighty, provide for all creatures, give us, we pray, an effective love for our brothers and sisters who suffer hunger, so that famine may be banished and that they may have strength to serve you with free and untroubled hearts.
Trouble is gradually brewing in Nigeria. Young people are asking for end of Police brutality in Nigeria. There is this hashtag: EndSARS#.
Again, I was indoors today, with a special task to accomplish.
Monday, 12 October 2020. Early morning greetings to our Blessed Mother. Rogate quae ad pacem sunt Ierusalem, et abundantia diligentibus te. Propter fratres meos et proximos meos loquebar pacem de te. Our usual morning spiritual activities in the chapel.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s what you’re made of, not the circumstances.”
At our community Mass today, we prayed for our relatives and friends: O God, who by the grace of the Hoy Spirit have filled the hearts of your faithful with gifts of charity, grant health of mind and body to your servants, for whom we beseech your mercy, that they may love you with all their strength and, wti all their love, do what is pleasing to you.
I was indoors today, with a special task to accomplish.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s what you’re made of, not the circumstances.”
At our community Mass today, we prayed for our relatives and friends: O God, who by the grace of the Hoy Spirit have filled the hearts of your faithful with gifts of charity, grant health of mind and body to your servants, for whom we beseech your mercy, that they may love you with all their strength and, wti all their love, do what is pleasing to you.
I was indoors today, with a special task to accomplish.
New Soldiers of Christ / Faithful witnesses
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Pastoral Visit to St Paul's Parish, Nnobi.
Sunday, 11 October 2020. 28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Si tu retiens les fautes, Seigneur, qui donc subsistera ? Mais près de toi se trouve le pardon, Dieu fidèle. Usual morning spiritual activities. For the Benediction Collect, we prayed: Tribue nobis, Domine Deus, ut qui Iesum Christum pro nobis natum ex Virgine Maria et in cruce passum, sub sacramento praesentem esse credimus et confitemur, ex hoc divino fonte hauriamus perpetuae salvationis effectum Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”
Our usual Community Mass in concelebration with Fr Onyema Anozie. After breakfast, I waived good bye to him, having provided him with a chattered taxi to take him to Agulu to join Fr Cosmas Ebebe on their way back to CIWA in Port Harcourt.
At 10.00am, I was at St Paul's Parish Nnobi for a pastoral visit during which I administered the Sacrament of Confirmation on four hundred and seventy-six (476) candidates. New soldiers / witnesses of the Faith sent on a mission. Over them I prayed: All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Ave maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix caeli porta.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”
Our usual Community Mass in concelebration with Fr Onyema Anozie. After breakfast, I waived good bye to him, having provided him with a chattered taxi to take him to Agulu to join Fr Cosmas Ebebe on their way back to CIWA in Port Harcourt.
At 10.00am, I was at St Paul's Parish Nnobi for a pastoral visit during which I administered the Sacrament of Confirmation on four hundred and seventy-six (476) candidates. New soldiers / witnesses of the Faith sent on a mission. Over them I prayed: All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Ave maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix caeli porta.
Saturday, 10 October 2020. Usual morning spiritual exercises. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis Deo. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
At 10.00am, I was at Villa Mater Christi Nkpor for "A DAY WITH IMMACULATE HEART SISTERS". Every year, since I was ordained bishop for the archdiocese of Onitsha, the Sisters invite me on a day like this to celebrate the feast of St Denis for me. I understand that they do it for the bishops on and around the episcopal seat of their father-founder - Archbishop Charles Heerey.
As in other years, we began with a Holy Mass. I concelebrated with Fr Onyema Anozie (both of us celebrated 35 years of priesthood this year) and Fr Samuel Nwadike (Chaplain to IHM Sisters). After Mass, there was a lively interaction with the Sisters in form of questions and answers. I tried to give them frank answers to the questions. Dancing and other entertainment shows followed. Then, special family lunch with the Sisters. I had time to go round and greet personally the elderly sisters in the community. I received many gifts from the Sisters.
Back to Aguleri at about 4.00pm. I took Fr Onyema Anozie to visit Fr Matthew Obiekezie, our class mate who is the Parish Priest of St Joseph's Church, Aguleri. Health walk. Fraternal dinner with Fr Onyema.
Retirement to bed. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
At 10.00am, I was at Villa Mater Christi Nkpor for "A DAY WITH IMMACULATE HEART SISTERS". Every year, since I was ordained bishop for the archdiocese of Onitsha, the Sisters invite me on a day like this to celebrate the feast of St Denis for me. I understand that they do it for the bishops on and around the episcopal seat of their father-founder - Archbishop Charles Heerey.
As in other years, we began with a Holy Mass. I concelebrated with Fr Onyema Anozie (both of us celebrated 35 years of priesthood this year) and Fr Samuel Nwadike (Chaplain to IHM Sisters). After Mass, there was a lively interaction with the Sisters in form of questions and answers. I tried to give them frank answers to the questions. Dancing and other entertainment shows followed. Then, special family lunch with the Sisters. I had time to go round and greet personally the elderly sisters in the community. I received many gifts from the Sisters.
Back to Aguleri at about 4.00pm. I took Fr Onyema Anozie to visit Fr Matthew Obiekezie, our class mate who is the Parish Priest of St Joseph's Church, Aguleri. Health walk. Fraternal dinner with Fr Onyema.
Retirement to bed. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Friday, 9 October 2020. Longer early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. MEMORIAL OF THE MARTYRS ST DENIS & COMPANIONS. Isti, qui amicti sunt stolis albis, hi sunt qui venerunt ex magna tribulatione, et laverunt stolas suas in sanguine Agni, alleluia. No exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Meditation till 6.30am. Feast of my patron saint.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Never stop doing your best just because someone does not give you credit.”
We ended our meditation in the usual way: O Jesus living in Mary.... Then followed by the ejaculatory prayers.
At our Mass today which Fr Onyema Anozie concelebrated with our Iwene Tansi Community, with the Church we prayed: O God, who sent Saint Denis and his companions to preach your glory to the nations and strengthened them for their mission with the virtue of constancy in suffering, grant, we pray, that we may imitate them in disdaining prosperity in this world and in being undaunted by any trial.
At 9.20am, I was at Okija for the funeral of my great friend and spiritual father, Fr Denis Ononuju Obiaga C.S.Sp. I had many opportunities to interact with him when I was in Rome and in the last years of his life. We used to celebrate the feast of St Denis together. His book, What is the colour of your soul?, was the first book I gave imprimatur as a bishop. About that book I wrote: "From the pen of a spiritual master, What is the colour of your soul? is a creative reflection on the Beatitudes by Rev. Fr Denis Mary Joseph Ononuju Obiaga, C.S.Sp. The colours that truly beautify the soul - the entire person - are humility, contrition, holy endurance, meekness, righteousness, mercifulness, purity and peacefulness. I have read the book and I confirm that it does not contain doctrinal errors. Therefore, I grant it imprimatur and recommend it to all Christians and People of goodwill to read for their spiritual growth and nourishment." In Fr Ononuju I found a living saint. I am convinced beyond doubt that he will in the future be pronounced a saint ad maiorem Dei gloriam by the Holy Mother the Church.
It was providential that his funeral was fixed on 9 October - our patronal feast day. I was requested by Bishop Hilary Okeke to preside at the funeral. I imagine that Fr Ononuju would have wished it. And so, at Mass today were Bishops Paulinus Ezeokafor, Hyacinth Egbebo, Peter Okpaleke and Denis Isizoh. The Provincial Superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Very Rev. Father Gregory Olikenyi C.SSp., was the chief-mourner. Hundreds of Priests concelebrated. There was large presence of the Sisters and Priests of the two Religious Congregations (Holy Family Sisters of the Needy and Holy Family Fathers and Brothers of the Youth) he founded and the Spirians. At his request and with the approval of the Provincial Superior and his Council, he was buried at Okija in the Generalate of his Sons. Fr Gregory Olikenyi C.S.Sp. led at the interment ceremonies. Bishop Hilary was present. May the Lord grant eternal rest to our beloved Fr Denis Ononuju.
From Okija we drove to Utuh where I went for condolence visit to the family of Felix Nzekwe who was also buried today. I lived in their house for one month in 1980 during my apostolic work in Amichi parish (Utuh was one of the towns under the parish). I prayed over the grave of Chief Felix Nzekwe. I did not stay for long because the compound was over-crowded.
By 5.30pm I was back to Aguleri. Evening passed and night came: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Never stop doing your best just because someone does not give you credit.”
We ended our meditation in the usual way: O Jesus living in Mary.... Then followed by the ejaculatory prayers.
At our Mass today which Fr Onyema Anozie concelebrated with our Iwene Tansi Community, with the Church we prayed: O God, who sent Saint Denis and his companions to preach your glory to the nations and strengthened them for their mission with the virtue of constancy in suffering, grant, we pray, that we may imitate them in disdaining prosperity in this world and in being undaunted by any trial.
At 9.20am, I was at Okija for the funeral of my great friend and spiritual father, Fr Denis Ononuju Obiaga C.S.Sp. I had many opportunities to interact with him when I was in Rome and in the last years of his life. We used to celebrate the feast of St Denis together. His book, What is the colour of your soul?, was the first book I gave imprimatur as a bishop. About that book I wrote: "From the pen of a spiritual master, What is the colour of your soul? is a creative reflection on the Beatitudes by Rev. Fr Denis Mary Joseph Ononuju Obiaga, C.S.Sp. The colours that truly beautify the soul - the entire person - are humility, contrition, holy endurance, meekness, righteousness, mercifulness, purity and peacefulness. I have read the book and I confirm that it does not contain doctrinal errors. Therefore, I grant it imprimatur and recommend it to all Christians and People of goodwill to read for their spiritual growth and nourishment." In Fr Ononuju I found a living saint. I am convinced beyond doubt that he will in the future be pronounced a saint ad maiorem Dei gloriam by the Holy Mother the Church.
It was providential that his funeral was fixed on 9 October - our patronal feast day. I was requested by Bishop Hilary Okeke to preside at the funeral. I imagine that Fr Ononuju would have wished it. And so, at Mass today were Bishops Paulinus Ezeokafor, Hyacinth Egbebo, Peter Okpaleke and Denis Isizoh. The Provincial Superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Very Rev. Father Gregory Olikenyi C.SSp., was the chief-mourner. Hundreds of Priests concelebrated. There was large presence of the Sisters and Priests of the two Religious Congregations (Holy Family Sisters of the Needy and Holy Family Fathers and Brothers of the Youth) he founded and the Spirians. At his request and with the approval of the Provincial Superior and his Council, he was buried at Okija in the Generalate of his Sons. Fr Gregory Olikenyi C.S.Sp. led at the interment ceremonies. Bishop Hilary was present. May the Lord grant eternal rest to our beloved Fr Denis Ononuju.
From Okija we drove to Utuh where I went for condolence visit to the family of Felix Nzekwe who was also buried today. I lived in their house for one month in 1980 during my apostolic work in Amichi parish (Utuh was one of the towns under the parish). I prayed over the grave of Chief Felix Nzekwe. I did not stay for long because the compound was over-crowded.
By 5.30pm I was back to Aguleri. Evening passed and night came: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Thursday, 8 October 2020. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. Da pacem, Domine, sustinentibus te, et exaudi ortiones servorum tuorum, et dirige nos in viam iustitiae. Before the Lord we sat to present our daily tasks to Him, to ask for His instructions and His blessing. We go out every day in His Name. Doce me, Domine, viam tuam, et ingrediar in veritate tua; simplex fac cor meum, ut timeat nomen tuum. Usual pattern of daily morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “People who wonder if the glass is half empty or full miss the point. The glass is refillable.”
We celebrated Mass for Justice and Peace in the world, and we prayed with the Church: O God, who have revealed that peacemakers are to be called your children, grant, we pray, that we may work without ceasing to establish that justice which alone ensures true and lasting peace. And in the Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs IV, we begged the Lord: Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that people may be raised up to a new hope.
I spent a good part of today indoors, at my desk doing the things I love very much: reading and writing. In the evening, at 5.00pm, I was at Agulu for a funeral vigil Mass for Sylvanus Aniefuna, elder brother of Fr Clifford Aniefuna. I concelebrated with Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye and many priests.. I presided and Fr Cosmas Ebebe gave the homily. I returned to Aguleri with Fr Onyema Anozie, my classmate, a professor teaching at the Catholic Institute of West Africa Port Harcourt, who planned to visit me for a weekend. Warm welcome, brother.
Back to Aguleri. Fraternal dinner and long chat - catching up with Fr Onyema. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “People who wonder if the glass is half empty or full miss the point. The glass is refillable.”
We celebrated Mass for Justice and Peace in the world, and we prayed with the Church: O God, who have revealed that peacemakers are to be called your children, grant, we pray, that we may work without ceasing to establish that justice which alone ensures true and lasting peace. And in the Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs IV, we begged the Lord: Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that people may be raised up to a new hope.
I spent a good part of today indoors, at my desk doing the things I love very much: reading and writing. In the evening, at 5.00pm, I was at Agulu for a funeral vigil Mass for Sylvanus Aniefuna, elder brother of Fr Clifford Aniefuna. I concelebrated with Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye and many priests.. I presided and Fr Cosmas Ebebe gave the homily. I returned to Aguleri with Fr Onyema Anozie, my classmate, a professor teaching at the Catholic Institute of West Africa Port Harcourt, who planned to visit me for a weekend. Warm welcome, brother.
Back to Aguleri. Fraternal dinner and long chat - catching up with Fr Onyema. Good night, Lord.
Wednesday, 7 October 2020. OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY. Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui. We followed our usual pattern of morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: This was circulated in WhatsApp and I consider it worth reflecting upon:
TREATIES FOR LIFE!!
**********************
1. When you meet young people - Inspire them.
2. When you meet old people - Honour them.
3. When you meet wise people - Study them.
4. When you meet foolish people - Avoid them.
5. When you meet humble people - Treasure them.
6. When you meet arrogant people - Ignore them.
7. When you meet gracious people - Emulate them.
8. When you meet crude people, - Help them.
9. When you meet strong people - Support them.
10. When you meet godly people - Bless them.
11. When you meet weak people - Toughen them.
12. When you meet kind people - Esteem them.
13. When you meet Honest people - Promote them.
14. When you meet virtuous people - Reward them.
15. When you meet ignorant people - Educate them.
16. When you meet evil people - Evade them.
17. And in all situation “Watch and Pray"
At Mass today, with the Church we said the following Collect: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. As a community, we said the following Intercessory Prayers:
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: This was circulated in WhatsApp and I consider it worth reflecting upon:
TREATIES FOR LIFE!!
**********************
1. When you meet young people - Inspire them.
2. When you meet old people - Honour them.
3. When you meet wise people - Study them.
4. When you meet foolish people - Avoid them.
5. When you meet humble people - Treasure them.
6. When you meet arrogant people - Ignore them.
7. When you meet gracious people - Emulate them.
8. When you meet crude people, - Help them.
9. When you meet strong people - Support them.
10. When you meet godly people - Bless them.
11. When you meet weak people - Toughen them.
12. When you meet kind people - Esteem them.
13. When you meet Honest people - Promote them.
14. When you meet virtuous people - Reward them.
15. When you meet ignorant people - Educate them.
16. When you meet evil people - Evade them.
17. And in all situation “Watch and Pray"
At Mass today, with the Church we said the following Collect: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. As a community, we said the following Intercessory Prayers:
- For all those in the church who faithfully pray the rosary, that the garlands of daily meditations on the divine mysteries in Mary’s company may bring her blessing into their lives. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who work for peace, that Mary, Queen of Peace, may obtain for them the divine assistance that will make peace possible. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That in this Eucharist in which we encounter, not an angel, but the incarnate Word Himself, may call forth from us the total surrender that Mary once gave Him. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all of us living out the mysteries of Jesus in our lives, and especially for those united most closely with His passion, that Mary may be there for them as she was for Jesus. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all those who have gone before us, that they may receive the reward of their kindness and faithfulness in heaven. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Tuesday, 6 October 2020. In caritate perpetua dilexit nos Deus: Filium suum Unigenitum misit propitiationem pro peccatis nostris, non pro nostris autem tantum, sed etiam pro totius mundi. In our community chapel, we followed our usual pattern of morning devotions: adoration of the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, meditation, Office of Lauds during which we prayed: Almighty God, to whom this world with all its goodness and beauty belongs, give us grace joyfully to begin this day in your name and to fill it with an active love for you and our neighbour. Benediction followed.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Blames after each failure keep lessons unlearned. When you fall, rise up quickly and learn your lessons... Blames will never make any change; applied lessons will do!"
Our Community Eucharistic celebration - Votive Mass of the Mercy of God. With the Church we prayed: O God, whose mercies are without number and whose treasure of goodness in infinite, graciously increase the faith of the people consecrated to you that all may grasp rightly understand by whose love they have been created, through whose Blood they have been redeemed, and by whose Spirit they have been reborn. And using the Eucharist Prayer for Reconciliation 1, we made the following petition: Help us to work together for the coming of your Kingdom, until the hour when we stand before you, Saints among the Saints in the halls of heaven,with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, the blessed Apostles and all the Saints, and with our deceased brothers and sisters, whom we humbly commend to your mercy. Then, freed at last from the wound of corruption and made fully into a new creation, we shall sing to you with gladness the thanksgiving of Christ, who lives for all eternity.
At 10.00am, the Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province met at Blessed Iwene Tansi major Seminary Onitsha. The following Bishops were present: Val Okeke, Hilary Okeke, John Okoye, Callistus Onaga, Goddy Onah, Jonas Benson Okoye, Ernest Obodo and Denis Isizoh. The meeting supervised the election of a new Rector of the seminary. It was a well conducted election. The Bishops, therefore, confirmed Fr Fabian Obi (Awka diocese) as Acting Rector of Blessed Tansi Seminary Onitsha. Fr Alfred Okakpu (Onitsha archdiocese) was appointed Vice Rector.
I returned to Aguleri immediately.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Blames after each failure keep lessons unlearned. When you fall, rise up quickly and learn your lessons... Blames will never make any change; applied lessons will do!"
Our Community Eucharistic celebration - Votive Mass of the Mercy of God. With the Church we prayed: O God, whose mercies are without number and whose treasure of goodness in infinite, graciously increase the faith of the people consecrated to you that all may grasp rightly understand by whose love they have been created, through whose Blood they have been redeemed, and by whose Spirit they have been reborn. And using the Eucharist Prayer for Reconciliation 1, we made the following petition: Help us to work together for the coming of your Kingdom, until the hour when we stand before you, Saints among the Saints in the halls of heaven,with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, the blessed Apostles and all the Saints, and with our deceased brothers and sisters, whom we humbly commend to your mercy. Then, freed at last from the wound of corruption and made fully into a new creation, we shall sing to you with gladness the thanksgiving of Christ, who lives for all eternity.
At 10.00am, the Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province met at Blessed Iwene Tansi major Seminary Onitsha. The following Bishops were present: Val Okeke, Hilary Okeke, John Okoye, Callistus Onaga, Goddy Onah, Jonas Benson Okoye, Ernest Obodo and Denis Isizoh. The meeting supervised the election of a new Rector of the seminary. It was a well conducted election. The Bishops, therefore, confirmed Fr Fabian Obi (Awka diocese) as Acting Rector of Blessed Tansi Seminary Onitsha. Fr Alfred Okakpu (Onitsha archdiocese) was appointed Vice Rector.
I returned to Aguleri immediately.
Monday, 5 October 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. Mass in honour of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. Sacerdotes tui, Domine, induant iustitiam, et sanci tui exsultent. Usual daily rhythm of morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If life gives you a passport size dream, do not frame it... Order for a reprint...Go for the bigger picture of you! You deserve a bigger and bright image of you...Go and soar like an eagle!"
In the Preface used today we prayed: For, as on the Memorial of Blessed Michael Cyprian you bid your Church rejoice, so, too, you strengthen her by the example of his holy life, teach her by his words of preaching,
At 10.00am, we gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha for the funeral Mass for Mons. Nathaniel Obiagba. Up till his death, Mons. Obiagba was the oldest priest by ordination in Onitsha archdiocese. He was my teacher in the minor seminary. At the early stages of establishing Ss John and Paul Awada, I was his assistant. I worked with him as a Priest living in All Hallows Seminary with Mons. Patrick Achebe and later Mons. Hippolyte Adigwe as rectors at different times.
On this occasion of his funeral, I prayed for him, and lending my voice to him I said: Tu es, Domine, qui restitues hereditatem mean mihi.
At this Funeral Mass, Archbishop Valerian presided, Fr Theo Odukwe preached and Bishop Hilary Okeke did the Final Commendation. Requiescat in pace Domini.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae:
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules, filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens: O pia: O dulcis
Virgo Maria.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If life gives you a passport size dream, do not frame it... Order for a reprint...Go for the bigger picture of you! You deserve a bigger and bright image of you...Go and soar like an eagle!"
In the Preface used today we prayed: For, as on the Memorial of Blessed Michael Cyprian you bid your Church rejoice, so, too, you strengthen her by the example of his holy life, teach her by his words of preaching,
At 10.00am, we gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha for the funeral Mass for Mons. Nathaniel Obiagba. Up till his death, Mons. Obiagba was the oldest priest by ordination in Onitsha archdiocese. He was my teacher in the minor seminary. At the early stages of establishing Ss John and Paul Awada, I was his assistant. I worked with him as a Priest living in All Hallows Seminary with Mons. Patrick Achebe and later Mons. Hippolyte Adigwe as rectors at different times.
On this occasion of his funeral, I prayed for him, and lending my voice to him I said: Tu es, Domine, qui restitues hereditatem mean mihi.
At this Funeral Mass, Archbishop Valerian presided, Fr Theo Odukwe preached and Bishop Hilary Okeke did the Final Commendation. Requiescat in pace Domini.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae:
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules, filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens: O pia: O dulcis
Virgo Maria.
Pastoral visit to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows,Umuoji.
Three hundred and Fifty-three Confirmed at Umuoji
Renewal of Baptismal Promises at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Umuoji
Sunday, 4 October 2020. 27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. In voluntáte tua, Dómine, univérsa sunt pósita,et non est qui possit resístere voluntáti tuæ. Tu enim fecísti ómnia, cælum et terram, et univérsa quæ cæli ámbitu continéntur; Dóminus universórum tu es. Usual morning devotions. I prayed especially for the families in Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Umuoji.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you do not break your own standards, you will not reach new heights and levels. It is by stretching our limits that we move beyond boundaries. Keep improving!"
At our community Mass today, with the universal Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God,
who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you,
pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you do not break your own standards, you will not reach new heights and levels. It is by stretching our limits that we move beyond boundaries. Keep improving!"
At our community Mass today, with the universal Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God,
who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you,
pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask.
As our usual devotion every day throughout the month of October, at the end of Mass we said the following prayer to St Joseph:
To you, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. By that love which united you to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which you did embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His Blood and to help us in our necessities, by your powerful intercession. Protect, O most provident Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving Father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O most power protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as you did once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent peril to His life, so now defend the Holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us with your unceasing patronage that, imitating your example and supported by your aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and secure everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.
V. Blessed Joseph, head and guardian of the Holy Family.
R. Protect us.
At 10.00am, I was at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows' Parish, Umuoji, for a Pastoral visit. Three hundred and fifty-three Candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Good occasion to talk about our Christian duties in "vineyard of the Lord": family, market place, work place, society in general, etc. Large turnout of the People of God. Father Martin Emeli, the Parish Priest, coordinated the visit well. I thanked his for the clean up and timely repairs on the Church edifice.
There was slight rain after the Mass. This did not deter the people from organising a grand reception.
God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He's swift to repay,
All those who bear the burden of the day.
God gives His people strength.
God gives His people hope.
If we but trust in His word, our prayers are always heard.
He warmly welcomes anyone who's erred.
God gives His people hope.
God gives His people love.
If we but open wide our hearts, He's sure to do His part.
He's always the first to make a start.
God gives His people love.
To you, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. By that love which united you to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which you did embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His Blood and to help us in our necessities, by your powerful intercession. Protect, O most provident Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving Father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O most power protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as you did once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent peril to His life, so now defend the Holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us with your unceasing patronage that, imitating your example and supported by your aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and secure everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.
V. Blessed Joseph, head and guardian of the Holy Family.
R. Protect us.
At 10.00am, I was at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows' Parish, Umuoji, for a Pastoral visit. Three hundred and fifty-three Candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Good occasion to talk about our Christian duties in "vineyard of the Lord": family, market place, work place, society in general, etc. Large turnout of the People of God. Father Martin Emeli, the Parish Priest, coordinated the visit well. I thanked his for the clean up and timely repairs on the Church edifice.
There was slight rain after the Mass. This did not deter the people from organising a grand reception.
God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He's swift to repay,
All those who bear the burden of the day.
God gives His people strength.
God gives His people hope.
If we but trust in His word, our prayers are always heard.
He warmly welcomes anyone who's erred.
God gives His people hope.
God gives His people love.
If we but open wide our hearts, He's sure to do His part.
He's always the first to make a start.
God gives His people love.
O salutaris Hostia Quae caeli pandis ostium!
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New statues blessed in St Joseph's Church. Awka Etiti: Our Blessed Mother Mary, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Joseph.
Parish Community Rosary at St Joseph's Church, Awka Etiti
Saturday, 3 October 2020. Usual morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. MEMORIAL OF ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS. Circumdúxit eam Dóminus et dócuit; et custodívit quasi pupíllam óculi sui. Sicut áquila expándit alas suas, et assúmpsit eam, atque portávit in húmeris suis. Dóminus solus dux eius fuit. Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament in our chapel.
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.
OUR TODAY'S THOUGHT: "If you want to go to a place you have never been before, you have to ask questions you have never asked before. Do not feel shy to ask questions about things you do not know."
I was indoors till 4.00pm when I travelled to Awka Etiti St Joseph's Church for Parish Community Rosary. As usual I began with instruction on the rosary and devotions to our Blessed Virgin Mary. During the period of instruction, my assistants distributed free rosary to those who did not come with it to the Church this evening.Then, we said the rosary following the booklet I prepared for it.
After the rosary recitation with the parishioners, I blessed two statues newly installed in the Church: Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We concluded this evening's spiritual activities with Benediction. O Dinwenu, Onye hapuuru anyi na Sakramenti nkea di itunanya ncheta nke ahuhu Gi. Nye anyi, anyi na-ario Gi, nsopuru nke ihe omimi nke Ahu na Obara gi nke ga-eme k'anyi nweta elele nzoputa Gi. Onye di ndu na-achi ebighiebi ebighiebi. Amen.
As this would be the last day of my official meeting with Fr Damian Obi as Parish Priest of St Joseph's Parish Awka Etiti, I seized the moment to thank him publicly for the good work he did during his tenure (2015 - 2020).
I returned home very very happy. On my lips I was exclaiming: Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra, quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.
OUR TODAY'S THOUGHT: "If you want to go to a place you have never been before, you have to ask questions you have never asked before. Do not feel shy to ask questions about things you do not know."
I was indoors till 4.00pm when I travelled to Awka Etiti St Joseph's Church for Parish Community Rosary. As usual I began with instruction on the rosary and devotions to our Blessed Virgin Mary. During the period of instruction, my assistants distributed free rosary to those who did not come with it to the Church this evening.Then, we said the rosary following the booklet I prepared for it.
After the rosary recitation with the parishioners, I blessed two statues newly installed in the Church: Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We concluded this evening's spiritual activities with Benediction. O Dinwenu, Onye hapuuru anyi na Sakramenti nkea di itunanya ncheta nke ahuhu Gi. Nye anyi, anyi na-ario Gi, nsopuru nke ihe omimi nke Ahu na Obara gi nke ga-eme k'anyi nweta elele nzoputa Gi. Onye di ndu na-achi ebighiebi ebighiebi. Amen.
As this would be the last day of my official meeting with Fr Damian Obi as Parish Priest of St Joseph's Parish Awka Etiti, I seized the moment to thank him publicly for the good work he did during his tenure (2015 - 2020).
I returned home very very happy. On my lips I was exclaiming: Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra, quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
Friday, 2 October 2020. MEMORIAL OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS. Benedícite, omnes Angeli Dómini, Dóminum, hymnum dícite, et superexaltáte eum in sǽcula. Usual moment of adoration. A good day to thank the Lord for His providential care of us through the angels.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "To maintain your integrity, just maintain your words in sanctity, nd your works in sincerity. You cannot be really trusted when your works of today are standing against your words of yesterday!"
During the Mass today we said the following intercessory prayers:
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "To maintain your integrity, just maintain your words in sanctity, nd your works in sincerity. You cannot be really trusted when your works of today are standing against your words of yesterday!"
During the Mass today we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For our leaders in the church, that their angels may guard them in all their ways and be channels of God’s wisdom and authority in them. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For leaders of nations, that the angel guardians of each country may inspire them with counsels of prudent action and reverence for each human person made in the image of God. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For children and all who are blessed with simple and childlike hearts, that their angelic innocence may be a pattern of life for all of us who wish to enter the kingdom of God. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That this day dedicated to our angel guardians may help us to be more aware of the divine world that is hidden to our eyes but not to our souls. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who are in need of special prayer today, that through the intercession of the holy angels they may dwell in the shelter of the Most High and find refuge beneath His wings. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our beloved dead, that the angels may have charge over them, to lead them safely through all purification into the heart of God’s kingdom of love and peace. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Thursday, 1 October 2020. Salve, sancta parens, eníxa puérpera Regem, qui cælum terrámque regit in sǽcula sæculórum. Usual morning rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When you come across an excellent invention, what it should tell you is that someone used most of his sleeping time as his thinking time... and he kept doing the same until his good became better and his better became the best."
Today is observed in Nigeria as a national day. In the Universal liturgical calender, the Memorial of St Therese of the Child Jesus is kept, but in Nigeria we celebrate the solemnity of Our Lady Queen and Patroness of Nigeria. At Mass today, therefore, we prayed: O God, who give us the joy of honouring Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, as mother of divine hope and communion, grant that, with the help of her intercession we may always work for peace and reconciliation in this world and come to share in the fullness of your grace.
At 10.00am, I was at St Albert's Church Oraukwu to celebrate the funeral Mass for Juliana Obikwelu. I never saw before the type of affluence displayed at this funeral. I found the family members truly united. I gave the direct children of the late Juliana the task of saying the rosary together tonight at 9.00pm, praying for the repose of their mother and for their family unity.
Immediately after the Mass, I returned to Aguleri for a short time before I took off again to Enugwu Ukwu for the funeral vigil Mass for ma Florence Ezenwaka. There, Bishop Ezeokafor and Bishop Okpalaeke (who presided) were present and we concelebrated.
It was already night by the time I returned home. I spent about an hour and a half at my table before I headed to my bed. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When you come across an excellent invention, what it should tell you is that someone used most of his sleeping time as his thinking time... and he kept doing the same until his good became better and his better became the best."
Today is observed in Nigeria as a national day. In the Universal liturgical calender, the Memorial of St Therese of the Child Jesus is kept, but in Nigeria we celebrate the solemnity of Our Lady Queen and Patroness of Nigeria. At Mass today, therefore, we prayed: O God, who give us the joy of honouring Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, as mother of divine hope and communion, grant that, with the help of her intercession we may always work for peace and reconciliation in this world and come to share in the fullness of your grace.
At 10.00am, I was at St Albert's Church Oraukwu to celebrate the funeral Mass for Juliana Obikwelu. I never saw before the type of affluence displayed at this funeral. I found the family members truly united. I gave the direct children of the late Juliana the task of saying the rosary together tonight at 9.00pm, praying for the repose of their mother and for their family unity.
Immediately after the Mass, I returned to Aguleri for a short time before I took off again to Enugwu Ukwu for the funeral vigil Mass for ma Florence Ezenwaka. There, Bishop Ezeokafor and Bishop Okpalaeke (who presided) were present and we concelebrated.
It was already night by the time I returned home. I spent about an hour and a half at my table before I headed to my bed. Good night, Lord.
With the Ubah family at Awuda Nnobi
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At Igwe Nick Obi's palace
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Wednesday, 30 September 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST JEROME. Blessed indeed is he who ponders the law of the Lord day and night: he will yield fruit in due season. Usual morning spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You have no excuse to give... Jonah prayed fervently even in the belly of the shark! Environment is not a barrier!"
At 10.00am, I was at Onitsha for the Plenary Meeting of the Onitsha Archdiocesan Presbyterium during which the posting of priests was announced.
At about 5.00pm, I was at Nnobi to visit the farm of Aloy Uba. From a humble beginning, he is gradually expanding and making his dreams a reality. Initia multarum rerum sunt parva. I prayed and blessed him, his family and his establishments. Courtesy call on Igwe Nick Obi.
Back to Aguleri truly tired. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You have no excuse to give... Jonah prayed fervently even in the belly of the shark! Environment is not a barrier!"
At 10.00am, I was at Onitsha for the Plenary Meeting of the Onitsha Archdiocesan Presbyterium during which the posting of priests was announced.
At about 5.00pm, I was at Nnobi to visit the farm of Aloy Uba. From a humble beginning, he is gradually expanding and making his dreams a reality. Initia multarum rerum sunt parva. I prayed and blessed him, his family and his establishments. Courtesy call on Igwe Nick Obi.
Back to Aguleri truly tired. Good night, Lord.
Tuesday, 29 September 2020. FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS MICHAEL, GABRIEL & RAPHAEL. Benedicite Dominum, omnes Angeli eius, potentes virtute, qui facitis verbum eius, ad audiendam vocem sermonum eius. Usual morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Fame comes and goes; knowledge comes and stays. But none of them safeguard us against danger; it is only the GRACE of God that keeps us in safety!"
At Mass, with the Church we prayed: O God, who dispose in marvellous order ministries both angelic and human, graciously grant that our life on earth may be defended by those who watch over us as they minister perpetually to you in heaven.
We said the following Intercessory prayers:
From 10.00am to 1.35pm I was in my office to receive and interact with the people. For the rest of the day, I was with my visiting friend and classmate, Fr Hyacinth Okwara, who arrived yesterday. We had a long walk round my compound. Night.
Ave, Regina caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Fame comes and goes; knowledge comes and stays. But none of them safeguard us against danger; it is only the GRACE of God that keeps us in safety!"
At Mass, with the Church we prayed: O God, who dispose in marvellous order ministries both angelic and human, graciously grant that our life on earth may be defended by those who watch over us as they minister perpetually to you in heaven.
We said the following Intercessory prayers:
- For the whole church in her war against the powers of evil, that Michael the Archangel may continue to fight on our side, so that salvation and power and God’s kingdom may prevail; Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That God may build up strength and discernment within those who possess power and influence in the world, so that their decisions may be wise and promote the cause of peace. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all of us receiving in this Eucharist the One whom angels and archangels adore, that our reverence may resemble theirs, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Raphael, God’s remedy, and Gabriel, bearer of glad annunciations, may still be at work in the lives of all those who suffer, bringing them healing and joy. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our beloved departed ones, that they may see the heavens opened and the angels of God surrounding the Son of Man who is their Savior. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
From 10.00am to 1.35pm I was in my office to receive and interact with the people. For the rest of the day, I was with my visiting friend and classmate, Fr Hyacinth Okwara, who arrived yesterday. We had a long walk round my compound. Night.
Ave, Regina caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.
Saturday, 28 September 1985
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Cutting the 35th anniversary cake with Fr M. Obiekezie & Fr H. Okwara
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Monday, 28 September 2020. Early morning longer conversation with our Blessed Mother. Tu es, Domine, qui restituas hereditatem meam mihi. Today 35 years ago, at St Vincent's Church Ogbunike, Archbishop Stephen Nweke Ezeanya imposed his hands on me, ordaining me a Priest of God. This is a day of thanksgiving and prayer.
Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you: strengthen my trust. I love you: let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.
I worship you as my first beginning, I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my constant helper,
And call on you as my loving protector.
Guide me by your wisdom, Correct me with your justice, Comfort me with your mercy, Protect me with your power.
I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you; My words: to have you for their theme; My actions: to reflect my love for you; My sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.
I want to do what you ask of me: In the way you ask, For as long as you ask, Because you ask it.
Lord, enlighten my understanding, Strengthen my will, Purify my heart, and make me holy.
Help me to repent of my past sins And to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weaknesses And to grow stronger as a Christian.
Let me love you, my Lord and my God, And see myself as I really am: A pilgrim in this world, A Christian called to respect and love All whose lives I touch, Those under my authority, My friends and my enemies.
Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, Greed by generosity, Apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself
And reach out toward others.
Make me prudent in planning, Courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.
Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, Temperate in food and drink, Diligent in my work, Firm in my good intentions.
Let my conscience be clear, My conduct without fault, My speech blameless, My life well-ordered. Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. Let me cherish your love for me, Keep your law, And come at last to your salvation.
Teach me to realize that this world is passing, That my true future is the happiness of heaven, That life on earth is short, And the life to come eternal.
Help me to prepare for death With a proper fear of judgment, But a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death To the endless joy of heaven.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mass of thanksgiving, I prayed: Holy Father, who, by no merit of my own, chose me for communion with the eternal priesthood of your Christ and for the ministry of your Church, grant that I may be an ardent yet gentle preacher of the Gospel and a faithful steward of your mysteries.
At 10.00am, I was at Onitsha for the funeral Mass for Mons. Gregory Adibe. Archbishop presided, I gave the homily and Mons. Hypolite Adigwe did the Final Commendation. Requiescat in pace Domini. Lunch at Archbishop's house, Onitsha.
At 5.30pm, my secretaries - Fr Innocent Udolisah and Fr Michael Odenigbo - organised Vespers followed by dinner to commemorate my 35th anniversary as a Priest. The food, cakes and the drinks were all supplied by generous friends. Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum. Among those who signed my visitors book: Frs Collins Ogbannu, Peter Okolo, John Paul Ezebili, John Bosco Ezika, Clement Aghadinuno, Alfred Okakpu, Hyacinth Okwara, Matthew Obiekezie, George Ekwunife, Fred Ndimaeme, Thaddeus Ugwuoke, Innocent Egbunike, Barth Chidili, Izuchukwu Okoye, Mike Anyichie; Sr Maureen Mark, and Jekwu Ofodum. Thanks to assistants Sr Vera Mariette and Samuel. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam. Entirely for God.
Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you: strengthen my trust. I love you: let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.
I worship you as my first beginning, I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my constant helper,
And call on you as my loving protector.
Guide me by your wisdom, Correct me with your justice, Comfort me with your mercy, Protect me with your power.
I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you; My words: to have you for their theme; My actions: to reflect my love for you; My sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.
I want to do what you ask of me: In the way you ask, For as long as you ask, Because you ask it.
Lord, enlighten my understanding, Strengthen my will, Purify my heart, and make me holy.
Help me to repent of my past sins And to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weaknesses And to grow stronger as a Christian.
Let me love you, my Lord and my God, And see myself as I really am: A pilgrim in this world, A Christian called to respect and love All whose lives I touch, Those under my authority, My friends and my enemies.
Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, Greed by generosity, Apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself
And reach out toward others.
Make me prudent in planning, Courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.
Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, Temperate in food and drink, Diligent in my work, Firm in my good intentions.
Let my conscience be clear, My conduct without fault, My speech blameless, My life well-ordered. Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. Let me cherish your love for me, Keep your law, And come at last to your salvation.
Teach me to realize that this world is passing, That my true future is the happiness of heaven, That life on earth is short, And the life to come eternal.
Help me to prepare for death With a proper fear of judgment, But a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death To the endless joy of heaven.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mass of thanksgiving, I prayed: Holy Father, who, by no merit of my own, chose me for communion with the eternal priesthood of your Christ and for the ministry of your Church, grant that I may be an ardent yet gentle preacher of the Gospel and a faithful steward of your mysteries.
At 10.00am, I was at Onitsha for the funeral Mass for Mons. Gregory Adibe. Archbishop presided, I gave the homily and Mons. Hypolite Adigwe did the Final Commendation. Requiescat in pace Domini. Lunch at Archbishop's house, Onitsha.
At 5.30pm, my secretaries - Fr Innocent Udolisah and Fr Michael Odenigbo - organised Vespers followed by dinner to commemorate my 35th anniversary as a Priest. The food, cakes and the drinks were all supplied by generous friends. Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum. Among those who signed my visitors book: Frs Collins Ogbannu, Peter Okolo, John Paul Ezebili, John Bosco Ezika, Clement Aghadinuno, Alfred Okakpu, Hyacinth Okwara, Matthew Obiekezie, George Ekwunife, Fred Ndimaeme, Thaddeus Ugwuoke, Innocent Egbunike, Barth Chidili, Izuchukwu Okoye, Mike Anyichie; Sr Maureen Mark, and Jekwu Ofodum. Thanks to assistants Sr Vera Mariette and Samuel. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam. Entirely for God.
Sharing the Catholic faith with Elders of Omasi-Agu
Confirmation at St Paul's Church, Omasi-Agu
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Pastoral visit to St Paul's Parish, Omasi Agu
Sunday, 27 September 2020. 26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Omnia, quae fecisti nobis, Domine, in vero iudicio fecisti, quia peccavimus tibi, et mandatis tuis non oboedivimus; sed da gloriam nomini tuo, et fac nobiscum secundum multitudinem misericordiae tuae.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Three rules to obey! 1. Do not be over-impressed by your past glories. 2. Do not be scared by your future stories. 3. Be hopeful to get out of today's miseries!"
We followed our usual pattern of spiritual exercises. Before Office of Lauds we prayed:
Lord God, I offer this Divine Office to you, together with the adoration and praise of the angels and saints in heaven, as well as that of all the priests of your Church and all other consecrated persons.
I present to you, holy Father, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this chorus of prayer, made holy in the Heart of Jesus and made one with His most holy prayer.
May all the words of this prayer be acts of pure love, adoration, thanksgiving, satisfaction, trust, and surrender to your holy Will.
Let this prayer be for my weak self a spiritual communion, an act of humility, and of perfect self-denial; and may it be a sacrifice of praise and glory to you, O Blessed Trinity. Amen.
At 11.00am I was at St Paul's Parish Omasi-agu for a Pastoral visit. I found the Church truly "updated". The new parish priest, Fr Peter Obimma, organised very well the People. I was particularly impressed by his ability to involve his friends in big cities and many fellow priests outside the area. Their positive response is shown in the quality of the brochure prepared for the pastoral visit.Many non Christians were present. I met a very lively community. The choir sang very well and I promised to invite them to this year's Christmas carol in Aguleri. Over 40 persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. I challenged Igwe of the town to return to the Church. He took my invitation very well. I pray that the Lord will illumine him and show him the path to eternal life.
Back to Aguleri, I was totally exhausted.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Three rules to obey! 1. Do not be over-impressed by your past glories. 2. Do not be scared by your future stories. 3. Be hopeful to get out of today's miseries!"
We followed our usual pattern of spiritual exercises. Before Office of Lauds we prayed:
Lord God, I offer this Divine Office to you, together with the adoration and praise of the angels and saints in heaven, as well as that of all the priests of your Church and all other consecrated persons.
I present to you, holy Father, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this chorus of prayer, made holy in the Heart of Jesus and made one with His most holy prayer.
May all the words of this prayer be acts of pure love, adoration, thanksgiving, satisfaction, trust, and surrender to your holy Will.
Let this prayer be for my weak self a spiritual communion, an act of humility, and of perfect self-denial; and may it be a sacrifice of praise and glory to you, O Blessed Trinity. Amen.
At 11.00am I was at St Paul's Parish Omasi-agu for a Pastoral visit. I found the Church truly "updated". The new parish priest, Fr Peter Obimma, organised very well the People. I was particularly impressed by his ability to involve his friends in big cities and many fellow priests outside the area. Their positive response is shown in the quality of the brochure prepared for the pastoral visit.Many non Christians were present. I met a very lively community. The choir sang very well and I promised to invite them to this year's Christmas carol in Aguleri. Over 40 persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. I challenged Igwe of the town to return to the Church. He took my invitation very well. I pray that the Lord will illumine him and show him the path to eternal life.
Back to Aguleri, I was totally exhausted.
Saturday, 26 September 2020. Erant discipuli perseverantes unanimiter in oratione cum Mari, matre Iesu. Usual morning spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You do not become satisfied because you have a glden spoon in your palm; you become satisfied when it begins to feed you....Use it!"
We celebrated Votive Mass of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. O God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also, grant, we pray, that with her loving help your Church may be more fruitful day by day and, exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples. Our special prayer for the 21 deacons who will be raised to the Order of Presbyters today.
At 11.00am I was at Holy Trinity Basilica Field for the priestly ordination of 17 deacons for Onitsha archdiocese, 2 for the Pallottines and 2 for Mamfe diocese (Cameroon). Archbishop Valerian Okeke ordained them. I was physically present.
Today is a good day to recall and say the prayer of St Therese of Lisieux for priests:
O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
for your unfaithful and tepid priests;
for your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields;
for your tempted priests;
for your lonely and desolate priests;
for your young priests;
for your dying priests;
for the souls of your priests in Purgatory.
But above all, I recommend to you the priests dearest to me:
the priest who baptized me;
the priests who’ve absolved me from my sins;
the priests at whose Masses I’ve assisted and who’ve given me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;
the priests who’ve taught and instructed me;
all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way, especially ____
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart,
and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity. Amen.
Back to Aguleri for lunch. Quiet evening. Night followed. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You do not become satisfied because you have a glden spoon in your palm; you become satisfied when it begins to feed you....Use it!"
We celebrated Votive Mass of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. O God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also, grant, we pray, that with her loving help your Church may be more fruitful day by day and, exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples. Our special prayer for the 21 deacons who will be raised to the Order of Presbyters today.
At 11.00am I was at Holy Trinity Basilica Field for the priestly ordination of 17 deacons for Onitsha archdiocese, 2 for the Pallottines and 2 for Mamfe diocese (Cameroon). Archbishop Valerian Okeke ordained them. I was physically present.
Today is a good day to recall and say the prayer of St Therese of Lisieux for priests:
O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
for your unfaithful and tepid priests;
for your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields;
for your tempted priests;
for your lonely and desolate priests;
for your young priests;
for your dying priests;
for the souls of your priests in Purgatory.
But above all, I recommend to you the priests dearest to me:
the priest who baptized me;
the priests who’ve absolved me from my sins;
the priests at whose Masses I’ve assisted and who’ve given me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;
the priests who’ve taught and instructed me;
all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way, especially ____
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart,
and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity. Amen.
Back to Aguleri for lunch. Quiet evening. Night followed. Good night, Lord.
Friday, 25 September 2020. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. Adoration of the Sanctissimum. Meditation. We concluded in our usual way with the prayer: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in your servants in the Spirit of your holiness, in the fullness of your power, in the perfection of your ways, in the reality of your virtues, in the communion of your mysteries. Have dominion over every adverse power, in your own spirit to the glory of the Father. Amen. The Office of Lauds followed. Benediction.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not fall flat to deception; thousand criticisms can never drift your dream through one millimetre unless you give them the audacity. Be in-charge; you are unstoppable!"
We celebrated (in Latin) Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et populo et natione, et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum. We prayed: Deus, qui pretioso Unigeniti tui Sanguine universos homines redemisti, conserva in nobis opus misericordiae tuae, ut,nostrae salutis mysterium iugiter recolented, eiusdem fructum consequi mereamur.
I was at St Edward's Church, Eziowelle, for the funeral Mass for auntie Dorothy Anyanwu. She belonged to my extended family at Ogbunike, and, therefore, my senior cousin, married to Eziowelle man. My close association with her "maiden" family started with her father - Bernard Okeke. This uncle loved me so much that right from my ordination as a priest, I became his confessor until he died. During his lifetime, we fixed a permanent appointment on Christmas day every year when I would visit him in the morning: we chatted, I heard his confession and then gave him Holy Communion. We maintained this "tradition" even when he was very sick and was living with her first daughter, auntie Dora in Owerri. They would bring him home from Owerri for this annual meeting. When he died, I came to know auntie Dora closely. She played the role of a big sister for me until she died. She instructed her children to inform me of her death whenever it would happen. They did. I was at Eziowelle for her Missa exequialis. May the soul of gentle and kind Dorothy rest in perfect peace in the Lord.
Back to Aguleri at about 2.50pm. I was indoors for the rest of the day.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not fall flat to deception; thousand criticisms can never drift your dream through one millimetre unless you give them the audacity. Be in-charge; you are unstoppable!"
We celebrated (in Latin) Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et populo et natione, et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum. We prayed: Deus, qui pretioso Unigeniti tui Sanguine universos homines redemisti, conserva in nobis opus misericordiae tuae, ut,nostrae salutis mysterium iugiter recolented, eiusdem fructum consequi mereamur.
I was at St Edward's Church, Eziowelle, for the funeral Mass for auntie Dorothy Anyanwu. She belonged to my extended family at Ogbunike, and, therefore, my senior cousin, married to Eziowelle man. My close association with her "maiden" family started with her father - Bernard Okeke. This uncle loved me so much that right from my ordination as a priest, I became his confessor until he died. During his lifetime, we fixed a permanent appointment on Christmas day every year when I would visit him in the morning: we chatted, I heard his confession and then gave him Holy Communion. We maintained this "tradition" even when he was very sick and was living with her first daughter, auntie Dora in Owerri. They would bring him home from Owerri for this annual meeting. When he died, I came to know auntie Dora closely. She played the role of a big sister for me until she died. She instructed her children to inform me of her death whenever it would happen. They did. I was at Eziowelle for her Missa exequialis. May the soul of gentle and kind Dorothy rest in perfect peace in the Lord.
Back to Aguleri at about 2.50pm. I was indoors for the rest of the day.
Thursday, 24 September 2020. Iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech. VOTIVE MASS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST. Usual morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Positive words come from positive thoughts. It implies, when you open your mouth to talk for people to listen, you have opened your mind for them to read. Think positively; talk positively!"
During the Mass, we prayed: Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for, whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated, the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord.
At 10.00am, I was at St Anthony's Church, Ifite Ogwari, for the funeral of ma Josephine Maduchie. Requiescat in pace.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Positive words come from positive thoughts. It implies, when you open your mouth to talk for people to listen, you have opened your mind for them to read. Think positively; talk positively!"
During the Mass, we prayed: Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for, whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated, the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord.
At 10.00am, I was at St Anthony's Church, Ifite Ogwari, for the funeral of ma Josephine Maduchie. Requiescat in pace.
Wednesday, 23 September 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. MEMORIAL OF ST PIUS OF PIETRELCINA (PADRE PIO). Sacerdotes tui, Domine, induant iustitiam, et sancti tui exsultent. Usual morning spiritual exercises. Meditation on the words of this ancient song:
Therefore we, before him bending,
this great Sacrament revere;
types and shadows have their ending,
for the newer rite is here;
faith, our outward sense befriending,
makes our inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
honor, might and praise addressing,
while eternal ages run;
ever too his love confessing,
who from Both with Both is One.
Many months ago, it struck me that both the Latin Tantum ergo and its English translation have the same metres and, therefore, could be sung with the same music. We have since been using all the tunes of Tantum ergo to sing the English translation.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "True blessing comes in the dress of sweats, never delaying to wave bye to the excuses and procrastination. True blessing lies in hard work!"
At Mass, with the Universal Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, who, by a singular grace, gave the Priest Saint Pius a share in the Cross of your Son and, by means of his ministry, renewed the wonders of your mercy, grant that through his intercession we may be united constantly to the sufferings of Christ, and so be brought happily to the glory of the resurrection.
Today, I was indoors updating my website. Good opportunity to rest. Play music.
Evening came, and night followed. Good night, Lord. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
Therefore we, before him bending,
this great Sacrament revere;
types and shadows have their ending,
for the newer rite is here;
faith, our outward sense befriending,
makes our inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
honor, might and praise addressing,
while eternal ages run;
ever too his love confessing,
who from Both with Both is One.
Many months ago, it struck me that both the Latin Tantum ergo and its English translation have the same metres and, therefore, could be sung with the same music. We have since been using all the tunes of Tantum ergo to sing the English translation.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "True blessing comes in the dress of sweats, never delaying to wave bye to the excuses and procrastination. True blessing lies in hard work!"
At Mass, with the Universal Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, who, by a singular grace, gave the Priest Saint Pius a share in the Cross of your Son and, by means of his ministry, renewed the wonders of your mercy, grant that through his intercession we may be united constantly to the sufferings of Christ, and so be brought happily to the glory of the resurrection.
Today, I was indoors updating my website. Good opportunity to rest. Play music.
Evening came, and night followed. Good night, Lord. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
Tuesday, 22 September 2020. «Io sono la salvezza del popolo», dice il Signore, «in qualunque prova mi invocheranno, li esaudirò, e sarò il loro Signore per sempre». Usual morning devotions. The language for Mass today was Italian
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Without self-discipline, your streams of grace become a flood of disgrace. Never let indiscipline weigh you down for critics to pick mockeries on."
At Mass, we prayed: O Dio, che nell’amore verso di te e verso il prossimo hai posto il fondamento di tutta la legge, fa’ che osservando i tuoi comandamenti meritiamo di entrare nella vita eterna.
I was indoors for a good part of today. I went out at about 4.00pm to Oraukwu for the vigil Mass for Patrick Udechukwu whose remains were brought back from overseas to be buried at home. Requiescat in pace Domini. My condolences to Fr Emma Udechukwu.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his earth rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms,
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Without self-discipline, your streams of grace become a flood of disgrace. Never let indiscipline weigh you down for critics to pick mockeries on."
At Mass, we prayed: O Dio, che nell’amore verso di te e verso il prossimo hai posto il fondamento di tutta la legge, fa’ che osservando i tuoi comandamenti meritiamo di entrare nella vita eterna.
I was indoors for a good part of today. I went out at about 4.00pm to Oraukwu for the vigil Mass for Patrick Udechukwu whose remains were brought back from overseas to be buried at home. Requiescat in pace Domini. My condolences to Fr Emma Udechukwu.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his earth rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms,
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.
Monday, 21 September 2020. FEAST OF ST MATTHEW. Euentes, docete omnes gentes, baptizantes eos, et docentes eos servare omnia quaecumque mandavi vobis, dicit Dominus. Usual rhythm of morning spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: The first reading for this morning's Mass (Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 4,7, 11-13) on unity and sharing of gifts is worth reflecting upon:
We are all to come to unity, fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of God
I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.
Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.
At 9.50am, with Bishop Godfrey Onah, we were at the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha for Missa exequialis for Fr Matthias Okpala. We began with the Office of the dead, and the Holy Mass followed. Archbishop Valerian Okeke presided and Fr Joseph Ezeugo gave the homily. Bishop Godfrey Onah greeted the congregation and made a few remarks about the life of Fr. Matthias Okpala. I did the Final Commendation, praying (in Igbo): All merciful Father, we commend the soul of your servant and priest Matthias into your hands. We are strengthened by the sure hope that he will rise together with all who died in Christ on the last day and live in Christ for ever. We thank you for all the blessings with which you endowed this servant of yours in his life on earth. They are for us as a token of your love, and of the blessed union of the Saints in Christ. Listen then, Lord, in your mercy, to our prayers that the gate of paradise may be opened to your servant Matthias and help us to comfort each other with the assurance of our faith until we all meet in Christ to be with you and with your servant Matthias eternally. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
After the interment, some refreshments were offered to our guests. Then I waived goodbye to my friend, Bishop Godfrey Onah.
A sober evening, considering the number of Priests' deaths in the archdiocese of Onitsha since this year.
De profúndis clamávi ad te, Dómine;*
Dómine, exáudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuæ intendéntes*
in vocem deprecatiónis meæ.
Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine,*
Dómine, quis sustinébit?
Quia apud te propitiátio est,*
ut timeámus te.
Sustínui te, Dómine,*
sustínuit ánima mea in verbo eius;
sperávit ánima mea in Dómino*
magis quam custódes auróram.
Magis quam custódes auróram*
speret Israel in Dómino,
quia apud Dóminum misericórdia,*
et copiósa apud eum redémptio.
Et ipse rédimet Israel*
ex ómnibus iniquitátibus eius.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: The first reading for this morning's Mass (Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 4,7, 11-13) on unity and sharing of gifts is worth reflecting upon:
We are all to come to unity, fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of God
I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.
Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.
At 9.50am, with Bishop Godfrey Onah, we were at the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha for Missa exequialis for Fr Matthias Okpala. We began with the Office of the dead, and the Holy Mass followed. Archbishop Valerian Okeke presided and Fr Joseph Ezeugo gave the homily. Bishop Godfrey Onah greeted the congregation and made a few remarks about the life of Fr. Matthias Okpala. I did the Final Commendation, praying (in Igbo): All merciful Father, we commend the soul of your servant and priest Matthias into your hands. We are strengthened by the sure hope that he will rise together with all who died in Christ on the last day and live in Christ for ever. We thank you for all the blessings with which you endowed this servant of yours in his life on earth. They are for us as a token of your love, and of the blessed union of the Saints in Christ. Listen then, Lord, in your mercy, to our prayers that the gate of paradise may be opened to your servant Matthias and help us to comfort each other with the assurance of our faith until we all meet in Christ to be with you and with your servant Matthias eternally. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
After the interment, some refreshments were offered to our guests. Then I waived goodbye to my friend, Bishop Godfrey Onah.
A sober evening, considering the number of Priests' deaths in the archdiocese of Onitsha since this year.
De profúndis clamávi ad te, Dómine;*
Dómine, exáudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuæ intendéntes*
in vocem deprecatiónis meæ.
Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine,*
Dómine, quis sustinébit?
Quia apud te propitiátio est,*
ut timeámus te.
Sustínui te, Dómine,*
sustínuit ánima mea in verbo eius;
sperávit ánima mea in Dómino*
magis quam custódes auróram.
Magis quam custódes auróram*
speret Israel in Dómino,
quia apud Dóminum misericórdia,*
et copiósa apud eum redémptio.
Et ipse rédimet Israel*
ex ómnibus iniquitátibus eius.
Entertainment by St Mary's Parish, Nnobi.
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St Mary's Nnobi - Four hundred Confirmed. Photo - some of the recipients.
Pastoral visit: St Mary's Parish, Nnobi.
Sunday, 20 September 2020. 25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Salus pópuli ego sum, dicit Dóminus. De quacúmque tribulatióne clamáverint ad me, exáudiam eos, et ero illórum Dóminus in perpétuum. Our day began in our chapel with the usual morning spiritual exercises: Adoration/Meditation, Office of Lauds, Benediction and Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not be too fast to highlight the weaknesses of other people. That is the quickest way of exposing your own weakness."
During the Community Mass, we prayed: O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law
upon love of you and of our neighbour, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
At 10.00am, I was at St Mary's Parish Nnobi, for a pastoral visit. In this place the Catholic Church started in Nnobi. Of all the parishes in Nnobi, this parish has the largest compound and even the largest population. I had the privilege of dedicating the Church in 2015.
A total of four hundred and four (404) candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation today. I anointed each and every one of them with the Oil of Chrism, saying: ..., nara akara iribaama nke Mmuo Nso.Udo diiri gi. (...be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you).
I was very pleased with the clean up done inside and outside the Church. The church building was repainted, thanks to Catholic Women Organization. Every bulb, every fan in Church was functioning properly. Fr Paul Obiaga was loudly applauded by the parishioners for his dynamism. I share in the praise given to Fr Paul. God bless him and the People of God entrusted to his care. Very lively reception organised in my honour by the St Mary's parish community.
Back to Aguleri. Bishop Godfrey Onah on an overnight visit. Together we went to my sister at Awka for supper. Thanks to MauMau nwanne m. God bless her and her family. Amen.
Already night by the time we returned to Aguleri. To the Lord I turned:
Grazie, Signore, rendiamo grazie a Te che regni nei secoli eterni!
Perché ci hai dato la fede. Grazie..
Perché ci hai dato il tuo amore. Grazie..
Perché ci doni il tuo pane. Grazie..
Tu ci perdoni le colpe. Grazie..
Tu ci ridoni la vita. Grazie..
Perché sei sempre con noi. Grazie..
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not be too fast to highlight the weaknesses of other people. That is the quickest way of exposing your own weakness."
During the Community Mass, we prayed: O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law
upon love of you and of our neighbour, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
At 10.00am, I was at St Mary's Parish Nnobi, for a pastoral visit. In this place the Catholic Church started in Nnobi. Of all the parishes in Nnobi, this parish has the largest compound and even the largest population. I had the privilege of dedicating the Church in 2015.
A total of four hundred and four (404) candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation today. I anointed each and every one of them with the Oil of Chrism, saying: ..., nara akara iribaama nke Mmuo Nso.Udo diiri gi. (...be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you).
I was very pleased with the clean up done inside and outside the Church. The church building was repainted, thanks to Catholic Women Organization. Every bulb, every fan in Church was functioning properly. Fr Paul Obiaga was loudly applauded by the parishioners for his dynamism. I share in the praise given to Fr Paul. God bless him and the People of God entrusted to his care. Very lively reception organised in my honour by the St Mary's parish community.
Back to Aguleri. Bishop Godfrey Onah on an overnight visit. Together we went to my sister at Awka for supper. Thanks to MauMau nwanne m. God bless her and her family. Amen.
Already night by the time we returned to Aguleri. To the Lord I turned:
Grazie, Signore, rendiamo grazie a Te che regni nei secoli eterni!
Perché ci hai dato la fede. Grazie..
Perché ci hai dato il tuo amore. Grazie..
Perché ci doni il tuo pane. Grazie..
Tu ci perdoni le colpe. Grazie..
Tu ci ridoni la vita. Grazie..
Perché sei sempre con noi. Grazie..
Saturday, 19 September 2020. Early conversation with our Blessed Mother. Usual morning devotions. Before our Eucharistic Lord we prostrate in adoration.
O Sacrament most Holy,
O Sacrament Divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving,
Be every moment Thine.
To Him we present our today's plan of activities, asking for guidance and blessing. How true what we say of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Sine tuo numine, nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Always put the unkown future into the hands of the known God. He has the key it will take to unlock your locked doors."
At Mass, following today's readings, we said the following intercessory prayers:
Today in 2012 my beloved mother, Theresa Nnennia, exited this world to return to our eternal home in heaven. The pain is still fresh in my mind. I remembered her throughout today. In the evening, at 7.00pm, I celebrated Mass for her in my chapel, all alone. I prayed: O God, who commanded us to honour father and mother, have mercy in your compassion on my mother Theresa, forgive her her sins, and bring us to see her one day in the gladness of eternal glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
O Sacrament most Holy,
O Sacrament Divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving,
Be every moment Thine.
To Him we present our today's plan of activities, asking for guidance and blessing. How true what we say of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Sine tuo numine, nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Always put the unkown future into the hands of the known God. He has the key it will take to unlock your locked doors."
At Mass, following today's readings, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- That Jesus, who made His noble profession before Pontius Pilate, may enable our holy shepherds to be strong in their witness to the entire truth of the Gospel, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who dwells in unapproachable light, may under gird with His divine authority all our efforts to uphold life, morality, and justice on the earth, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the Word of God, scattered among us with such divine bounty, may find in us a good and receptive soil, and that we may bear fruit through perseverance, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who are encountering rocks and thorns upon their way, who suffer from illness, poverty, addiction, or grief, that our Blessed Mother of mercy may obtain for them the blessing of new life and joy, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who have gone before us marked with faith and love, that they may enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and His courts of heaven with praise, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Today in 2012 my beloved mother, Theresa Nnennia, exited this world to return to our eternal home in heaven. The pain is still fresh in my mind. I remembered her throughout today. In the evening, at 7.00pm, I celebrated Mass for her in my chapel, all alone. I prayed: O God, who commanded us to honour father and mother, have mercy in your compassion on my mother Theresa, forgive her her sins, and bring us to see her one day in the gladness of eternal glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Friday, 18 September 2020. Cogitationes Cordis eius in generatione etgenerationem,ut eruat a morte animas eorum et alat eos in fame. VOTIVE MASS OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "People who score zero are not only those who do not participate in the game, but also those who play very well but have no goal in focus."
At 10.00am, I was at St Mary's Church Alor, in solidarity with Fr Peter Nwachukwu, for the funeral of his brother Innocent Nwachukwu. We prayed: O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your servant Innocent, whom you have called this day to journey to you, and, since he hoped and believed in you, grant that he may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
I returned immediately to Aguleri after Mass.
Nightfall. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo et requiescamus in pace.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "People who score zero are not only those who do not participate in the game, but also those who play very well but have no goal in focus."
At 10.00am, I was at St Mary's Church Alor, in solidarity with Fr Peter Nwachukwu, for the funeral of his brother Innocent Nwachukwu. We prayed: O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your servant Innocent, whom you have called this day to journey to you, and, since he hoped and believed in you, grant that he may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
I returned immediately to Aguleri after Mass.
Nightfall. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo et requiescamus in pace.
Thursday, 17 September 2020. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. MASS FOR THE PROGRESS OF PEOPLES. Qui habuerit substantiam huius mundi, et viderit fratrem suum necessitatem habere et clauserit viscera sua ab eo, quomodo caritas Dei manet in eo?
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you truly have compassion in your heart, show it by keeping your doubts to yourself and sharing your hope with those who love change!"
At Mass today, with the Church we prayed: O God, who gave one origin to all peoples and willed to gather from them one family for yourself, fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love and kindle in them a desire for the just advancement of their neighbour, that, through the good things which you richly bestow upon all, each human person may be brought to perfection, every division may be removed, and equity and justice may be established in human society. And in the Eucharist Prayer For Various Needs 4, we begged the Lord: Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope.
At 5.00pm, I was at Abàchà for the Funeral Vigil Mass for ma Sophie Igweilo. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Te corda nostra somnient,
te per soporem sentiant,
tuamque semper gloriam
vicina luce concinant.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you truly have compassion in your heart, show it by keeping your doubts to yourself and sharing your hope with those who love change!"
At Mass today, with the Church we prayed: O God, who gave one origin to all peoples and willed to gather from them one family for yourself, fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love and kindle in them a desire for the just advancement of their neighbour, that, through the good things which you richly bestow upon all, each human person may be brought to perfection, every division may be removed, and equity and justice may be established in human society. And in the Eucharist Prayer For Various Needs 4, we begged the Lord: Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope.
At 5.00pm, I was at Abàchà for the Funeral Vigil Mass for ma Sophie Igweilo. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Te corda nostra somnient,
te per soporem sentiant,
tuamque semper gloriam
vicina luce concinant.
Wednesday, 16 September 2020. MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CORNELIUS AND CYPRIAN. Gaudent in cælis ánimæ Sanctórum, qui Christi vestígia sunt secúti; et quia pro eius amóre sánguinem suum fudérunt, ídeo cum Christo exsúltant sine fine. Usual morning rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The value you get does not depend on what you have, but how much of it you bring to the market place. You do not get paid when you keep your gifts at home and go to the market empty handed!"
I was at home for a good part of today, working at my desk. There was no dull moment!
At 5.00pm, I was at Nnobi for the Funeral vigil Mass for ma Patricia Okigbo. She was am extra ordinary woman who raised a truly christian family. She came from Okigbo family in Ojoto and married into Okigbo family in Nnobi. Her brother, Fr Joseph Nwa Mary Okigbo, was my classmate in the major seminary. As a mother and good home-maker, the children in the village knew her for her long prayers at Angelus and Divine Mercy hours. She belonged to the Oblates of St Benedictine. Her son is a priest and her daughter a Benedictine nun. Requiescat in pace Domini.
Fr Izuu Okoye gave the homily during the Vigil Mass and testified to the saintly life of ma Patricia. I pray that some day, the story of her saintly life will be acknowledged universally and she will be declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
And at night, to our Blessed Mother we turn:
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The value you get does not depend on what you have, but how much of it you bring to the market place. You do not get paid when you keep your gifts at home and go to the market empty handed!"
I was at home for a good part of today, working at my desk. There was no dull moment!
At 5.00pm, I was at Nnobi for the Funeral vigil Mass for ma Patricia Okigbo. She was am extra ordinary woman who raised a truly christian family. She came from Okigbo family in Ojoto and married into Okigbo family in Nnobi. Her brother, Fr Joseph Nwa Mary Okigbo, was my classmate in the major seminary. As a mother and good home-maker, the children in the village knew her for her long prayers at Angelus and Divine Mercy hours. She belonged to the Oblates of St Benedictine. Her son is a priest and her daughter a Benedictine nun. Requiescat in pace Domini.
Fr Izuu Okoye gave the homily during the Vigil Mass and testified to the saintly life of ma Patricia. I pray that some day, the story of her saintly life will be acknowledged universally and she will be declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
And at night, to our Blessed Mother we turn:
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Tuesday, 15 September 2020. OUR LADY OF SORROWS. Stabat mater dolorósa juxta Crucem lacrimósa, dum pendébat Fílius. In adoration before the Most Holy Sacrament, meditating on the solemn song: Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Failure is your inability to recognize that you have made the same mistakes again. Making a mistake is normal; it turns abnormal when it’s not recognized!"
Usual morning spiritual activities. At Mass, with the universal Church we prayed: O God, who willed
that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering,
grant that your Church, participating with the Virgin Mary in the Passion of Christ, may merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
During the intercessory prayer session, we prayed: That the sufferings of Jesus and the sorrows of His Virgin Mother may encourage us to accept our share of the cross in our lives as part of the redeeming work of God in the world: Lord, hear us - LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US. I was indoors. After my supper, I went through and signed the records/reports prepared for my pastoral visit by St Paul's parish, Ideani and St Stephen's chaplaincy, Nkwelle Ezunaka.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Failure is your inability to recognize that you have made the same mistakes again. Making a mistake is normal; it turns abnormal when it’s not recognized!"
Usual morning spiritual activities. At Mass, with the universal Church we prayed: O God, who willed
that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering,
grant that your Church, participating with the Virgin Mary in the Passion of Christ, may merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
During the intercessory prayer session, we prayed: That the sufferings of Jesus and the sorrows of His Virgin Mother may encourage us to accept our share of the cross in our lives as part of the redeeming work of God in the world: Lord, hear us - LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US. I was indoors. After my supper, I went through and signed the records/reports prepared for my pastoral visit by St Paul's parish, Ideani and St Stephen's chaplaincy, Nkwelle Ezunaka.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
Monday, 14 September 2020. EXALTATION OF THE CROSS. We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered. We followed the rhythm of our daily morning spiritual exercises: Adoration/meditation, Lauds, Benediction and Holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Encourage yourself and do it bit by bit. It may appear tough, but every single bite of it every day is an endorsement that all will be chopped off sooner. Nothing is too difficult!"
During Mass, we recited in Italian:
Gloria a Dio nell'alto dei cieli e pace in terra agli uomini di buona volontà.
Noi ti lodiamo, ti benediciamo, ti adoriamo, ti glorifichiamo,
ti rendiamo grazie per la tua gloria immensa.
Signore Dio, Re del cielo, Dio Padre Onnipotente,
Signore Figlio unigenito Gesù Cristo, Signore Dio,
Agnello di Dio, Figlio del Padre
Tu che togli i peccati del mondo abbi pietà di noi,
Tu che togli i peccati del mondo accogli la nostra supplica,
Tu che siedi alla destra del Padre abbi pietà di noi,
perchè Tu solo il Santo, Tu solo il Signore, Tu solo l'Altissimo Gesù Cristo,
con lo Spirito Santo, nella gloria di Dio Padre. Amen.
In the Preface, the mystery of today's celebration was enunciated: For you placed the salvation of the human race on the wood of the Cross, so that, where death arose, life might again spring forth and the evil one, who conquered on a tree, might likewise on a tree be conquered, Through Christ our Lord.
Quiet day without external activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Encourage yourself and do it bit by bit. It may appear tough, but every single bite of it every day is an endorsement that all will be chopped off sooner. Nothing is too difficult!"
During Mass, we recited in Italian:
Gloria a Dio nell'alto dei cieli e pace in terra agli uomini di buona volontà.
Noi ti lodiamo, ti benediciamo, ti adoriamo, ti glorifichiamo,
ti rendiamo grazie per la tua gloria immensa.
Signore Dio, Re del cielo, Dio Padre Onnipotente,
Signore Figlio unigenito Gesù Cristo, Signore Dio,
Agnello di Dio, Figlio del Padre
Tu che togli i peccati del mondo abbi pietà di noi,
Tu che togli i peccati del mondo accogli la nostra supplica,
Tu che siedi alla destra del Padre abbi pietà di noi,
perchè Tu solo il Santo, Tu solo il Signore, Tu solo l'Altissimo Gesù Cristo,
con lo Spirito Santo, nella gloria di Dio Padre. Amen.
In the Preface, the mystery of today's celebration was enunciated: For you placed the salvation of the human race on the wood of the Cross, so that, where death arose, life might again spring forth and the evil one, who conquered on a tree, might likewise on a tree be conquered, Through Christ our Lord.
Quiet day without external activities.
Sunday, 13 September 2020. 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Da pacem, Dómine, sustinéntibus te,
ut prophétæ tui fidéles inveniántur; exáudi preces servi tui, et plebis tuæ Israel. This morning, I was delighted to have our community back to the usual morning devotions.
Nearer still nearer, close to Thy heart
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Goodbye” is the best ever gift that you can receive from worse friends. Never hesitate to wave it back. Be bold to say “no” to what always keep you static!
We said the following intercessory prayers during the Office of Lauds:
Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. Then the Holy Mass. Light physical exercise. Breakfast.
At 10.00am, I was at St Stephen's Parish, Ogbunike. We delayed starting the Mass because the public address system was not ready. I used the period of waiting to supervise the material they had acquired for the building of the new St Stephen's parish.
I found Fr Augustine Ezeanya pastorally very creative. He arranged the field as venue for the Mass. He had sufficient canopies to cover all who came for the celebration. To ensure that the candidates for Confirmation were punctual, he insisted that they come very early and he offered them tea and bread for breakfast. All of them ate well and there were still loaves of bread left. He customized the face masks used by all of them with the symbol of the Holy Spirit drawn on one side and the inscription "Holy Spirit"on the other. The choir was very well prepared.
Two stations, set to grow into parishes, were already in place. One is named after Blessed Iwene Tansi, who has the first African parish priest to run this place (then St Vincent Station) from St Stephen's parish. The other I gave it a name in 2017: Our Lady of Fatima - to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the apparition of our Blessed Mother at Fatima.
Fr Augustine Ezeanya attracted many priests to this great celebration. At Mass, with the Church we prayed: Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things, and, that we may feel the working of your mercy,grant that we may serve you with all our heart. Over two hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
At the end of the Mass, I blessed the foundation stone of an ultra modern Church to replace the existing one. I prayed: Lord, you built a holy Church, founded upon the apostles with Jesus as the cornerstone.
Grant that your people, gathered in your name, may fear and love you and grow as the temple of your glory.
May they always follow you, until, with you at their head, they arrive at last in your heavenly city.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Then I laid the foundation stone, saying: With faith in Jesus Christ, we lay this stone on which a Church will rise. May it be a place of sacrament and a source of grace, to the glory of the Father who with the Son and Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
To kick start the building project, Ikenna donated 500 bags of cement, several trips of white sand, and rods. The members of the Building Committee were optimistic that the project would be completed in a record time.
Grand reception. Dances. Gifts. Lunch for the people. Inside, I went through the Parish books with Fr Augustine Ezeanya. Then, I joined the priests for a good meal.
I returned happily to Aguleri. What a happy day!
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
ut prophétæ tui fidéles inveniántur; exáudi preces servi tui, et plebis tuæ Israel. This morning, I was delighted to have our community back to the usual morning devotions.
Nearer still nearer, close to Thy heart
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest
Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Goodbye” is the best ever gift that you can receive from worse friends. Never hesitate to wave it back. Be bold to say “no” to what always keep you static!
We said the following intercessory prayers during the Office of Lauds:
- To the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time, now, and for ever. – We praise you, O God: we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
- We bless you, Lord, creator of the universe: we were sinners, in need of your grace: yet now you have called us to live in knowledge and service of you. – We praise you, O God: we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
- Your Son has shown us the way. As we follow in his steps, may we never wander from the path that leads to life. – We praise you, O God: we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
- We celebrate today the resurrection of your Son: in suffering and in gladness, may it bring us deep joy. – We praise you, O God: we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
- O Lord, give us the spirit of prayer and praise: let us always and everywhere give you thanks. – We praise you, O God: we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. Then the Holy Mass. Light physical exercise. Breakfast.
At 10.00am, I was at St Stephen's Parish, Ogbunike. We delayed starting the Mass because the public address system was not ready. I used the period of waiting to supervise the material they had acquired for the building of the new St Stephen's parish.
I found Fr Augustine Ezeanya pastorally very creative. He arranged the field as venue for the Mass. He had sufficient canopies to cover all who came for the celebration. To ensure that the candidates for Confirmation were punctual, he insisted that they come very early and he offered them tea and bread for breakfast. All of them ate well and there were still loaves of bread left. He customized the face masks used by all of them with the symbol of the Holy Spirit drawn on one side and the inscription "Holy Spirit"on the other. The choir was very well prepared.
Two stations, set to grow into parishes, were already in place. One is named after Blessed Iwene Tansi, who has the first African parish priest to run this place (then St Vincent Station) from St Stephen's parish. The other I gave it a name in 2017: Our Lady of Fatima - to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the apparition of our Blessed Mother at Fatima.
Fr Augustine Ezeanya attracted many priests to this great celebration. At Mass, with the Church we prayed: Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things, and, that we may feel the working of your mercy,grant that we may serve you with all our heart. Over two hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
At the end of the Mass, I blessed the foundation stone of an ultra modern Church to replace the existing one. I prayed: Lord, you built a holy Church, founded upon the apostles with Jesus as the cornerstone.
Grant that your people, gathered in your name, may fear and love you and grow as the temple of your glory.
May they always follow you, until, with you at their head, they arrive at last in your heavenly city.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Then I laid the foundation stone, saying: With faith in Jesus Christ, we lay this stone on which a Church will rise. May it be a place of sacrament and a source of grace, to the glory of the Father who with the Son and Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
To kick start the building project, Ikenna donated 500 bags of cement, several trips of white sand, and rods. The members of the Building Committee were optimistic that the project would be completed in a record time.
Grand reception. Dances. Gifts. Lunch for the people. Inside, I went through the Parish books with Fr Augustine Ezeanya. Then, I joined the priests for a good meal.
I returned happily to Aguleri. What a happy day!
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
Saturday, 12 September 2020. Now in Aguleri. We started our day privately. No adoration. No meditation together. No Common Office of Lauds. Every person organised the morning as it suited him or her. However, I had breakfast with my Priest collaborators. Today, I fixed annual family feast with the families of my secretaries, past and present. I expected, as other years, to have the Udolisahs, the Odenigbos and the Ezeanis. The Ezeanis excused themselves this year because of their previously scheduled programme which they could not change the date.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nothing is so rewarding than the patience that you take to go over the ramps of life. They may slow you down, but you are an unstoppable hero. Keep driving!"
At 11.30am, the Udolisahs arrived. We waited for about one hour before the Odenigbos arrived. We were not in a hurry. We dedicated the whole for a happy interaction with one another.
First, we had the Missa in my chapel. I concelebrated with Fr Innocent Udolisa and Fr Michael Odenigbo. It was Mass for the Family, and we prayed: O God, in whose eternal design family life has its firm foundation, look with compassion on the prayers of your servants and grant that, following the example of the Holy Family of your Only Begotten Son in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, we may, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.
After Mass, we smoothly moved over to my big dining hall for the second item - mensa!. Sr Vera Mariette, the mother of our house, made adequate provision for every participant in this family feast. As usual, we were in a very relaxed atmosphere. We were all delighted for the get-together. May God sustain us all in His love.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nothing is so rewarding than the patience that you take to go over the ramps of life. They may slow you down, but you are an unstoppable hero. Keep driving!"
At 11.30am, the Udolisahs arrived. We waited for about one hour before the Odenigbos arrived. We were not in a hurry. We dedicated the whole for a happy interaction with one another.
First, we had the Missa in my chapel. I concelebrated with Fr Innocent Udolisa and Fr Michael Odenigbo. It was Mass for the Family, and we prayed: O God, in whose eternal design family life has its firm foundation, look with compassion on the prayers of your servants and grant that, following the example of the Holy Family of your Only Begotten Son in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, we may, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.
After Mass, we smoothly moved over to my big dining hall for the second item - mensa!. Sr Vera Mariette, the mother of our house, made adequate provision for every participant in this family feast. As usual, we were in a very relaxed atmosphere. We were all delighted for the get-together. May God sustain us all in His love.
Friday, 11 September 2020. Still at Abuja. This morning I stayed longer in bed and even skipped breakfast. I could not follow completely my usual rhythm of spiritual exercises. Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi et semitas tuas edoce me.
At 11.30am, I was taken to the airport to fly back to Asaba. Safely landed. Thanks be to God for a happy conclusion of my Abuja trip. Good to be back home to see my beloved collaborators. We soldier on. Regnum Christi floreat.
At 11.30am, I was taken to the airport to fly back to Asaba. Safely landed. Thanks be to God for a happy conclusion of my Abuja trip. Good to be back home to see my beloved collaborators. We soldier on. Regnum Christi floreat.
Bishop Isizoh with Fr Mike Umoh (Director) and the Staff of the Communications Department
CATHOLIC SECRETARIAT OF NIGERIA, ABUJA.
CATHOLIC SECRETARIAT OF NIGERIA, ABUJA.
Thursday, 10 September 2020. Still in Abuja. Our Board Meeting was concluded yesterday evening. Today, I chose to use my time to meet the CSN Communications Department. First I met my new Director, Fr Mike Umoh. Than a little later I was in the office of the Communications department to interact with the entire staff.
Afternoon - out for market. Evening came, and the night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Afternoon - out for market. Evening came, and the night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Wednesday, 9 September 2020. At Abuja. We began the day with 7.00am in St Gabriel's chapel of the Catholic Secretariat. Breakfast soon after.
Then, the meeting. We observed all the COVID19 protocols. Attenandance list: Archbishop Augustine Akubueze, Bishop Lucius Ugorji, Bishop Camillus Umoh, Bishop Charles Hamawa, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Bishop Godfrey Onah, Archbishop Adewale Martins, Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Bishop Michael Apochi and Bishop Denis Isizoh.
Our meeting lasted till evening with lunch break, siesta, and vespers in-between.
Unter deinen Schutz und Schirm fliehen wir,
o heilige Gottesgebärerin.
Verschmähe nicht unser Gebet in unsern Nöten,
sondern erlöse uns jederzeit von allen Gefahren,
o du glorreiche und gebenedeite Jungfrau.
Unsere Frau, unsere Mittlerin, unsere Fürsprecherin.
Versöhne uns mit deinem Sohne,
empfiehl uns deinem Sohne,
stelle uns vor deinem Sohne. Amen.
Then, the meeting. We observed all the COVID19 protocols. Attenandance list: Archbishop Augustine Akubueze, Bishop Lucius Ugorji, Bishop Camillus Umoh, Bishop Charles Hamawa, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Bishop Godfrey Onah, Archbishop Adewale Martins, Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Bishop Michael Apochi and Bishop Denis Isizoh.
Our meeting lasted till evening with lunch break, siesta, and vespers in-between.
Unter deinen Schutz und Schirm fliehen wir,
o heilige Gottesgebärerin.
Verschmähe nicht unser Gebet in unsern Nöten,
sondern erlöse uns jederzeit von allen Gefahren,
o du glorreiche und gebenedeite Jungfrau.
Unsere Frau, unsere Mittlerin, unsere Fürsprecherin.
Versöhne uns mit deinem Sohne,
empfiehl uns deinem Sohne,
stelle uns vor deinem Sohne. Amen.
Tuesday, 8 September 2020. Early morning rising. BIRTHDAY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. I rushed the morning activities: no exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Morning Prayer in private. We celebrated Mass at 6.30am. We prayed:
Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord,
the gift of heavenly grace,
that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
may bring deeper peace
to those for whom the birth of her Son
was the dawning of salvation.
Early breakfast. I was to take a morning flight to Abuja, but Air Peace changed it to 2.30pm. I stayed back, had my lunch at about 12.00 noon, and then traveled to Asaba to take a flight to Abuja.
Smooth flight to Abuja. I traveled to Abuja for the Administrative Board Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. Venue: Catholic Resource Centre (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja) At 5.00am, we started the Board Meeting. This session lasted till 8.00pm when we said the Office of Vespers and then went over to the adjacent room - the refectory - for supper.
After we retired to our rooms. In pace in idipsum dormiam et requiescam, quoniam tu, Domine, singulariter in spe constituisti me.
Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord,
the gift of heavenly grace,
that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
may bring deeper peace
to those for whom the birth of her Son
was the dawning of salvation.
Early breakfast. I was to take a morning flight to Abuja, but Air Peace changed it to 2.30pm. I stayed back, had my lunch at about 12.00 noon, and then traveled to Asaba to take a flight to Abuja.
Smooth flight to Abuja. I traveled to Abuja for the Administrative Board Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. Venue: Catholic Resource Centre (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja) At 5.00am, we started the Board Meeting. This session lasted till 8.00pm when we said the Office of Vespers and then went over to the adjacent room - the refectory - for supper.
After we retired to our rooms. In pace in idipsum dormiam et requiescam, quoniam tu, Domine, singulariter in spe constituisti me.
Monday, 7 September 2020. Usual morning devotions.
Therefore we, before him bending,
this great Sacrament revere;
types and shadows have their ending,
for the newer rite is here;
faith, our outward sense befriending,
makes our inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
honor, might and praise addressing,
while eternal ages run;
ever too his love confessing,
who from Both with Both is One.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You brought a load of gifts ("talents") to the world; use them and die empty!"
We celebrated Memorial of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. In the Preface we prayed: For, as on the memorial of Blessed Cyprian Michael you bid your Church rejoice, so too, you strengthen her by the example of his holy life, teach her by his words of preaching, and keep her safe in answer to his prayers.
I was in the office at Aguleri from 10.30am till about 2.15pm. Very busy day in the office. Lunch followed. And 3.00pm, I was on my way to Onitsha for the Board Meeting of Regnum Christi Foundation. This Foundation was established by Cardinal Francis Arinze as a channel to promote his charities. The Members of the Board include: Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Bishop Hilary Okeke, Bishop Denis Isizoh, Mons. Hypolite Adigwe (Chairman), Mons. Nathaniel Obiagba, Fr Anthony Ezeugo, Linus Obumneme, Emmanuel Umegakwe and Lotanna Anierobi. The beneficiaries of Cardinal Arinze's charities include dioceses, religious congregations and many individuals. Hardly does anyone hear about this powerful yet silent apostolate, very wide in scope, touching many lives significantly!
I returned to Aguleri at night. Tired and feeling very sleepy, I retired to bed quite early.
Noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedat nobis Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
Therefore we, before him bending,
this great Sacrament revere;
types and shadows have their ending,
for the newer rite is here;
faith, our outward sense befriending,
makes our inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
honor, might and praise addressing,
while eternal ages run;
ever too his love confessing,
who from Both with Both is One.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You brought a load of gifts ("talents") to the world; use them and die empty!"
We celebrated Memorial of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. In the Preface we prayed: For, as on the memorial of Blessed Cyprian Michael you bid your Church rejoice, so too, you strengthen her by the example of his holy life, teach her by his words of preaching, and keep her safe in answer to his prayers.
I was in the office at Aguleri from 10.30am till about 2.15pm. Very busy day in the office. Lunch followed. And 3.00pm, I was on my way to Onitsha for the Board Meeting of Regnum Christi Foundation. This Foundation was established by Cardinal Francis Arinze as a channel to promote his charities. The Members of the Board include: Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Bishop Hilary Okeke, Bishop Denis Isizoh, Mons. Hypolite Adigwe (Chairman), Mons. Nathaniel Obiagba, Fr Anthony Ezeugo, Linus Obumneme, Emmanuel Umegakwe and Lotanna Anierobi. The beneficiaries of Cardinal Arinze's charities include dioceses, religious congregations and many individuals. Hardly does anyone hear about this powerful yet silent apostolate, very wide in scope, touching many lives significantly!
I returned to Aguleri at night. Tired and feeling very sleepy, I retired to bed quite early.
Noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedat nobis Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
With the Parish Priest and the donors of the New Grotto at Ideani
Sunday, 6 September 2020. 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Iustus es, Dómine, et rectum iudícium tuum; fac cum servo tuo secúndum misericórdiam tuam. In adoration: Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore! Oh, make us love Thee more and more. Oh, make us love Thee more and more.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be."
During the community Mass we prayed: O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.
At 10.00am, I was in Ideani for a Pastoral visit. My second Pastoral visit! 147 Candidates were confirmed. Thanks to Fr Joseph Nnalue, the Parish Priest. A family built and donated a Grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual help.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Salve Regina mater miseri cordiae, vita, dulcedo et spes nostra salve
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae
Ad te suspiramis gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle
Eia ergo advocata nostra, illos tuos miseri cordes oculos ad nos converte
Et Jesum benedictum fructum ventris tui nobis post hoc exsilium ostende
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis virgo Maria.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be."
During the community Mass we prayed: O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.
At 10.00am, I was in Ideani for a Pastoral visit. My second Pastoral visit! 147 Candidates were confirmed. Thanks to Fr Joseph Nnalue, the Parish Priest. A family built and donated a Grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual help.
Back to Aguleri. Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Salve Regina mater miseri cordiae, vita, dulcedo et spes nostra salve
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae
Ad te suspiramis gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle
Eia ergo advocata nostra, illos tuos miseri cordes oculos ad nos converte
Et Jesum benedictum fructum ventris tui nobis post hoc exsilium ostende
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis virgo Maria.
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Blessing and Opening of the Rectory at St Paul's Parish, Omor.
Crucifix on the Calvary
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Grotto of Our Blessed Mother
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Inside the new Chapel of Adoration.
Blessing and Opening of the Chapel of Adoration.
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The Donors
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Saturday, 5 September 2020. Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui. COMMON OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. Soon after, we appeared before Lord to adore him. It is truly a privilege to discover the treasure of starting a day before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. It provides a unique occasion to put oneself together before stepping out into the field of daily work. I find it a special moment to say, perhaps in different words, the prayer I use for the blessing of a parish rectory: Loving Father, we gather here in the Name of Jesus Your Son and ask You for Your blessing. Make our home here a house of prayer. In Your love, bless all who live here today, and deepen our spirit of service to Your people. Let us be an example of prayer and praise for your honour and glory. Be our shelter when we are at home, our companion when we are away, and our welcome guest when we return. Lord, fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and lead us always in Your love.
As yesterday, the first reading (1 Corinthians 4:6-15) of today's Mass provided food for thought. I have presented it as OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: What do you have that was not given to you? Take Apollos and myself as an example and remember the maxim: ‘Keep to what is written.’ It is not for you, so full of your own importance, to go taking sides for one man against another. In any case, brother, has anybody given you some special right? What do you have that was not given to you? And if it was given, how can you boast as though it were not? Is it that you have everything you want – that you are rich already, in possession of your kingdom, with us left outside? Indeed I wish you were really kings, and we could be kings with you! But instead, it seems to me, God has put us apostles at the end of his parade, with the men sentenced to death; it is true – we have been put on show in front of the whole universe, angels as well as men. Here we are, fools for the sake of Christ, while you are the learned men in Christ; we have no power, but you are influential; you are celebrities, we are nobodies. To this day, we go without food and drink and clothes; we are beaten and have no homes; we work for our living with our own hands. When we are cursed, we answer with a blessing; when we are hounded, we put up with it; we are insulted and we answer politely. We are treated as the offal of the world, still to this day, the scum of the earth.
I was at St Paul's Parish, Omor, where large number of the parishioners gathered at 11.00am for four pastoral events:
1. BLESSING OF THE GIANT CRUCIFIX ON THE CALVARY.
I prefaced the blessing with a short sermon on the Holy Cross. Then I said the following Prayer of Blessing:
Blessed ae you, Lord God, Father all-holy, for your boundless love. Thr tree, once the source of shame and death for humankind, has become the cross of our redemption and life.
When his hour had come to return to you in glory, the Lord Jesus, our King, our Priest, and our Teacher, freely mounted the scaffold of the cross and made it his royal throne, his altar of sacrifice, his pulpit of truth.
On the cross, lifted above the earth, he triumphed over our age-old enemy. Cloaked in his own blood, e drew all things to himself.
On the cross, he opened out his arms and offered you his life: the sacrifice of the New Law that gives to the sacraments their saving power.
On the cross, he proved what he had prophesied: the grain of wheat must die to bring forth an abundant harvest.
Father, we honor this cross as the sign of our redemption. May we reap the harvest of salvation planted in pain by Christ Jesus. May our sins be nailed to his cross, the power of life released, pride conquered, and weakness turned to strength.
May the cross be our comfort in trouble, our refuge in the face of danger, our safeguard on life's journey, until you welcome us to our heavenly home. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Together with the People that gathered we prayed:
Jesu m, ahụrụ Gi n’anya karịchaa ihe niile;
E ji m obi m niile chegharịa maka mmeghie m mehiere Gị.
Ekwela ka m kewapụ onwe m ọzọ n’ebe Ị nọ;
Mee ka m hụ Gị n’anya mgbe ọ bụla;
Bịa jiri m mee ihe ọ bụla masịrị Gị.
2. BLESSING OF GROTTO OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP.
Again I introduced the blessing by giving a short homily on the devotion to Our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary. Then followed the prayer of blessing.
Chukwu pụru ime ihe niile dị ebeebe, Ị naghị egbochi ịnọchite anya ndị nke Gị dị asọ n’ụdị onyinyo ihe a kpụrụ akpụ ma ọ bụ ihe e sere ese, ka ọ ga abụ, oge ọ bụla anyị ji anya nke anụ ahụ na-ele onyinyo ndị a, anyị ewere anya nke mmụọ na-eche maka ịdị asọ ha, wee nwee ike iñomi ezigbo ndụ ha biri.
N’obiọma Gị, anyị na-arịọ ka Ị gọzie + ma dookwa onyinyo ndị a asọ nke e dowere iji na-asọpụrụ ma na-echetakwa Vejin Marịa dị asọ, Nne Dinwenụ anyị Jesu Kristi, Nne Onye inyeaka dị ọkpụ. Mee ka ndị niile jiri obi umeala, obi ekpere na nsọpụrụ, nọrọ n’ihu ya site n’elele ya nweta n’aka Gị grasịa n’ụwa nke a, nwetakwa ndụ ebeebe n’ụwa ọzọ. Site na Kristi Dinwenụ anyị. Amen.
To our Blessed Mother we all turned and prayed:
EKPERE ANYI JI EWERE ONWE ANYI TINYE N'AKA NNE ANYI DI ASO
O Nne anyi di aso Maria, nwanyi makarisiri na mma, dikarisia na nwayo, Nne nke Chukwu, Onye a turu ime ya na-ejighi njo. Anyi achiri ezinulo anyi tinye n'aka gi, ka I buru onye na-eche anyi nche. Chebe anyi O Ezigbo Nne, ka anyi ghara inwe oria na-efe efe, oku ogbugba na oke ikuku. Ka anyi ghara idaba n'aka ndi na-amaghi Chukwu, ndi na-akuzi nkuzi asi, esemokwu nke na-emebi ngwuru, iwe na onuma ndi ilo niile.
Chebe anyi, O Ezigbo Nne. Anyi si n'ulo na-aputa na-eche anyi, anyi na-abata abata na-eche anyi, ka anyi ghara inwu onwu ntumadi. Zoputa anyi na njo na mmeru ahu di iche iche. Riobara anyi Chukwu aririo ka anyi fee Ya ofufe etu kwesirinu, were bia binyere gi na grasia Ya n'uwa ozo, Amen.
Ka Dinwenu anyi site na nwodibo Ya zepuru anyi ihe egwu niile, na ihe uru ala niile di n'elu uwa a nyana ihe oghom niile anyi jeko izute n'uzo n'ubochi taata were dirizia gaba. Amen.
■Jesu ahuru m gi n'anya (ugboro ato)
■ Abuchasi m nke gi, Ezenwanyi, Nne m ihe niile m nwere bu nke gi (ugboro 3)
3. BLESSING OF THE CHAPEL OF ADORATION
I talked about the Eucharistic adoration and invited the people to come regularly to present themselves and their families before the Lord. The family of Onyiuke that built the chapel joined me to cut the tape.
Then I prayed to bless the Chapel:
O Chineke kacha di elu, Ị dị ukwuu, eluigwe n’uwa agaghị abatanwu Gị, mana I buturu onwe gi ala, were nodu n’ime ebe obibi nke mmadu ruuru n’uwa ebe a na akpoku aha gi mgbe niile. Site otito na aririo nke Maria, Nne anyi di aso bu Virgin okpu, na site na’aririo ndi nso niile, biko bia leta ulo nke ekpere nke a ebe a na anọ etiri gi isiala. Were ihuọma lekwasị ya anya, chupuru anyi ajoo muo niile. Mee ka grasịa juputa n’ime ya bu ulo.
Dika I si mere Solomon, ewere mejuputa nkwa I kwere nna ya bu Devid, sikwa etu ahu mejuputa ebumnobi ndi nke Gi maka ulo ekpere nke a. Sitena Kristi Dinwenu anyi. Amen.
There was Eucharistic Benediction.
Then, finally, the event no. 4 BLESSING OF THE RECTORY.
After the blessing, we said the following prayer for Priests:
Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and to act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church.
Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned.
Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising.
In time of weakness send them your Spirit, and help them to praise your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners.
By the same Holy Spirit, put your word on their lips and your love in their hearts, to bring Good News to the poor and healing to the broken-hearted.
And may the gift of Mary, your mother, to the disciple whom you loved, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed you in her human image, may form them in your divine image, by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The People of God were visibly happy to witness the development of the spiritual centres in their town. They participated in the spiritual exercises with great devotion. Regnum Christi floreat.
We had good lunch in the rectory. Thanks to Fr Paul Ihebighi. He has done very well as a Parish Priest of St Paul Omor and an Administrator of St Luke's Independent Station. I am proud of his record in Omor.
Back to Aguleri in the evening, Naturally I was tired but full of joy for the meeting I had with the People of God in Omor and for the external manifestations of the growth of faith in Ayamelum area.
To God be the glory
Great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life-gate that all may go in
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the people rejoice
Come to the Father
Through Jesus the Son
Give Him the glory
Great things He has done
As yesterday, the first reading (1 Corinthians 4:6-15) of today's Mass provided food for thought. I have presented it as OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: What do you have that was not given to you? Take Apollos and myself as an example and remember the maxim: ‘Keep to what is written.’ It is not for you, so full of your own importance, to go taking sides for one man against another. In any case, brother, has anybody given you some special right? What do you have that was not given to you? And if it was given, how can you boast as though it were not? Is it that you have everything you want – that you are rich already, in possession of your kingdom, with us left outside? Indeed I wish you were really kings, and we could be kings with you! But instead, it seems to me, God has put us apostles at the end of his parade, with the men sentenced to death; it is true – we have been put on show in front of the whole universe, angels as well as men. Here we are, fools for the sake of Christ, while you are the learned men in Christ; we have no power, but you are influential; you are celebrities, we are nobodies. To this day, we go without food and drink and clothes; we are beaten and have no homes; we work for our living with our own hands. When we are cursed, we answer with a blessing; when we are hounded, we put up with it; we are insulted and we answer politely. We are treated as the offal of the world, still to this day, the scum of the earth.
I was at St Paul's Parish, Omor, where large number of the parishioners gathered at 11.00am for four pastoral events:
1. BLESSING OF THE GIANT CRUCIFIX ON THE CALVARY.
I prefaced the blessing with a short sermon on the Holy Cross. Then I said the following Prayer of Blessing:
Blessed ae you, Lord God, Father all-holy, for your boundless love. Thr tree, once the source of shame and death for humankind, has become the cross of our redemption and life.
When his hour had come to return to you in glory, the Lord Jesus, our King, our Priest, and our Teacher, freely mounted the scaffold of the cross and made it his royal throne, his altar of sacrifice, his pulpit of truth.
On the cross, lifted above the earth, he triumphed over our age-old enemy. Cloaked in his own blood, e drew all things to himself.
On the cross, he opened out his arms and offered you his life: the sacrifice of the New Law that gives to the sacraments their saving power.
On the cross, he proved what he had prophesied: the grain of wheat must die to bring forth an abundant harvest.
Father, we honor this cross as the sign of our redemption. May we reap the harvest of salvation planted in pain by Christ Jesus. May our sins be nailed to his cross, the power of life released, pride conquered, and weakness turned to strength.
May the cross be our comfort in trouble, our refuge in the face of danger, our safeguard on life's journey, until you welcome us to our heavenly home. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Together with the People that gathered we prayed:
Jesu m, ahụrụ Gi n’anya karịchaa ihe niile;
E ji m obi m niile chegharịa maka mmeghie m mehiere Gị.
Ekwela ka m kewapụ onwe m ọzọ n’ebe Ị nọ;
Mee ka m hụ Gị n’anya mgbe ọ bụla;
Bịa jiri m mee ihe ọ bụla masịrị Gị.
2. BLESSING OF GROTTO OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP.
Again I introduced the blessing by giving a short homily on the devotion to Our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary. Then followed the prayer of blessing.
Chukwu pụru ime ihe niile dị ebeebe, Ị naghị egbochi ịnọchite anya ndị nke Gị dị asọ n’ụdị onyinyo ihe a kpụrụ akpụ ma ọ bụ ihe e sere ese, ka ọ ga abụ, oge ọ bụla anyị ji anya nke anụ ahụ na-ele onyinyo ndị a, anyị ewere anya nke mmụọ na-eche maka ịdị asọ ha, wee nwee ike iñomi ezigbo ndụ ha biri.
N’obiọma Gị, anyị na-arịọ ka Ị gọzie + ma dookwa onyinyo ndị a asọ nke e dowere iji na-asọpụrụ ma na-echetakwa Vejin Marịa dị asọ, Nne Dinwenụ anyị Jesu Kristi, Nne Onye inyeaka dị ọkpụ. Mee ka ndị niile jiri obi umeala, obi ekpere na nsọpụrụ, nọrọ n’ihu ya site n’elele ya nweta n’aka Gị grasịa n’ụwa nke a, nwetakwa ndụ ebeebe n’ụwa ọzọ. Site na Kristi Dinwenụ anyị. Amen.
To our Blessed Mother we all turned and prayed:
EKPERE ANYI JI EWERE ONWE ANYI TINYE N'AKA NNE ANYI DI ASO
O Nne anyi di aso Maria, nwanyi makarisiri na mma, dikarisia na nwayo, Nne nke Chukwu, Onye a turu ime ya na-ejighi njo. Anyi achiri ezinulo anyi tinye n'aka gi, ka I buru onye na-eche anyi nche. Chebe anyi O Ezigbo Nne, ka anyi ghara inwe oria na-efe efe, oku ogbugba na oke ikuku. Ka anyi ghara idaba n'aka ndi na-amaghi Chukwu, ndi na-akuzi nkuzi asi, esemokwu nke na-emebi ngwuru, iwe na onuma ndi ilo niile.
Chebe anyi, O Ezigbo Nne. Anyi si n'ulo na-aputa na-eche anyi, anyi na-abata abata na-eche anyi, ka anyi ghara inwu onwu ntumadi. Zoputa anyi na njo na mmeru ahu di iche iche. Riobara anyi Chukwu aririo ka anyi fee Ya ofufe etu kwesirinu, were bia binyere gi na grasia Ya n'uwa ozo, Amen.
Ka Dinwenu anyi site na nwodibo Ya zepuru anyi ihe egwu niile, na ihe uru ala niile di n'elu uwa a nyana ihe oghom niile anyi jeko izute n'uzo n'ubochi taata were dirizia gaba. Amen.
■Jesu ahuru m gi n'anya (ugboro ato)
■ Abuchasi m nke gi, Ezenwanyi, Nne m ihe niile m nwere bu nke gi (ugboro 3)
3. BLESSING OF THE CHAPEL OF ADORATION
I talked about the Eucharistic adoration and invited the people to come regularly to present themselves and their families before the Lord. The family of Onyiuke that built the chapel joined me to cut the tape.
Then I prayed to bless the Chapel:
O Chineke kacha di elu, Ị dị ukwuu, eluigwe n’uwa agaghị abatanwu Gị, mana I buturu onwe gi ala, were nodu n’ime ebe obibi nke mmadu ruuru n’uwa ebe a na akpoku aha gi mgbe niile. Site otito na aririo nke Maria, Nne anyi di aso bu Virgin okpu, na site na’aririo ndi nso niile, biko bia leta ulo nke ekpere nke a ebe a na anọ etiri gi isiala. Were ihuọma lekwasị ya anya, chupuru anyi ajoo muo niile. Mee ka grasịa juputa n’ime ya bu ulo.
Dika I si mere Solomon, ewere mejuputa nkwa I kwere nna ya bu Devid, sikwa etu ahu mejuputa ebumnobi ndi nke Gi maka ulo ekpere nke a. Sitena Kristi Dinwenu anyi. Amen.
There was Eucharistic Benediction.
Then, finally, the event no. 4 BLESSING OF THE RECTORY.
After the blessing, we said the following prayer for Priests:
Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and to act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church.
Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned.
Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising.
In time of weakness send them your Spirit, and help them to praise your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners.
By the same Holy Spirit, put your word on their lips and your love in their hearts, to bring Good News to the poor and healing to the broken-hearted.
And may the gift of Mary, your mother, to the disciple whom you loved, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed you in her human image, may form them in your divine image, by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The People of God were visibly happy to witness the development of the spiritual centres in their town. They participated in the spiritual exercises with great devotion. Regnum Christi floreat.
We had good lunch in the rectory. Thanks to Fr Paul Ihebighi. He has done very well as a Parish Priest of St Paul Omor and an Administrator of St Luke's Independent Station. I am proud of his record in Omor.
Back to Aguleri in the evening, Naturally I was tired but full of joy for the meeting I had with the People of God in Omor and for the external manifestations of the growth of faith in Ayamelum area.
To God be the glory
Great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life-gate that all may go in
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the people rejoice
Come to the Father
Through Jesus the Son
Give Him the glory
Great things He has done
Friday, 4 September 2020. Cogitationes Cordis eius in generatione et generationem, ut eruat a morte animas eorum et alat eos in fame. Votive Mass of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, that great 1913 or so lyrics came to mind:
Sweet Heart of Jesus! Fount of love and mercy,
Today we come thy blessings to implore;
Oh touch our hearts so cold and so ungrateful,
And make them Lord, thine own for evermore.
Sweet Heart of Jesus! We implore,
Oh, make us love thee, more and more.
Sweet Heart of Jesus! Make us know and love thee.
Unfold to us the treasures of thy grace.
That so our hearts, from things of earth uplifted,
May long alone to gaze upon thy face.
Sweet Heart of Jesus! We implore,
Oh, make us love thee, more and more.
We followed our usual rhythm of spiritual exercise. At Mass (celebrated in Latin), the First reading (1 Corinthians 4,1-5) of today touched me personally as priest, and a servant of God and His People. The words of St Paul were in my mind throughout the day. I made it TODAY'S QUOTE: People must think of us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God. What is expected of stewards is that each one should be found worthy of his trust. Not that it makes the slightest difference to me whether you, or indeed any human tribunal, find me worthy or not. I will not even pass judgement on myself. True, my conscience does not reproach me at all, but that does not prove that I am acquitted: the Lord alone is my judge. There must be no passing of premature judgement. Leave that until the Lord comes; he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God.
At 11.15am, I was at Osile Ogbunike for the funeral of Chief Patrick Anigbo Okonkwo (aged 92), one of the revered senior citizens in my village. It was an Anglican funeral and I came to identify with the family. There were many Anglican pastors present. They received me well and gave me a seat in their midst. It was an ecumenical experience. I joined them in the recitation of many psalms. At the end of the interment, I addressed the large crowd that gathered. The family members were very happy because of my presence. I returned immediately to Aguleri.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Sweet Heart of Jesus! Fount of love and mercy,
Today we come thy blessings to implore;
Oh touch our hearts so cold and so ungrateful,
And make them Lord, thine own for evermore.
Sweet Heart of Jesus! We implore,
Oh, make us love thee, more and more.
Sweet Heart of Jesus! Make us know and love thee.
Unfold to us the treasures of thy grace.
That so our hearts, from things of earth uplifted,
May long alone to gaze upon thy face.
Sweet Heart of Jesus! We implore,
Oh, make us love thee, more and more.
We followed our usual rhythm of spiritual exercise. At Mass (celebrated in Latin), the First reading (1 Corinthians 4,1-5) of today touched me personally as priest, and a servant of God and His People. The words of St Paul were in my mind throughout the day. I made it TODAY'S QUOTE: People must think of us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God. What is expected of stewards is that each one should be found worthy of his trust. Not that it makes the slightest difference to me whether you, or indeed any human tribunal, find me worthy or not. I will not even pass judgement on myself. True, my conscience does not reproach me at all, but that does not prove that I am acquitted: the Lord alone is my judge. There must be no passing of premature judgement. Leave that until the Lord comes; he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God.
At 11.15am, I was at Osile Ogbunike for the funeral of Chief Patrick Anigbo Okonkwo (aged 92), one of the revered senior citizens in my village. It was an Anglican funeral and I came to identify with the family. There were many Anglican pastors present. They received me well and gave me a seat in their midst. It was an ecumenical experience. I joined them in the recitation of many psalms. At the end of the interment, I addressed the large crowd that gathered. The family members were very happy because of my presence. I returned immediately to Aguleri.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Thursday, 3 September 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST GREGORY THE GREAT. Beátus Gregórius, in cáthedra Petri sublimátus, semper spéciem Dómini quærébat, atque in sollemnitáte illíus amóris habitábat. Early conversation with our Blessed Mother. Usual morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear."
For intercessions during the Office of Lauds, we prayed:
I needed some rest and so did not undertake any external pastoral engagement. Desk work to update my website.
Return to our Blessed Mother when it was time to retire in the evening. Memorare in Igbo: Cheta, O Vejin Maria dikalịsịlị n’asọ, n’ọnwenurọ onye ọbụna gbakwutelụ k’íchebe ya m’ọbụ yọọ k’inyelụ ya aka, m’ọbụ k’ikwupụtelụ ya ịranulụ k’ọgbal’aka naa. Ebe m ji afọọma Gị aka, nezịa m onye njọ lọghalụ elogha, ka m na-akwa njọm n’iru gị, na-ayọ k’ilolu m nye na Nwa Gị. Biko ekopụkana aka Gị ikpachalụ nzọpụta nke ebebe m anya, Enenịkwana, O Nne nke Jesu ayịyọ onye nke gị dị umeanị, ma chee ntị nụlụ ya, meazịlị m ife yọlụ Gị. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear."
For intercessions during the Office of Lauds, we prayed:
- Christ, the good shepherd, laid down his life for his sheep. Let us praise him with grateful hearts, as we pray: Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
- Christ our Lord, in the holy pastors you reveal your love for us; may we never be deprived of the care you show through them. Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
- Through your sacred ministers you are present in our midst as the shepherd of our souls; never cease to guide us through their teaching and encouragement. Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
- In the saints who lead your people, you manifest your power of healing souls and bodies; remain always with us to renew our lives in holiness. Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
- By the example of the saints you instruct your faithful in the ways of wisdom and love; through our pastors, help us grow to the full stature of perfection. Lord, nourish the lives of your people.
I needed some rest and so did not undertake any external pastoral engagement. Desk work to update my website.
Return to our Blessed Mother when it was time to retire in the evening. Memorare in Igbo: Cheta, O Vejin Maria dikalịsịlị n’asọ, n’ọnwenurọ onye ọbụna gbakwutelụ k’íchebe ya m’ọbụ yọọ k’inyelụ ya aka, m’ọbụ k’ikwupụtelụ ya ịranulụ k’ọgbal’aka naa. Ebe m ji afọọma Gị aka, nezịa m onye njọ lọghalụ elogha, ka m na-akwa njọm n’iru gị, na-ayọ k’ilolu m nye na Nwa Gị. Biko ekopụkana aka Gị ikpachalụ nzọpụta nke ebebe m anya, Enenịkwana, O Nne nke Jesu ayịyọ onye nke gị dị umeanị, ma chee ntị nụlụ ya, meazịlị m ife yọlụ Gị. Amen.
SOME OF THE BIGARD 85 (CENTENARY PRIESTS) AT UYO FOR THE FUNERAL
(L-R) Fr Chris Umoh, Fr Edwin Obiorah, Fr Michael Essien, Fr James Okpalaonwuka, Bishop Donatus Akpan,
Fr Ignatius Obinwa, Bishop Denis Isizoh, Fr Onyema Anozie, and Fr Romanus Ochemba
(L-R) Fr Chris Umoh, Fr Edwin Obiorah, Fr Michael Essien, Fr James Okpalaonwuka, Bishop Donatus Akpan,
Fr Ignatius Obinwa, Bishop Denis Isizoh, Fr Onyema Anozie, and Fr Romanus Ochemba
Fr Columbanus Anthony Udofia - Requiescat in pace Domini.
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With family members of Fr Columbanus Udofia
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Wednesday, 2 September 2020. I woke up at Umuahia in SMMM Generalate. Short prayer in the chapel. Then breakfast. At 6.50am I was on my way to Uyo with the following friends: Fr James Okpalaonwuka S.M.M.M., Fr Romanus Ochemba C.S.Sp., and Fr Benedict Okike. Very smooth journey. We met only one obstacle on the way where a trailer fell down at a bad spot on the road. We were able to pass through to continue our journey.
We were at the Pastoral Centre Uyo quite early, more than an hour before the ceremonies. We came here to honour our beloved Fr Columbanus Udofia. Together with other classmates who arrived Uyo soon after, we accompanied the casket of Fr Columbanus Udofia into the hall. Casket opened, we filed pass his body to pay him last respects. With the large congregation that gathered, we recited the Office of the Dead. At 10.30am, Missa exequalis. We prayed: Grant, we pray, O Lord, that the soul of Columbanus, your servant and Priest, whom you honorewith sacred office while he lived in this world, may exult for ever in the glorious home of heaven.
During the Mass, Bishop John Ayah presided, Bishop Donatus Akpan gave the Final Commendation. Ego sum resurrectio et vita, qui credit in me etiam si mortuus fuerit vivet. Et omnis qui vivit et credit in me non morietur in aeternum. I made a short speech to introduce the Bigard 85 set. Fr Ignatius Obinwa read the funeral oration on our behalf.
Lunch at the restaurant of the Pastoral Centre. We made it safely back to our homes.
The following Bigard 85 (Centenary Priests) attended the funeral in Uyo:
We were at the Pastoral Centre Uyo quite early, more than an hour before the ceremonies. We came here to honour our beloved Fr Columbanus Udofia. Together with other classmates who arrived Uyo soon after, we accompanied the casket of Fr Columbanus Udofia into the hall. Casket opened, we filed pass his body to pay him last respects. With the large congregation that gathered, we recited the Office of the Dead. At 10.30am, Missa exequalis. We prayed: Grant, we pray, O Lord, that the soul of Columbanus, your servant and Priest, whom you honorewith sacred office while he lived in this world, may exult for ever in the glorious home of heaven.
During the Mass, Bishop John Ayah presided, Bishop Donatus Akpan gave the Final Commendation. Ego sum resurrectio et vita, qui credit in me etiam si mortuus fuerit vivet. Et omnis qui vivit et credit in me non morietur in aeternum. I made a short speech to introduce the Bigard 85 set. Fr Ignatius Obinwa read the funeral oration on our behalf.
Lunch at the restaurant of the Pastoral Centre. We made it safely back to our homes.
The following Bigard 85 (Centenary Priests) attended the funeral in Uyo:
- Fr James Okpalaonwuka,
- Fr Edwin Obiorah,
- Fr Christopher Umoh,
- Fr Benedict Okike,
- Fr Onyema Anozie,
- Fr Michael Essien
- Fr Romanus Ochemba
- Fr Patrick Mbaba
- Fr Ignatius Obinwa
- Bishop Donatus Akpan
- Bishop Denis Isizoh
Tuesday, 1 September 2020. Abbi pietà di me, Signore perché t’invoco tutto il giorno. Tu sei buono e pronto al perdono, sei pieno di misericordia con chi ti invoca. Usual morning spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
Our community Mass today was in Italian, and we said the following Collect: O Dio, nostro Padre, unica fonte di ogni dono perfetto, suscita in noi l’amore per te e ravviva la nostra fede, perché si sviluppi in noi il germe del bene e con il tuo aiuto maturi fino alla sua pienezza.
I had early lunch. At about 1.00pm I set out for Umuahia on my way to Uyo for the funeral of Fr Columbanus Udofia, my classmate. Google Map navigator guided us to the Generalate of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy, Afaraukwu Umuahia. I was pleasantly surprised and edified by the imposing Generalate and the serene compound of SMMM. It was the first time I visited this part of the world.
At Afaraukwu, I was warmly received by Fr James Okpalaonwuka SMMM - classmate and former Superior General of SMMM. Fr George Okorie - the current Superior General welcomed me. I enjoyed the company of Frs Romanus Ochemba C.S.Sp. and Benedict Okike, both my classmates. I was shown round the complex of Church structures around. I was shown where Bishop Whelan lived for many years when he was the Bishop of Owerri and where Bishop Nwedo lived as Bishop of Umuahia. Currently, Bishop Kalu Ukpong is living there. I was also shown round the Water factory and the Printing Press of the SMMM.
I joined the Generalate Community for Vespers and Supper. Kind words spoken to me by the Superior General and some of the Fathers. I found the community very lively and friendly.
The Community offered me a very comfortable accommodation. To our Blessed Mother we fly:
Sotto la tua protezione
cerchiamo rifugio,
santa Madre di Dio:
non disprezzare le suppliche
di noi che siamo nella prova,
ma liberaci da ogni pericolo,
o Vergine gloriosa e benedetta. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
Our community Mass today was in Italian, and we said the following Collect: O Dio, nostro Padre, unica fonte di ogni dono perfetto, suscita in noi l’amore per te e ravviva la nostra fede, perché si sviluppi in noi il germe del bene e con il tuo aiuto maturi fino alla sua pienezza.
I had early lunch. At about 1.00pm I set out for Umuahia on my way to Uyo for the funeral of Fr Columbanus Udofia, my classmate. Google Map navigator guided us to the Generalate of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy, Afaraukwu Umuahia. I was pleasantly surprised and edified by the imposing Generalate and the serene compound of SMMM. It was the first time I visited this part of the world.
At Afaraukwu, I was warmly received by Fr James Okpalaonwuka SMMM - classmate and former Superior General of SMMM. Fr George Okorie - the current Superior General welcomed me. I enjoyed the company of Frs Romanus Ochemba C.S.Sp. and Benedict Okike, both my classmates. I was shown round the complex of Church structures around. I was shown where Bishop Whelan lived for many years when he was the Bishop of Owerri and where Bishop Nwedo lived as Bishop of Umuahia. Currently, Bishop Kalu Ukpong is living there. I was also shown round the Water factory and the Printing Press of the SMMM.
I joined the Generalate Community for Vespers and Supper. Kind words spoken to me by the Superior General and some of the Fathers. I found the community very lively and friendly.
The Community offered me a very comfortable accommodation. To our Blessed Mother we fly:
Sotto la tua protezione
cerchiamo rifugio,
santa Madre di Dio:
non disprezzare le suppliche
di noi che siamo nella prova,
ma liberaci da ogni pericolo,
o Vergine gloriosa e benedetta. Amen.
St Odilia, Ojoto
|
Divine Mercy, Oba
|
Images of First Pastoral Visit to/Inauguration of St Michael's Parish Ogbunike (24 Dec. 2018 morning)
Monday, 31 August 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. As we gathered in the chapel to begin a new day, a song in the heart:
As o'er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.
The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren 'neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.
So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
Like earth's proud empires, pass away:
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. It is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."
At our community Mass, we celebrated Optional Memorial Mass of Blessed Iwene Tansi. Our Post Communion prayer: May partaking at the heavenly table, almighty God, confirm and increase strength from on high in all who celebrate the memorial of blessed Cyprian Michael, that we may preserve in integrity the gift of faith and walk in the path of salvation you trace for us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Later this morning, I was at Queen of all hearts Church, Aguluzigbo (Awka diocese) for the funeral of Theresa Okafor. I never met this woman physically. My presence here was because of Sr Augustina Okafor DDL, the Sister who took good care of Archbishop Albert Obiefuna when he was very sick in different hospitals. At some point when the Archbishop was not able to make comprehensible sound, Sr Augustina was the only person who could decipher what he was trying to communicate. My presence here at Aguluzigbo was another occasion to express gratitude to Sr Augustina for her selfless service.
Three of us Bishops Hilary Okeke, Jonas Benson Okoye and Denis Isizoh, together with very many priests concelebrated the Mass. I presided, Bishop Jonas Benson preached and Bishop Hilary did the Final Commendation. I left for home immediately after the Mass.
As o'er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.
The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren 'neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.
So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
Like earth's proud empires, pass away:
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. It is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."
At our community Mass, we celebrated Optional Memorial Mass of Blessed Iwene Tansi. Our Post Communion prayer: May partaking at the heavenly table, almighty God, confirm and increase strength from on high in all who celebrate the memorial of blessed Cyprian Michael, that we may preserve in integrity the gift of faith and walk in the path of salvation you trace for us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Later this morning, I was at Queen of all hearts Church, Aguluzigbo (Awka diocese) for the funeral of Theresa Okafor. I never met this woman physically. My presence here was because of Sr Augustina Okafor DDL, the Sister who took good care of Archbishop Albert Obiefuna when he was very sick in different hospitals. At some point when the Archbishop was not able to make comprehensible sound, Sr Augustina was the only person who could decipher what he was trying to communicate. My presence here at Aguluzigbo was another occasion to express gratitude to Sr Augustina for her selfless service.
Three of us Bishops Hilary Okeke, Jonas Benson Okoye and Denis Isizoh, together with very many priests concelebrated the Mass. I presided, Bishop Jonas Benson preached and Bishop Hilary did the Final Commendation. I left for home immediately after the Mass.
Blessing and Opening of a new Rectory at Divine Mercy Independent Station, Oba.
SEND FORTH YOUR SPIRIT THAT THE FACE OF THE EARTH MAY BE RENEWED
401 PERSONS RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
"Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord."
(Divine Mercy Independent Station, Oba: Sunday, 30 August 2020)
401 PERSONS RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
"Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord."
(Divine Mercy Independent Station, Oba: Sunday, 30 August 2020)
Sunday, 30 August 2020. 22ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME. Miserére mihi, Dómine, quóniam ad te clamávi tota die: quia tu, Dómine, suávis ac mitis es, et copiósus in misericórdia ómnibus invocántibus te. Our day began following the pattern of our morning spiritual exercises: Adoration with meditation, Office of lauds, Benediction and holy Mass.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and when we proclaim Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly. We may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, all of this, but we are not disciples of the Lord." - Pope Francis.
At about 8.50 am, it started to rain. I scheduled to go to a newly carved out (St Alphonsus) Divine Mercy Independent Station. The challenges here included managing a considerable population of Catholics in an area, which was up till recently, dominated by Anglicans; staying in a makeshift church that could hardly hold about 200 worshippers; during Coronavirus pandemic, etc. I said the rosary on our way to the arena. I arrived in the arena still mumbling prayers, begging the Lord not to allow rain to fall on His people. Happily, by the time we entered Oba, there was no more rain. Sunshine appeared! God's answer to my prayers was clear: He gave us the good weather for which we prayed.
I was greatly surprised to witness the mammoth crowd that gathered. The arrangement of the place was very well coordinated by the Administrator, Fr Irenaeus Nwimo. All the canopies prepared outside the makeshift church were all occupied. Many more people stayed without any cover above them. We made effort to arrange the people to observe "social distancing" in the arena. But we could not enforce COVID19 protocol of temperature control.
Solemn Eucharistic celebration. With the Church we prayed: God of might, giver of every good gift,
put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured. Over 400 persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
After the Mass, we proceeded to the new Rectory which I officially opened and blessed. I prayed:
Loving Father,
we gather here in the Name of Jesus Your Son
and ask You for Your blessing.
Bless + this Rectory
and make it a house of prayer.
In Your love,
Bless + all who live here today,
Bless + all who will live here in the future,
and deepen their spirit of service to Your people.
Let them be an example of prayer and praise
for your honour and glory.
Be their shelter when they are at home
their companion when they are away,
and their welcome guest when they return
For all of us gathered here,
Lord, fill us with Your Holy Spirit,
and lead us always in Your love.
We ask this grace, holy Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grand reception.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Vox nostra te, Dómine, humíliter deprecétur, ut, domínicæ resurrectiónis hac die mystério celebráto, in pace tua secúri a malis ómnibus quiescámus, et in tua resurgámus laude gaudéntes. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and when we proclaim Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly. We may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, all of this, but we are not disciples of the Lord." - Pope Francis.
At about 8.50 am, it started to rain. I scheduled to go to a newly carved out (St Alphonsus) Divine Mercy Independent Station. The challenges here included managing a considerable population of Catholics in an area, which was up till recently, dominated by Anglicans; staying in a makeshift church that could hardly hold about 200 worshippers; during Coronavirus pandemic, etc. I said the rosary on our way to the arena. I arrived in the arena still mumbling prayers, begging the Lord not to allow rain to fall on His people. Happily, by the time we entered Oba, there was no more rain. Sunshine appeared! God's answer to my prayers was clear: He gave us the good weather for which we prayed.
I was greatly surprised to witness the mammoth crowd that gathered. The arrangement of the place was very well coordinated by the Administrator, Fr Irenaeus Nwimo. All the canopies prepared outside the makeshift church were all occupied. Many more people stayed without any cover above them. We made effort to arrange the people to observe "social distancing" in the arena. But we could not enforce COVID19 protocol of temperature control.
Solemn Eucharistic celebration. With the Church we prayed: God of might, giver of every good gift,
put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured. Over 400 persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
After the Mass, we proceeded to the new Rectory which I officially opened and blessed. I prayed:
Loving Father,
we gather here in the Name of Jesus Your Son
and ask You for Your blessing.
Bless + this Rectory
and make it a house of prayer.
In Your love,
Bless + all who live here today,
Bless + all who will live here in the future,
and deepen their spirit of service to Your people.
Let them be an example of prayer and praise
for your honour and glory.
Be their shelter when they are at home
their companion when they are away,
and their welcome guest when they return
For all of us gathered here,
Lord, fill us with Your Holy Spirit,
and lead us always in Your love.
We ask this grace, holy Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grand reception.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Vox nostra te, Dómine, humíliter deprecétur, ut, domínicæ resurrectiónis hac die mystério celebráto, in pace tua secúri a malis ómnibus quiescámus, et in tua resurgámus laude gaudéntes. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
Saturday, 29 August 2020. THE BEHEADING OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST. Dómine, lábia mea apéries. Et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam. Fifty-fifth anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze. Our very best wishes! For him we pray: Lord, thank you for the many years you have given your servant, Francis, to serve you and the flock you entrusted to him, and to work in different parts of your vineyard, now in the evening of his life, may you keep him close to you and sustain him in your love.
Usual morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If one has the answers to all the questions - that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble." - Pope Francis.
During Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
Reception followed immediately after Mass. Good lunch with most of the the Priest-concelebrants and the Superior General of Brothers of St Stephen (Br Pantaleon Okafor) with some of BSS Councillors.
Back to Aguleri. At the end of the day:
Gedenke, o gütigste Jungfrau Maria, es ist noch nie gehört worden, dass jemand, der zu dir seine Zuflucht nahm, deinen Beistand anrief und um deine Fürbitte flehte, von dir verlassen worden ist. Von diesem Vertrauen beseelt, nehme ich meine Zuflucht zu dir, o Jungfrau der Jungfrauen, meine Mutter, zu dir komme ich, vor dir stehe ich als ein sündiger Mensch. O Mutter des ewigen Wortes, verschmähe nicht meine Worte, sondern höre sie gnädig an und erhöre mich! Amen.
Usual morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If one has the answers to all the questions - that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble." - Pope Francis.
During Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For the leaders of the church, that they may be a prophetic voice speaking out in our world, calling everyone back to the law of the Lord. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That world leaders may heed the voices of the prophets who cry out in the wilderness of the world’s poverty and need, so that justice and peace may return to the earth. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who are called to martyrdom in our own day, that they may be brave and steadfast in their witness. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who are in special need at this time and for all who have asked our prayers, that healing, strength, and comfort may be theirs. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our beloved dead, that through the intercession of St. John the Baptist, they may be cleansed of their sins and come rejoicing into the Father’s house. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Reception followed immediately after Mass. Good lunch with most of the the Priest-concelebrants and the Superior General of Brothers of St Stephen (Br Pantaleon Okafor) with some of BSS Councillors.
Back to Aguleri. At the end of the day:
Gedenke, o gütigste Jungfrau Maria, es ist noch nie gehört worden, dass jemand, der zu dir seine Zuflucht nahm, deinen Beistand anrief und um deine Fürbitte flehte, von dir verlassen worden ist. Von diesem Vertrauen beseelt, nehme ich meine Zuflucht zu dir, o Jungfrau der Jungfrauen, meine Mutter, zu dir komme ich, vor dir stehe ich als ein sündiger Mensch. O Mutter des ewigen Wortes, verschmähe nicht meine Worte, sondern höre sie gnädig an und erhöre mich! Amen.
Friday, 28 August 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST AUGUSTINE. In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os eius, et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus; stolam glóriæ índuit eum. Today, we remember children growing up in difficult circumstances: confusion in world of conflicting interests, wars, poverty, without proper guidance in the choice of vocation, bad parentage, bad influences from peer group and adults, etc. We remember the Augustinians and affiliate or related institutes.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.”
Usual morning devotions. Today's Collect: Innova, quǽsumus, Dómine, in Ecclésia tua spíritum, quo beátum Augustínum epíscopum imbuísti, ut, eódem nos repléti, te solum veræ fontem sapiéntiæ sitiámus,
et supérni amóris quærámus auctórem.
I was at St Mary's Church, Ugwunadagbe Aguleri, for Missa exequialis for ma Monica Agbee Orekie (grandmother of Fr John Manafa). I rushed back home after the Mass to prepare for video interview on St Charles Borromeo Hospital Onitsha. Interview done.
Busy evening at my reading desk till about 4.30pm. With close collaborators and friends we drove to Awka to celebrate with Mau-Mau and Eloo (my sister and her husband) the twenty-first wedding anniversary. In prayer: O Lord, who have joined these your servants, Maureen and Bartholomew in the unbreakable bond of marriage and have been pleased to sustain them in communion of spirit amid toil and joy, increase, we pray, and purify their love, so that together with their children, they may rejoice in the ssanctification they bring to each other.
Safe return to Aguleri. At the end of the day, turning to the Lord: Noctem quiétam et finem perféctum concédat nobis Dóminus omnípotens. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.”
Usual morning devotions. Today's Collect: Innova, quǽsumus, Dómine, in Ecclésia tua spíritum, quo beátum Augustínum epíscopum imbuísti, ut, eódem nos repléti, te solum veræ fontem sapiéntiæ sitiámus,
et supérni amóris quærámus auctórem.
I was at St Mary's Church, Ugwunadagbe Aguleri, for Missa exequialis for ma Monica Agbee Orekie (grandmother of Fr John Manafa). I rushed back home after the Mass to prepare for video interview on St Charles Borromeo Hospital Onitsha. Interview done.
Busy evening at my reading desk till about 4.30pm. With close collaborators and friends we drove to Awka to celebrate with Mau-Mau and Eloo (my sister and her husband) the twenty-first wedding anniversary. In prayer: O Lord, who have joined these your servants, Maureen and Bartholomew in the unbreakable bond of marriage and have been pleased to sustain them in communion of spirit amid toil and joy, increase, we pray, and purify their love, so that together with their children, they may rejoice in the ssanctification they bring to each other.
Safe return to Aguleri. At the end of the day, turning to the Lord: Noctem quiétam et finem perféctum concédat nobis Dóminus omnípotens. Amen.
Thursday, 27 August 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST MONICA. Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur.
Fílii eius beatíssimam prædicavérunt, vir eius laudávit eam. The story of Monica is a lesson and encouragement of mothers dealing with difficult children. Patience, perseverance, prayer, love, etc. are qualities needed in bringing up children. Today, I thought of and prayed for mothers, especially those who are deeply engaged in the task of accompanying their children as they grow up. Usual morning rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Patience with small details makes perfect a large work, like the universe."
At Mass, with the universal Church we prayed: O God, who console the sorrowful and who mercifully accepted the motherly tears of Saint Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine, grant us, through the intercession of them both, that we may bitterly regret our sins and find the grace of your pardon.
At 10.00am, I was at St Michael's Church Ogbunike for the funeral of Joseph Toochukwu Nweze. After the Mass, I joined the Nweze family in the interment. Requiescat in pace. Soon after, I returned to Aguleri.
Fílii eius beatíssimam prædicavérunt, vir eius laudávit eam. The story of Monica is a lesson and encouragement of mothers dealing with difficult children. Patience, perseverance, prayer, love, etc. are qualities needed in bringing up children. Today, I thought of and prayed for mothers, especially those who are deeply engaged in the task of accompanying their children as they grow up. Usual morning rhythm of spiritual exercises.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Patience with small details makes perfect a large work, like the universe."
At Mass, with the universal Church we prayed: O God, who console the sorrowful and who mercifully accepted the motherly tears of Saint Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine, grant us, through the intercession of them both, that we may bitterly regret our sins and find the grace of your pardon.
At 10.00am, I was at St Michael's Church Ogbunike for the funeral of Joseph Toochukwu Nweze. After the Mass, I joined the Nweze family in the interment. Requiescat in pace. Soon after, I returned to Aguleri.
Bishop Isizoh with Monks & Nuns of Nigeria at Our Lady of Angels Cistercian Monastery, Nsugbe
Bishop Denis Isizoh with Delegation of 17 Benedictine/Cistercian Monasteries in Nigeria.
Wednesday, 26 August 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. We gathered, as usual, to do homage to the Lord. Since I would later today meet a group of religious men and women, my reflection today was on religious life, especially in Nigeria. St Pope John Paul II composed this prayer for the Religious:
Merciful and holy Lord, continue to send new laborers into the harvest of your Kingdom! We turn to you, Lord, in trust!
Son of God, sent by the Father to the men and women of every time and of every part of the earth! We call upon you through Mary, your Mother and ours: may the Church not lack in vocations, especially those dedicated in a special way to your Kingdom.
Jesus, only Saviour of mankind! We pray to you for our brothers and sisters who have answered “yes” to your call to the priesthood, to the consecrated life and to the missions. May their lives be renewed day by day, to become a living Gospel.
Merciful and holy Lord, continue to send new laborers into the harvest of your Kingdom! Assist those whom you call to follow you in our day; contemplating your face, may they respond with joy to the wondrous mission that you entrust to them for the good of your People and of all men and women.
You who are God and live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
The intention for Holy Mass today was for vocation to religious life, and for Religious men and women who have offered themselves to serve the Lord and His people.
At 9.00am, I was at Our Lady of the Angels Cistercian Monastery, Nsugbe, for a special session with the Benedictine and Cistercian Association of Nigeria (BECAN). This association brings together the monastic contemplatives, especially those of Benedictine tradition, in Nigeria. It is a forum for the monks and nuns in Nigeria to inform, share, support and encourage one another.
I was invited to interact with the monks and nuns of Nigeria through their representatives, mainly their priors and abbesses. In the first segment, I addressed them on Transparency with God and on Finding meaning in life behind Monastic Enclosure. In the second segment, there was time for "question and answer". Very lively interaction. I always appreciate the precious and important prayer support which the monks and nuns give to the work of evangelization in the world. Monasteries are power houses of the Church's work of evangelization.
Merciful and holy Lord, continue to send new laborers into the harvest of your Kingdom! We turn to you, Lord, in trust!
Son of God, sent by the Father to the men and women of every time and of every part of the earth! We call upon you through Mary, your Mother and ours: may the Church not lack in vocations, especially those dedicated in a special way to your Kingdom.
Jesus, only Saviour of mankind! We pray to you for our brothers and sisters who have answered “yes” to your call to the priesthood, to the consecrated life and to the missions. May their lives be renewed day by day, to become a living Gospel.
Merciful and holy Lord, continue to send new laborers into the harvest of your Kingdom! Assist those whom you call to follow you in our day; contemplating your face, may they respond with joy to the wondrous mission that you entrust to them for the good of your People and of all men and women.
You who are God and live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
The intention for Holy Mass today was for vocation to religious life, and for Religious men and women who have offered themselves to serve the Lord and His people.
At 9.00am, I was at Our Lady of the Angels Cistercian Monastery, Nsugbe, for a special session with the Benedictine and Cistercian Association of Nigeria (BECAN). This association brings together the monastic contemplatives, especially those of Benedictine tradition, in Nigeria. It is a forum for the monks and nuns in Nigeria to inform, share, support and encourage one another.
I was invited to interact with the monks and nuns of Nigeria through their representatives, mainly their priors and abbesses. In the first segment, I addressed them on Transparency with God and on Finding meaning in life behind Monastic Enclosure. In the second segment, there was time for "question and answer". Very lively interaction. I always appreciate the precious and important prayer support which the monks and nuns give to the work of evangelization in the world. Monasteries are power houses of the Church's work of evangelization.
Tuesday, 25 August 2020. Tendi l'orecchio, Signore, rispondimi: mio Dio, salva il tuo servo che confida in te: abbi pietà di me, Signore; tutto il giorno a te io levo il mio grido. We kept our usual morning appointment with the Lord: Adoration with meditation and personal prayers, Office of Lauds, and Benediction - O God our Father, grant to your faithful the privilege to raise a song of praise to the Lamb sacrificed for us and hidden in this holy mystery, that we may one day be able to contemplate him in the splendour of your glory. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "No one worth admiring ever succeeded without many failures on the way. The great poets wrote bad poems; the great artists painted undistinguished canvases, not every symphony by Mozart is a masterpiece. If you lack the courage to fail, then you lack the courage to succeed."
At Mass today, with the Church we prayed: O Dio, che unisci in un solo volere le menti dei fedeli,
concedi al tuo popolo di amare ciò che comandi e desiderare ciò che prometti, perché fra le vicende
del mondo là siano fissi i nostri cuori dove è la vera gioia.
I inspected my compound and pointed out to workers areas that needed repairs. Here, I observe strict maintenance culture.
At 3.50pm, I was at the Education House of the Onitsha Catholic Secretariat for a meeting with the State Agents working on Anambra Vision 2070. Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and Prof. Solo Chukwudebelu (Secretary to Anambra State Government) were the principal developers of the vision. They had with them a team of experts. All the Catholic Bishops of Anambra State were present. We sat down to listen to a Powerpoint Presentation that lasted over an hour. I understand that the team had earlier today presented the vision to the Anglican Bishop Owen and his pastors.
The contents of the Anambra Vision 2070, as presented, was commendable and well thought out and thought through. Prof. Soludo used very well the experiences he had gathered when he was the banker of the Federal Government and he helped to stabilize the economy of Nigeria. If faithfully implemented, it will definitely transform Anambra State.
But, the Vision appeared elitist. They raised many questions in my mind: What are the things that should come first - providing the basic needs of our people today or creating "Dubai" for the hungry population without food and water? Suppose we begin to develop the dream of Vision 2070 today, how do we ensure that the subsequent governments will be interested to continue it? Is there any way to compel the future Anambra State governments not to deviate from the vision? Those engaged in the development of the vision do not truly represent Ndi Anambra. Not represented are the wise people in the State without formal education in school. The composition of the team did not show gender balance, and also age balance. The Vision did not show any interest in resolving the imbalance in the development of the State. Those in Anam, Olumbanasaa and Ayamelu were not included. The developers of the Vision assured us that they will take into consideration my suggestions and those of other Catholic bishops. They left us with their WhatsApp number (08082910000) and Email Address (anambra2070@gmail.com).
Back to Aguleri quite late. I made for my bed. In thanksgiving to God for the day and placing myself in the Lord's hands for safe-keeping:
Gesù, luce da luce, sole senza tramonto,
tu rischiari le tenebre nella notte del mondo.
In te, santo Signore, noi cerchiamo il riposo
dall’umana fatica, al termine del giorno.
Se i nostri occhi si chiudono, veglia in te il nostro cuore;
la tua mano protegga coloro che in te sperano.
Difendi, o Salvatore, dalle insidie del male
i figli che hai redenti col tuo sangue prezioso.
A te sia gloria, o Cristo, nato da Maria vergine,
al Padre ed allo Spirito nei secoli dei secoli. Amen
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "No one worth admiring ever succeeded without many failures on the way. The great poets wrote bad poems; the great artists painted undistinguished canvases, not every symphony by Mozart is a masterpiece. If you lack the courage to fail, then you lack the courage to succeed."
At Mass today, with the Church we prayed: O Dio, che unisci in un solo volere le menti dei fedeli,
concedi al tuo popolo di amare ciò che comandi e desiderare ciò che prometti, perché fra le vicende
del mondo là siano fissi i nostri cuori dove è la vera gioia.
I inspected my compound and pointed out to workers areas that needed repairs. Here, I observe strict maintenance culture.
At 3.50pm, I was at the Education House of the Onitsha Catholic Secretariat for a meeting with the State Agents working on Anambra Vision 2070. Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and Prof. Solo Chukwudebelu (Secretary to Anambra State Government) were the principal developers of the vision. They had with them a team of experts. All the Catholic Bishops of Anambra State were present. We sat down to listen to a Powerpoint Presentation that lasted over an hour. I understand that the team had earlier today presented the vision to the Anglican Bishop Owen and his pastors.
The contents of the Anambra Vision 2070, as presented, was commendable and well thought out and thought through. Prof. Soludo used very well the experiences he had gathered when he was the banker of the Federal Government and he helped to stabilize the economy of Nigeria. If faithfully implemented, it will definitely transform Anambra State.
But, the Vision appeared elitist. They raised many questions in my mind: What are the things that should come first - providing the basic needs of our people today or creating "Dubai" for the hungry population without food and water? Suppose we begin to develop the dream of Vision 2070 today, how do we ensure that the subsequent governments will be interested to continue it? Is there any way to compel the future Anambra State governments not to deviate from the vision? Those engaged in the development of the vision do not truly represent Ndi Anambra. Not represented are the wise people in the State without formal education in school. The composition of the team did not show gender balance, and also age balance. The Vision did not show any interest in resolving the imbalance in the development of the State. Those in Anam, Olumbanasaa and Ayamelu were not included. The developers of the Vision assured us that they will take into consideration my suggestions and those of other Catholic bishops. They left us with their WhatsApp number (08082910000) and Email Address (anambra2070@gmail.com).
Back to Aguleri quite late. I made for my bed. In thanksgiving to God for the day and placing myself in the Lord's hands for safe-keeping:
Gesù, luce da luce, sole senza tramonto,
tu rischiari le tenebre nella notte del mondo.
In te, santo Signore, noi cerchiamo il riposo
dall’umana fatica, al termine del giorno.
Se i nostri occhi si chiudono, veglia in te il nostro cuore;
la tua mano protegga coloro che in te sperano.
Difendi, o Salvatore, dalle insidie del male
i figli che hai redenti col tuo sangue prezioso.
A te sia gloria, o Cristo, nato da Maria vergine,
al Padre ed allo Spirito nei secoli dei secoli. Amen
Monday, 24 August 2020. FEAST OF ST BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE. Annuntiáte de die in diem salutáre Dei, annuntiáte inter gentes glóriam eius. In adoration of the Lord, hidden in the tabernacle. This beautiful song came to mind: Transcendent God in whom we live,
The Resurrection and the Light,
We sing for you a morning hymn
To end the silence of the night.
When early cock begins to crow
And everything from sleep awakes,
New life and hope spring up again
While out of darkness colour breaks.
Usual rhythm of spiritual exercises. At Mass, among many intentions, we prayed:
The Archbishop presided at Mass. I did the Final Commendation. Looking at the mortal remains of Fr Valentine Nwachukwu, I remembered the song, which those who entered clerical state sang to express their hope: It is you, O Lord, who will restore my inheritance.
The Resurrection and the Light,
We sing for you a morning hymn
To end the silence of the night.
When early cock begins to crow
And everything from sleep awakes,
New life and hope spring up again
While out of darkness colour breaks.
Usual rhythm of spiritual exercises. At Mass, among many intentions, we prayed:
- That the example of the apostles, who fearlessly preached God’s truth at the cost of their own lives, may help those who must stand up for the hard truths that will make God’s peace possible in our world, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may be without guile before Jesus, approved for our honesty and transparent goodness, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all the intentions we gather from the silent depths of our own hearts, that we may pray with confidence, realizing that through our Eucharistic communion, they become the intentions of the beloved Son, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all our dear departed ones, that they may see the heavens opened and the angels of God descending to carry them up to the Son of Man, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
The Archbishop presided at Mass. I did the Final Commendation. Looking at the mortal remains of Fr Valentine Nwachukwu, I remembered the song, which those who entered clerical state sang to express their hope: It is you, O Lord, who will restore my inheritance.
Bishop Denis Isizoh dancing in the midst of his people
With Fr Stephen Odinde (Parish Priest), other Priest-concelebrants and Parishioners.
With the donor.
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The New Grotto at St Michael's Parish, Ogbunike.
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Sunday, 23 August 2020. 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Inclína, Dómine, aurem tuam ad me, et exáudi me. Salvum fac servum tuum, Deus meus, sperántem in te. Miserére mihi, Dómine, quóniam ad te clamávi tota die. Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament. Adoro Te devote latens Deitas!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Greater by far than the love we receive is the love we give."
Office of Lauds. Benediction. Lord our God, in this great sacrament we come into the presence of Jesus Christ, your Son, born of the Virgin Mary and crucified for our salvation. May we who declare our faith in this fountain of love and mercy drink from it the water of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Community Holy Mass.
At 9.50am, I was at St Michael the Archangel Parish Ogbunike for a Pastoral Visit. This is my home parish. Many of my townspeople outside the Anambra State returned home. Canopies were arranged in the open space in front of the new Church under construction.
As usual, in line with COVID19 protocol, my assistants tested the temperature of all in the arena and ensured that the people observed "social distancing"in the seating arrangement. It was truly a solemn liturgical celebration. My homily was on staying true to the Catholic faith. About one hundred and fifty candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
A philanthropist lady, Maureen Onunkwo, built and donated to the Church community a Grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in memory of her parents: Benedict and Veronica Onunkwo. I blessed the Grotto immediately after Mass. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
Reception followed. Dances, Singing, Welcome address, Gifts, etc.
Safely back to Aguleri. Thanks be to God for the opportunity to strengthen the faith of my people. Intercessions for the Vespers of today:
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Greater by far than the love we receive is the love we give."
Office of Lauds. Benediction. Lord our God, in this great sacrament we come into the presence of Jesus Christ, your Son, born of the Virgin Mary and crucified for our salvation. May we who declare our faith in this fountain of love and mercy drink from it the water of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Community Holy Mass.
At 9.50am, I was at St Michael the Archangel Parish Ogbunike for a Pastoral Visit. This is my home parish. Many of my townspeople outside the Anambra State returned home. Canopies were arranged in the open space in front of the new Church under construction.
As usual, in line with COVID19 protocol, my assistants tested the temperature of all in the arena and ensured that the people observed "social distancing"in the seating arrangement. It was truly a solemn liturgical celebration. My homily was on staying true to the Catholic faith. About one hundred and fifty candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
A philanthropist lady, Maureen Onunkwo, built and donated to the Church community a Grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in memory of her parents: Benedict and Veronica Onunkwo. I blessed the Grotto immediately after Mass. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
Reception followed. Dances, Singing, Welcome address, Gifts, etc.
Safely back to Aguleri. Thanks be to God for the opportunity to strengthen the faith of my people. Intercessions for the Vespers of today:
- Christ is the Head of his body, the Church, and we are the members of that body; gathered this evening to pray in his name, we say:
- – Your kingdom come!
- May your Church be a light to the nations, the sign and source of your power to unite all men: may she lead mankind to the mystery of your love. – Your kingdom come!
- Guide the Pope and all the bishops of your Church: grant them the gifts of unity, of love, and of peace. – Your kingdom come!
- Lord, give peace to our troubled world; and give to your children security of mind and freedom from anxiety. – Your kingdom come!
- Help us to bring your compassion to the poor, the sick, the lonely, the unloved; lead us to find you in the coming week. – Your kingdom come!
- Awaken the dead to a glorious resurrection: may we be united with them at the end of time. – Your kingdom come!
PARISH COMMUNITY ROSARY AT MADONNA CHURCH, NNOBI
Saturday, 22 August 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. Today's celebration: MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY, MOTHER AND QUEEN. Asitit Regina a dextris tuis in vestitu deaurato, circumdata varietate. Usual morning spiritual activities.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you tried and failed, don’t feel bad. God forgives our failures as soon as we acknowledge them as failures. And that spares us from the self-deception of trying to see them as success."
Our usual community Mass. We said the following intercessory prayers:
I was at my table till midnight.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you tried and failed, don’t feel bad. God forgives our failures as soon as we acknowledge them as failures. And that spares us from the self-deception of trying to see them as success."
Our usual community Mass. We said the following intercessory prayers:
- For our ministers in the church, sons, daughters, and servants of Mary, that she may bring all her queenly power to help them in the burdens of their demanding vocations, LORD, HEAR US: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Mary, Queen of Peace, may bring again to our war weary world her Son, the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace who can guide the nations, LORD, HEAR US: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who still walk in darkness, who have no faith, that through the efforts of evangelization and the prayers of Mary, they too may see a great light and share in the joy of salvation, LORD, HEAR US: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the handmaid of the Lord, whose humility and obedience on earth have earned for her queenship in heaven, may help us in the self emptying that is the seed of our eternal glory, LORD, HEAR US: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who need our prayers: for all who suffer in mind and body, and for our beloved dead, that the Queen of Mercy may visit them with grace, peace, and all the joys of heaven, LORD, HEAR US: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
I was at my table till midnight.
Friday, 21 August 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST PIUS X. Elegit eum Dominus sibi in sacerdotem magnum, et aperiens thesaurum suum abundare eum fecit omnibus bonis. Today, we prayed in a special way for our seminarians and St Pius X Spiritual Year Seminary Akwu Ukwu. Contemplation of the tranquilizing effect of God's silence, hidden in the tabernacle. In meditation, recalling the lines of the poem: "DON'T SPEAK A WORD":
And so at last,
Impelled by need,
I took my tired body,
And I took my troubled mind,
And I sat before my King.
Don't speak a word, He said :
No prayers and no petitions.
Do not even think a thought !
For I already know your deepest needs.
Just lay your heart upon My heart,
That I may rest in you
And you in Me.
It pleases Me you trust Me so
To act in silence
On your soul:
My power of Love
To make you whole.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Well done is better than well said.”
At Mass, we said the following prayer in Latin: Deus, qui, ad tuéndam cathólicam fidem et univérsa in Christo instauránda, beátum Pium papam cælésti sapiéntia et apostólica fortitúdine replevísti, concéde propítius, ut, eius institúta et exémpla sectántes, prǽmia consequámur ætérna.
Soon after 9.30am, I went with my driver to visit a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. A prayer through Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi: Blessed Iwene Tansi, you recognize the Lord as the Divine Healer. In your goodness and kindness, please intercede for (I inserted her name) who is suffering from cancer. If it is God's will, I ask that this day the gift of healing be granted to her. Comfort her during this time of unbearable pain and ask our Lord to grant her happiness and joy in life here on earth, and after her earthly sojourn, eternal reward in heaven. Amen. It took me time to figure out what type of things I should give to this patient. At the end, I got mainly fruits.
I returned home to Aguleri with the feeling of having done something great for God. May the Lord complete what may be lacking in our efforts.
And so at last,
Impelled by need,
I took my tired body,
And I took my troubled mind,
And I sat before my King.
Don't speak a word, He said :
No prayers and no petitions.
Do not even think a thought !
For I already know your deepest needs.
Just lay your heart upon My heart,
That I may rest in you
And you in Me.
It pleases Me you trust Me so
To act in silence
On your soul:
My power of Love
To make you whole.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Well done is better than well said.”
At Mass, we said the following prayer in Latin: Deus, qui, ad tuéndam cathólicam fidem et univérsa in Christo instauránda, beátum Pium papam cælésti sapiéntia et apostólica fortitúdine replevísti, concéde propítius, ut, eius institúta et exémpla sectántes, prǽmia consequámur ætérna.
Soon after 9.30am, I went with my driver to visit a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. A prayer through Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi: Blessed Iwene Tansi, you recognize the Lord as the Divine Healer. In your goodness and kindness, please intercede for (I inserted her name) who is suffering from cancer. If it is God's will, I ask that this day the gift of healing be granted to her. Comfort her during this time of unbearable pain and ask our Lord to grant her happiness and joy in life here on earth, and after her earthly sojourn, eternal reward in heaven. Amen. It took me time to figure out what type of things I should give to this patient. At the end, I got mainly fruits.
I returned home to Aguleri with the feeling of having done something great for God. May the Lord complete what may be lacking in our efforts.
INSIDE OUR CHAPEL: THE SANCTISSIMUM
Thursday, 20 August 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST BERNARD, Abbot. Replevit beatum Bernardum Dominus spiritu intellegentiae, et ipse fluenta doctrinae ministravit populo Dei. Saint Bernard was a French abbot, and a major leader in the revitalization of Benedictine monasticism through the nascent Order of Cistercians. Before the Lord hidden in the tabernacle: Adoro Te, o panis coelice, / O Domine, o Deus maxime. / Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, sine fine sanctus. Semper Tibi gloria sacra sit sub hostia.
Nos famulos, o Deus, respice, / Et gratia nos semper refice. / Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus,
sine fine sanctus. Semper Tibi gloria sacra sit sub hostia.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Leaders set high standards. Refuse to tolerate mediocrity or poor performance”.
At 10.00am, I was at St Mary's Church Nnobi for the funeral Mass for pa John Okigbo, father of Fr Ferdinand Okigbo. Many priests concelebrated. Fr Dominic Obielosi preached and Fr Prudentius Aroh did the Final Commendation. I went back to Aguleri briefly for lunch.
Then, at about 4.50pm, I was at Ogidi for the Funeral Vigil Mass for ma Roseline Ayondu Ibeazor This woman was the mother of two Priests: Fr Anthony Ibeazor (Onitsha archdiocese)vand Fr Peter Ibeazor (Awka diocese). Very many persons gathered here this evening. After the Mass, I blessed holy water. Then I blessed a new grotto of our Blessed Mother and then the refurbished family house.
Back to Aguleri. Supper, prayers, etc. Soon after, I went to bed. To our Blessed Mother: Sotto la tua protezione cerchiamo rifugio, santa Madre di Dio: non disprezzare le suppliche di noi che siamo nella prova, ma liberaci da ogni pericolo, o Vergine gloriosa e benedetta.
Nos famulos, o Deus, respice, / Et gratia nos semper refice. / Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus,
sine fine sanctus. Semper Tibi gloria sacra sit sub hostia.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Leaders set high standards. Refuse to tolerate mediocrity or poor performance”.
At 10.00am, I was at St Mary's Church Nnobi for the funeral Mass for pa John Okigbo, father of Fr Ferdinand Okigbo. Many priests concelebrated. Fr Dominic Obielosi preached and Fr Prudentius Aroh did the Final Commendation. I went back to Aguleri briefly for lunch.
Then, at about 4.50pm, I was at Ogidi for the Funeral Vigil Mass for ma Roseline Ayondu Ibeazor This woman was the mother of two Priests: Fr Anthony Ibeazor (Onitsha archdiocese)vand Fr Peter Ibeazor (Awka diocese). Very many persons gathered here this evening. After the Mass, I blessed holy water. Then I blessed a new grotto of our Blessed Mother and then the refurbished family house.
Back to Aguleri. Supper, prayers, etc. Soon after, I went to bed. To our Blessed Mother: Sotto la tua protezione cerchiamo rifugio, santa Madre di Dio: non disprezzare le suppliche di noi che siamo nella prova, ma liberaci da ogni pericolo, o Vergine gloriosa e benedetta.
Wednesday, 19 August 2020. By 3.30am, I was already up, full of energy. Usual conversation with our Blessed Mother. In nomine Iesu omne genu flectatur, caelestium, terrestrium et infernorum; et omnis lingua confiteatur quia Dominus Iesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris. I have always had special devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus. How beautiful to recall the song "Jesus the very thought of you", especially the lines: No voice can sing, no heart can frame; nor can the mind recall, a sweeter sound that your blest Name, O Saviour of us all. In adoration before the Sanctissimum - Tantum Sacramentum veneremur cernui!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
At Mass we prayed: As we venerate the most holy Name of Jesus, mercifully grant us, Lord, that, savoring its sweetness in this life, we may be filled with everlasting joy in our heavenly homeland. We used the Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs III. We said this beautiful prayer: Grant that all the faithful of the Church, looking into the signs of the times by the light of faith, may constantly devote themselves to the service of the Gospel. Keep us attentive to the needs of all that, sharing their grief and pain, their joy and hope, we may faithfully bring them them the good news of salvation and go forward with them along the way of your kingdom.
At 10.45am, I was in my office at the Onitsha Catholic Secretariat for the first time this year, since the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic. I met many people that came for different pastoral needs.
I had late lunch at Aguleri. Quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
At Mass we prayed: As we venerate the most holy Name of Jesus, mercifully grant us, Lord, that, savoring its sweetness in this life, we may be filled with everlasting joy in our heavenly homeland. We used the Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs III. We said this beautiful prayer: Grant that all the faithful of the Church, looking into the signs of the times by the light of faith, may constantly devote themselves to the service of the Gospel. Keep us attentive to the needs of all that, sharing their grief and pain, their joy and hope, we may faithfully bring them them the good news of salvation and go forward with them along the way of your kingdom.
At 10.45am, I was in my office at the Onitsha Catholic Secretariat for the first time this year, since the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic. I met many people that came for different pastoral needs.
I had late lunch at Aguleri. Quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
Tuesday, 18 August 2020. O Dio, nostra difesa, contempla i volto del tuo Cristo; Per me un giorno nel tuo tempio, è più che mille altrove. Usual morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you have not achieved it yet, keep trying. Do not settle.”
At Mass, we prayed: Celebrando il memoriale della morete e risurrezione del tuo Figlio, ti offriamo, Padre, il pane della vita e il calice della salvezza, e ti rendiamo grazie per averci ammessi alla tua presenza a compiere il servizio sacerdotale. Ti preghiamo umilmente per la comunione al corpo e al sangue di Cristo lo Spirito Santo ci riunisca in un solo corpo.
For over a year I had not renewed my subscription to DSTV. I lost interest in many entertainment programs of the television. I found out that I could get online sufficient information about world events. There is need to exercise self-discipline to make better use of our limited time on earth. Watching television could cut into our time. How best do we balance the way we use 24 hours which God gratuitously gives us everyday? Well, the recent efforts by the CTV Abuja to ensure that I watch their programs revived my interest in TV services. (Currently, I am the Bishop Chairman for Communications - Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria). I have installed the decoder of CTV Abuja and I view their programs regularly. Very promising TV house! This afternoon, the TV technicians were in my house to test other Communications installations. Soon, I may return to DSTV.
Late in the evening, after supper, I felt rather weak. This made me to retire to bed shortly after 9.00pm. Dominus pascit me, et nihil mihi deerit. Good night, Lord.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you have not achieved it yet, keep trying. Do not settle.”
At Mass, we prayed: Celebrando il memoriale della morete e risurrezione del tuo Figlio, ti offriamo, Padre, il pane della vita e il calice della salvezza, e ti rendiamo grazie per averci ammessi alla tua presenza a compiere il servizio sacerdotale. Ti preghiamo umilmente per la comunione al corpo e al sangue di Cristo lo Spirito Santo ci riunisca in un solo corpo.
For over a year I had not renewed my subscription to DSTV. I lost interest in many entertainment programs of the television. I found out that I could get online sufficient information about world events. There is need to exercise self-discipline to make better use of our limited time on earth. Watching television could cut into our time. How best do we balance the way we use 24 hours which God gratuitously gives us everyday? Well, the recent efforts by the CTV Abuja to ensure that I watch their programs revived my interest in TV services. (Currently, I am the Bishop Chairman for Communications - Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria). I have installed the decoder of CTV Abuja and I view their programs regularly. Very promising TV house! This afternoon, the TV technicians were in my house to test other Communications installations. Soon, I may return to DSTV.
Late in the evening, after supper, I felt rather weak. This made me to retire to bed shortly after 9.00pm. Dominus pascit me, et nihil mihi deerit. Good night, Lord.
Monday, 17 August 2020. Usual morning spiritual activities. Mass in honour of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. In the Preface we recalled: For, as on the memorial of Blessed Michael Cyprian you bid your Church rejoice, so, too, you strengthen her by the example of his holy life, teach her by his words of preaching, and keep her safe in answer to his prayers.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The man who has confidence in himself gains the confidence of others.”
Today, at 10.05am, from the sacristy of the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Trinity Onitsha we proceeded into the main church to begin Missa exequialis for Rev. Prof. Celestine Mbaegbu (Cooper). Archbishop Val Okeke presided; Fr Paschal Onwugbenu gave the sermon and I did the final commendation.
Very few priests in the Church. I counted only about 5 classmates in the Church. Cooper was not really "persons' person". In addition, because of serious observation of the COVID19 protocol in the basilica, entering into the church was strictly on invitation. But there was strong presence of the people in the academic world. Fr Celestine Mbaegbu was a professor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Office of the dead (midday). Our prayer during Mass: Grant, we pray, O Lord, that the soul of Celestine your servant and Priest, whom you honoured with sacred office while lived in this word, may exult for ever in the glorious home of heaven. The Mass ended with the Final Commendation which I introduced by singing: "Iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedek." After the prayers of commendation, we proceeded to the Priests' cemetery where his body now rests awaiting the resurrection from the dead. Our strong faith in the resurrection of the body is inspired by the words of the psalmist: Quoniam non derelinques animam meam in inferno nec dabis sanctum tuum videre corruption. And so, this prayer: Jesu, chekwaba mkpuruobi ya / Jesu chekwaba mkpuruobi ya n'ulo Gi doo. Igaghi ekwe ka mkpuruobi ya ree ure e n'ala ndi mmuo. So well did George F. Handel, in The Messiah, put it: But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
Back to Aguleri immediately after the Mass. Quiet and sober evening.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The man who has confidence in himself gains the confidence of others.”
Today, at 10.05am, from the sacristy of the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Trinity Onitsha we proceeded into the main church to begin Missa exequialis for Rev. Prof. Celestine Mbaegbu (Cooper). Archbishop Val Okeke presided; Fr Paschal Onwugbenu gave the sermon and I did the final commendation.
Very few priests in the Church. I counted only about 5 classmates in the Church. Cooper was not really "persons' person". In addition, because of serious observation of the COVID19 protocol in the basilica, entering into the church was strictly on invitation. But there was strong presence of the people in the academic world. Fr Celestine Mbaegbu was a professor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Office of the dead (midday). Our prayer during Mass: Grant, we pray, O Lord, that the soul of Celestine your servant and Priest, whom you honoured with sacred office while lived in this word, may exult for ever in the glorious home of heaven. The Mass ended with the Final Commendation which I introduced by singing: "Iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedek." After the prayers of commendation, we proceeded to the Priests' cemetery where his body now rests awaiting the resurrection from the dead. Our strong faith in the resurrection of the body is inspired by the words of the psalmist: Quoniam non derelinques animam meam in inferno nec dabis sanctum tuum videre corruption. And so, this prayer: Jesu, chekwaba mkpuruobi ya / Jesu chekwaba mkpuruobi ya n'ulo Gi doo. Igaghi ekwe ka mkpuruobi ya ree ure e n'ala ndi mmuo. So well did George F. Handel, in The Messiah, put it: But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
Back to Aguleri immediately after the Mass. Quiet and sober evening.
"All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord".
Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur
Sunday, 16 August 2020. TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Protector noster, aspice, Deus, et respice in faciem Christi tui, quia melior est dies una in atriis tuis super milia. With my closest collaborators we started the day with our Lord in Blessed Eucharist. Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word.”
Usual morning prayers, Benediction, and Holy Mass for Iwene Tansi House.
At 9.45am, I was at St Odilia's parish, Ojoto, for a Pastoral visit. On arrival, we started with our COVID19 protocol check: arranging seats to maintain "social distancing", temperature control and enforcement of use of masks. I found a well organised Congregation. The church building and almost all the physically structures in the compound were retouched. Very decent environment! Canopies were put around the church premises to accommodate the People of God who could not sit inside the Church. Mons. Emmanuel Nwosu, who still resides in the rectory after his retirement, handed over to Fr Emmanuel Okoye a vibrant Church community. I praised the Monsigore for exemplary life in the community. The current parish priest, Fr Emmanuel Okoye, is gentle and very hard working. Uomo della Chiesa!
At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, e may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire. Six Priests, mainly Ojoto indigenes, concelebrated. One hundred and eighty-seven candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation
Reception organised in my honour followed. Dances, speeches, welcome address, etc. Lunch. Then I inspected parish books: Registers - baptismal, confirmation, communion, marriage, Mass, sick-call, death, etc.; Parish journal, Account books - Parish and Rectory. Good chat with the PP, Fr Emmanuel Okoye, about parish life in general. Very satisfactory! Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!
By 4.50pm, I was back to Aguleri. Evening passed and night followed: the end of the day. Redemisti nos, Domine, Deus veritatis. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word.”
Usual morning prayers, Benediction, and Holy Mass for Iwene Tansi House.
At 9.45am, I was at St Odilia's parish, Ojoto, for a Pastoral visit. On arrival, we started with our COVID19 protocol check: arranging seats to maintain "social distancing", temperature control and enforcement of use of masks. I found a well organised Congregation. The church building and almost all the physically structures in the compound were retouched. Very decent environment! Canopies were put around the church premises to accommodate the People of God who could not sit inside the Church. Mons. Emmanuel Nwosu, who still resides in the rectory after his retirement, handed over to Fr Emmanuel Okoye a vibrant Church community. I praised the Monsigore for exemplary life in the community. The current parish priest, Fr Emmanuel Okoye, is gentle and very hard working. Uomo della Chiesa!
At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, e may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire. Six Priests, mainly Ojoto indigenes, concelebrated. One hundred and eighty-seven candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation
Reception organised in my honour followed. Dances, speeches, welcome address, etc. Lunch. Then I inspected parish books: Registers - baptismal, confirmation, communion, marriage, Mass, sick-call, death, etc.; Parish journal, Account books - Parish and Rectory. Good chat with the PP, Fr Emmanuel Okoye, about parish life in general. Very satisfactory! Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!
By 4.50pm, I was back to Aguleri. Evening passed and night followed: the end of the day. Redemisti nos, Domine, Deus veritatis. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
Saturday, 15 August 2020. SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Signum magnum apparuit in caelo: mulier amicta sole, et luna sub pedibus eius, et in capite eius corona stellarum duodecim. The significance of today's great celebration is properly stated in the Preface: For today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church's coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people; rightly you would not allow her to see the corruption of the tomb since from her own body she marvelously brought forth your incarnate Son, the Author of life
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Leaders are never satisfied; they continually strive to be better.”
At Mass with the Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul into heavenly glory, grant, we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory.
At 10.00am, I was at St Augustine's Church Oba for a Pastoral visit. This is a parish run for the Archdiocese of Onitsha by the Redemptorists. I was surprised by the population. Over three hundred and fifty candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation. For them we prayed: Remember also, Lord, your servants reborn in Baptism whom you have been pleased to confirm by bestowing the Holy Spirit, and in your mercy, keep safe in them your grace.
I returned to Aguleri at about 3.50pm. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
The day is done, its hours have run;
And thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Leaders are never satisfied; they continually strive to be better.”
At Mass with the Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul into heavenly glory, grant, we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory.
At 10.00am, I was at St Augustine's Church Oba for a Pastoral visit. This is a parish run for the Archdiocese of Onitsha by the Redemptorists. I was surprised by the population. Over three hundred and fifty candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation. For them we prayed: Remember also, Lord, your servants reborn in Baptism whom you have been pleased to confirm by bestowing the Holy Spirit, and in your mercy, keep safe in them your grace.
I returned to Aguleri at about 3.50pm. Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
The day is done, its hours have run;
And thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Friday, 14 August 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE, Venite, benedicti Patris mei, dicit Dominus. Amen dioco vobis: quamdiu fecistis uni de his fratribus meis minimis, mihi festis. As a Confessor of Faith, Father Kolbe was starved to death and then given lethal injection. He offered himself to die in place of a family-man who was among ten prisoners selected to be starved to death. He was starved for ten days. All the other nine prisoners died but he was still alive. Then the warders gave him a lethal injection which killed him slowly.
The martyrs living now with Christ / In suffering were tried,
Their anguish overcome by love / When on his cross he died.
Across the centuries they come, / In constancy unmoved,
Their loving hearts make no complaint, / In silence they are proved.
OUR TODAY'S THOUGHT: “Superior leaders are willing to admit a mistake and cut their losses. Be willing to admit that you have changed your mind. Do not persist when the original decision turns out to be a poor one.”
At Mass, with the Church we prayed: O God, who filled the Priest and Martyr Saint Maximilian Kolbe with a burning love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with zeal for souls and love of neighbor, graciously grant, through his intercession, that, striving for your glory by eagerly serving others, we may be conformed, even until death, to your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
I was at St Peter's Church Umudioka Awkuzu for the funeral of pa John Nwoye Nweke at St Peter's Umudioka Awkuzu. He died in a ripe old age of about 95 years. He was surrounded by Priests: his younger brother, nephew and son. Many Spiritans and a number of Awkuzu indigenous priests concelebrated. The participation in the liturgy and the presence of the Spiritan Provincial Superior, Very Rev. Fr Greg Olikaenyi, were highly appreciated.
Usual regular activities in the afternoon and the evening. Good night, Lord.
The martyrs living now with Christ / In suffering were tried,
Their anguish overcome by love / When on his cross he died.
Across the centuries they come, / In constancy unmoved,
Their loving hearts make no complaint, / In silence they are proved.
OUR TODAY'S THOUGHT: “Superior leaders are willing to admit a mistake and cut their losses. Be willing to admit that you have changed your mind. Do not persist when the original decision turns out to be a poor one.”
At Mass, with the Church we prayed: O God, who filled the Priest and Martyr Saint Maximilian Kolbe with a burning love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with zeal for souls and love of neighbor, graciously grant, through his intercession, that, striving for your glory by eagerly serving others, we may be conformed, even until death, to your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
I was at St Peter's Church Umudioka Awkuzu for the funeral of pa John Nwoye Nweke at St Peter's Umudioka Awkuzu. He died in a ripe old age of about 95 years. He was surrounded by Priests: his younger brother, nephew and son. Many Spiritans and a number of Awkuzu indigenous priests concelebrated. The participation in the liturgy and the presence of the Spiritan Provincial Superior, Very Rev. Fr Greg Olikaenyi, were highly appreciated.
Usual regular activities in the afternoon and the evening. Good night, Lord.
Thursday, 13 August 2020. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. We presented ourselves before the Lord. This song of surrender of oneself by Ingrid DuMosch came to mind:
Father, I place into your hands the things I cannot do,
Father, I place into your hands the things that I've been through.
Father, I place into your hands the way that I should go,
For I know I always can trust you.
Father, I place into your hands my friends and family.
Father, I place into your hands the things that trouble me.
Father, I place into your hands the person I would be,
For I know I always can trust you.
Father, we love to see your face, we love to hear your voice.
Father, we love to sing your praise and in your name rejoice.
Father, we love to walk with you and in your presence rest,
For we know we always can trust you.
Our community followed our usual morning spiritual activities in the chapel.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "A fool is known by his speech; and a wise man by silence." - Pythagoras
At 9.50am I was at Nmiata Anam for a funeral Mass for somebody I did not know. Fr Godwin Oyekwe requested that I come to pray and bury his "mother". It turned out that this lady was a simple, generous woman who treated him as a son when he was a curate at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Nmiata Anam. The lady, by name Maureen Ihebuzoaju Ogugua (nee Eche), came from Umudunu Umunnoha Aaorji Okwu Ikeduru and worked for Msgr Joseph Nwibegbunam. She learnt how to work as auxiliary nurse and gradually because the only active medical personnel in the whole area around the mission. There were countless number of testimonies of this woman's extraordinary kindness and selfless service to all and sundry. What the Biblical Tabitha (called Dorcas in Greek) was to the Lyddians, Maureen Ogugua became for the people of Anam. I accepted to officiate at the funeral to express gratitude of the Church in Anam for a woman of distinction, not because of wealth but her extraordinary love for the community where she lived.With me were over fifteen priests, who in appreciation of this woman's humanity, concelebrated the funeral Mass. Fr John Anosike delivered the sermon, while Fr Godwin Oyekwe did the Final Commendation. Our prayer: O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your handmaid, Maureen, whom you have called this day to journey to you, and, since she hoped and believed in you, grant that she may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
I returned to Aguleri immediately after Mass. Lunch. Little rest. Then back to table in my study room. Quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
Te lucis ante terminum,
rerum Creator, poscimus
ut pro tua clementia
sis praesul et custodia.
Father, I place into your hands the things I cannot do,
Father, I place into your hands the things that I've been through.
Father, I place into your hands the way that I should go,
For I know I always can trust you.
Father, I place into your hands my friends and family.
Father, I place into your hands the things that trouble me.
Father, I place into your hands the person I would be,
For I know I always can trust you.
Father, we love to see your face, we love to hear your voice.
Father, we love to sing your praise and in your name rejoice.
Father, we love to walk with you and in your presence rest,
For we know we always can trust you.
Our community followed our usual morning spiritual activities in the chapel.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "A fool is known by his speech; and a wise man by silence." - Pythagoras
At 9.50am I was at Nmiata Anam for a funeral Mass for somebody I did not know. Fr Godwin Oyekwe requested that I come to pray and bury his "mother". It turned out that this lady was a simple, generous woman who treated him as a son when he was a curate at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Nmiata Anam. The lady, by name Maureen Ihebuzoaju Ogugua (nee Eche), came from Umudunu Umunnoha Aaorji Okwu Ikeduru and worked for Msgr Joseph Nwibegbunam. She learnt how to work as auxiliary nurse and gradually because the only active medical personnel in the whole area around the mission. There were countless number of testimonies of this woman's extraordinary kindness and selfless service to all and sundry. What the Biblical Tabitha (called Dorcas in Greek) was to the Lyddians, Maureen Ogugua became for the people of Anam. I accepted to officiate at the funeral to express gratitude of the Church in Anam for a woman of distinction, not because of wealth but her extraordinary love for the community where she lived.With me were over fifteen priests, who in appreciation of this woman's humanity, concelebrated the funeral Mass. Fr John Anosike delivered the sermon, while Fr Godwin Oyekwe did the Final Commendation. Our prayer: O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your handmaid, Maureen, whom you have called this day to journey to you, and, since she hoped and believed in you, grant that she may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
I returned to Aguleri immediately after Mass. Lunch. Little rest. Then back to table in my study room. Quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
Te lucis ante terminum,
rerum Creator, poscimus
ut pro tua clementia
sis praesul et custodia.
Wednesday, 12 August 2020. Our day began with our usual morning devotions. This love song was appropriate for the special moment of adoration and meditation.
O Jesus, Jesus, dearest Lord! / Forgive me if I say,
For very love, Thy sacred name /
A thousand times a day. O Jesus, Lord, with me abide;
I rest in Thee, whate'er betide; /
Thy gracious smile is my reward; I love, I love Thee, Lord!
I love Thee so I know not how
My transports to control;
Thy love is like a burning fire
Within my very soul.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Honesty is the first book of wisdom. Patience is the companion of wisdom. Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone.”
Indoors activities. I tried to put order in my study room.
O Jesus, Jesus, dearest Lord! / Forgive me if I say,
For very love, Thy sacred name /
A thousand times a day. O Jesus, Lord, with me abide;
I rest in Thee, whate'er betide; /
Thy gracious smile is my reward; I love, I love Thee, Lord!
I love Thee so I know not how
My transports to control;
Thy love is like a burning fire
Within my very soul.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Honesty is the first book of wisdom. Patience is the companion of wisdom. Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone.”
Indoors activities. I tried to put order in my study room.
Tuesday, 11 August 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST CLARE. Hac est virgo sapiens, et una de numero prudentum, quae obviam Christo cum lampade accensa exiit. Usual rhythm of spiritual exercises. A thought about the companionship which St Clare provided to St Francis in their pursuit of holiness. How could such relationship be realised among priests and religious women in our contemporary society? While in the minor seminary we were taught how to prepare ourselves for a healthy interaction with all categories of persons we might possibly encounter in life. There was a prayer which our Rector, Msgr Emmanuel Otteh, taught us to say often.
THE PRAYER OF A CHRISTIAN YOUTH
O Lord, give me courage to do what is hard; courage to say no to sin; courage to hold off the quitter in me.
Give me a clean mind and clean speech; clean eyes and clean hands. Let me cherish cleanness, and recognize that it brings happiness. Let me appreciate that in purity all good things grow.
Give me a gift for kindness, so that I may never hurt another. Teach me to control my temper and my tongue, so that they do not become the instruments of cruelty. I know my own importance, Lord, but let me never fail to see that others have importance, too.
Give me strength of spirit to defeat self-pity. If I am lonesome, lead me to the knowledge that to be loved I must be lovable; that I will have no real friends until I earn them.
Give me that bigness I will need to be cheerfully obedient. Remove from my personality a sullen spirit. Teach me to take orders, so that some day I will know how to give them reasonably.
Give me zest and drive to conquer laziness. Never let me feel that I can be served without serving, or get without giving. Instruct my heart in the love of work, so I may know the joy of rest.
Give me that peace of mind which comes from knowing that I will never lead another to sin. By your grace, may no one be cheapened because he kept my company. Let all who love me, learn to love you more.
Give me, finally, such brightness, laughter and grace, that you will find in me a temple which will please you as Mary pleased you Amen,
At Mass with the Church on the Memorial of St Clare we prayed: O God, who in your mercy led Saint Clare to a love of poverty, grant, through her intercession, that, following Christ in poverty of spirit, we may merit to contemplate you one day in the heavenly Kingdom.
Today I installed the decoder which Catholic Television Abuja sent me to ensure that I see their programs. Being the CBCN Bishop responsible for Communications in Nigeria, it was deemed necessary that I should be able to see the CTV programmes. Excellent television service. For the rest of the day, I enjoyed following the CTV network.
At night, as usual, I was at my desk. Then, came the time to retire to bed. Good night, Lord.
THE PRAYER OF A CHRISTIAN YOUTH
O Lord, give me courage to do what is hard; courage to say no to sin; courage to hold off the quitter in me.
Give me a clean mind and clean speech; clean eyes and clean hands. Let me cherish cleanness, and recognize that it brings happiness. Let me appreciate that in purity all good things grow.
Give me a gift for kindness, so that I may never hurt another. Teach me to control my temper and my tongue, so that they do not become the instruments of cruelty. I know my own importance, Lord, but let me never fail to see that others have importance, too.
Give me strength of spirit to defeat self-pity. If I am lonesome, lead me to the knowledge that to be loved I must be lovable; that I will have no real friends until I earn them.
Give me that bigness I will need to be cheerfully obedient. Remove from my personality a sullen spirit. Teach me to take orders, so that some day I will know how to give them reasonably.
Give me zest and drive to conquer laziness. Never let me feel that I can be served without serving, or get without giving. Instruct my heart in the love of work, so I may know the joy of rest.
Give me that peace of mind which comes from knowing that I will never lead another to sin. By your grace, may no one be cheapened because he kept my company. Let all who love me, learn to love you more.
Give me, finally, such brightness, laughter and grace, that you will find in me a temple which will please you as Mary pleased you Amen,
At Mass with the Church on the Memorial of St Clare we prayed: O God, who in your mercy led Saint Clare to a love of poverty, grant, through her intercession, that, following Christ in poverty of spirit, we may merit to contemplate you one day in the heavenly Kingdom.
Today I installed the decoder which Catholic Television Abuja sent me to ensure that I see their programs. Being the CBCN Bishop responsible for Communications in Nigeria, it was deemed necessary that I should be able to see the CTV programmes. Excellent television service. For the rest of the day, I enjoyed following the CTV network.
At night, as usual, I was at my desk. Then, came the time to retire to bed. Good night, Lord.
Monday, 10 August 2020. FEAST OF ST LAWRENCE. Questi è il diacono san Lorenze, che diede la sua vita per a Chiesa: egli meritò la corona de martirio, per raggiungere in letizia il Signore Gesù Cristo.
In adoration and meditation:
Jesus, the very thought of Thee / With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see, / And in Thy presence rest.
O Hope of every contrite heart, / O Joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art! / How good to those who seek!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Knowledge is knowing what to say. Wisdom is knowing when to say it.”
At Mass with the Church we prayed: O Dio, che hai comunicato l'ardore della tua carità al diacono san Lorenzo e o hai reso fedele nel ministero e glorioso nel martirio, fa' che i tuo popolo segua i suoi insegnamenti e lo imiti nell'amore di Cristo e dei fratelli.
At 10.00 am, I was at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity for the funeral Mass for Fr David Ojukwu. Inside the Basilica, only thirty persons from his hometown were allowed. About thirty priests joined in the concelebration. Many friends of Fr David who came for the funeral Mass stayed outside. Eighty percent of the basilica was not occupied. All in the effort to observe COVID19 protocol!
The biography of Fr Ojukwu was not written. No oration prepared. The sermon was brief. Archbishop Val Okeke presided and I did the Final Commendation. So brief was the funeral ceremony that the Mass and the interment were over before 12.00 noon. A prayer: Hear with favor our prayers, which we humbly offer, O Lord, for the salvation of the soul of David, your servant and Priest, that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name, may rejoice in the perpetual company of your Saints. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I returned to Aguleri for lunch. Today, I took siesta - rare experience in my life these days.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
In adoration and meditation:
Jesus, the very thought of Thee / With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see, / And in Thy presence rest.
O Hope of every contrite heart, / O Joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art! / How good to those who seek!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Knowledge is knowing what to say. Wisdom is knowing when to say it.”
At Mass with the Church we prayed: O Dio, che hai comunicato l'ardore della tua carità al diacono san Lorenzo e o hai reso fedele nel ministero e glorioso nel martirio, fa' che i tuo popolo segua i suoi insegnamenti e lo imiti nell'amore di Cristo e dei fratelli.
At 10.00 am, I was at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity for the funeral Mass for Fr David Ojukwu. Inside the Basilica, only thirty persons from his hometown were allowed. About thirty priests joined in the concelebration. Many friends of Fr David who came for the funeral Mass stayed outside. Eighty percent of the basilica was not occupied. All in the effort to observe COVID19 protocol!
The biography of Fr Ojukwu was not written. No oration prepared. The sermon was brief. Archbishop Val Okeke presided and I did the Final Commendation. So brief was the funeral ceremony that the Mass and the interment were over before 12.00 noon. A prayer: Hear with favor our prayers, which we humbly offer, O Lord, for the salvation of the soul of David, your servant and Priest, that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name, may rejoice in the perpetual company of your Saints. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I returned to Aguleri for lunch. Today, I took siesta - rare experience in my life these days.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Traditional Dance by Catholic Women Organization, Awkuzu
Sunday, 9 August 2020. 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Respice, Domine, in testamentum tuum, et animas pauperum tuorum ne derelinquas in finem. Exsurge, Domine, et iudica causam tuam, et ne obliviscaris voces quaerentium te. Usual morning devotions. Nearer still nearer, close to Thy heart / Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art / Oh fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast / Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest / Shelter me safe in Thy haven of rest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The happiest people do not have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."
It has been my practice to celebrate the first Mass of the day with my closest collaborators before going out for any other liturgical function. So, today, at Mass with the Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, whom, taught by the Holy Spirit, we dare to call our Father, bring, we pray, to perfection in our hearts the spirit of adoption as your sons and daughters, that we may merit to enter into the inheritance which you have promised. At 9.45 am, I was in Awkuzu for a pastoral visit to St Raphael's Parish. The seating arrangement was made as specified in the COVID19 protocol. My assistants measured the temperature of all those in the church. The Mass started at about 10.15 am. Over ten priests concelebrated. My Homily was on the gifts of the Holy Spirit; the significance of holy anointing with Oil of Chrism, and aspects of a Pastoral visit by a Bishop.
Tu septiformis munere, digitus paternae dexterae, tu rite promissum Patris, sermone ditans guttura. I confirmed over two hundred and fifty candidates, praying over them, saying: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought these your servants to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, freeing them from sin: send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety; fill them with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Through Christ our Lord.
On our way out of the church after Mass, our procession took us to the belfry, just completed, in front of the Church. There, I blessed and commissioned it to be a point from where to communicate with the People of God: inviting them to services in the Church and praying with them at some hours of the day. The new belfry adds to the beauty of St Raphael's Church. I used the opportunity to thank Fr Godwin Oyekwe, the parish priest, for repainting the entire church building, redesigning the altar rails, etc.
After Mass, I had time to go through the Church records with Fr Oyekwe. Then there was an opportunity to interact with the priests from neighbouring parishes, who joined us for the celebration. Good lunch, jokes, etc. From the rectory, with the priests, I went to the field for grand reception by the Catholic community. Speeches, dances, etc. God bless St Raphael's parish community.
Later in the evening, back to Aguleri.
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven--
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The happiest people do not have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."
It has been my practice to celebrate the first Mass of the day with my closest collaborators before going out for any other liturgical function. So, today, at Mass with the Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, whom, taught by the Holy Spirit, we dare to call our Father, bring, we pray, to perfection in our hearts the spirit of adoption as your sons and daughters, that we may merit to enter into the inheritance which you have promised. At 9.45 am, I was in Awkuzu for a pastoral visit to St Raphael's Parish. The seating arrangement was made as specified in the COVID19 protocol. My assistants measured the temperature of all those in the church. The Mass started at about 10.15 am. Over ten priests concelebrated. My Homily was on the gifts of the Holy Spirit; the significance of holy anointing with Oil of Chrism, and aspects of a Pastoral visit by a Bishop.
Tu septiformis munere, digitus paternae dexterae, tu rite promissum Patris, sermone ditans guttura. I confirmed over two hundred and fifty candidates, praying over them, saying: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought these your servants to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, freeing them from sin: send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety; fill them with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Through Christ our Lord.
On our way out of the church after Mass, our procession took us to the belfry, just completed, in front of the Church. There, I blessed and commissioned it to be a point from where to communicate with the People of God: inviting them to services in the Church and praying with them at some hours of the day. The new belfry adds to the beauty of St Raphael's Church. I used the opportunity to thank Fr Godwin Oyekwe, the parish priest, for repainting the entire church building, redesigning the altar rails, etc.
After Mass, I had time to go through the Church records with Fr Oyekwe. Then there was an opportunity to interact with the priests from neighbouring parishes, who joined us for the celebration. Good lunch, jokes, etc. From the rectory, with the priests, I went to the field for grand reception by the Catholic community. Speeches, dances, etc. God bless St Raphael's parish community.
Later in the evening, back to Aguleri.
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven--
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Parish Community Rosary at St Francis Church, Ivite Ikem NANDO
Saturday, 8 August 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST DOMINIC. In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os eius, et implevit eum Dominus spiritu sapientiae et intellectus; stolam gloriae induit eum. We prostrate before the Lord who daily invites us to His loving embrace and eternal banquet. The Latin "song of invitation" comes to mind: Homo quidam fecit cenam magnam, et misit servum suum hora cenae dicere invitatis ut venirent
quia parata sunt omnia. Venite, comedite panem meum, et bibite vinum quod miscui vobis. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. How best do I respond to this great invitation? Tantum Sacramentum! Veneremur Cernui!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nobody was born a master: amateurs become experts because they did not give up on learning. You are going as far as you can if you’ll learn and apply!"
Since last Monday when our two minor Seminarians went to Akwu Ukwu for interview in preparation for entry into St Pius X Spiritual year Seminary, the Priests and the Religious of "Iwene Tansi House" have been without assistants. We run everything on our own: setting the vestments for Mass, preparing the altar, tidying some of the corners of the house, reading at Mass and during Liturgy of the hours, etc. This situation of staying without assistants has provided wonderful opportunity to appreciate the work done by our junior seminarians in our house. There is a saying: "You never know the worth of a well until it dries up". May God bless our seminarians: Celestine Ibegbunam and Emmanuel Aneke for their great services in our community. They are finally back to Aguleri.
At Mass with the Church we prayed: May Saint Dominic come to the help of your Church by his merits and teaching, O Lord, and may he, who was an outstanding preacher of your truth, be a devoted intercessor on our behalf. And for the Intercessory Prayer we said:
At 4.00 pm, I was at St Francis Church, Ikem Ivite Nando, for Parish Community Rosary. It was very well attended. The Church was full. I began by explaining the Church's teaching on the rosary and the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I led the rosary.
After the evening, night followed: the end of the day. Our prayer in the minor seminary after Particular Examen was appropriate to conclude the day: O Most Holy Virgin Mary: Mother of God, and likewise my most dear Mother, in your sacred hands, under your powerful protection, and in your compassionate heart, I place now and for ever my body and soul, my hopes and happiness, my pains and afflictions, my actions and pursuits, my life, death and entire being, that through your merits and intercession, my whole existence may be directed to the perfect accomplishment of your holy will and that of your adorable Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
quia parata sunt omnia. Venite, comedite panem meum, et bibite vinum quod miscui vobis. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. How best do I respond to this great invitation? Tantum Sacramentum! Veneremur Cernui!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nobody was born a master: amateurs become experts because they did not give up on learning. You are going as far as you can if you’ll learn and apply!"
Since last Monday when our two minor Seminarians went to Akwu Ukwu for interview in preparation for entry into St Pius X Spiritual year Seminary, the Priests and the Religious of "Iwene Tansi House" have been without assistants. We run everything on our own: setting the vestments for Mass, preparing the altar, tidying some of the corners of the house, reading at Mass and during Liturgy of the hours, etc. This situation of staying without assistants has provided wonderful opportunity to appreciate the work done by our junior seminarians in our house. There is a saying: "You never know the worth of a well until it dries up". May God bless our seminarians: Celestine Ibegbunam and Emmanuel Aneke for their great services in our community. They are finally back to Aguleri.
At Mass with the Church we prayed: May Saint Dominic come to the help of your Church by his merits and teaching, O Lord, and may he, who was an outstanding preacher of your truth, be a devoted intercessor on our behalf. And for the Intercessory Prayer we said:
- For the preachers of the church, that what they have left behind may not hold them back, but that they will joyfully follow Jesus wherever He goes. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the families of nations may give to the Lord the glory due His name by governing their peoples with equity and respecting the dignity of every child of God. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may have ears to hear the wisdom of the spiritually mature, the mysterious wisdom hidden in the cross of Jesus, blossoming into glory for all who are one with Him. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all the followers of St Dominic, that their message and proclamation may be accompanied by a demonstration of spirit and power, the fruit of a deeper inner life of contemplation. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who know nothing but Jesus crucified in their lives, whose days are hidden in suffering under the shadow of the cross, that God's glory may be revealed in them through an outbreak of grace and joy. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our departed loved ones, that they may soon come into the inheritance which no eye has seen, which God has prepared for those who love him. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
At 4.00 pm, I was at St Francis Church, Ikem Ivite Nando, for Parish Community Rosary. It was very well attended. The Church was full. I began by explaining the Church's teaching on the rosary and the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I led the rosary.
After the evening, night followed: the end of the day. Our prayer in the minor seminary after Particular Examen was appropriate to conclude the day: O Most Holy Virgin Mary: Mother of God, and likewise my most dear Mother, in your sacred hands, under your powerful protection, and in your compassionate heart, I place now and for ever my body and soul, my hopes and happiness, my pains and afflictions, my actions and pursuits, my life, death and entire being, that through your merits and intercession, my whole existence may be directed to the perfect accomplishment of your holy will and that of your adorable Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, 7 August 2020. Usual morning devotions. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Creativity, decisiveness, passion, honesty, sincerity, love. These are the ultimate human resources. And when you engage these resources, you can get any other resource on Earth.” ― Tony Robbins.
Office of Lauds. We said the following intercessory prayer:
At the end of the day, a prayer: Concede nos, omnipotens Deus, ita sepulto Unigenito tuo fideliter inhaerere, ut cum ipso in novitate vitae resurgere mereamur. Qui vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum.
Office of Lauds. We said the following intercessory prayer:
- Christ is the image of the unseen God, the first-born of all creation, and first to be born from the dead. All things are to be reconciled through him because he made peace by his death on the cross. We pray to him: LORD JESUS, COME TO US TODAY.
- We have been baptized into your death: may we be cleansed of greed and envy, and clothed in the strength and gentleness of your love. LORD JESUS, COME TO US TODAY.
- We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who has been given to us; confirm us in your service, and hep us to bar witness to you in the society in which we lie. LORD JESUS, COME TO US TODAY.
- Before you suffered, you longed to eat the Passover with yout disciples: as we take part in your Eucharist, may we share in your resurrection. LORD JESUS, COME TO US TODAY.
- You continue to work in your faithful people: create through them a new word where injustice and destruction will give way to growth, freedom and hope. LORD JESUS, COME TO US TODAY.
At the end of the day, a prayer: Concede nos, omnipotens Deus, ita sepulto Unigenito tuo fideliter inhaerere, ut cum ipso in novitate vitae resurgere mereamur. Qui vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum.
Thursday, 6 August 2020. FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD. In splendenti nube Spiritus Sanctus visus est, paterna vox audita est: Hic est Filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi bene complacui: ipsum audite. One of the prayers we memorized in All Hallows Seminary Onitsha was an attempt to teach us how to dispose ourselves before God. On the invitation: "Let us place ourselves in the presence of God and humbly adore Him", we used to respond: Most holy and adorable Trinity, One God in Three Divine Persons, I believe that You are here present, I adore You with the deepest humility, and with all my heart I offer You the homage due to Your sovereign Majesty.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.”
Today I prayed for my spiritual sons - the Seminarians of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Province of Nigeria South-East I ordained on this day in 2016.
Raised to the deaconate:
Francis Ndubisi OFFIAH (Osumenyi, Nigeria)
Rowland SHOKO (Mutare, Zimbabwe)
Festus ENENMUO (Isuofia, Nigeria)
Sergius Paul IBERI (Ihiala, Nigeria)
Constantine CHIBUIKE (Awo Omama, Nigeria)
Samuel Udoka NWOSU (Ogboza-Amanator, Nigeria)
Christogonus OYIRINWA (Inyishi, Nigeria)
Stan Nduka ORJINWEKE (Awgu, Nigeria)
And raised to the priesthood:
Boniface C. NWANKWO (Oko, Nigeria)
Marcellinus CHUKWU (Isiala-Umuozu, Nigeria)
Ugochukwu OKOYE (Ekwulobia, Nigeria)
Donatus U. UNDIE (Obudu, Nigeria)
Innocent MADU (Nguru, Nigeria)
Justin E, NWOGUEZE (Aguluizoigbo, Nigeria)
Patrick EZEONWU (Ichida, Nigeria)
Tobechukwu EKEBOSI (Igboukwu, Nigeria)
Joachim UGWUEZUMBA (Oraifite, Nigeria)
John K. EZENAGU (Ubulu-Ihejiofor, Nigeria)
Anthony O. MMADUBUGWU (Oraifite, Nigeria)
To see their photo, Click HERE
Mass of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. We prayed: O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of your Only Begotten Son confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship, grant, we pray, to your servants, that, listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may merit to become co-heirs with him.
For the Prayer of the Faithful:
Relaxed evening. Early to bed.
Ave, Regina caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.”
Today I prayed for my spiritual sons - the Seminarians of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Province of Nigeria South-East I ordained on this day in 2016.
Raised to the deaconate:
Francis Ndubisi OFFIAH (Osumenyi, Nigeria)
Rowland SHOKO (Mutare, Zimbabwe)
Festus ENENMUO (Isuofia, Nigeria)
Sergius Paul IBERI (Ihiala, Nigeria)
Constantine CHIBUIKE (Awo Omama, Nigeria)
Samuel Udoka NWOSU (Ogboza-Amanator, Nigeria)
Christogonus OYIRINWA (Inyishi, Nigeria)
Stan Nduka ORJINWEKE (Awgu, Nigeria)
And raised to the priesthood:
Boniface C. NWANKWO (Oko, Nigeria)
Marcellinus CHUKWU (Isiala-Umuozu, Nigeria)
Ugochukwu OKOYE (Ekwulobia, Nigeria)
Donatus U. UNDIE (Obudu, Nigeria)
Innocent MADU (Nguru, Nigeria)
Justin E, NWOGUEZE (Aguluizoigbo, Nigeria)
Patrick EZEONWU (Ichida, Nigeria)
Tobechukwu EKEBOSI (Igboukwu, Nigeria)
Joachim UGWUEZUMBA (Oraifite, Nigeria)
John K. EZENAGU (Ubulu-Ihejiofor, Nigeria)
Anthony O. MMADUBUGWU (Oraifite, Nigeria)
To see their photo, Click HERE
Mass of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. We prayed: O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of your Only Begotten Son confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship, grant, we pray, to your servants, that, listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may merit to become co-heirs with him.
For the Prayer of the Faithful:
- For the successors of the apostles, that this feast of the Lord's transfiguration may flood their souls with a renewed vision of faith to give them strength for all their trials. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- Fro those who have received a portion of dominion for the good of their people, that they may share the same goals and values with the Son of Man, who by right possesses all glory and dominion. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all souls of deeper prayer for whom this feast holds a great attraction, that the inner vision of which they are sometimes granted a taste may radiate in their lives of joyful surrender. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who suffer deeply in mind, body, and spirit, that Jesus, who strengthened His apostles for His passion by the vision of His glory, may come to lighten their darkness. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our deceased loved ones, that the Father may come to greet them with the revelation of Hi beloved Son in heaven. Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Relaxed evening. Early to bed.
Ave, Regina caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.
Wednesday, 5 August 2020. Simile est regnum caelorum fermento, quod acceptum mulier abscondit in farinae satis tribus, donec fermentatum est totum. Usual morning devotions.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Nothing in the world can take place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” ― Calvin Coolidge
We offered Mass this morning for the Laity. They form the main bulk of the Christian faithful on earth. For them we prayed: O God, who have sent the Gospel like leaven into the world, grant that your faithful, whom you have called to live amid the world and its affairs, may be fervent with the Christian spirit and, through the tasks they carry out in this present age, may constantly build up your Kingdom.
Using the Eucharistic Prayer V 3, we prayed:
Grant that all the faithful of the Church, looking into the signs of the times by the light of faith, may constantly devote themselves to the service of the Gospel. Keep us attentive to the needs of all that, sharing their grief and pain, their joy and hope, we may faithfully bring them the good news of salvation and go forward with them along the way of your Kingdom.
At 3.30pm, I left Aguleri for Awgbu to celebrate Vigil Mass for ma Catherine Ezeamaechi, 100 years of age, mother of my elder friend, Monsignor Mark Ezeamaechi. The road to the place was not among the best in Anambra State. But we made it, slightly late by ten minutes because we were not sure of the venue, and we stopped in many places to ask people to direct us. About twenty priests concelebrated the Mass.
Immediately after the Mass, I returned to Aguleri. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Nothing in the world can take place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” ― Calvin Coolidge
We offered Mass this morning for the Laity. They form the main bulk of the Christian faithful on earth. For them we prayed: O God, who have sent the Gospel like leaven into the world, grant that your faithful, whom you have called to live amid the world and its affairs, may be fervent with the Christian spirit and, through the tasks they carry out in this present age, may constantly build up your Kingdom.
Using the Eucharistic Prayer V 3, we prayed:
Grant that all the faithful of the Church, looking into the signs of the times by the light of faith, may constantly devote themselves to the service of the Gospel. Keep us attentive to the needs of all that, sharing their grief and pain, their joy and hope, we may faithfully bring them the good news of salvation and go forward with them along the way of your Kingdom.
At 3.30pm, I left Aguleri for Awgbu to celebrate Vigil Mass for ma Catherine Ezeamaechi, 100 years of age, mother of my elder friend, Monsignor Mark Ezeamaechi. The road to the place was not among the best in Anambra State. But we made it, slightly late by ten minutes because we were not sure of the venue, and we stopped in many places to ask people to direct us. About twenty priests concelebrated the Mass.
Immediately after the Mass, I returned to Aguleri. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
Tuesday, 4 August 2020. Our community life began with our normal morning devotions.In Sinu Jesu teaches ways of conversing with the Lord hidden in the tabernacle here in our chapel. Jesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio, Oro, fiat illud quod tam sitio: Ut te revelata cernens facie, Visu sim beátus tuæ gloriæ.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.”
Today, we celebrated the Optional Memorial of Blessed Iwene Tansi. At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, in the priest Blessed Cyprian Michael, you joined the apostolic zeal of a pastor to the way of life of a monk; grant us by his intercession, that persevering in prayer, we seek untiringly the coming of your kingdom. This prayer is translated into different languages. Here I write out two:
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.”
Today, we celebrated the Optional Memorial of Blessed Iwene Tansi. At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, in the priest Blessed Cyprian Michael, you joined the apostolic zeal of a pastor to the way of life of a monk; grant us by his intercession, that persevering in prayer, we seek untiringly the coming of your kingdom. This prayer is translated into different languages. Here I write out two:
|
IN IGBO
O Chineke, n'ime Ụkọchukwu Gị Maikel Siprian Iwene Tansị dị ngọzị, I jikọrọ ọrụ nke Ụkọchukwu na ụzọ onye Mọnk. Nyere anyị aka site n’arịrịọ nke ya, ka anyi jisie ike n’ekpere n’atụanya ọbịbịa nke ala eze Gị. |
IN YORUBA
Ọlọrun Olódùmarè, nínú àlùfáà rẹ Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi ìwọ da ìtara isẹ Àpóstólì ti Olùṣọ àgùtàn pọ mọ ìgbésí ayé ti ẹlẹhàá. Nipa ẹbẹ rẹ àti dídúró ṣinṣin nínú àdúrà, jẹ kí a máà lépa wíwá ùjọba rẹ. |
Today, I worked indoors. There was no dull moment. I started collating the contact information of AHOBITES, which during the last special meeting, I offered to do in order to fully establish this great association.
Evening came, and the night followed: the end of the day.
Souvenez-vous, ô très miséricordieuse Vierge Marie, qu’on n’a jamais entendu dire qu’aucun de ceux qui ont eu recours à votre protection, imploré votre assistance ou réclamé votre secours, ait été abandonné. Animé d’une pareille confiance, ô Vierge des vierges, ô ma Mère, je cours vers vous, je viens à vous et, gémissant sous le poids de mes péchés, je me prosterne à vos pieds. Ô Mère du Verbe[2] ne rejetez pas mes prières, mais écoutez-les favorablement et daignez les exaucer. Amen.
Evening came, and the night followed: the end of the day.
Souvenez-vous, ô très miséricordieuse Vierge Marie, qu’on n’a jamais entendu dire qu’aucun de ceux qui ont eu recours à votre protection, imploré votre assistance ou réclamé votre secours, ait été abandonné. Animé d’une pareille confiance, ô Vierge des vierges, ô ma Mère, je cours vers vous, je viens à vous et, gémissant sous le poids de mes péchés, je me prosterne à vos pieds. Ô Mère du Verbe[2] ne rejetez pas mes prières, mais écoutez-les favorablement et daignez les exaucer. Amen.
Monday, 3 August 2020. An early conversation with our Blessed Mother. We all gathered in the chapel for our morning appointment with the Lord. In the end, we concluded in the usual way: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in your servants in the Spirit of your holiness, in the fullness of your power, in the perfection of your ways, in the reality of your virtues, in the communion of your mysteries. Have dominion over every adverse power, in your own spirit to the glory of the Father. Amen
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”
Office of Lauds: Vita sanctorum, via, spes salusque, Christe, largitor probitatis atque Conditor pacis, tibi voce, sensu, pangimus hymnum. Cuius est virtus manifesta totum quod pii possunt, quod habent, quod ore, corde vel factis cupiunt, amore igne flagrantes. Benediction.
At Mass we said the following Prayer of the Faithful:
Missa in my chapel. We celebrated Mass of the anniversary of priestly ordination. We prayed: Holy Father, who, by no merit of our own, chose us for communion with the eternal priesthood of your Christ and for the ministry of your Church, grant that we may be ardent yet gentle preachers of the Gospel and faithful stewards of your mysteries.
My sermon was on a more profound commitment to priestly life, avoiding becoming too familiar with our sacred functions. Later I drew their attention to the distractions that could come from members of our biological family.
Lunch and further interaction with all followed. In attendance: Fathers Samuel Chiozie, John Paul Ezebili, Simon Agbo, Vincent Chukwuka and Vincent Abanogu. Small Geschenk for each. Two of them were unavoidably absent because they had left the country for further studies: Martin Adimorah and Emmanuel Ejike.
I received my weekly phone recharge from my great priest-supporter. I prayed: O Lord my God, I know that this gift comes from a very sincere heart, pour your abundant blessings on your servant and keep him always in your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Much later in the evening, at Onitsha, I had Incontro d'Ufficio and supper with Archbishop Val Okeke.
Back to Aguleri. Night fall. Noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedat nobis Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”
Office of Lauds: Vita sanctorum, via, spes salusque, Christe, largitor probitatis atque Conditor pacis, tibi voce, sensu, pangimus hymnum. Cuius est virtus manifesta totum quod pii possunt, quod habent, quod ore, corde vel factis cupiunt, amore igne flagrantes. Benediction.
At Mass we said the following Prayer of the Faithful:
- For our Holy Father, our bishops and priests, that like Jesus they may take time for prayer as the foundation of their ministry in the Church, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That world leaders may walk in the way of the law God has written on every human heart, keeping His ordinances and paying heed to His decrees, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may bring our small loaves and fishes to Jesus with confidence, allowing His power to multiply our resources on behalf of those who hunger for our compassion and generosity, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who are sick, lonely, or anxious, that the heart of Jesus may be moved with pity for them, and they may feel HIs healing touch upon all their afflictions, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our beloved departed ones, that every yoke of sin may be broken from their necks, and they may enjoy the perfect freedom of the heavenly kingdom, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Missa in my chapel. We celebrated Mass of the anniversary of priestly ordination. We prayed: Holy Father, who, by no merit of our own, chose us for communion with the eternal priesthood of your Christ and for the ministry of your Church, grant that we may be ardent yet gentle preachers of the Gospel and faithful stewards of your mysteries.
My sermon was on a more profound commitment to priestly life, avoiding becoming too familiar with our sacred functions. Later I drew their attention to the distractions that could come from members of our biological family.
Lunch and further interaction with all followed. In attendance: Fathers Samuel Chiozie, John Paul Ezebili, Simon Agbo, Vincent Chukwuka and Vincent Abanogu. Small Geschenk for each. Two of them were unavoidably absent because they had left the country for further studies: Martin Adimorah and Emmanuel Ejike.
I received my weekly phone recharge from my great priest-supporter. I prayed: O Lord my God, I know that this gift comes from a very sincere heart, pour your abundant blessings on your servant and keep him always in your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Much later in the evening, at Onitsha, I had Incontro d'Ufficio and supper with Archbishop Val Okeke.
Back to Aguleri. Night fall. Noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedat nobis Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
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ST JOSEPH'S CHURCH, ORAUKWU, with the Statue of Archbishop Albert Obiefuna
Sunday, 2 August 2020. 18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Deus, in adiutorium meum intende; Dome, ad adiuvandum me festina. Adiutor meus et liberator meus es tu; Domine, ne moreris. Usual morning appointment with the Lord. Adoration, Meditation, Lauds, and Benediction. At Mass we prayed with the Church: Draw near to your servants, O Lord, and answer their praers with unceasing kindness, that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide, you may restore what you have created and keep safe what you have restored.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Many people, who should have been rejoicing for what they've achieved, are rather regretting just because of one reason: they looked at what someone else was doing. Comparison eliminates contentment and then kills inner joy!"
At 10.00 am I was at St Joseph's Parish Oraukwu for a pastoral visit. As soon as I arrived, I went into the Church to supervise the sitting arrangement already made by the parish priest, Fr Gabriel C. Okoye, in collaboration with my secretaries and other assistants. Then, as part of our COVID19 safety protocol, the temperature of all in the Church and outside was checked. Thanks be to God, all tested were alright. Use of mask was also emphasised.
St Joseph's Oraukwu is a great parish that produced our revered Archbishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna whose giant statue stands in front, at the left corner of this ancient Church. I always have the feeling that someday, this great man, Archbishop Albert Obiefuna, will be declared a saint. In his last days on earth, when he suffered much because of ill health, I saw in him a great saint in the making. He bore the pains of his sickness with great faith, and he displayed saintly Christian heroism. I was and am still a witness to the extraordinary fragrance of holiness that "exuded" from him in his interaction with those around him, his words, actions and writings. I pray that a day will come when the Church will authorise her children to pray: "Saint Archbishop Albert Obiefuna, pray for us."
Holy Mass started at about 10.30 am. The number of candidates for Confirmation was the lowest I ever witnessed: only twenty-three persons. I was happy to see a house of God well kept. Reception immediately after Mass. Lunch. Pleasant interaction with priests who came mainly from the neighbouring parishes.
Back to Aguleri. I had a quiet evening. I went to bed early. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo et requiescamus in pace.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Many people, who should have been rejoicing for what they've achieved, are rather regretting just because of one reason: they looked at what someone else was doing. Comparison eliminates contentment and then kills inner joy!"
At 10.00 am I was at St Joseph's Parish Oraukwu for a pastoral visit. As soon as I arrived, I went into the Church to supervise the sitting arrangement already made by the parish priest, Fr Gabriel C. Okoye, in collaboration with my secretaries and other assistants. Then, as part of our COVID19 safety protocol, the temperature of all in the Church and outside was checked. Thanks be to God, all tested were alright. Use of mask was also emphasised.
St Joseph's Oraukwu is a great parish that produced our revered Archbishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna whose giant statue stands in front, at the left corner of this ancient Church. I always have the feeling that someday, this great man, Archbishop Albert Obiefuna, will be declared a saint. In his last days on earth, when he suffered much because of ill health, I saw in him a great saint in the making. He bore the pains of his sickness with great faith, and he displayed saintly Christian heroism. I was and am still a witness to the extraordinary fragrance of holiness that "exuded" from him in his interaction with those around him, his words, actions and writings. I pray that a day will come when the Church will authorise her children to pray: "Saint Archbishop Albert Obiefuna, pray for us."
Holy Mass started at about 10.30 am. The number of candidates for Confirmation was the lowest I ever witnessed: only twenty-three persons. I was happy to see a house of God well kept. Reception immediately after Mass. Lunch. Pleasant interaction with priests who came mainly from the neighbouring parishes.
Back to Aguleri. I had a quiet evening. I went to bed early. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo et requiescamus in pace.
PARISH COMMUNITY ROSARY: Bishop Isizoh at Sacred Heart Church, Nteje.
Saturday, 1 August 2020. MEMORIAL ST ALPHONSUS MARY DE' LIGUORI, Patron of Confessors and Moralists. In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os eius, et implevit eum Dominus spiritu sapientiae et intellectus; stolam gloriae induit eum. In adoration before the Lord hidden in the tabernacle, praises to Him: Ave verum corpus natum -
Hail, true Body, born
of the Virgin Mary,
having truly suffered, sacrificed
on the cross for mankind,
from whose pierced side
water and blood flowed:
Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet]
in the trial of death!
O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus,
O Jesus, son of Mary,
have mercy on me. Amen.-
Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, stupid people already have all the answers.” Morning Lauds. Benediction.
At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, who constantly raise up in your Church new edamples of virtue, grant that we may follow so closely in the footsteps of the Bishop Saint Alphonsus in his zeal for souls as to attain the same rewards that are his in heaven.
This evening, I was at Sacred Heart Church Nteje for Parish Community Rosary. We followed the Mysteries of Light and used the following Scriptural Readings:
First Mystery: The Baptism of the Lord - Gospel of Matthew 3, 13-17.
Second Mystery: The Wedding at Cana - Gospel of John 2, 1-11.
Third Mystery: The Proclamation of the Kingdom - Gospel of Mark 2, 1-13.
Fourth Mystery: The Transfiguration - Gospel of Luke 9, 28-36
Fifth Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist - Gospel of Mark 14, 22-25.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Hail, true Body, born
of the Virgin Mary,
having truly suffered, sacrificed
on the cross for mankind,
from whose pierced side
water and blood flowed:
Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet]
in the trial of death!
O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus,
O Jesus, son of Mary,
have mercy on me. Amen.-
Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, stupid people already have all the answers.” Morning Lauds. Benediction.
At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, who constantly raise up in your Church new edamples of virtue, grant that we may follow so closely in the footsteps of the Bishop Saint Alphonsus in his zeal for souls as to attain the same rewards that are his in heaven.
This evening, I was at Sacred Heart Church Nteje for Parish Community Rosary. We followed the Mysteries of Light and used the following Scriptural Readings:
First Mystery: The Baptism of the Lord - Gospel of Matthew 3, 13-17.
Second Mystery: The Wedding at Cana - Gospel of John 2, 1-11.
Third Mystery: The Proclamation of the Kingdom - Gospel of Mark 2, 1-13.
Fourth Mystery: The Transfiguration - Gospel of Luke 9, 28-36
Fifth Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist - Gospel of Mark 14, 22-25.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
St Catherine's Parish, Awkuzu: Foundation block for a Pavilion
Friday, 31 July 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA. In nomine Iesu omne genu flectatur, caelestium, terrestrium et infernorum; et omnis lingua confiteatur quia Dominus Iesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris. Attributed to St Ignatius is this prayer: "Lord take away my memory, understanding and will; and grant me your love and grace."
Adoration of the Sanctissimum. Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Initia multarum rerum sunt parva. Every big castle was once started with a single block; despise no small beginnings. A little step taken every day builds up the hope of greater accomplishments. Do something every day!" Morning Lauds. We remembered the Jesuits in prayer. Benediction. At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, who raised up Saint Ignatius of Loyola in your Church to further the greater glory of your name, grant that by his help we may imitate him in fighting the good fight on earth and merit to receive with him a crown in heaven.
At 9.55am, with the visiting Mons. John Wangbu who arrived in Aguleri since yesterday, we traveled to St Paul's Church, Ebenato Nnobi for Missa esequialis for ma Priscilla Obianika. We prayed: O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your handmaid Priscilla, whom you have called this day to journey to you, and, since she hoped and believed in you, grant she may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
Adoration of the Sanctissimum. Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Initia multarum rerum sunt parva. Every big castle was once started with a single block; despise no small beginnings. A little step taken every day builds up the hope of greater accomplishments. Do something every day!" Morning Lauds. We remembered the Jesuits in prayer. Benediction. At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, who raised up Saint Ignatius of Loyola in your Church to further the greater glory of your name, grant that by his help we may imitate him in fighting the good fight on earth and merit to receive with him a crown in heaven.
At 9.55am, with the visiting Mons. John Wangbu who arrived in Aguleri since yesterday, we traveled to St Paul's Church, Ebenato Nnobi for Missa esequialis for ma Priscilla Obianika. We prayed: O God, whose nature is always to forgive and to show mercy, we humbly implore you for your handmaid Priscilla, whom you have called this day to journey to you, and, since she hoped and believed in you, grant she may be led to our true homeland to delight in its everlasting joys.
Episcopal Ordination of Msgr Michael Kalu Ukpong, Auxiliary Bishop of Umuahia
Thursday, 30 July 2020. At BANPAC in Umuahia. Conversation with our Blessed Mother. There was no opportunity to follow my morning rhythm of spiritual activities. Breakfast at 7.30am. We were at the Cathedral at 9.00 am. Procession began shortly after 9.30 am. The following Bishops were present: Anthony Obinna, Lucius Ugorji (host), Solomon Amatu, Augustine Ukwuoma, Augustine Echema, Moses Chikwe, Valerian Okeke, Hilary Okeke, Godfrey Onah, Callistus Onaga, John Okoye, Peter Okpaleke, Denis Isizoh, Jonas Benson Okoye, Michael Okoro, Ernest Obodo, Camillus Umoh, John Ayah.
Today, Mons. Michael Ukpong proceeded into Mater Dei Cathedral Umuahia for his Episcopal Ordination. The Bishops, each in turn, imposed hands on him. And in the middle of the prayer of Consecration, all the concelebrating Bishops said aloud the following prayer: Pour out now upon this chosen one that power which is from you, the Spirit of governance whom you gave to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Spirit whom he bestowed upon the holy Apostles, who established the Church in each place as your sanctuary for the glory and unceasing praise of your name. At the end of this prayer, a brand new bishop, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong, stood up in our midst! Propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo laetitiae prae consortibus tuis. He was decorated as a bishop and given the tools for work.
Lunch after Mass. Soon we were on our way home. Three hours lateer, we were safely back to Aguleri, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Today, Mons. Michael Ukpong proceeded into Mater Dei Cathedral Umuahia for his Episcopal Ordination. The Bishops, each in turn, imposed hands on him. And in the middle of the prayer of Consecration, all the concelebrating Bishops said aloud the following prayer: Pour out now upon this chosen one that power which is from you, the Spirit of governance whom you gave to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Spirit whom he bestowed upon the holy Apostles, who established the Church in each place as your sanctuary for the glory and unceasing praise of your name. At the end of this prayer, a brand new bishop, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong, stood up in our midst! Propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo laetitiae prae consortibus tuis. He was decorated as a bishop and given the tools for work.
Lunch after Mass. Soon we were on our way home. Three hours lateer, we were safely back to Aguleri, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Wednesday, 29 July 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST MARTHA. Intravit Iesus in quoddam castellum, et mulier quaedam Martha nomine excepit illum in domum suam. Usual early conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. Adoration, Meditation Prayers as usual. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Embrace the power of little things and you will build a tower of mighty things. Mighty things are made up of varieties of little things put together!"
At Holy Mass we prayed with the Church: Almighty ever-living God, whose Son was pleased to be welcomed in Saint Martha's house as a guest, grant, we pray, that through her intercession, serving Christ faithfully in our brothers and sisters, we may merit to be received by you in the halls of heaven.
After breakfast, I was briefly at my table to update my website. At 11.30, I had early lunch. Soon after I took off to Ekwulobia where Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Bishop Okpaleke Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye and Bishop Denis Isizoh agreed to meet on our way to Umuahia. Our journey to the capital of Abia State was in anticipation of the Episcopal Ordination of the auxiliary bishop-elect of Umuahia diocese. Safe journey to our destination. Arrival point: Bishop Anthony Nwedo Pastoral Centre (BANPAC).
We arrived Umuahia in time to join rosary recitation and Vespers at Mater Dei Cathedral Umuahia. Just before the Benediction, Mons. Michael Kalu Ukpong, the Bishop-elect, professed his Catholic faith. Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi led him in oath of obedience to the Holy Father.
Supper and overnight stay at BANPAC.
At Holy Mass we prayed with the Church: Almighty ever-living God, whose Son was pleased to be welcomed in Saint Martha's house as a guest, grant, we pray, that through her intercession, serving Christ faithfully in our brothers and sisters, we may merit to be received by you in the halls of heaven.
After breakfast, I was briefly at my table to update my website. At 11.30, I had early lunch. Soon after I took off to Ekwulobia where Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Bishop Okpaleke Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye and Bishop Denis Isizoh agreed to meet on our way to Umuahia. Our journey to the capital of Abia State was in anticipation of the Episcopal Ordination of the auxiliary bishop-elect of Umuahia diocese. Safe journey to our destination. Arrival point: Bishop Anthony Nwedo Pastoral Centre (BANPAC).
We arrived Umuahia in time to join rosary recitation and Vespers at Mater Dei Cathedral Umuahia. Just before the Benediction, Mons. Michael Kalu Ukpong, the Bishop-elect, professed his Catholic faith. Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi led him in oath of obedience to the Holy Father.
Supper and overnight stay at BANPAC.
Tuesday, 28 July 2020. Usual morning devotions. The Couple, Nzube and Ozioma, joined us for morning prayers and Mass. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "There is joy at the end of every struggle we face. But you can never cross over and get there with the boats of complains. Complainer is only an explainer of pain! Take action!"
At 10.00am, I was at Adazi Nnukwu for the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Provincial Bishops' meeting. We met here for the first time today. Before the meeting, the new Auxiliary Bishop's House was blessed and opened. Magnificient building started from the scratch and completed within six months. In terms of architectural design and, perhaps, size, it would be easily considered the best Bishop's house in Eastern Nigeria. I understand that it was jointly sponsored by Awka diocese and friends of Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye.
There was a full house at this meeting: Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Bishops Michael Okoro, Hilary Okeke, John Okoye, Paulinus Ezeokafor, Godfrey Onah, Callistus Onaga, Peter Okpaleke, Jonas Benson Okoye, Denis Isizoh, and Ernest Obodo. At the end of the meeting we issued the following Pastoral Message:
At 10.00am, I was at Adazi Nnukwu for the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Provincial Bishops' meeting. We met here for the first time today. Before the meeting, the new Auxiliary Bishop's House was blessed and opened. Magnificient building started from the scratch and completed within six months. In terms of architectural design and, perhaps, size, it would be easily considered the best Bishop's house in Eastern Nigeria. I understand that it was jointly sponsored by Awka diocese and friends of Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye.
There was a full house at this meeting: Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Bishops Michael Okoro, Hilary Okeke, John Okoye, Paulinus Ezeokafor, Godfrey Onah, Callistus Onaga, Peter Okpaleke, Jonas Benson Okoye, Denis Isizoh, and Ernest Obodo. At the end of the meeting we issued the following Pastoral Message:
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Domine, sicut novellae olivarum filii tui in circuitu mensae tuae!
Monday, 27 July 2020. Respice, Domine, in testamentum tuum, et animas pauperum tuorum ne derelinquas in finem, Exsurge, Domine, et iudica causam tuam, et ne obliviscaris voces quaerentium te. We followed our morning rhythm of spiritual activities of Adoration, Meditation, Office of Lauds, Benediction.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don’t deceive yourself; laughing at someone’s weakness is not the way to reveal your strength. Your strength is in the help you offer, not the mockeries you deliver!"
Today we celebrated Mass for the Persecuted Christians in the world. At Collect we prayed: O God, who in your inscrutable providence will that the Church be united to the sufferings of your Son, grant, we pray, to your faithful who suffer for your name's sake a spirit of patience and charity, that they may be found true and faithful witnesses to the promises you have made. We used Eucharist Prayer V/4 for Masses in Various Needs and prayed: Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort thos who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. Any may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope.
At 11.00 am, I concelebrated Mass of thanksgiving with my 2015 and 2016 Spiritual sons - the Priests I ordained for the Archdiocese of Onitsha. It has been my usual practice to have Missa and mensa with them, to interact in order to pass on to them the wisdom of priestly life.
During the Mass with them today in my chapel, the theme of my homily was "Transparency with God." It was a Mass of thanksgiving for Priests. Our prayer: O God, who have willed that we preside over your family not by our merit but out of the abundance of your untold grace alone, grant that we may carry out worthily the ministry of the priestly office and, under your governance in all things, may direct the people entrusted to our care.
From the Table of the Lord, where we were fed with the Bread of the Angles, we moved over to my refectory, the table of man, where we ate to nourish our body. During this second phase, I spoke to them about "Trusting God" and about detachment from things that hinder us from living out well our priestly vocation. The atmosphere was that of a family. Plenty of jokes. Sharing of experiences of priestly life. Questions and answers. One of the interesting matters we discussed was about "supporting jobs" for parish priests. There was a moment of sharing gifts. The afternoon ended with prayers and my blessing. Those around who were able to come: Fathers Collins Ogbannu, Peter Okoli, Henry Ugokwe, Charles Izuakor, Crescent Ezeh, Ikenna Emengini, Alex Ezeh, Damian Ojukwu, Innocent Udolisah, and Casmir Onyemaizu
I had for supper a couple I wedded last year. Today, was their first wedding anniversary. As my usual practice, I invited them for dinner and prayers in my house. It was always an excellent occasion to talk about their joys and sorrows so far, their plans for the year, economic management, and other family matters. At the end of our supper, each person prayed for the other. Long prayer, eh. I blessed them at the end of our meal. I realised that the couple planned to stay overnight and that was the reason they arrived late in the evening. I offered them accommodation for the night.
I got a great priest-supporter. Starting from today, he offered to be recharging my phone EVERY WEEK as long as he is able. This is certainly a huge support to my Episcopal ministry! Today I received the first recharge of three thousand Naira. He asked me not to worry about acknowledging receipt. O Lord my God, I know that this gift comes from a very sincere heart, pour your abundant blessings on your servant and keep him always in your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
There was no dull moment today! When I entered my room, I stayed briefly at my desk and then made for my bed. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don’t deceive yourself; laughing at someone’s weakness is not the way to reveal your strength. Your strength is in the help you offer, not the mockeries you deliver!"
Today we celebrated Mass for the Persecuted Christians in the world. At Collect we prayed: O God, who in your inscrutable providence will that the Church be united to the sufferings of your Son, grant, we pray, to your faithful who suffer for your name's sake a spirit of patience and charity, that they may be found true and faithful witnesses to the promises you have made. We used Eucharist Prayer V/4 for Masses in Various Needs and prayed: Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort thos who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. Any may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope.
At 11.00 am, I concelebrated Mass of thanksgiving with my 2015 and 2016 Spiritual sons - the Priests I ordained for the Archdiocese of Onitsha. It has been my usual practice to have Missa and mensa with them, to interact in order to pass on to them the wisdom of priestly life.
During the Mass with them today in my chapel, the theme of my homily was "Transparency with God." It was a Mass of thanksgiving for Priests. Our prayer: O God, who have willed that we preside over your family not by our merit but out of the abundance of your untold grace alone, grant that we may carry out worthily the ministry of the priestly office and, under your governance in all things, may direct the people entrusted to our care.
From the Table of the Lord, where we were fed with the Bread of the Angles, we moved over to my refectory, the table of man, where we ate to nourish our body. During this second phase, I spoke to them about "Trusting God" and about detachment from things that hinder us from living out well our priestly vocation. The atmosphere was that of a family. Plenty of jokes. Sharing of experiences of priestly life. Questions and answers. One of the interesting matters we discussed was about "supporting jobs" for parish priests. There was a moment of sharing gifts. The afternoon ended with prayers and my blessing. Those around who were able to come: Fathers Collins Ogbannu, Peter Okoli, Henry Ugokwe, Charles Izuakor, Crescent Ezeh, Ikenna Emengini, Alex Ezeh, Damian Ojukwu, Innocent Udolisah, and Casmir Onyemaizu
I had for supper a couple I wedded last year. Today, was their first wedding anniversary. As my usual practice, I invited them for dinner and prayers in my house. It was always an excellent occasion to talk about their joys and sorrows so far, their plans for the year, economic management, and other family matters. At the end of our supper, each person prayed for the other. Long prayer, eh. I blessed them at the end of our meal. I realised that the couple planned to stay overnight and that was the reason they arrived late in the evening. I offered them accommodation for the night.
I got a great priest-supporter. Starting from today, he offered to be recharging my phone EVERY WEEK as long as he is able. This is certainly a huge support to my Episcopal ministry! Today I received the first recharge of three thousand Naira. He asked me not to worry about acknowledging receipt. O Lord my God, I know that this gift comes from a very sincere heart, pour your abundant blessings on your servant and keep him always in your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
There was no dull moment today! When I entered my room, I stayed briefly at my desk and then made for my bed. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament at St Anne's Church, Awka Etiti.
Sunday, 26 July 2020. 17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Deus in loko sancto suo; Deus qui inhabitare facit unanimes in domo, ipse dabit virtutem et fortitudinem plebi suae. The book, In sinu Iesu: When Heart speaks to heart, a simple guide for placing oneself in a prayerful mood for meditation before the Lord hidden in the tabernacle. Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum, neque elati sunt oculi mei, neque ambulavi in magnis neque in mirabilibus super me. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Take the unpopular route. Use the road no one travels by. Think of doing what is uncommon but remarkable. You have absolutely nobody to overtake you on the empty road! Do one noble act every day."
At Mass we prayed with the Church: O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure.
In the Preface we proclaimed, addressing "Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God": For in you we live and move and have our being, and while in this body we not only experience the daily effects of your care, but even now possess the pledge of life eternal. For, having received the first fruits of the Spirit, through whom you raised up Jesus from the dead, we hope for an everlasting share in the Paschal Mystery.
At 4.00 pm, I was at St Anne's Church, Awka Etiti, for Sunday Evening Instruction/Nkuzi nke Okwukwe. The Church was full. Thanks for the coordination of activities by Fr John Ezeoruonye, the parish priest. Mons. Michael Onyekachukwu (Sure Sure), illustrious indigenous priests of Awka Etiti, other priests, including the religious Sisters - Sr Maria Rosa Ezeanyika and others - were all present. I spoke on the Eucharistic adoration/devotion. There were many questions directed to me during the interactive session. I concluded with the Adoration and the Benediction, followed by Divine Praises:
Ngozi dịrị Chukwu.
Ngozi dịrị Aha nsọ nke Chukwu.
Ngozi dịrị Jesu Kristi bụ Chukwu ezie buazi Mmadu ezie.
Ngozi dịrị Aha nsọ nke Jesu.
Ngozi dịrị Obi nke Jesu dikalisili n' asọ.
Ngozi dịrị Obara ya di okeọnụ.
Ngozi dịrị Jesu na sakrament dikarịsịrị asọ nọ n'ọlta.
Ngozi dịrị Chukwu Mmuo nsọ onye ntasi obi.
Ngozi dịrị Nne nke Chukwu dị ebube bụ Marịa dikarisịrị n'asọ.
Ngozi dịrị ịtụ ime ya dị asọ n'ejighị njọ.
Ngozi dịrị mgbugo n' enuigwe ya dị otito.
Ngozi dịrị aha nke Maria bu vejin na Nne.
Ngozi dịrị Josef dị asọ dakarịsịrị obi ọcha bụ dị ya.
Ngozi dịrị Chukwu na ebe Ndị Mmụọ-ọma na ndi Ọma ya nọ.
At Mass we prayed with the Church: O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure.
In the Preface we proclaimed, addressing "Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God": For in you we live and move and have our being, and while in this body we not only experience the daily effects of your care, but even now possess the pledge of life eternal. For, having received the first fruits of the Spirit, through whom you raised up Jesus from the dead, we hope for an everlasting share in the Paschal Mystery.
At 4.00 pm, I was at St Anne's Church, Awka Etiti, for Sunday Evening Instruction/Nkuzi nke Okwukwe. The Church was full. Thanks for the coordination of activities by Fr John Ezeoruonye, the parish priest. Mons. Michael Onyekachukwu (Sure Sure), illustrious indigenous priests of Awka Etiti, other priests, including the religious Sisters - Sr Maria Rosa Ezeanyika and others - were all present. I spoke on the Eucharistic adoration/devotion. There were many questions directed to me during the interactive session. I concluded with the Adoration and the Benediction, followed by Divine Praises:
Ngozi dịrị Chukwu.
Ngozi dịrị Aha nsọ nke Chukwu.
Ngozi dịrị Jesu Kristi bụ Chukwu ezie buazi Mmadu ezie.
Ngozi dịrị Aha nsọ nke Jesu.
Ngozi dịrị Obi nke Jesu dikalisili n' asọ.
Ngozi dịrị Obara ya di okeọnụ.
Ngozi dịrị Jesu na sakrament dikarịsịrị asọ nọ n'ọlta.
Ngozi dịrị Chukwu Mmuo nsọ onye ntasi obi.
Ngozi dịrị Nne nke Chukwu dị ebube bụ Marịa dikarisịrị n'asọ.
Ngozi dịrị ịtụ ime ya dị asọ n'ejighị njọ.
Ngozi dịrị mgbugo n' enuigwe ya dị otito.
Ngozi dịrị aha nke Maria bu vejin na Nne.
Ngozi dịrị Josef dị asọ dakarịsịrị obi ọcha bụ dị ya.
Ngozi dịrị Chukwu na ebe Ndị Mmụọ-ọma na ndi Ọma ya nọ.
Saturday, 25 July 2020. FEAST OF ST JAMES, APOSTLE. Ambulans Iesus iuxta mare Galilaeae, vidit Iacobum Zebedaei et Ioannem fratrem eius, reficientes retia sua, et vocavit eos. Usual rhythm of morning spiritual activities. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: : "Don’t embrace mediocrity; its main charm is to make you fall in love with failure. Speed off… Excellence awaits you at the end of your journey!"
I reflected on the activities of the Sons of Zebedee and the consequences. At the moment of their call, they responded with total abandonment of comfort zone. While with Christ, they had a great zeal to bring about changes in the world. When there was a perceived threat to the Gospel, they wanted to call down thunder to destroy the opposers. They aspired to the highest office - staying closest to Christ. They received a great lesson on humility. Uniquely they had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration of the Lord.
They summarized their mission on earth by surrendering themselves to Christ in martyrdom.
I hosted a special Summit of Ahoba today. At about 11.00 am, the guests started arriving. I subjected them to full COVID19 protection protocol. The temperature was controlled with infrared thermometers. Washing of hands. Social distancing in the sitting arrangement. Only fifty persons were allowed to participate in the Summit. I offered them a humble lunch at the end.
Cool evening. Quiet night
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
I reflected on the activities of the Sons of Zebedee and the consequences. At the moment of their call, they responded with total abandonment of comfort zone. While with Christ, they had a great zeal to bring about changes in the world. When there was a perceived threat to the Gospel, they wanted to call down thunder to destroy the opposers. They aspired to the highest office - staying closest to Christ. They received a great lesson on humility. Uniquely they had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration of the Lord.
They summarized their mission on earth by surrendering themselves to Christ in martyrdom.
I hosted a special Summit of Ahoba today. At about 11.00 am, the guests started arriving. I subjected them to full COVID19 protection protocol. The temperature was controlled with infrared thermometers. Washing of hands. Social distancing in the sitting arrangement. Only fifty persons were allowed to participate in the Summit. I offered them a humble lunch at the end.
Cool evening. Quiet night
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
Friday, 24 July 2020. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et populo et natione, et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum. Usual morning spiritual activities, in sequence: Adoration with meditation, Lauds, Benediction and Holy Mass. Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We prayed: O God, who by the Precious Blood of your Only Begotten Son have redeemed the whole world, preserve in us the work of your mercy, so that, ever honoring the mystery of our salvation, we may merit to obtain its fruits.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Honesty is a very expensive gift don't expect it from cheap people. You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."
In preparation for a special summit of the class delegates of All Hallows Old Boys Association, I was in the Conference room in my secretariat to supervise the clean up of the place and the arrangement being made by my staff to make it compliant with the COVID19 protocol established by Anambra State Government.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Honesty is a very expensive gift don't expect it from cheap people. You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."
In preparation for a special summit of the class delegates of All Hallows Old Boys Association, I was in the Conference room in my secretariat to supervise the clean up of the place and the arrangement being made by my staff to make it compliant with the COVID19 protocol established by Anambra State Government.
Evening came and night followed: the end of the day.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me
Thursday, 23 July 2020. Usual daily activities. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “People who have attained things worth having in this world have worked while others idled, have persevered when others gave up in despair, have practiced early in life the valuable habits of self-denial, industry, and singleness of purpose. As a result, they enjoy later in life the success so often erroneously attributed to good luck.”
Throughout today, I shut myself inside to clear the stuff I no longer needed in my study room. I discovered many files I had misplaced.
Turning to the Lord at the end of the day:
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Throughout today, I shut myself inside to clear the stuff I no longer needed in my study room. I discovered many files I had misplaced.
Turning to the Lord at the end of the day:
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Wednesday, 22 July 2020. FEAST OF ST MARY MAGDALENE. Dixit Dominus Mariae Magdalenae: Vade ad fratres meos, et dic eis: Ascendo ad Patrem meum et Patrem vestrum, Deum meum et Deum vestrum. ADORATION. OUR REFLECTION TODAY: NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT US! You're NOT more Special than others; it's just a Privilege that you're enjoying. Be calm. Be submissive. Be Humble. Be Reasonable. Be Accountable. Be Respectful. MORNING PRAYER. Today was a good day to pray for women who help to spread the Gospel in various sectors of the society: family, place of work, markets, hospitals, schools, places where men rarely reach, nuns in religious houses, etc. Not to be forgotten are those women who collaborate with and accompany priests in their ministries. BENEDICTION. Pie Pelicane, Jesu Domine, me immundum munda tuo Sanguine: Cuius una stilla salvum facere totum mundum quit ab omni scelere
At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection, grant, we pray, that through her intercession and example we may proclaim the living Christ and come to see him reigning in your glory.
We said the following intercessory prayers:
Lunch followed. Quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection, grant, we pray, that through her intercession and example we may proclaim the living Christ and come to see him reigning in your glory.
We said the following intercessory prayers:
- For our Holy Father, our bishops and priests, that with the whole Church they may take their stance of faith in the resurrection which was first proclaimed by Mary Magdalene, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the angels who announced good news to Mary Magdalene may also bring the glad tidings of peace to our world, helping us in our work for life and justice, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For vocations, especially to contemplative life, that many more generous hearts may respond to the One who seeks to be their Rabboni, their beloved Teacher and Spouse, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who stand weeping by the tomb of their hopes and dreams, that they may hear themselves called by name and filled with good news from the Lord Jesus, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our beloved departed ones, that they may receive the living fruit of Jesus' resurrection in their own entrance into His eternal kingdom, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Lunch followed. Quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
Tuesday, 21 July 2020. Before the Sanctissimum we prostrate: Therefore we, before him bending, this great Sacrament revere; types and shadows have their ending, for the newer rite is here; faith, our outward sense befriending, makes our inward vision clear. OUR REFLECTION TODAY: NONE OF US IS IRREPLACEABLE! That thing you think cannot be done without you will not die or suffer. It is like Military barracks .... Soldiers go, Soldiers come but Barracks/Military base remain.. They may miss your ideas, but you are not irreplaceable. Experience has shown that when your kind/type leaves the system is when greater opportunities open for others. As a matter of fact they'll not miss your unpleasant nature but make a mockery of it at their leisure. Do what you can and let others do theirs.
At Mass today I prayed for growth of Christian faith among our people. I prayed for inner spiritual strength to accomplish great things for God.
Soon after breakfast I headed to my home village to confront those trying to revive the long abandoned traditional religious practices. Without any fear, relying on the words of Isaiah, Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness, I handled the situation with the urgency it required.
At the end of the day, a hymn for Compline, Te lucis ante terminum:
Before the end of the day,
We ask you, creator of all,
In your wonted kindness,
To go before us as our guard.
May our hearts dream of you,
May we perceive you even in sleep,
And always sing your glory
At the coming of the light.
Grant us a healthy life,
Restore our fervour;
The foul darkness of night
May your brightness illumine.
Grant this, Father almighty,
Through Jesus Christ the Lord,
Who with you forever
Reigns with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
At Mass today I prayed for growth of Christian faith among our people. I prayed for inner spiritual strength to accomplish great things for God.
Soon after breakfast I headed to my home village to confront those trying to revive the long abandoned traditional religious practices. Without any fear, relying on the words of Isaiah, Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness, I handled the situation with the urgency it required.
At the end of the day, a hymn for Compline, Te lucis ante terminum:
Before the end of the day,
We ask you, creator of all,
In your wonted kindness,
To go before us as our guard.
May our hearts dream of you,
May we perceive you even in sleep,
And always sing your glory
At the coming of the light.
Grant us a healthy life,
Restore our fervour;
The foul darkness of night
May your brightness illumine.
Grant this, Father almighty,
Through Jesus Christ the Lord,
Who with you forever
Reigns with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Monday, 20 July 2020. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. ADORATION, MEDITATION. OUR REFLECTION TODAY: NONE OF US IS IRREPLACEABLE! - To those who shout at people at work and make them feel irrelevant: be careful you're just a colleague. To those who act in church like without them things can't be done properly, ask Elijah: God has over 7000 better servants waiting to step in. To all who are so pompous and feel the world revolves round them and should be treated with so much respect they don't give to others.....go ask Nebuchadnezzar: he was disgracefully humbled. To those who are so disrespectful to constituted authority by virtue of knowledge/experience/status etc....watch out you'll be on the side of authority very soon: expect more than what you've done/given because it will always come back to you. Someday you will go - (Death.. Retirement.. Resignation.. Promotion.. Transfer.. Relocation....) And guess what?
~ Work will continue...
~ Church will wax stronger....
~ Family like water will find its level...
~ Persons/Friends will adjust well in good time...
At Mass today, in Italian language we prayed with the Church: Sii propizio a noi tuoi fedeli, Signore, e donaci i tesori della tua grazia, perché, ardenti di speranza, fede e carità, restiamo sempre fedeli ai tuoi comandamenti.
Later this morning, I attended a special home school to learn how to use ZOOM, the application for online conference/meeting. My teacher was Fr Michael Odenigbo, my assistant Secretary. Beforehand, I downloaded the application and then installed it on my devices. He created a conference session and made me to join. Then when the session started, he turned me to a convener of the conference. Smooth learning. Good teacher! After, I made out time to read about the application. There are certainly privacy concerns. But using ZOOM could save money and time we spend travelling to places for meetings.
My day was well spent. Evening came, and later it was night. To our Blessed Mother we turn again:
O Sanctissima! O Piissima!
Dulcis Virgo Maria!
Mater amata intemerata
Ora, ora pro nobis
~ Work will continue...
~ Church will wax stronger....
~ Family like water will find its level...
~ Persons/Friends will adjust well in good time...
At Mass today, in Italian language we prayed with the Church: Sii propizio a noi tuoi fedeli, Signore, e donaci i tesori della tua grazia, perché, ardenti di speranza, fede e carità, restiamo sempre fedeli ai tuoi comandamenti.
Later this morning, I attended a special home school to learn how to use ZOOM, the application for online conference/meeting. My teacher was Fr Michael Odenigbo, my assistant Secretary. Beforehand, I downloaded the application and then installed it on my devices. He created a conference session and made me to join. Then when the session started, he turned me to a convener of the conference. Smooth learning. Good teacher! After, I made out time to read about the application. There are certainly privacy concerns. But using ZOOM could save money and time we spend travelling to places for meetings.
My day was well spent. Evening came, and later it was night. To our Blessed Mother we turn again:
O Sanctissima! O Piissima!
Dulcis Virgo Maria!
Mater amata intemerata
Ora, ora pro nobis
BENEDICTION at St Joseph's Church, Abata NSUGBE
Sunday, 19 July 2020. SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Ecce Deus adiuvat me, et Dominus susceptor est animae meae. Voluntarie sacrificabo tibi, et confitebor nomini tuo, Domine, quoniam bonum est. Usual morning devotions. In adoration of the Eucharistic Lord: Sweet Sacrament divine, hid in thine earthly home, lo, round thy lowly shrine, with suppliant hearts we come; Jesus, to thee our voice we raise in songs of love and heartfelt praise: sweet Sacrament divine. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayer:
I returned to Aguleri for supper. Feeling very sleepy even by 9.30pm, I headed to my bed, recommending myself to our Blessed Mother:
Sotto la tua protezione
cerchiamo rifugio,
santa Madre di Dio:
non disprezzare le suppliche
di noi che siamo nella prova,
ma liberaci da ogni pericolo,
o Vergine gloriosa e benedetta.
At Lauds, we said the following intercessory prayer:
- To the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time, now, and for ever. WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD: WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU TO BE THE LORD.
- We bless you, Lord, creator of the universe: we were sinners, in need of your grace: yet now you have called us to live in knowledge and service of you. WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD: WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU TO BE THE LORD.
- Your Son has shown us the way: As we follow in his steps, may we never wander from the path that leads to life. WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD: WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU TO BE THE LORD.
- We celebrate today the resurrection of your Son: in suffering and in gladness, may it bring us deep joy. WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD: WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU TO BE THE LORD.
- O Lord, give us the spirit of prayer and praise: let us always and everywhere give you thanks. WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD: WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU TO BE THE LORD.
I returned to Aguleri for supper. Feeling very sleepy even by 9.30pm, I headed to my bed, recommending myself to our Blessed Mother:
Sotto la tua protezione
cerchiamo rifugio,
santa Madre di Dio:
non disprezzare le suppliche
di noi che siamo nella prova,
ma liberaci da ogni pericolo,
o Vergine gloriosa e benedetta.
Parish Community Rosary at St Francis Church, Ivite Aguleri
Saturday, 18 July 2020. It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.
Five years ago today I had the privilege to ordain six deacons to the priesthood: Collins Ogbannu, Damian Ojukwu, Henry Olumba, Henry Ugokwe, Innocent Udolisah, and Peter Okoli. They became the first set of Priests I ordained for the Archdiocese of Onitsha. Our Mass this morning was offered for them on their anniversary. With the Church we prayed: Holy Father, who, by no merit of these sons of yours, chose them for communion with the ternal priesthood of your Christ and for the ministry of your Church, grant that they may be ardent yet gentle preachers of the Gospel and faithful stewards of your mysteries.
To this group belongs Fr Innocent, my secretary, who has been with me in the last five years. After our Mass in chapel, I invited Sr Vera Mariette Nwankwo to express our sentiments of gratitude to Father Innocent who is the coordinator of our Iwene Tansi community/house. She thanked him for his availability and devotion to duty. I also thanked Fr Innocent for being a good collaborator and companion in my Episcopal ministry. We already prayed for Fr Mike Odenigbo during his own anniversary on 16 July but, as he was absent, we did not congratulate him viva voce. So today I expressed appreciation for his services.
Good family breakfast. I gave Fr Innocent and Fr Mike Geschenke and wished them Happy Anniversary
At 4.00pm, I was at St Francis Church Ivite Aguleri for Parish Community Rosary. I went there with Fr Innocent and seminarian Emma Aneke. Thanks to the very hard working and devoted parish priest - Fr George Ekwunife, we found a people prepared for the spiritual exercise.
At night we thanked the Lord for his blessing. I stayed up far into the night. To our Blessed Mother we hail:
Salve Mater misericordiae
Mater Dei et Mater veniae
Mater spei et Mater gratiae
Mater plena Sanctae Letitiae
O Maria!
Salve decus humani generis
Salve Virgo dignior ceteris
Quae virgines omnes transgrederis
Et altius sedes in superis
Five years ago today I had the privilege to ordain six deacons to the priesthood: Collins Ogbannu, Damian Ojukwu, Henry Olumba, Henry Ugokwe, Innocent Udolisah, and Peter Okoli. They became the first set of Priests I ordained for the Archdiocese of Onitsha. Our Mass this morning was offered for them on their anniversary. With the Church we prayed: Holy Father, who, by no merit of these sons of yours, chose them for communion with the ternal priesthood of your Christ and for the ministry of your Church, grant that they may be ardent yet gentle preachers of the Gospel and faithful stewards of your mysteries.
To this group belongs Fr Innocent, my secretary, who has been with me in the last five years. After our Mass in chapel, I invited Sr Vera Mariette Nwankwo to express our sentiments of gratitude to Father Innocent who is the coordinator of our Iwene Tansi community/house. She thanked him for his availability and devotion to duty. I also thanked Fr Innocent for being a good collaborator and companion in my Episcopal ministry. We already prayed for Fr Mike Odenigbo during his own anniversary on 16 July but, as he was absent, we did not congratulate him viva voce. So today I expressed appreciation for his services.
Good family breakfast. I gave Fr Innocent and Fr Mike Geschenke and wished them Happy Anniversary
At 4.00pm, I was at St Francis Church Ivite Aguleri for Parish Community Rosary. I went there with Fr Innocent and seminarian Emma Aneke. Thanks to the very hard working and devoted parish priest - Fr George Ekwunife, we found a people prepared for the spiritual exercise.
At night we thanked the Lord for his blessing. I stayed up far into the night. To our Blessed Mother we hail:
Salve Mater misericordiae
Mater Dei et Mater veniae
Mater spei et Mater gratiae
Mater plena Sanctae Letitiae
O Maria!
Salve decus humani generis
Salve Virgo dignior ceteris
Quae virgines omnes transgrederis
Et altius sedes in superis
Friday, 17 July 2020. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et populo et natione, et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum.Usual rhythm of spiritual activities. ADORATION: Te adoro con devoción, Dios escondido, oculto verdaderamente bajo estas apariencias. A Ti se somete mi corazón por completo, y se rinde totalmente al contemplarte. (I adore you with devotion, hidden God, truly hidden under these appearances. To you my heart submits completely, and surrenders completely to contemplate you). POINTS FOR REFLECTION: QUALITIES OF A GOOD/HOLY PRIEST (as sent to me):
01 A personal relationship with God as evidenced by prayer
02 Love for the Catholic Church and its teachings
03 Generosity
04 Ability to work well with others
05 Interest in serving people
06 Respect for other people
07 Openness to different races, ethnic groups and cultures
08 Normal social skills
09 Capacity and desire to learn
10 Healthy self-image
11 Ability to spend time alone
12 Courage to take risks
13 Service with humility, generosity, wisdom and compassion
14 A firm faith and sincere spiritual life
15 human qualities that are essential for ministry: hospitality, sobriety, patience, kindness, goodness of heart and mercy.
LAUDS, BENEDICTION followed by HOLY MASS, in Latin today - Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. With the Church we prayed: Deus, qui pretioso Unigeniti tui Sanguine universos homines redemisti, conserva in nobis opus misericordiae tuae, ut, nostrae salutis mysterium iugiter recolentes, eiusdem fructum consequi mereamur.
At 10.00am, I was at Holy Family Church Oraukwu for Missa esequialis for ma Victoria Onuselogu. O God, who commanded us to honor father and mother, have mercy in your compassion on our mother Victoria, forgive her her sins, and bring us to see her one day in the gladness of eternal glory. Condolences to Fr Paschal Onuselogu and his siblings and other family members.
Back to Aguleri. Till I retired to bed, I continued the rearrangement of my study room. This exercise is helping me to discover some files/documents I misplaced. How wonderful if I regularly try to do this kind of clean-up in my spiritual life. Domine, dirige me in veritate tua et doce me, quia tu es Deus salutis meae.
To our Blessed Mother we turn as we retire:
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus1,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
01 A personal relationship with God as evidenced by prayer
02 Love for the Catholic Church and its teachings
03 Generosity
04 Ability to work well with others
05 Interest in serving people
06 Respect for other people
07 Openness to different races, ethnic groups and cultures
08 Normal social skills
09 Capacity and desire to learn
10 Healthy self-image
11 Ability to spend time alone
12 Courage to take risks
13 Service with humility, generosity, wisdom and compassion
14 A firm faith and sincere spiritual life
15 human qualities that are essential for ministry: hospitality, sobriety, patience, kindness, goodness of heart and mercy.
LAUDS, BENEDICTION followed by HOLY MASS, in Latin today - Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. With the Church we prayed: Deus, qui pretioso Unigeniti tui Sanguine universos homines redemisti, conserva in nobis opus misericordiae tuae, ut, nostrae salutis mysterium iugiter recolentes, eiusdem fructum consequi mereamur.
At 10.00am, I was at Holy Family Church Oraukwu for Missa esequialis for ma Victoria Onuselogu. O God, who commanded us to honor father and mother, have mercy in your compassion on our mother Victoria, forgive her her sins, and bring us to see her one day in the gladness of eternal glory. Condolences to Fr Paschal Onuselogu and his siblings and other family members.
Back to Aguleri. Till I retired to bed, I continued the rearrangement of my study room. This exercise is helping me to discover some files/documents I misplaced. How wonderful if I regularly try to do this kind of clean-up in my spiritual life. Domine, dirige me in veritate tua et doce me, quia tu es Deus salutis meae.
To our Blessed Mother we turn as we retire:
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus1,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
Thursday, 16 July 2020. As other days, this morning we presented ourselves to the Lord: Tantum ergo Sacramentum, Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui: Præstet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD, HOLY PRIEST: "1. To God, complete dedication, 2. To superiors - honest obedience, 3. To others - altruistic deportment. 4. To oneself - temperance and prudence. I think every Christian virtue, theological and cardinal, is required of a priest to be qualified as a good/holy priest since a priest plays multiple roles, undertakes several responsibilities and represents another-Christ among the people of God. I think that the above-mentioned qualities are relevant in a reflective setting of having to prioritise for a particular time, place, and people by identifying and selecting a few qualities out of many."
Today, we remembered Fr Michael Odenigbo at Mass. It is the anniversary of his Priestly Ordination. He preferred to concelebrate the Mass with one of his classmates in a parish. God bless them.
Later in the morning I resumed the clearing of my "paper-ridden" study room. This was a very tasking undertaking.
When the night came, I was truly tired. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Sensuum defectui.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD, HOLY PRIEST: "1. To God, complete dedication, 2. To superiors - honest obedience, 3. To others - altruistic deportment. 4. To oneself - temperance and prudence. I think every Christian virtue, theological and cardinal, is required of a priest to be qualified as a good/holy priest since a priest plays multiple roles, undertakes several responsibilities and represents another-Christ among the people of God. I think that the above-mentioned qualities are relevant in a reflective setting of having to prioritise for a particular time, place, and people by identifying and selecting a few qualities out of many."
Today, we remembered Fr Michael Odenigbo at Mass. It is the anniversary of his Priestly Ordination. He preferred to concelebrate the Mass with one of his classmates in a parish. God bless them.
Later in the morning I resumed the clearing of my "paper-ridden" study room. This was a very tasking undertaking.
When the night came, I was truly tired. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Wednesday, 15 July 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST BONAVENTURE. Visitabo oves meas, dicit Dominus, et suscitabo pastorem qui pascat eas: ego autem Dominus ero eis in Deum. Our usual morning spiritual activities. I found this write up, entitled "Mystery in life" by P. Laxman, worth thinking about:
In the long run, we'll all be the same...
So, forget all tensions of life and enjoy.
With the Church we prayed: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, just as we celebrate the heavenly birthday of the Bishop Saint Bonaventure, we may benefit from his great learning and constantly imitate the ardor of his charity.
Today, our Priests in various regions concluded their annual retreat. At 12.15pm, I was in St Joseph's Church Aguleri to meet and say a few words of exhortation to the Priests working in Aguleri region. I blessed them
And when night came, I said: In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
- At age 40...HIGHLY EDUCATED - LESS EDUCATED are the same (Less educated people may even earn more money).
- At 50... BEAUTY - UGLY are the same. (No matter how pretty you are, at this age...wrinkles, dark spots etc. can no more be hidden.
- At 60... HIGH POSITION - LOW POSITION are the same (After retirement, even a peon will avoid looking at his boss);
- At 70... BIG HOUSE - SMALL HOUSE are the same. (Joints degeneration, hard to move, only require a little space to sit.)
- At 80... HAVE MONEY - NO MONEY are the same. (Even when you want to spend money, you don't know where to spend).
- At 90... SLEEPING - WAKING UP are the the same. (After you wake up, you still don't know what to do.)
In the long run, we'll all be the same...
So, forget all tensions of life and enjoy.
With the Church we prayed: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, just as we celebrate the heavenly birthday of the Bishop Saint Bonaventure, we may benefit from his great learning and constantly imitate the ardor of his charity.
Today, our Priests in various regions concluded their annual retreat. At 12.15pm, I was in St Joseph's Church Aguleri to meet and say a few words of exhortation to the Priests working in Aguleri region. I blessed them
And when night came, I said: In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
Tuesday, 14 July 2020. Nella giustizia contemplerò il tuo volto, al mio risveglio mi sazierò della tua presenza. Adoration. Meditation. QUALITIES OF A GOOD, HOLY PRIEST (as sent to me): " 1) COMPASSION:This outstanding quality which moved Jesus to come to the aid of the hungry,the sick,the bereaved,the oppressed should characterise the life and the ministry of a good/holy priest. 2) PRAYERFUL---To qualify as a good priest,a priest must be a man of constant and deep prayer in imitation of Christ the eternal priest who was in regular communion with his eternal Father in prayer. 3) PATIENCE----A good/holy priest must be patient with the flock of God entrusted to his pastoral care especially the weak,the stubborn and those who tread the wrong path.Christ the good priest was patient with his disciples when they demonstrated lack of faith and worldly ambition and other character flaws. 4) JOY----The joy which Christ the good priest manifested at various times in his life and ministry and gave to the distressed is to characterise the life and ministry of a priest who Pope Paul Vi describes as a bringer of a christian job to a young deacon receiving ordination from his hands.A good priest should manifest joy in his life and ministry.The same joy he should transmit to the flock of God and to whoever comes his way.This type of love originates from constant personal encounter with Christ the good/holy priest."
At Mass, with the Church we prayed: O Dio, che mostri agli erranti la luce della tua verità, perché possano tornare sulla retta via, concedi a tutti coloro che si professano cristiani di respingere ciò che è contrario a questo nome e di seguire ciò che gli è conforme.
Our Priests' regional spiritual retreat continued.
At Mass, with the Church we prayed: O Dio, che mostri agli erranti la luce della tua verità, perché possano tornare sulla retta via, concedi a tutti coloro che si professano cristiani di respingere ciò che è contrario a questo nome e di seguire ciò che gli è conforme.
Our Priests' regional spiritual retreat continued.
Monday, 13 July 2020. Our community started the day with our usual morning spiritual exercises. Some months ago, I asked some priests to tell me what they considered to qualities of a good, holy priest. It was, and still is, my intention to publish a book on guidelines for priestly holiness. I have chosen to meditate each day on one submission, strongly convinced that each of them has meaning beyond the way it is presented.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD, HOLY PRIEST (as sent to me): "A man of deep faith, prayerful, joyfully faithful to his priestly vows, close to the people, capacity to listen and humility to learn. He is honest and transparent in his life and ministry. He is one who finds fulfillment in and through his BEING, not in and through his DOING. He must incarnate forgiveness and reconciliation in his own personal life."
Today the Priests of Onitsha Archdiocese began their annual retreat. Because of COVID19, they were asked to observe a "new normal" retreat programme. Retreat to be organised at regional level just for three days, every day from morning till 3.00pm. Each day would have a different moderator.
Prayer of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus
O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
for your unfaithful and tepid priests;
for your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields;
for your tempted priests;
for your lonely and desolate priests;
for your young priests;
for your dying priests;
for the souls of your priests in purgatory.
But above all, I recommend to you the priests dearest to me:
the priest who baptized me;
the priests who absolved me from my sins;
the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;
the priests who taught and instructed me;
all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way (especially …).
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart,
and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.
Amen.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD, HOLY PRIEST (as sent to me): "A man of deep faith, prayerful, joyfully faithful to his priestly vows, close to the people, capacity to listen and humility to learn. He is honest and transparent in his life and ministry. He is one who finds fulfillment in and through his BEING, not in and through his DOING. He must incarnate forgiveness and reconciliation in his own personal life."
Today the Priests of Onitsha Archdiocese began their annual retreat. Because of COVID19, they were asked to observe a "new normal" retreat programme. Retreat to be organised at regional level just for three days, every day from morning till 3.00pm. Each day would have a different moderator.
Prayer of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus
O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
for your unfaithful and tepid priests;
for your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields;
for your tempted priests;
for your lonely and desolate priests;
for your young priests;
for your dying priests;
for the souls of your priests in purgatory.
But above all, I recommend to you the priests dearest to me:
the priest who baptized me;
the priests who absolved me from my sins;
the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;
the priests who taught and instructed me;
all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way (especially …).
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart,
and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.
Amen.
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Temperature control before Mass at Awkuzu
Homily at St Catherine's Church, Awkuzu
Sunday, 12 July 2020. FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Ego autem cum iustitia apparebo in conspectu tuo; satiabor dum manifestabitur gloria tua. For meditation before the Sanctissimum, I took the first two of the hymn we sing every day before the Benediction: Tantum ergo Sacramentum - Great Sacrament; Veneremur cernui - We venerate, falling prostrate before God "hidden" in the tabernacle. But how do I achieve this "falling prostrate in veneration" silently without attracting any attention? Doce me, O Maria mater Christi.
At 9.45am, I was at St Catherine's Church, Awkuzu. My impressions: the Church after two years of dedication is still very clean, well maintained - all the light points still functional, the altar well decorated. Outside, there were new structures: Calvary Cross at one end, Grotto of our Blessed Virgin at the other end beside the Church. Inside the Church, I saw a lively congregation, happy to be called People of God. Special credit to Fr Frederick Ndimaeme the past parish priest and Fr Innocent Egbunike, the current one. Both have distinguished themselves as successful parish priests.
We began today's event with measuring the temperature of the Congregation. No person had high temperature. Then we arranged the sitting position inside the Church. We tried to ensure that we complied with the COVID19 safety protocol.
At about 10.15am, we started the procession into the Church. It was a solemn Mass sung by a solid choir. During the homily, I explained the nature and meaning of a Pastoral visit and the significance of the conferment of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Over a hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Upon them I laid my hands and prayed: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought these your servants to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, freeing them from sin: send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety; fill them with spirit of the fear of the Lord. Through Christ our Lord.
The procession after the Mass took us to the edge of the field beside the Church where I blessed and laid a foundation stone of a pavilion which would be used for outdoor Church activities.
Reception followed. Soon I was on my way home. Rendiamo grazie al Signore perchë il suo amore è senza fine! I was truly happy today because before me I see God giving Himself glory in the work of evangelization by His People (priests and lay faithful).
At night, I went to bed with the words of this Compline hymn in my mind:
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
At 9.45am, I was at St Catherine's Church, Awkuzu. My impressions: the Church after two years of dedication is still very clean, well maintained - all the light points still functional, the altar well decorated. Outside, there were new structures: Calvary Cross at one end, Grotto of our Blessed Virgin at the other end beside the Church. Inside the Church, I saw a lively congregation, happy to be called People of God. Special credit to Fr Frederick Ndimaeme the past parish priest and Fr Innocent Egbunike, the current one. Both have distinguished themselves as successful parish priests.
We began today's event with measuring the temperature of the Congregation. No person had high temperature. Then we arranged the sitting position inside the Church. We tried to ensure that we complied with the COVID19 safety protocol.
At about 10.15am, we started the procession into the Church. It was a solemn Mass sung by a solid choir. During the homily, I explained the nature and meaning of a Pastoral visit and the significance of the conferment of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Over a hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Upon them I laid my hands and prayed: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought these your servants to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, freeing them from sin: send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety; fill them with spirit of the fear of the Lord. Through Christ our Lord.
The procession after the Mass took us to the edge of the field beside the Church where I blessed and laid a foundation stone of a pavilion which would be used for outdoor Church activities.
Reception followed. Soon I was on my way home. Rendiamo grazie al Signore perchë il suo amore è senza fine! I was truly happy today because before me I see God giving Himself glory in the work of evangelization by His People (priests and lay faithful).
At night, I went to bed with the words of this Compline hymn in my mind:
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
Saturday, 11 July 2020. Pater sancte, sanctifica eos in veritate: sermo tuus veritas est. Sicut tu me misisti in mundum, et ego misi eos in mundum, dicit Dominus. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Close some doors today. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they lead you nowhere.” Usual morning devotions.
Today is the 39th anniversary of the Priestly ordination of Archbishop Val Okeke. I remember that day in 1981. He was ordained by Archbishop (Cardinal) Francis Arinze in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha. Those ordained the same day with him were: Victor Ifeanyi, Pius Nweke, Marius Obiagwu, Godwin Okolo, Christopher Okoye, Paul Ezeoke (RIP) and Christopher Okoye (RIP). For them and all others, including our own Fr Oliver Ezeani, who over the years were ordained on 11 July, we offered today's Mass, praying: May the divine sacrifice we have offered and received, O Lord, give new life to your Priests and to all your servants, that, united to you in unfailing love, they may receive the grace of giving worthy service to your majesty. Through Christ our Lord. For the prayed: Requiescant in pace Domini.
At 4.00pm, I was at St Thomas' Parish, Uke, for Parish Community Rosary. Well attended. We meditated on the Luminous Mysteries in Igbo, using my new booklet Ekpere Rosari n'Ogbako Parishi. During my allocution, I strongly recommended daily recitation of rosary in families. We concluded the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Prayer for faith. We said it in Igbo, but here I provide also the English translation:
Today is the 39th anniversary of the Priestly ordination of Archbishop Val Okeke. I remember that day in 1981. He was ordained by Archbishop (Cardinal) Francis Arinze in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha. Those ordained the same day with him were: Victor Ifeanyi, Pius Nweke, Marius Obiagwu, Godwin Okolo, Christopher Okoye, Paul Ezeoke (RIP) and Christopher Okoye (RIP). For them and all others, including our own Fr Oliver Ezeani, who over the years were ordained on 11 July, we offered today's Mass, praying: May the divine sacrifice we have offered and received, O Lord, give new life to your Priests and to all your servants, that, united to you in unfailing love, they may receive the grace of giving worthy service to your majesty. Through Christ our Lord. For the prayed: Requiescant in pace Domini.
At 4.00pm, I was at St Thomas' Parish, Uke, for Parish Community Rosary. Well attended. We meditated on the Luminous Mysteries in Igbo, using my new booklet Ekpere Rosari n'Ogbako Parishi. During my allocution, I strongly recommended daily recitation of rosary in families. We concluded the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Prayer for faith. We said it in Igbo, but here I provide also the English translation:
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PRAYER FOR FAITH
Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, that fullness of FAITH in You and trust in her, to which it is given to conquer the world. Grant us a lively FAITH, animated by charity, which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of You, and ever to see You and serve You in our neighbour; A FAITH, firm and immovable as a rock, through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life; A courageous FAITH which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls; A FAITH which will be our Pillar of Fire to lead us forth united; to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love; to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death; to inflame those who are lukewarm; to bring back life to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace; so that - the battle of life over – all of us may reassemble, without the loss of any one, in the kingdom of Your love and glory. Amen. |
ARỊRỊỌ MAKA OKWUKWE
O Dinwenụ anyị, nye anyị bụ ndị n’okpuru Marịa alụ agha, OKWUKWE nụụ zuru ezu n’ebe Ị nọ na nchekwube anyị n’ebe ọ nọ, nke enyere anyị iji meri ụwa. Nye anyị OKWUKWE dị ndụ ya na ezi ịhụnanya Gị nke ga enyere anyị aka ịrụ ọrụ anyị niile sọsọ maka ihi ihụnanya Gị, ya na oge niile ka anyị na-ahụ Gị na efe gi n’ebe mmadu ibe anyị nọ; OKWUKWE siri ike na enweghị mmerube dịka okwute nke anyị ga esite na ya were obi añụrị kwusie ike n’ahụhụ niile na ọrụ, na nsogbu niile nke ụwa. OKWUKWE ga enye anyi obi ike mee ka anyị rụpụta nnukwu ọrụ maka Chukwu na nzọpụta nke mkpụrụobi ghara ịtụ uche ọbụla. OKWUKWE nke ga abụ ide ọkụ nke ndị otu Kristi niile, nke ga n’edoko anyị ọnụ, na amụnye ọkụ nke ịhụnanya Chukwu ebe niile, na enye ndị nọ n’ọchichịrị n’okpuru ọnwụ ihe, na eme ndị dị oyi ka ha dị ọkụ na ewechiara ndị nọ n’ime njọ ndụ, na agbazi ụkwụ anyị n’ụzọ nke ndokwa. Ya bụ ọgụ nke ụwaa gachaa, ka ndị otu Kristi niile were zukọta ọzọ, ghara inwe onye ọbụla furu efu n’alaeze nke ịhụnanya na otito Gị. Amen. |
Friday, 10 July 2020. I got up quite early at about 4.00am I quickly did my morning spiritual chores and mentally reviewed my activities today. Then I joined the rest of my community for part of our Usual morning spiritual activities. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra! Before Him hidden in the tabernacles we present ourselves. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE from the the Magazine, The Priest; Six "non-negotiables" in preparation of homilies. They include: 1. Time 2. Prayer 3. Study 4. Organization 5. Concreteness 6. Evaluation. How do I apply these in the preparation of my homilies? After Benediction, I did not join my Iwene Tansi community for Mass. Instead I left immediately to have my breakfast. I travelled to Akokwa.
Before I left my compound, I sent a text message to Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma of Orlu diocese to let him know that I was coming into his territory for Mass. He gently replied almost immediately happily welcoming me to his ecclesiastical jurisdiction. At 9.40am, I was in St Barnabas' Church compound Akokwa for the funeral Mass of ma Veronica Ngozika Ekwelibe, aged 67. There was a delay in bringing the corpse from the mortuary in Onitsha to Akokwa. Security road blocks at the State borders. Patient waiting for about 40 minutes. Time for personal prayers for the deceased and interaction with many priests who came mainly from Onitsha archdiocese and Awka diocese. Thanks to Fr Nwokorobia, the parish Priest, who warmly welcomed us.
During the Mass, we prayed: O God, almighty Father, our faith professes that your Son died and rose again; mercifully grant, that through this mystery your handmaid Veronica, who has fallen asleep in Christ, may rejoice to rise again through him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I left for home immediately after Mass.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Before I left my compound, I sent a text message to Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma of Orlu diocese to let him know that I was coming into his territory for Mass. He gently replied almost immediately happily welcoming me to his ecclesiastical jurisdiction. At 9.40am, I was in St Barnabas' Church compound Akokwa for the funeral Mass of ma Veronica Ngozika Ekwelibe, aged 67. There was a delay in bringing the corpse from the mortuary in Onitsha to Akokwa. Security road blocks at the State borders. Patient waiting for about 40 minutes. Time for personal prayers for the deceased and interaction with many priests who came mainly from Onitsha archdiocese and Awka diocese. Thanks to Fr Nwokorobia, the parish Priest, who warmly welcomed us.
During the Mass, we prayed: O God, almighty Father, our faith professes that your Son died and rose again; mercifully grant, that through this mystery your handmaid Veronica, who has fallen asleep in Christ, may rejoice to rise again through him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I left for home immediately after Mass.
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Thursday, 9 July 2020. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. Usual morning spiritual activities: Adoro Te devote, latens Deitas. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “It's a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.” Our hymn for the morning prayer: Alone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way; What need I fear, when thou art near, O King of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand, than if a host did round me stand. Benediction.
Iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech. We celebrated Votive Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest. We prayed for Priests. In the Preface we recalled: For he (Christ) is the true and eternal Priest, who instituted the pattern of an everlasting sacrifice and was the first to offer himself as the saving Victim, commanding us to make this offering as his memorial.
I had a quiet day which gave me the opportunity to read and reply to some of the messages I received through different instruments of the social media. It is always good to attend to those who care to reach out to us. But, long ago our Lord Jesus Christ said it all: Spiritus promptus est caro autem infirma!
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. To our Blessed Mother we turn:
« Sous l'abri de ta miséricorde, nous nous réfugions, Sainte Mère de Dieu. Ne méprise pas nos prières quand nous sommes dans l'épreuve, mais de tous les dangers délivre-nous toujours, Vierge glorieuse et bénie. »
Iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech. We celebrated Votive Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest. We prayed for Priests. In the Preface we recalled: For he (Christ) is the true and eternal Priest, who instituted the pattern of an everlasting sacrifice and was the first to offer himself as the saving Victim, commanding us to make this offering as his memorial.
I had a quiet day which gave me the opportunity to read and reply to some of the messages I received through different instruments of the social media. It is always good to attend to those who care to reach out to us. But, long ago our Lord Jesus Christ said it all: Spiritus promptus est caro autem infirma!
Evening came, and night followed: the end of the day. To our Blessed Mother we turn:
« Sous l'abri de ta miséricorde, nous nous réfugions, Sainte Mère de Dieu. Ne méprise pas nos prières quand nous sommes dans l'épreuve, mais de tous les dangers délivre-nous toujours, Vierge glorieuse et bénie. »
THREE AFRICAN BISHOPS APPOINTED MEMBERS OF PCID
(L-R) Cardinal Nzapalaingi (CENTRAL AFRICA), Bishop Isizoh (NIGERIA) and Archbishop Desfarges (ALGERIA)
(L-R) Cardinal Nzapalaingi (CENTRAL AFRICA), Bishop Isizoh (NIGERIA) and Archbishop Desfarges (ALGERIA)
Wednesday, 8 July 2020. Usual morning devotions. We celebrated Mass FOR THE PROGRESS OF PEOPLES, and prayed: O God, who gave one origin to all peoples and willed to gather from them one family for yourself, fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love and kindle in them a desire for the just advancement of their neighbour, that through the good things which you richly bestow upon all, each human person may be brought to perfection, every division may be removed and equity and justice may be established in human society.
In the Eucharistic Prayer V, n.4, we prayed: Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope.
APPOINTMENT AS MEMBER OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
At 12.00 am, in the Vatican City, it was published in the Vatican News Bulletin that the Holy Father Pope Francis had appointed me together with others as Members of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Considering the widest publicity given in Nigeria to this appointment, I felt that I should explain a number of things here:
What is Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue?
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) is the central office of the Catholic Church for promoting interreligious dialogue in accordance with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. It is the central hub in the Catholic Church for interreligious relations. However, dialogue is often carried out at the local level by particular churches, many of which are supported by regional or national dialogue commissions. The PCID works closely to support these commissions and encourages their formation in areas where they do not yet exist
What is the work of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue?
It has the following responsibilities:
What is the structure of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue?
The PCID consists of a decision-making body, an advisory body and executive body.
1. DECISION MAKING-MAKING BODY
The Members of the Council is the PCID’s decision-making body. They are Cardinals and Bishops from around the world, appointed ad personam by the Pope because of their competence and quality. They are convened from time to time to discuss important issues and to set guidelines for the work of the Council. It is to this body that I have been appointed as a Member.
Important: It is to be noted that all in this category have their Ecclesiastical assignments and they are to work as PCID Members from their duty posts.
2. ADVISORY BODY
The PCID has an advisory body of around 50 advisors, called Consultors, who provide research, advice and information to the Council. The Consultors are specialists in religious studies or in the practice of inter-religious dialogue, hailing from all corners of the world.
3. EXECUTIVE BODY
The PCID’s executive body comprises the
I stayed in Rome for my studies and work from 1989 to 2015. It was all God's grace that, as a Vatican official, I have had the privilege of participating in the service of reaching out to people of other religions in different parts of the world.
Now, I have been invited to join again in the service of building bridges of understanding among people of different religious beliefs and traditions.
Here is the list of those appointed today:
Deep down, here is my reaction to this appointment:
ENTIRELY FOR GOD. "Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart." I am profoundly grateful to the Holy Father for this privilege. To the President of PCID, Cardinal Miguel Ayuso, it is always pleasant to work with you.
In the Eucharistic Prayer V, n.4, we prayed: Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope.
APPOINTMENT AS MEMBER OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
At 12.00 am, in the Vatican City, it was published in the Vatican News Bulletin that the Holy Father Pope Francis had appointed me together with others as Members of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Considering the widest publicity given in Nigeria to this appointment, I felt that I should explain a number of things here:
What is Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue?
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) is the central office of the Catholic Church for promoting interreligious dialogue in accordance with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. It is the central hub in the Catholic Church for interreligious relations. However, dialogue is often carried out at the local level by particular churches, many of which are supported by regional or national dialogue commissions. The PCID works closely to support these commissions and encourages their formation in areas where they do not yet exist
What is the work of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue?
It has the following responsibilities:
- to promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between Catholics and the followers of other religious traditions;
- to encourage the study of religions; and
- to promote the formation of persons dedicated to dialogue
What is the structure of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue?
The PCID consists of a decision-making body, an advisory body and executive body.
1. DECISION MAKING-MAKING BODY
The Members of the Council is the PCID’s decision-making body. They are Cardinals and Bishops from around the world, appointed ad personam by the Pope because of their competence and quality. They are convened from time to time to discuss important issues and to set guidelines for the work of the Council. It is to this body that I have been appointed as a Member.
Important: It is to be noted that all in this category have their Ecclesiastical assignments and they are to work as PCID Members from their duty posts.
2. ADVISORY BODY
The PCID has an advisory body of around 50 advisors, called Consultors, who provide research, advice and information to the Council. The Consultors are specialists in religious studies or in the practice of inter-religious dialogue, hailing from all corners of the world.
3. EXECUTIVE BODY
The PCID’s executive body comprises the
- President,
- Secretary,
- Under-Secretary,
- Desk staff for Islam,
- Desk staff for Africa (I served in this capacity from 1995 to 2015)
- Desk staff for Asia,
- Desk staff for New Religious Movements,
- as well as a number of administrative and support staff.
I stayed in Rome for my studies and work from 1989 to 2015. It was all God's grace that, as a Vatican official, I have had the privilege of participating in the service of reaching out to people of other religions in different parts of the world.
Now, I have been invited to join again in the service of building bridges of understanding among people of different religious beliefs and traditions.
Here is the list of those appointed today:
- Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, (PHILIPPINES) prefect of the Congregation for the Evanglisation of Peoples;
- Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC) archbishop of Bangui;
- Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, (LAOS) vicar apostolic of Vientiane;
- Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, (INDONESIA) archbishop of Jakarta and military ordinary for Indonesia;
- Cardinal Jean-Claude Höllerich, (LUXEMBOURG) archbishop of Luxembourg; and
- Cardinal Michael Czerny, (CZECH REPUBLIC) under-secretary of the Section for Migrants and Refugees of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; and
- Archbishop Lawrence Huculak (CANADA) of Winnipeg of the Ukrainians;
- Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado, (INDIA) bishop of Vasai;
- Archbishop George Frendo (ALBANIA) of Tiranë-Durrës;
- Archbishop Mark Tin Win (MYANMAR) of Mandalay;
- Archbishop Jean-Marc Aveline (FRANCE) of Marseille;
- Bishop Paul Yoshinao Otsuka (JAPAN) of Kyōto;
- Archbishop Thomas Chung An-zu, (TAIWAN) of Taipei;
- Bishop Raphy Manjaly (INDIA) of Allahabad;
- Bishop Ambrogio Spreafico (ITALY) of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino;
- Bishop Michael Joseph McKenna (AUSTRALIA) of Bathurst;
- Bishop William Hanna Shomali, (PALESTINE) titular of Lidda;
- Bishop Denis Chidi Isizoh, (NIGERIA) titular of Legia;
- Bishop Patrick Joseph McKinney (GREAT BRITAIN) of Nottingham;
- Bishop James Massa, (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) titular of Bardstown;
- Archbishop Paul Desfarges (ALGERIA) of Algiers; and
- Bishop Joseph Đình Đúc Đao (VIETNAM) of Xuân Lôc.
Deep down, here is my reaction to this appointment:
ENTIRELY FOR GOD. "Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart." I am profoundly grateful to the Holy Father for this privilege. To the President of PCID, Cardinal Miguel Ayuso, it is always pleasant to work with you.
Tuesday, 7 July 2020. In nomine Iesu omne genu flectatur, caelestium, terrestrium et infernorum; et omnis lingua confiteatur quia Dominus Iesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris. We followed our daily order of activities in the chapel. Silent Adoration. Moment of meditation. I reflected on this profound Quotes of St. Teresa of Calcutta from Brother Angelo Devananda’s “Mother Teresa: Contemplative in the Heart of the World,”:
We cannot separate our lives from the Eucharist; the moment we do, something breaks. …Our lives must be woven around the Eucharist. Ask Jesus to be with you, to work with you that you may be able to pray the work. You must really be sure that you have received Jesus. After that, you cannot give your tongue, your thoughts or your heart to bitterness.
Put your sins in the chalice for the precious blood to wash away. One drop is capable of washing away all the sins of the world. …
We must be faithful to that smallness of the Eucharist, that simple piece of bread which even a child can take in. …We have so much that we don’t care about the small things. If we do not care, we will lose our grip on the Eucharist —on our lives. The Eucharist is so small.
I was giving Communion this morning. My two fingers were holding Jesus. Try to realize that Jesus allows himself to be broken. Make yourselves feel the need of each other. The Passion and the Eucharist should open our eyes to that smallness: “This is my Body; take and eat”—the small piece of bread. Today let us realize our own littleness in comparison with the Bread of Life.
At Mass today, Votive Mass of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, with the Church we prayed: As we venerate the most holy Name of Jesus, mercifully grant us, Lord, that, savoring its sweetness in this life, we may be filled with everlasting joy in our heavenly homeland.
I began to redesign my website with the new software tools I acquired. These new tools require that I read up the manual. Back to "school"! I am determined to learn very well the use of this software. Let me patiently study the manual.
Quiet evening. At night, to our Blessed Mother we turn:
O purest of creatures!
Sweet mother, sweet maid:
the one spotless womb
wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down
on us, mother, and we
look out for thy shining,
sweet star of the sea.
We cannot separate our lives from the Eucharist; the moment we do, something breaks. …Our lives must be woven around the Eucharist. Ask Jesus to be with you, to work with you that you may be able to pray the work. You must really be sure that you have received Jesus. After that, you cannot give your tongue, your thoughts or your heart to bitterness.
Put your sins in the chalice for the precious blood to wash away. One drop is capable of washing away all the sins of the world. …
We must be faithful to that smallness of the Eucharist, that simple piece of bread which even a child can take in. …We have so much that we don’t care about the small things. If we do not care, we will lose our grip on the Eucharist —on our lives. The Eucharist is so small.
I was giving Communion this morning. My two fingers were holding Jesus. Try to realize that Jesus allows himself to be broken. Make yourselves feel the need of each other. The Passion and the Eucharist should open our eyes to that smallness: “This is my Body; take and eat”—the small piece of bread. Today let us realize our own littleness in comparison with the Bread of Life.
At Mass today, Votive Mass of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, with the Church we prayed: As we venerate the most holy Name of Jesus, mercifully grant us, Lord, that, savoring its sweetness in this life, we may be filled with everlasting joy in our heavenly homeland.
I began to redesign my website with the new software tools I acquired. These new tools require that I read up the manual. Back to "school"! I am determined to learn very well the use of this software. Let me patiently study the manual.
Quiet evening. At night, to our Blessed Mother we turn:
O purest of creatures!
Sweet mother, sweet maid:
the one spotless womb
wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down
on us, mother, and we
look out for thy shining,
sweet star of the sea.
Monday, 6 July 2020. I got up at about 12.00 midnight since I retired early last night. Usual early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. Then I went to my table to read till about 4.45 am. I returned to bed briefly, then got up finally at 5.30 am to prepare for a new day with the Lord and His people.
Ricordiamo, o Dio, la tua misericordia in mezzo al tuo tempio. Come il tuo nome, o Dio, così la tua lode si estende ai confini della terra; di giustizia è piena la tua destra.
OUR TODAY'S THOUGHT: "ONLY trust someone who can see these three things in you: The sorrow behind your smile. The love behind your anger. And the reason behind your silence."
The language of the Mass was Italian. With the Church we prayed: O Dio, che nell'umiliazione del tuo Figlio hai risollevato l'umanità dalla sua caduta, donaci una rinnovata gioia pasquale, perché, liberi dall'oppressione della colpa, partecipiamo alla felicità eterna.
I continued my desk work.
Ricordiamo, o Dio, la tua misericordia in mezzo al tuo tempio. Come il tuo nome, o Dio, così la tua lode si estende ai confini della terra; di giustizia è piena la tua destra.
OUR TODAY'S THOUGHT: "ONLY trust someone who can see these three things in you: The sorrow behind your smile. The love behind your anger. And the reason behind your silence."
The language of the Mass was Italian. With the Church we prayed: O Dio, che nell'umiliazione del tuo Figlio hai risollevato l'umanità dalla sua caduta, donaci una rinnovata gioia pasquale, perché, liberi dall'oppressione della colpa, partecipiamo alla felicità eterna.
I continued my desk work.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus: Tu septiformis munere!
Sunday, 5 July 2020. 14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui. Secundum nomen tuum, Deus, ita et laus tua in fines terrae; iustitia plena est dextera tua. Our most important activity at the beginning of any day is the meeting of the Lord in the Eucharist. O Sacrament most holy,
O Sacrament divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Usual morning spiritual activities. We had our community Mass and during the Prayer of the Faithful we presented the following intentions:
At 9.50am, I was at St Theresa's parish, Nnobi, for a pastoral visit. As usual now, we began with the testing of temperature of those who assembled in the Church for Mass. Happily, all who came today had no case of high temperature. While testing the temperature, we supervised the sitting arrangement in the Church to meet the standard required by the the COVID19 safety protocol. We did not fully succeed when it came to the point of 100% compliance with putting on masks to cover the nose and the mouth. We try to protect the people from being infected by coronavirus. In manus tuas. Domine, commendiamus nostros corpores!
Veni, Sancte Spiritus! During the Mass, about two hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. For them we prayed: Memento etiam, Domine, famulorum tuorum, quos, Baptismate regeneratos, confirmare dignatus es donatione Spiritus Sancti, et propitiatus in eis tuam gratiam custodi.
Quick photo-taking session and reception immediately after Mass. Soon every person was on the way home. I had time with the parish priest to supervise parish records and books. We had discussion about some of the pastoral challenges in the parish. Lunch and personal interaction with the neighbouring parish priests and friends followed.
Back to Aguleri I was very tired. I went to bed quite early. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
O Sacrament divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Usual morning spiritual activities. We had our community Mass and during the Prayer of the Faithful we presented the following intentions:
- For the Church, that those among us who are wise and learned and prudent in the ways of the world may be converted and take their place among the little ones who understand the heavenly Father, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Jesus, who holds all power hidden in His peacefulness, may calm and pacify the hearts of the powerful, inclining them to thoughts of justice and reverence before the gift of human life, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we who follow the just savior, who is gentle and humble, yet whose dominion shall be from sea to sea, may imitate His lowliness and rejoice in His salvation, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our dear ones who are far from the grace of God and His holy sacraments, that our prayers and love may bring them back to the Lord who willingly lifts up those who are falling, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the Lord, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, may come to the aid of those who need Him most in their time of illness and distress, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our dear departed ones, in whom the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead once dwelt by their baptism that through the same Spirit they may enter into new life in the kingdom of heaven, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
At 9.50am, I was at St Theresa's parish, Nnobi, for a pastoral visit. As usual now, we began with the testing of temperature of those who assembled in the Church for Mass. Happily, all who came today had no case of high temperature. While testing the temperature, we supervised the sitting arrangement in the Church to meet the standard required by the the COVID19 safety protocol. We did not fully succeed when it came to the point of 100% compliance with putting on masks to cover the nose and the mouth. We try to protect the people from being infected by coronavirus. In manus tuas. Domine, commendiamus nostros corpores!
Veni, Sancte Spiritus! During the Mass, about two hundred persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. For them we prayed: Memento etiam, Domine, famulorum tuorum, quos, Baptismate regeneratos, confirmare dignatus es donatione Spiritus Sancti, et propitiatus in eis tuam gratiam custodi.
Quick photo-taking session and reception immediately after Mass. Soon every person was on the way home. I had time with the parish priest to supervise parish records and books. We had discussion about some of the pastoral challenges in the parish. Lunch and personal interaction with the neighbouring parish priests and friends followed.
Back to Aguleri I was very tired. I went to bed quite early. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Saturday, 4 July 2020. Ait Maria: Exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo; quia respexit Dominus humilitatem ancillae suae. Usual rhythm of spiritual activities: Adoration, Meditation, Lauds, Benediction and Holy Mass. We celebrated "Mass of our Lady of Saturday". With the Church we prayed: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that your faithful, who rejoice under the patronage of the most holy Virgin Mary, may be freed by her motherly intercession from all evils on earth and merit the attainment of eternal joys in heaven.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”
Today five years ago, I performed my first priestly ordination as a Bishop. Rev. Father Charles Izuakor became my first spiritual son. I prayed for success in his priestly ministry.
This afternoon, I was at Our Lady of Victory Church, Umueri. I came to pray with the People of God. Shortly before we began to say the rosary, I urged them to pay attention to the guidelines provided by experts on how to prevent coronavirus infection. Then I taught them about the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the place of the rosary in the Catholic theology. It was an excellent opportunity for me to address some of the pastoral challenges I noticed in the relationship between the people and the priests in the parish.
I led the recitation of the rosary, using the booklet which I prepared for Parish Community Rosary, entitled in Igbo, Ekpere Rosari n'Ogbako Parish. Today we meditated on the Luminous Mysteries. We devoted one decade to a sick priest from the town. Ezigbo Nne m Marịa, Nne nke Chukwu, biko búrú ekpere m tata bugara Nwa Gị Jesu. Mee obi m ka o jupụta na grasịa nke Chukwu. Nyere m aka ibi ńdụ di mma n’ụwa a, ka m were soro ndị Mmụọọma na ndị Nsọ niile kwee ukwe otito nke Chukwu n’ala eze eluigwe.
At the end I gave them blessing which was extended to all the members of their household absent.
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye cherubim,
Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”
Today five years ago, I performed my first priestly ordination as a Bishop. Rev. Father Charles Izuakor became my first spiritual son. I prayed for success in his priestly ministry.
This afternoon, I was at Our Lady of Victory Church, Umueri. I came to pray with the People of God. Shortly before we began to say the rosary, I urged them to pay attention to the guidelines provided by experts on how to prevent coronavirus infection. Then I taught them about the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the place of the rosary in the Catholic theology. It was an excellent opportunity for me to address some of the pastoral challenges I noticed in the relationship between the people and the priests in the parish.
I led the recitation of the rosary, using the booklet which I prepared for Parish Community Rosary, entitled in Igbo, Ekpere Rosari n'Ogbako Parish. Today we meditated on the Luminous Mysteries. We devoted one decade to a sick priest from the town. Ezigbo Nne m Marịa, Nne nke Chukwu, biko búrú ekpere m tata bugara Nwa Gị Jesu. Mee obi m ka o jupụta na grasịa nke Chukwu. Nyere m aka ibi ńdụ di mma n’ụwa a, ka m were soro ndị Mmụọọma na ndị Nsọ niile kwee ukwe otito nke Chukwu n’ala eze eluigwe.
At the end I gave them blessing which was extended to all the members of their household absent.
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye cherubim,
Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!
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Solemn Monastic Profession at Our Lady of the Angels Cistercian Monastery, Nsugbe
Friday, 3 July 2020. Usual early rising morning conversation with our Blessed Mother Mary. With a good rest I had previous day, I was strong to start the new day. We followed our usual morning spiritual activities. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Create moments of silence in your soul if you want to hear the voice of God."
Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. Stantes eant pedes nostri in atriis tuis, Ierusalem. Today, I had on my programme: Solemn Monastic Profession of Monk Maria Emmanuel Kenechukwu ACHUGBU at Our Lady of the Angels Cistercian Monastery, Nsugbe. At 9.53am, I was in the monastery for the great event. It was the first time I witnessed perpetual profession in men's monastery. Providence granted me the privilege of presiding over the ceremonies.
It was truly a solemn celebration attended by the monastic communities from different parts of Nigeria, family members and many friends. The section for guests in the monastery chapel was full. With the Church we prayed: O God, who willed that the grace of Baptism should flourish in your servant, Maria Emmanuel Kenechukwu, so that he might strive to follow more closely in the footsteps of your Son, grant, we pray, that, constantly seeking evangelical perfection, he may add to the holiness of your Church and increase her apostolic zeal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We called on all the Saints in heaven to join us in asking the Lord to accept the offering of self done by Maria Emmanuel Kenechukwu Achugbu. After pronouncing his vows and signing the document of oath, I said the following prayer of consecration over him:
Father in heaven, source of all holiness, creator of the human race, your love of us was so great that you gave us a share in your own divine life. Neither the sin of Adam nor even the sins of the whole world could alter your loving purpose.
At the dawn of history, you gave us Abel as an example of holiness. Later, from your beloved Hebrew people you raised up men and women graced with every virtue. Foremost among them all stands Mary, the ever-virgin daughter of Zion. From her pure womb was born Jesus Christ, your eternal Word, the Saviour of the world.
He came among us as our pattern of holiness; he became poor to make us rich, a slave to set us free. With love no words can tell, he redeemed the world by his Paschal Mystery and won from you the gifts of the Spirit to sanctify this Church. The voice of the Spirit has drawn countless numbers of your children to follow Christ. They leave all things to be one with you in the bonds of love and give themselves wholly to your service and the service of all your people.
Look with favour, then, on this your servant who has heard your call. Send him the Spirit of holiness; help him to fulfil in faith what you have enabled him to promise in joy. Keep always before his etes Christ, the divine teacher.
Give him perfect chastity, ungrudging poverty and wholehearted obedience. May he glory you by his humility, serve you with docility, and be one with you in fervent love.
May he build up the Church by holiness of life, advance the salvation of the world, and stand as signs of the Kingdom to come. Lord, protect and guide this servant of yours. At the judgement seat of your Son be yourself his great reward. Give him the joy of vows fulfilled. Made perfect in your love, may he rejoice in the communion of your saints and the praise you forever in their company.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God forever and ever. Amen.
Immediately after the Mass, we had group photograph. Then, I returned to Aguleri.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
Te Deum laudámus: te Dominum confitémur.
Te ætérnum Patrem omnis terra venerátur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi cæli et univérsae potestátes.
Tibi Chérubim et Séraphim incessábili voce proclámant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra majestátis glóriæ tuæ.
Te gloriósus Apostolórum chorus;
Te Prophetárum laudábilis númerus;
Te Mártyrum candidátus laudat exércitus.
Te per orbem terrárum sancta confitétur Ecclésia:
Patrem imménsæ majestátis;
Venerándum tuum verum et únicum Fílium;
Sanctum quoque Paráclitum Spíritum.
Tu Rex glóriæ, Christe.
Tu Patris sempitérnus es Fílius.
Tu ad liberándum susceptúrus hóminem, non horruísti Vírginis úterum.
Tu, devícto mortis acúleo,
aperuísti credéntibus regna cælórum.
Tu ad déxteram Dei sedes, in glória Patris.
Judex créderis esse ventúrus.
Te ergo quǽsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni,
quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.
Ætérna fac cum sanctis tuis in glória numerári.
Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. Stantes eant pedes nostri in atriis tuis, Ierusalem. Today, I had on my programme: Solemn Monastic Profession of Monk Maria Emmanuel Kenechukwu ACHUGBU at Our Lady of the Angels Cistercian Monastery, Nsugbe. At 9.53am, I was in the monastery for the great event. It was the first time I witnessed perpetual profession in men's monastery. Providence granted me the privilege of presiding over the ceremonies.
It was truly a solemn celebration attended by the monastic communities from different parts of Nigeria, family members and many friends. The section for guests in the monastery chapel was full. With the Church we prayed: O God, who willed that the grace of Baptism should flourish in your servant, Maria Emmanuel Kenechukwu, so that he might strive to follow more closely in the footsteps of your Son, grant, we pray, that, constantly seeking evangelical perfection, he may add to the holiness of your Church and increase her apostolic zeal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We called on all the Saints in heaven to join us in asking the Lord to accept the offering of self done by Maria Emmanuel Kenechukwu Achugbu. After pronouncing his vows and signing the document of oath, I said the following prayer of consecration over him:
Father in heaven, source of all holiness, creator of the human race, your love of us was so great that you gave us a share in your own divine life. Neither the sin of Adam nor even the sins of the whole world could alter your loving purpose.
At the dawn of history, you gave us Abel as an example of holiness. Later, from your beloved Hebrew people you raised up men and women graced with every virtue. Foremost among them all stands Mary, the ever-virgin daughter of Zion. From her pure womb was born Jesus Christ, your eternal Word, the Saviour of the world.
He came among us as our pattern of holiness; he became poor to make us rich, a slave to set us free. With love no words can tell, he redeemed the world by his Paschal Mystery and won from you the gifts of the Spirit to sanctify this Church. The voice of the Spirit has drawn countless numbers of your children to follow Christ. They leave all things to be one with you in the bonds of love and give themselves wholly to your service and the service of all your people.
Look with favour, then, on this your servant who has heard your call. Send him the Spirit of holiness; help him to fulfil in faith what you have enabled him to promise in joy. Keep always before his etes Christ, the divine teacher.
Give him perfect chastity, ungrudging poverty and wholehearted obedience. May he glory you by his humility, serve you with docility, and be one with you in fervent love.
May he build up the Church by holiness of life, advance the salvation of the world, and stand as signs of the Kingdom to come. Lord, protect and guide this servant of yours. At the judgement seat of your Son be yourself his great reward. Give him the joy of vows fulfilled. Made perfect in your love, may he rejoice in the communion of your saints and the praise you forever in their company.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God forever and ever. Amen.
Immediately after the Mass, we had group photograph. Then, I returned to Aguleri.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
Te Deum laudámus: te Dominum confitémur.
Te ætérnum Patrem omnis terra venerátur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi cæli et univérsae potestátes.
Tibi Chérubim et Séraphim incessábili voce proclámant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra majestátis glóriæ tuæ.
Te gloriósus Apostolórum chorus;
Te Prophetárum laudábilis númerus;
Te Mártyrum candidátus laudat exércitus.
Te per orbem terrárum sancta confitétur Ecclésia:
Patrem imménsæ majestátis;
Venerándum tuum verum et únicum Fílium;
Sanctum quoque Paráclitum Spíritum.
Tu Rex glóriæ, Christe.
Tu Patris sempitérnus es Fílius.
Tu ad liberándum susceptúrus hóminem, non horruísti Vírginis úterum.
Tu, devícto mortis acúleo,
aperuísti credéntibus regna cælórum.
Tu ad déxteram Dei sedes, in glória Patris.
Judex créderis esse ventúrus.
Te ergo quǽsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni,
quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.
Ætérna fac cum sanctis tuis in glória numerári.
Thursday, 2 July 2020. Our old way of concluding meditation in Latin came to mind: O Jesu, vivens in Maria, veni et vive in famulis tuis, in Spiritus sanctitatis tuae, in plenitudine virtutis tuae, in veritate virtutum tuarum, in perfectione viarum tuarum, in communione mysteriorum tuorum, dominare omni adversae potestate in Spiritu tuo ad gloriam Patris. Amen. We still say it in our community, but now in English language.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don’t over-analyze your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness. “
My body needed some rest today. I did not undertake any serious brain-work.
At 5.00am, I was at Umuoji for the Funeral Vigil Mass for Christian Ikenze Requiescat in pace.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don’t over-analyze your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness. “
My body needed some rest today. I did not undertake any serious brain-work.
At 5.00am, I was at Umuoji for the Funeral Vigil Mass for Christian Ikenze Requiescat in pace.
Wednesday, 1 July 2020. Veneration of the Most Holy Eucharist. Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui: Præstet fides supplementum Sensuum defectui.
Genitori, Genitoque Laus et iubilatio, Salus, honor, virtus quoque Sit et benedictio: Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Negativity may misguide a person to see daylight as moonlight; and then he goes to sleep instead of rising up to work. No every irresponsible act is caused by laziness; negative attitudes take a bigger share!
Other usual morning spiritual exercises were done. Reflection on private prayers which priests say during Mass continued:
Quiet evening. To our Blessed Mother we turn with the Latin sung Ave Regina caelorum, now recited in English:
Hail, O Queen of Heaven
Welcome, O Queen of Heaven.
Welcome, O Lady of Angels
Hail! thou root, hail! thou gate
From whom unto the world, a light has arisen:
Rejoice, O glorious Virgin,
Lovely beyond all others,
Farewell, most beautiful maiden,
And pray for us to Christ.
Genitori, Genitoque Laus et iubilatio, Salus, honor, virtus quoque Sit et benedictio: Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: Negativity may misguide a person to see daylight as moonlight; and then he goes to sleep instead of rising up to work. No every irresponsible act is caused by laziness; negative attitudes take a bigger share!
Other usual morning spiritual exercises were done. Reflection on private prayers which priests say during Mass continued:
- WHEN THE PRIEST TAKES A PARTICLE OF CONSECRATED HOST AND PUTS IT INTO THE CHALICE OF CONSECRATED WINE: May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
- PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, through your Death gave life to the world, free me by this, your most holy Body and Blood, from all my sins and from every evil; keep me always faithful to your commandments, and never let me be parted from you. OR May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving mercy be for me protection in mind and body and a healing remedy.
- JUST AT THE TIME OF RECEIVING THE BODY OF CHRIST IN COMMUNION: May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
- JUST AT THE TIME OF RECEIVING THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IN COMMUNION: May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
- DURING PURIFICATION OF VESSELS: What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.
Quiet evening. To our Blessed Mother we turn with the Latin sung Ave Regina caelorum, now recited in English:
Hail, O Queen of Heaven
Welcome, O Queen of Heaven.
Welcome, O Lady of Angels
Hail! thou root, hail! thou gate
From whom unto the world, a light has arisen:
Rejoice, O glorious Virgin,
Lovely beyond all others,
Farewell, most beautiful maiden,
And pray for us to Christ.
New Church foundation laid in Omor
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New Rectory at Anaku
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Keys to completed Church at Oba
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Tuesday, 30 June 2020. MEMORIAL (OPT.) MASS OF BLESSED MICHAEL IWENE TANSI. O God, in the priest Blessed Cyprian Michael, you joined the apostolic zeal of a pastor to the way of life of a monk; grant us by his intercession, that persevering in prayer, we seek untiringly the coming of your kingdom.
OUR TODAY'S REFLECTION: “Priest of Jesus Christ, celebrate this Holy Mass as if it were your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass.” Many priests have often wondered how they could keep to this advice. As newly ordained priest, I could remain focused and devout throughout the Mass. But with over thirty years in the priesthood completed, "familiarity" with Order of Mass, vessels, words, gestures, etc. began to set in. How would I return to the "original" fervour? Recently I started reflecting on the PRIVATE prayers which priests are made to say during the Mass. This could be the key to understanding the necessary disposition a priest must have in order to perform different functions during the Mass. For my reflection this period, I chose to read them slowly to deepen my understanding of the words prescribed for priests to be said silently.
As today was the last day of the month, it provided good occasion for recollection. What did I achieve this week? Are there things I did which could have been done differently? Cor mundum crea in me, Deus, et spiritum firmum innova in visceribus meis.
OUR TODAY'S REFLECTION: “Priest of Jesus Christ, celebrate this Holy Mass as if it were your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass.” Many priests have often wondered how they could keep to this advice. As newly ordained priest, I could remain focused and devout throughout the Mass. But with over thirty years in the priesthood completed, "familiarity" with Order of Mass, vessels, words, gestures, etc. began to set in. How would I return to the "original" fervour? Recently I started reflecting on the PRIVATE prayers which priests are made to say during the Mass. This could be the key to understanding the necessary disposition a priest must have in order to perform different functions during the Mass. For my reflection this period, I chose to read them slowly to deepen my understanding of the words prescribed for priests to be said silently.
- BEFORE READING THE GOSPEL: Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.
- AFTER READING THE GOSPEL AND KISSING THE BOOK: Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.
- DURING OFFERTORY AFTER POURING LITTLE WATER INTO WINE: By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
- DURING OFFERTORY WHILE WASHING HANDS: Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
As today was the last day of the month, it provided good occasion for recollection. What did I achieve this week? Are there things I did which could have been done differently? Cor mundum crea in me, Deus, et spiritum firmum innova in visceribus meis.
Monday, 29 June 2020. SOLEMNITY OF SAINT PETER AND ST PAUL, APOSTLES. Isti sunt qui, viventes in carne, plantaverunt Ecclesiam sanguine suo: calicem Domini biberunt, et amci Dei facti sunt.
In the Preface, we discover the significance of today's solemnity:
For by your providence, the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul bring us joy:
Peter, foremost in confessing the faith,
Paul, its outstanding preacher,
Peter, who established the early Church from the remnant of Israel,
Paul, master and teacher of the Gentiles that you call.
And so, each in a different way gather together the one family of Christ;
and revered together throughout the world,
they share one Martyr's crown.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in installments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.”
This morning, I had a special meeting to restore fraternity in one of our rectories. It was a very frank discussion with a truly happy ending. Those involved prayed over, blessed and embraced one another. Ecce quam bonum et quam jucundum, habitare fratres in unum! Sicut unguentum in capite, quod descendit in barbam, barbam Aaron, quod descendit in oram vestimenti ejus; sicut ros Hermon, qui descendit in montem Sion. Quoniam illic mandavit Dominus benedictionem, et vitam usque in sæculum.
In the Preface, we discover the significance of today's solemnity:
For by your providence, the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul bring us joy:
Peter, foremost in confessing the faith,
Paul, its outstanding preacher,
Peter, who established the early Church from the remnant of Israel,
Paul, master and teacher of the Gentiles that you call.
And so, each in a different way gather together the one family of Christ;
and revered together throughout the world,
they share one Martyr's crown.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in installments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.”
This morning, I had a special meeting to restore fraternity in one of our rectories. It was a very frank discussion with a truly happy ending. Those involved prayed over, blessed and embraced one another. Ecce quam bonum et quam jucundum, habitare fratres in unum! Sicut unguentum in capite, quod descendit in barbam, barbam Aaron, quod descendit in oram vestimenti ejus; sicut ros Hermon, qui descendit in montem Sion. Quoniam illic mandavit Dominus benedictionem, et vitam usque in sæculum.
Candidates for Confirmation at Holy Trinity Farm Settlement Parish, Igbariam
Sunday, 28 June 2020. 13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus, iubilate Deo in voce exsultationis. We maintained our daily appointment with the Lord: We adored. We meditated. We prayed. We were blessed. We gladly joined in the banquet of the Lord - The invitation was the Lord's. Homo quidam fecit coenam magnam et misit servum suum hora coenae dicere invitatis ut venirent, quia parata sunt omnia. Venite, comedite panem meum et bibite vinum quod miscui vobis.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If something is wrong, don’t blame others. Ask 'How can I help to put it right?'
Always remember that you create the atmosphere that surrounds you. If you want others to smile, you must smile. If you want others to give, you must give. If you want others to respect you, you must show your respect for them."
At 9.55 am, I was at Holy Trinity Parish Igbariam Farm Settlement for a Pastoral visit. This parish has a tiny community, mostly non-indigenes of Igbariam. Initially, the people that lived there were farmers working in government-sponsored farms. Now that most people have abandoned farm work, the number has dwindled. But there is a growing number of students studying at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. Perhaps if hostels were to be built near Holy Trinity Church, the parish might witness a surging population, though it would be a temporary thing, since students come and go.
Soon after my arrival in the Church premises, it started raining. The initial torrential downpour helped me to understand the challenges the People of God face while attending Mass in the Church. The rain stopped even before we finished the introductory part of the Mass. One problem we faced today in this small Church was how to maintain the required social distance to avoid COVID19 infection. Domine, illustra faciem tuam, et salvi erimus! One hundred and three persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Quick photo taking protocol. I did not allow a long period of reception after the Mass. I had a "standing/hurried" interaction with the people. Soon every person was on the way home.
Back to Aguleri, I had a quiet evening. Good night, Lord. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo et requiescamus in pace.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "If something is wrong, don’t blame others. Ask 'How can I help to put it right?'
Always remember that you create the atmosphere that surrounds you. If you want others to smile, you must smile. If you want others to give, you must give. If you want others to respect you, you must show your respect for them."
At 9.55 am, I was at Holy Trinity Parish Igbariam Farm Settlement for a Pastoral visit. This parish has a tiny community, mostly non-indigenes of Igbariam. Initially, the people that lived there were farmers working in government-sponsored farms. Now that most people have abandoned farm work, the number has dwindled. But there is a growing number of students studying at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. Perhaps if hostels were to be built near Holy Trinity Church, the parish might witness a surging population, though it would be a temporary thing, since students come and go.
Soon after my arrival in the Church premises, it started raining. The initial torrential downpour helped me to understand the challenges the People of God face while attending Mass in the Church. The rain stopped even before we finished the introductory part of the Mass. One problem we faced today in this small Church was how to maintain the required social distance to avoid COVID19 infection. Domine, illustra faciem tuam, et salvi erimus! One hundred and three persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Quick photo taking protocol. I did not allow a long period of reception after the Mass. I had a "standing/hurried" interaction with the people. Soon every person was on the way home.
Back to Aguleri, I had a quiet evening. Good night, Lord. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo et requiescamus in pace.
Saturday, 27 June 2020. Gesegnet bis du, Jungfrau Maria, vom Herrn, dem erhabenen Gott, vor allen Frauen der Erde. Er hat dich so verherrlicht, dass dein Name nicht mehr untergeht bei den Menschen. I began the morning with my usual "brief moment" with our Blessed Mother. I came down from my bed in good form. Ehre si dem Vater und dem Sohn und dem Heiligen Geist. Wie in Anfang, so auch jetzt und alle Zeit und in Ewigkeit. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Always seek out the friendship of those who are strong where you are weak. None of us has all the virtues: even a Moses needed an Aaron. The work of a team, a partnership, a collaboration with others who have different gifts or different ways of looking at things is always greater than any one individual can achieve alone."
Usual morning rhythm of spiritual activities: Adoration, Meditation, Office of Lauds, Benediction and Holy Mass. We celebrated the Votive Mass of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles. With the Church we prayed: O God, who gave the Holy Spirit to your Apostles as they prayed with Mary the Mother of Jesus, grant that through her intercession we may faithfully serve your majesty and extend, by word and example, the glory of your name.
From 9.00am to 2.20pm I hosted in my house a special closed door meeting of a special delegation/officers of All Hallows' Seminary Old Boys Association (AHOBA).
At 4.00pm, I was St John's Church Nsugbe for the Parish Community Rosary. The Church was 90% full, each person armed with his/her rosary. We all put our masks as were advised, and then tried to maintain the recommended safe distance. I led in the recitation of the rosary using the booklet I prepared. Today we followed the Mysteries of Light Before each decade we read a passage from the Bible. For today we read:
1. Baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3,13-17)
2. The Wedding in Cana (John 2,1-11)
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom and the call to conversion (Mark 2,1-13)
4. The Transfiguration (Luke 9,28-36)
5. The Institution of the Eucharist (Mark 14,22-25)
As a community we recited in Igbo language this Prayer for Faith:
Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, that fullness of FAITH in You and trust in her, to which it is given to conquer the world.
Grant us a lively FAITH, animated by charity, which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of You, and ever to see You and serve You in our neighbour;
A FAITH, firm and immovable as a rock, through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life;
A courageous FAITH which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls;
A FAITH which will be our Pillar of Fire to lead us forth united; to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love; to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death; to inflame those who are lukewarm; to bring back life to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace; so that - the battle of life over – all of us may reassemble, without the loss of any one, in the kingdom of Your love and glory. Amen.
I returned from Nsugbe to Aguleri at about 6.48pm and soon after I joined my household in the birthday celebration of the two seminarians, Celestine Ibegbunam and Emmanuel Aneke. Most of the domestic workers were present. The celebrants cut the birthday cake and danced. There were speeches. The seminarians were highly praised because they were always found working together, ever cheerful. After photo taking, I blessed them and took my leave.
Noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedat nobis Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Always seek out the friendship of those who are strong where you are weak. None of us has all the virtues: even a Moses needed an Aaron. The work of a team, a partnership, a collaboration with others who have different gifts or different ways of looking at things is always greater than any one individual can achieve alone."
Usual morning rhythm of spiritual activities: Adoration, Meditation, Office of Lauds, Benediction and Holy Mass. We celebrated the Votive Mass of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles. With the Church we prayed: O God, who gave the Holy Spirit to your Apostles as they prayed with Mary the Mother of Jesus, grant that through her intercession we may faithfully serve your majesty and extend, by word and example, the glory of your name.
From 9.00am to 2.20pm I hosted in my house a special closed door meeting of a special delegation/officers of All Hallows' Seminary Old Boys Association (AHOBA).
At 4.00pm, I was St John's Church Nsugbe for the Parish Community Rosary. The Church was 90% full, each person armed with his/her rosary. We all put our masks as were advised, and then tried to maintain the recommended safe distance. I led in the recitation of the rosary using the booklet I prepared. Today we followed the Mysteries of Light Before each decade we read a passage from the Bible. For today we read:
1. Baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3,13-17)
2. The Wedding in Cana (John 2,1-11)
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom and the call to conversion (Mark 2,1-13)
4. The Transfiguration (Luke 9,28-36)
5. The Institution of the Eucharist (Mark 14,22-25)
As a community we recited in Igbo language this Prayer for Faith:
Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, that fullness of FAITH in You and trust in her, to which it is given to conquer the world.
Grant us a lively FAITH, animated by charity, which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of You, and ever to see You and serve You in our neighbour;
A FAITH, firm and immovable as a rock, through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life;
A courageous FAITH which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls;
A FAITH which will be our Pillar of Fire to lead us forth united; to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love; to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death; to inflame those who are lukewarm; to bring back life to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace; so that - the battle of life over – all of us may reassemble, without the loss of any one, in the kingdom of Your love and glory. Amen.
I returned from Nsugbe to Aguleri at about 6.48pm and soon after I joined my household in the birthday celebration of the two seminarians, Celestine Ibegbunam and Emmanuel Aneke. Most of the domestic workers were present. The celebrants cut the birthday cake and danced. There were speeches. The seminarians were highly praised because they were always found working together, ever cheerful. After photo taking, I blessed them and took my leave.
Noctem quietam et finem perfectum concedat nobis Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
Friday, 26 June 2020. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et populo et natione, et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum. We followed the usual rhythm of our morning spiritual activities. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Never try to be clever. Always try to be wise."
Votive Mass of the precious Blood of Jesus. We prayed: O God, who by the Precious Blood of your Only Begotten Son have redeemed the whole world, preserve in us the work of your mercy, so that, ever honouring the mystery of our salvation, we may merit to obtain its fruits.
I did table clean-up today.
Votive Mass of the precious Blood of Jesus. We prayed: O God, who by the Precious Blood of your Only Begotten Son have redeemed the whole world, preserve in us the work of your mercy, so that, ever honouring the mystery of our salvation, we may merit to obtain its fruits.
I did table clean-up today.
Thursday, 25 June 2020. Ianuas caeli aperuit Dominus, et pluit illis manna ad manducandum, et panem caeli dedit eis: panem angelorum manducavit homo. Usual morning spiritual activities. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You will see much in life to distress you. People can be careless, cruel, thoughtless, offensive, arrogant and harsh, destructive, insensitive and rude. That is their problem not yours. Your problem is how to respond. No one can make you feel inferior without your permission. The same applies to other negative emotions: don’t react, don’t respond, don’t feel angry or if you do, pause for as long as it takes for the anger to dissipate, then carry on with the rest of your life. Don’t hand to others the victory of your own emotional state".
We celebrated Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist. With the Church we prayed: O God, who accomplished the work of human redemption through the Paschal Mystery of your Only Begotten Son, graciously grant that we, who confidently proclaim, under sacramental signs, the Death and Resurrection of Christ, may experience continued increase of your saving grace.
At 10.00am, I was at St Raphael's Church Awkuzu for the funeral of ma Anthonia Anekwe Amakom. Being mother of a religious Sister, ma Anthonia attracted many Sisters and Priests to this Mass. Deus, cui proprium est misereri semper et parcere, te supplices exoramus pro famula tua Antonia, quam hodie ad te migrare iussisti, ut, quia in te speravit et credidit, concedas eam ad veram patriam perduci, et gaudiis perfrui sempiternis.
We all at Mass covered our faces with mask and observed the "social distancing" protocol. I reminded the people that the danger of COVID19 was real. The point is that there is still considerable confusion in our world today. Many ways of preventing the spread of this virus have been proposed. Nobody is 100% sure. My recommendation: let every person pay attention to the advice of the experts: personal hygiene, mask, physical distance, etc.
After the Mass, I went with the Parish Priest, Fr Victor Oyekwe, round the interior of the Church and I pointed out a few areas that must be repaired/retouched in preparation for the scheduled pastoral visit in the early weeks of August this year. I returned to Aguleri soon after this tour of the Church.
I did some table work in the evening. At night to God I turned:
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
We celebrated Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist. With the Church we prayed: O God, who accomplished the work of human redemption through the Paschal Mystery of your Only Begotten Son, graciously grant that we, who confidently proclaim, under sacramental signs, the Death and Resurrection of Christ, may experience continued increase of your saving grace.
At 10.00am, I was at St Raphael's Church Awkuzu for the funeral of ma Anthonia Anekwe Amakom. Being mother of a religious Sister, ma Anthonia attracted many Sisters and Priests to this Mass. Deus, cui proprium est misereri semper et parcere, te supplices exoramus pro famula tua Antonia, quam hodie ad te migrare iussisti, ut, quia in te speravit et credidit, concedas eam ad veram patriam perduci, et gaudiis perfrui sempiternis.
We all at Mass covered our faces with mask and observed the "social distancing" protocol. I reminded the people that the danger of COVID19 was real. The point is that there is still considerable confusion in our world today. Many ways of preventing the spread of this virus have been proposed. Nobody is 100% sure. My recommendation: let every person pay attention to the advice of the experts: personal hygiene, mask, physical distance, etc.
After the Mass, I went with the Parish Priest, Fr Victor Oyekwe, round the interior of the Church and I pointed out a few areas that must be repaired/retouched in preparation for the scheduled pastoral visit in the early weeks of August this year. I returned to Aguleri soon after this tour of the Church.
I did some table work in the evening. At night to God I turned:
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Wednesday, 24 June 2020. THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST. Early morning conversation with our Blessed Mother. Usual devotion to our Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. In adoration: Je T'adore agenouillé(e), Ta divinité, qui sous ces figures vraiment est voilée: mon cœur se soumet à Toi, en Te contemplant, grâce à Ta présence dans ce sacrement.
La vue, le toucher, le goût se méprennent en Toi, seule l'ouïe est fiable, pour trouver la foi. Je crois Ta parole, c'est la vérité, car Tu es le Fils de Dieu et rien n'est plus vrai.
With the Church we pray: O God, who raised up Saint John the Baptist to make ready a nation fit for Christ the Lord, give your people, we pray, the grace of spiritual joys and direct the hearts of all the faithful into the way of salvation and peace.
I found this Whatsapp message quite interesting as food for thought: WHO IS A DIFFICULT PERSON?
Dearly Beloved, as a DIFFICULT PERSON you are to be very Careful; otherwise at some point in your journey, you might discover you are walking alone. DON'T BE A DIFFICULT PERSON.
At 11.00am, I was at the new EKKLESIA Gas station near Aguleri Round About. I was invited by Fr Celestine Aniofor to bless a new Gas Filling Station. A few priests and religious were present. Very many taxi cabs and Okada and Keke riders were there. I understand that on the day of the opening of a new Gas station, some litres of petrol are given free to these commercial drivers. Prayers done and blessing given, with my Secretary Fr. Innocent Udolisah, I headed to Waterside Maternity and Hospital Onitsha to visit the sick. I was back to Aguleri in time for a late lunch.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me
La vue, le toucher, le goût se méprennent en Toi, seule l'ouïe est fiable, pour trouver la foi. Je crois Ta parole, c'est la vérité, car Tu es le Fils de Dieu et rien n'est plus vrai.
With the Church we pray: O God, who raised up Saint John the Baptist to make ready a nation fit for Christ the Lord, give your people, we pray, the grace of spiritual joys and direct the hearts of all the faithful into the way of salvation and peace.
I found this Whatsapp message quite interesting as food for thought: WHO IS A DIFFICULT PERSON?
- If you think that everyone is wrong and you are always right. You are making yourself a DIFFICULT PERSON.
- When you have something wrong to say about every good person or thing, You just might be a DIFFICULT PERSON.
- If you have gradually become too hard to please. Beware, You are becoming a DIFFICULT PERSON.
- When You argue about everything, even when there is no need for it. Be careful, you are becoming a DIFFICULT PERSON.
- You know the reason why people do what they do...You pride yourself as a mind reader...Are you GOD? Of course, you are not; You are just a DIFFICULT PERSON.
- If everyone around you walks on egg shells. They'd rather not talk to you....You are a DIFFICULT PERSON.
- If you have a correction for everyone but none for yourself....YOU ARE A DIFFICULT PERSON.
- If You never say I AM SORRY; or must be cajoled into saying it... You are a DIFFICULT PERSON.
- If You are too adamant about forgiving others... You are a DIFFICULT PERSON
Dearly Beloved, as a DIFFICULT PERSON you are to be very Careful; otherwise at some point in your journey, you might discover you are walking alone. DON'T BE A DIFFICULT PERSON.
At 11.00am, I was at the new EKKLESIA Gas station near Aguleri Round About. I was invited by Fr Celestine Aniofor to bless a new Gas Filling Station. A few priests and religious were present. Very many taxi cabs and Okada and Keke riders were there. I understand that on the day of the opening of a new Gas station, some litres of petrol are given free to these commercial drivers. Prayers done and blessing given, with my Secretary Fr. Innocent Udolisah, I headed to Waterside Maternity and Hospital Onitsha to visit the sick. I was back to Aguleri in time for a late lunch.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me
Tuesday, 23 June 2020. Insegnate a tutti i popli a osservare tutto chò che vi ho comandato", dice il Signore; '"io sono con voi tutti i giorni sino alla fine del mondo". We followed our usual morning spiritual activities. Today's Mass was for the Evangelisation of People. Italian was the language of our liturgy today.
My thoughts went to the biblical passage John 21,3: "Peter said, "I am going OUT to fish". Purposely I wrote the word "out" in bold capital letters. Peter went out to fish. He did not wait at the seaside to receive fish from friends. According to the Biblical passage, Peter and his companions did not catch anything that night until the Lord helped them. I celebrated the Mass of Evangelisation of Peoples because I am truly worried that our local Church seems no longer interested in "going out" to "fish". Fishes swim to our boat and then jump inside. Strangely in our own time we are running a Church of maintenance and no longer Church of mission. We wait for converts to come. What can we do to resuscitate the Mission/missionary Church spirit? What shall we do to get out of being a self sufficient Church that is not interesting "in going out fishing", in taking the Good News to distant lands, to rural and undeveloped areas? At the same time we do not want a begging Church, but a self reliant one. I dream of a hard working Church that does not go on her knees in Europe and America to beg for help. It is not pride: it is a sense of responsibility! So, today we pray: O Dio, che hai stabilito la tua Chiesa sacramento universale di salvezza per continuare l'opera del Cristo sino alla fine dei secoli, risveglia il cuore dei fedeli, perché avvertano l'urgenza della chiamata missionaria e da tutti i popoli della terra si formi una sola famiglia e sorga un'umanità nuova in Cristo nostro Signore.
My thoughts went to the biblical passage John 21,3: "Peter said, "I am going OUT to fish". Purposely I wrote the word "out" in bold capital letters. Peter went out to fish. He did not wait at the seaside to receive fish from friends. According to the Biblical passage, Peter and his companions did not catch anything that night until the Lord helped them. I celebrated the Mass of Evangelisation of Peoples because I am truly worried that our local Church seems no longer interested in "going out" to "fish". Fishes swim to our boat and then jump inside. Strangely in our own time we are running a Church of maintenance and no longer Church of mission. We wait for converts to come. What can we do to resuscitate the Mission/missionary Church spirit? What shall we do to get out of being a self sufficient Church that is not interesting "in going out fishing", in taking the Good News to distant lands, to rural and undeveloped areas? At the same time we do not want a begging Church, but a self reliant one. I dream of a hard working Church that does not go on her knees in Europe and America to beg for help. It is not pride: it is a sense of responsibility! So, today we pray: O Dio, che hai stabilito la tua Chiesa sacramento universale di salvezza per continuare l'opera del Cristo sino alla fine dei secoli, risveglia il cuore dei fedeli, perché avvertano l'urgenza della chiamata missionaria e da tutti i popoli della terra si formi una sola famiglia e sorga un'umanità nuova in Cristo nostro Signore.
Monday, 22 June 2020. Spiritus Domini super me, propter quod unxit me, evangelizare pauperibus misit me, sanare contritos corde. We celebrated optional memorial of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. Usual morning spiritual activities. At Mass we prayed with the Church: Deus, qui in beato Cypriano Michaele, presbytero apostolicum pastoris zelum monachi conversationi iunxisti, concede nobis, eius intercessione, ut in oratione perseverantes, regni tui adventum indesinenter quaeramus.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is a beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it!”—Mother Teresa.
Today, I spent some time uploading from my old storage device my earlier writings, hoping to publish them online. I was amazed to discover many write-ups I did in the past.
A happy conclusion of the day. Domine, Te decet hymnus!
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is a beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it!”—Mother Teresa.
Today, I spent some time uploading from my old storage device my earlier writings, hoping to publish them online. I was amazed to discover many write-ups I did in the past.
A happy conclusion of the day. Domine, Te decet hymnus!
With the Parish Council of Holy Family Awka Etiti.
Sunday, 21 June 2020. 12TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME. Dominus fortitudo plebis suae, et protector salutarium Christi sui est. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae, et rege eos usquaue in saeculum. Usual monrning spiritual activities: Adoration, Meditation, Lauds, and Benediction. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” Our intercessory prayers for today:
After the Mass, I went over the parish books with Fr Augustine Muoghalu. Lunch. Then I had a "town hall" meeting with about sixty senior members of the parish in an open tent in front of the Church. Good interaction.
Back to Aguleri at about 5.30pm. Happy evening, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Lord, the day you gave is ended and we thank you. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
- For the whole Church, that we may go out to meet the inevitable reality of persecution on earth for the name of Jesus, because we have been in advance the reward that our loyalty will bring us, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That those who work and suffer for life and for peace may refuse to be intimidated, but speak the truth with justice in the name of God, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who are feeling the pressure of divine testing in their lives as God probes their motives and their actions, that they may let themselves be converted, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may have the courage to acknowledge Jesus before others, so that He will recognize us before the face of His heavenly Father, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who are caught in abuse, neglect, illness: for the forgotten lowly ones who fall to the ground unnoticed like the sparrows, that they may be comforted by those who realize how precious they are in God's sight, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- Four our faithful departed ones, that the grace of God and the gracious gift of Jesus Christ may overflow for them, purifying them and bringing them rejoicing into heaven, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
After the Mass, I went over the parish books with Fr Augustine Muoghalu. Lunch. Then I had a "town hall" meeting with about sixty senior members of the parish in an open tent in front of the Church. Good interaction.
Back to Aguleri at about 5.30pm. Happy evening, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Lord, the day you gave is ended and we thank you. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Saturday, 20 June 2020. FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY. Exsultabit cor meum in salutari tuo, cantabo Domino, qui bona tribuit mihi. We focus our attention on the Tabernacle to contemplate the splendour of the King who has taken his above inside the smallest space in my chapel. To Him we sing: Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine, cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Don't despise those little things you can do well; they contain tiny miracles that can amaze you and you will change the world. Be a world changer in your own way! We look up to you!"
We remembered in a special way and prayed for the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart Mary, Mother of Christ. One of them, Sr Vera Mariette Nwankwo, works with us. At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, who prepared a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of your glory.
At 10.00 am, I was at Ss John and Paul Church, Awada, for the wedding of Peter Ugwunonso and Chisom Perpetua Offorbike. Before the scheduling of this wedding, I did not know any of them. One day Peter appeared in my office. He said that he was nobody and had no person of substance behind him. He had never come close to any bishop before in his life. He was drawn to me by what he could not explain. Mustering courage after prayer, he decided to come to my office to beg me to come and bless his wedding. He believed that I would not reject him. I was impressed by his courage and, gladly, I accepted to preside at the wedding. As usual, I had a pastoral meeting with him and his bride yesterday evening. So, this morning we met in the Church.
About five priests concelebrated. It was a very solemn nuptial Mass celebration. The special orchestra of the parochial Music Academy performed. In the Eucharistic Prayer III we prayed for them: Strengthen, we pray, in the grace of Marriage Perpetua and Peter, whom you have brought happily to their wedding day, that under your protection they may always be faithful in their lives to the covenant they have sealed in your presence. In your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.
Father Victor Mbañusi played organised a good reception/lunch for all the priests. I was happy to meet two of our veteran priests residing in the rectory: Very Rev. Prof. Fr Godwin Okeke and Very Rev. Fr Michael Esotu. Both are ageing gracefully. From Awada, I returned briefly to Aguleri.
At 4.00 pm, I found myself in St Mary's Church Alor for Parish Community Rosary. An event very well attended. The Church was indeed full. I had a slight challenge in enforcing "social distancing". The best I could do was to insist on the use of a mask to cover mouth and nose.
I led the rosary following the arrangement I made in the booklet EKPERE ROSARI N'OGBAKO PARISHI. At the end of each decade, we said the short prayer I composed to improve our devotion to the Blessed Mother: Ezigbo Nne m Marịa, Nne nke Chukwu, biko búrú ekpere m tata bugara Nwa Gị Jesu. Mee obi m ka o jupụta na grasịa nke Chukwu. Nyere m aka ibi ńdụ di mma n’ụwa a, ka m were soro ndị Mmụọọma na ndị Nsọ niile kwee ukwe otito nke Chukwu n’ala eze eluigwe.
I returned to Aguleri, very tired but with the joy of knowing that I accomplished a number of thing, thanks God who gave me the strength. Supper. Night prayer. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
We remembered in a special way and prayed for the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart Mary, Mother of Christ. One of them, Sr Vera Mariette Nwankwo, works with us. At Mass with the Church we prayed: O God, who prepared a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of your glory.
At 10.00 am, I was at Ss John and Paul Church, Awada, for the wedding of Peter Ugwunonso and Chisom Perpetua Offorbike. Before the scheduling of this wedding, I did not know any of them. One day Peter appeared in my office. He said that he was nobody and had no person of substance behind him. He had never come close to any bishop before in his life. He was drawn to me by what he could not explain. Mustering courage after prayer, he decided to come to my office to beg me to come and bless his wedding. He believed that I would not reject him. I was impressed by his courage and, gladly, I accepted to preside at the wedding. As usual, I had a pastoral meeting with him and his bride yesterday evening. So, this morning we met in the Church.
About five priests concelebrated. It was a very solemn nuptial Mass celebration. The special orchestra of the parochial Music Academy performed. In the Eucharistic Prayer III we prayed for them: Strengthen, we pray, in the grace of Marriage Perpetua and Peter, whom you have brought happily to their wedding day, that under your protection they may always be faithful in their lives to the covenant they have sealed in your presence. In your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.
Father Victor Mbañusi played organised a good reception/lunch for all the priests. I was happy to meet two of our veteran priests residing in the rectory: Very Rev. Prof. Fr Godwin Okeke and Very Rev. Fr Michael Esotu. Both are ageing gracefully. From Awada, I returned briefly to Aguleri.
At 4.00 pm, I found myself in St Mary's Church Alor for Parish Community Rosary. An event very well attended. The Church was indeed full. I had a slight challenge in enforcing "social distancing". The best I could do was to insist on the use of a mask to cover mouth and nose.
I led the rosary following the arrangement I made in the booklet EKPERE ROSARI N'OGBAKO PARISHI. At the end of each decade, we said the short prayer I composed to improve our devotion to the Blessed Mother: Ezigbo Nne m Marịa, Nne nke Chukwu, biko búrú ekpere m tata bugara Nwa Gị Jesu. Mee obi m ka o jupụta na grasịa nke Chukwu. Nyere m aka ibi ńdụ di mma n’ụwa a, ka m were soro ndị Mmụọọma na ndị Nsọ niile kwee ukwe otito nke Chukwu n’ala eze eluigwe.
I returned to Aguleri, very tired but with the joy of knowing that I accomplished a number of thing, thanks God who gave me the strength. Supper. Night prayer. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Friday, 19 June 2020. SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. Cogitationes Cordis eius in generatione et generationem, ut eruat a morteanimas eorum et alat eos in fame. As usual, we present ourselves to the Lord to adore Him and receive His blessing. Cor Iesu sacratissimum, miserere nobis. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You might not always have the time to do big, over-the-top random acts of kindness. But every day there’s a chance to help, uplift or impact others in a positive way". Today's Preface articulated our celebration today: For raised up high on the Cross, he gave himself up for us with a wonderful love and poured out blood and water from his pierced side, the wellspring of the Church's Sacraments, so that, won over to the open heart of the Saviour.
The confusion about the spread of Coronavirus continued to grow. While some countries were reporting improvement of the situation and lifting of some restrictions on movement, the number of Nigerians infected and affected continues to increase. What is happening? Are we being deceived? This is the wrong time to be sick or even to die in Nigeria. Many hospitals refuse or are barred from accepting sick people. Rightly or wrongly, most deaths are linked to COVID19. Too bad for those who have asthma or any respiratory problem! Peter's question to Christ, though in a different context, comes to mind: Domine, ad quem ibimus?
I confined myself at home, gainfully using the time to accomplish the goals I set for myself. In the evening I had a session with the people to be wedded tomorrow morning. It was a good occasion to assess and update what they had learnt about marriage. As usual, it ended with arrangement for confession. I had a visiting priest available to administer the Sacrament of Penance.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
Sweet Heart of Jesus, font of love and mercy
Today we come, Thy blessing to implore.
Oh touch our hearts, so cold and so ungrateful
And make them Lord, Thine own for evermore.
Sweet Heart of Jesus we implore,
Oh make us love Thee more and more.
Sweet heart of Jesus, make us know and love thee,
Unfold to us the treasures of thy grace;
That so our hearts, from things of earth uplifted,
May long alone to gaze upon thy face.
Sweet Heart of Jesus we implore,
Oh make us love Thee more and more
Sweet Heart of Jesus, make us pure and gentle
And teach us how to do Thy blessed will;
To follow close the print of Thy dear footsteps
And when we fall, Sweet Heart, oh love us still.
Sweet Heart of Jesus we implore,
Oh make us love Thee more and more.
The confusion about the spread of Coronavirus continued to grow. While some countries were reporting improvement of the situation and lifting of some restrictions on movement, the number of Nigerians infected and affected continues to increase. What is happening? Are we being deceived? This is the wrong time to be sick or even to die in Nigeria. Many hospitals refuse or are barred from accepting sick people. Rightly or wrongly, most deaths are linked to COVID19. Too bad for those who have asthma or any respiratory problem! Peter's question to Christ, though in a different context, comes to mind: Domine, ad quem ibimus?
I confined myself at home, gainfully using the time to accomplish the goals I set for myself. In the evening I had a session with the people to be wedded tomorrow morning. It was a good occasion to assess and update what they had learnt about marriage. As usual, it ended with arrangement for confession. I had a visiting priest available to administer the Sacrament of Penance.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
Sweet Heart of Jesus, font of love and mercy
Today we come, Thy blessing to implore.
Oh touch our hearts, so cold and so ungrateful
And make them Lord, Thine own for evermore.
Sweet Heart of Jesus we implore,
Oh make us love Thee more and more.
Sweet heart of Jesus, make us know and love thee,
Unfold to us the treasures of thy grace;
That so our hearts, from things of earth uplifted,
May long alone to gaze upon thy face.
Sweet Heart of Jesus we implore,
Oh make us love Thee more and more
Sweet Heart of Jesus, make us pure and gentle
And teach us how to do Thy blessed will;
To follow close the print of Thy dear footsteps
And when we fall, Sweet Heart, oh love us still.
Sweet Heart of Jesus we implore,
Oh make us love Thee more and more.
Thursday, 18 June 2020. Iuravit Dominus et non paenitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech. Usual morning devotions. I reflected on what I read recently on WALKING. Its caption: "Walking is the best exercise!" It went on to expatiate:
I spent some time today proof reading a book draft from a friend. Very interesting work.
- Walk Away from arguments that lead you to nowhere but anger.
- Walk Away from people who deliberately put you down.
- Walk Away from any thought that reduces your worth.
- Walk Away from failures and fears that stifle your dreams.
- Walk Away from people who do not care for you and who are opportunistic.
- Walk Away from things that poison your soul.
- Give Yourself A Walk towards love, peace, kindness and goodness
- Give Yourself A Walk to God's house and worship Him in Truth and in Spirit.
- May God help us daily to walk in the right direction, to walk towards Him and with Him.
I spent some time today proof reading a book draft from a friend. Very interesting work.
Wednesday, 17 June 2020. Before the Lord, hidden in the tabernacle but, ever present and ready to welcome us we prostrate. Holy God, we praise your name; Lord of all, we bow before you; all on earth your scepter claim,
all in heav'n above adore you. Infinite your vast domain, everlasting is your reign. OUR REFLECTION TODAY: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3,22-23).
I spent today rearranging my study room. Time has come for me to send away many of the books on my shelf. Somehow, I have not decided which institution to bequeath the great collection. Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi et semitas tuas edoce me.
My day ended peacefully. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
all in heav'n above adore you. Infinite your vast domain, everlasting is your reign. OUR REFLECTION TODAY: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3,22-23).
I spent today rearranging my study room. Time has come for me to send away many of the books on my shelf. Somehow, I have not decided which institution to bequeath the great collection. Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi et semitas tuas edoce me.
My day ended peacefully. Ego obdormivi et soporatus sum, exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
Tuesday, 16 June 2020. Thanks be to God as a new day begins. Usual morning spiritual activities. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great.” - Mark Twain.
At Mass, we presented the following intercessory prayers (Prayer of the Faithful):
For a good part of the day, I paid attention to a paper written by a friend on which he asked me to comment.
Evening came and night came: the end of the day.
Te lucis ante términum,
rerum Creátor, póscimus,
ut sólita cleméntia
sis præsul ad custódiam.
At Mass, we presented the following intercessory prayers (Prayer of the Faithful):
- That the church may make every effort to be perfect even as the Heavenly Father is perfect, according to the way given us by the Father's only Son, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For those who murder and then take possession, that they may meet a prophet upon their way, who will speak the truth about their sins and offer them a chance to make amends, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may learn to obey the difficult command of Jesus to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us, putting our trust in His all-powerful grace, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who have asked for our prayers in a time of suffering and pain, sickness and grief, that God may cause His rain of compassion and mercy to fall abundantly upon them, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who have died, that they may be thoroughly washed of any guilt through God's merciful purification and brought before His face to rejoice in His goodness, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
For a good part of the day, I paid attention to a paper written by a friend on which he asked me to comment.
Evening came and night came: the end of the day.
Te lucis ante términum,
rerum Creátor, póscimus,
ut sólita cleméntia
sis præsul ad custódiam.
Monday, 15 June 2020. Ascolta, Signore, la mia voce: a te io grido. Sei tu il mio aiuto, non respingermi, non abbandonarmi, Dio della mia salvezza. Usual activities at the beginning of a new day: Adoration, Meditation, Morning Prayers, Benediction, and Holy Mass (today, in Italian language). OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You learn nothing from life if you think you are right all the time." With the Church at Mass we prayed: O Dio, fortezza di chi spera in te, ascolta beigno le nostre invocazioni, e poiché nella nostra debolezza nulla possiamo senza il tuo aiuto, soccorrici con la tua grazia, perché fedeli ai tuoi comandamenti possiamo piacerti nelle intenzioni e nelle opere. After Breakfast, I settled down at my table to continue working on my writing project. I had a telephone call from my bishop-friend who asked me why I was not already there at Onitsha to receive the Bishops. I opened my mouth and closed. O my God. Today, at St Martha house Onitsha, a meeting of Onitsha Provincial Bishops was scheduled. I confirmed that I would attend but forgot to put it in my diary. I quickly dressed up. My driver did not see the schedule for the Bishops' meeting in today's program, so he was relaxing in his home with his family. All my secretaries were already out for the assignments of the day. So, I grabbed my key, jumped into my car and drove off to Onitsha. The meeting started at about 11.00 am. I was there about 12.05 pm, in time to join in 70% of the deliberations. In attendance for the meeting were: Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Bishops Michael Okoro, Hilary Okeke, Paulinus Ezeokafor, Callistus Onaga, Jonas Benson Okoye, Ernest Obodo and Denis Isizoh. Very smooth meeting. It ended at about 1.47 pm. Lunch for the Bishops followed. Although I knew that my lunch was already prepared at my home, I stayed back as a courtesy to interact with the visiting bishops.
My driver Onyeka joined me at Onitsha to drive me back to Aguleri. Thanks be to God for a good day, though busy. Usual evening activities: supper, reading, prayer, retirement to bed and expecting the miracle of a new day.
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
My driver Onyeka joined me at Onitsha to drive me back to Aguleri. Thanks be to God for a good day, though busy. Usual evening activities: supper, reading, prayer, retirement to bed and expecting the miracle of a new day.
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
Sunday, 14 June 2020. In Nigeria, the Solemnity of CORPUS CHRISTI is transferred from Thursday after Trinity Sunday to the next Sunday. In my chapel I started my day. Before the most precious divine Gift in the Catholic Church, indeed in the world, we prostrated and paid our homage: Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae. (Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, having truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, from whose pierced side water and blood flowed: Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death! O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus, O Jesus, son of Mary).
I had more than a "full house" for Mass today. My collaborators and holiday makers were all gathered in my chapel for the Eucharistic celebration. Filii tui sicut novellae olivarum in circuitu mensae tuae! With the Church we said the Opening Prayer: O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. As on every Sunday, one of the two seminarians did the first reading while my close lay assistant Samuel Etim took the second. We recited together in English Lauda Sion Salvatorem. Lauda ducem et pastorem in hymnis et canticis. Quantum potes, tantum aude; Quia maior omni laude, nec laudare sufficis....
At 9.43am, I was at Oba. Today, we fixed the solemn ceremony of the dedication of St Joseph's Church, Okuzu Oba. I arrived ahead of the scheduled time because I wanted to supervise the measures taken to protect the People of God from being infected by the COVID19. Immediately I entered the Church, I instructed everybody to put on the face mask. They did it. Then I directed a few people to spread out to observe a reasonable distance advised by healthcare experts. Then I explained to them our plan to test the temperature of every person in the Church just to be sure that no person in Church had a fever (not necessarily coronavirus). They were all very willing and enthusiastic. We conducted an infrared thermometer temperature control. About four persons (children) had a high temperature. They were sent home immediately. After, we had a beautiful and solemn celebration. So, in the end, I issued a testament:
DIONYSIUS C. ISIZOH
Dei et Apostolicae Sedis gratia,
Episcopus Titularis Legiensis et Auxiliaris Onitshaensis
"Benedicite Dominum omnes electi eius agite dies laetitiae et confitemini illi."
Fidem facimus et testamur,
Ecclesiam istam Sancti Ioseph apud Obaensis
sollemniter Dei gloriae eiusque populi sanctificationi ad sacra mysteria celebranda dicatam esse.
Anno Domini Duomilaviginti Mensis Iunii Die Quattuordecim,
Datum Onitshaensis, sub sigillo nostro,
I had more than a "full house" for Mass today. My collaborators and holiday makers were all gathered in my chapel for the Eucharistic celebration. Filii tui sicut novellae olivarum in circuitu mensae tuae! With the Church we said the Opening Prayer: O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. As on every Sunday, one of the two seminarians did the first reading while my close lay assistant Samuel Etim took the second. We recited together in English Lauda Sion Salvatorem. Lauda ducem et pastorem in hymnis et canticis. Quantum potes, tantum aude; Quia maior omni laude, nec laudare sufficis....
At 9.43am, I was at Oba. Today, we fixed the solemn ceremony of the dedication of St Joseph's Church, Okuzu Oba. I arrived ahead of the scheduled time because I wanted to supervise the measures taken to protect the People of God from being infected by the COVID19. Immediately I entered the Church, I instructed everybody to put on the face mask. They did it. Then I directed a few people to spread out to observe a reasonable distance advised by healthcare experts. Then I explained to them our plan to test the temperature of every person in the Church just to be sure that no person in Church had a fever (not necessarily coronavirus). They were all very willing and enthusiastic. We conducted an infrared thermometer temperature control. About four persons (children) had a high temperature. They were sent home immediately. After, we had a beautiful and solemn celebration. So, in the end, I issued a testament:
DIONYSIUS C. ISIZOH
Dei et Apostolicae Sedis gratia,
Episcopus Titularis Legiensis et Auxiliaris Onitshaensis
"Benedicite Dominum omnes electi eius agite dies laetitiae et confitemini illi."
Fidem facimus et testamur,
Ecclesiam istam Sancti Ioseph apud Obaensis
sollemniter Dei gloriae eiusque populi sanctificationi ad sacra mysteria celebranda dicatam esse.
Anno Domini Duomilaviginti Mensis Iunii Die Quattuordecim,
Datum Onitshaensis, sub sigillo nostro,
Candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation at Okuzu OBA
Saturday, 13 June 2020. Here we are this morning before the Lord Jesus Christ. The song was welling up from inside of me:
Jesus, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.
O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!
MEMORIAL OF ST ANTHONY OF PADUA. Today, I prayed for all the Anthonys I have know here on earth, starting with my father and my brother, all the members St Anthony's society, especially those of them here in Nigeria, etc. I gave testimony that whenever I am looking for something, I invoke St Anthony I have always found the lost thing. With the Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saint Anthny of Padua to your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor in their need, grant that, with his assistance, as we follow the teachings of the Christian life, we may know your help in every trial.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Never seek publicity for what you do. If you deserve it, you will receive it. If you don’t, you will be attacked. In any case, goodness never needs to draw attention to itself."
At 10.00am, I was at St Joseph's Parish Anaku for the blessing of the new rectory at Anaku. This rectory should have been blessed during my pastoral visit on 31 August 2019. For some last minute challenges from outside Anaku,the house was not ready. I thought that in matter of weeks, the house would be ready. It has taken these months. Being concerned that the Parish Priest's house up till now was grossly inadequate for priestly spirituality and pastoral activities, I took the decision to move Father Raph to this new edifice, even though not completed and furnished.
Good presence of the parishioners. I said the following prayers during the blessing:
Let us pray to our Heavenly Father for His blessing on this Rectory and on all who live here. (Moment of silence...) Loving Father, we gather here in the Name of Jesus Your Son and ask You for Your blessing. Bless + this Rectory and make it a house of prayer. In Your love, Bless + all who live here today, Bless + all who will live here in the future, and deepen their spirit of service to Your people. Let them be an example of prayer and praise for your honour and glory. Be their shelter when they are at home their companion when they are away, and their welcome guest when they return. For all of us gathered here, Lord, fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and lead us always in Your love. We ask this grace, holy Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Then I prayed for Priests:
Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and to act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising. In time of weakness send them your Spirit, and help them to praise your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit, put your word on their lips and your love in their hearts, to bring Good News to the poor and healing to the broken-hearted. And may the gift of Mary, your mother, to the disciple whom you loved, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed you in her human image, may form them in your divine image, by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
I returned to Aguleri for lunch. Short rest. Then I set out for St Joseph's Church Okuzu Oba to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation. About 293 received the Sacrament this evening. After the Mass, I went round the Church to be sure that it was prepared well for dedication the next day. I pointed out a number of things to be taken care of in preparation for the dedication.
Back finally to Aguleri shortly before 8.00pm. At night, I had very little sleep.
Jesus, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.
O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!
MEMORIAL OF ST ANTHONY OF PADUA. Today, I prayed for all the Anthonys I have know here on earth, starting with my father and my brother, all the members St Anthony's society, especially those of them here in Nigeria, etc. I gave testimony that whenever I am looking for something, I invoke St Anthony I have always found the lost thing. With the Church we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saint Anthny of Padua to your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor in their need, grant that, with his assistance, as we follow the teachings of the Christian life, we may know your help in every trial.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Never seek publicity for what you do. If you deserve it, you will receive it. If you don’t, you will be attacked. In any case, goodness never needs to draw attention to itself."
At 10.00am, I was at St Joseph's Parish Anaku for the blessing of the new rectory at Anaku. This rectory should have been blessed during my pastoral visit on 31 August 2019. For some last minute challenges from outside Anaku,the house was not ready. I thought that in matter of weeks, the house would be ready. It has taken these months. Being concerned that the Parish Priest's house up till now was grossly inadequate for priestly spirituality and pastoral activities, I took the decision to move Father Raph to this new edifice, even though not completed and furnished.
Good presence of the parishioners. I said the following prayers during the blessing:
Let us pray to our Heavenly Father for His blessing on this Rectory and on all who live here. (Moment of silence...) Loving Father, we gather here in the Name of Jesus Your Son and ask You for Your blessing. Bless + this Rectory and make it a house of prayer. In Your love, Bless + all who live here today, Bless + all who will live here in the future, and deepen their spirit of service to Your people. Let them be an example of prayer and praise for your honour and glory. Be their shelter when they are at home their companion when they are away, and their welcome guest when they return. For all of us gathered here, Lord, fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and lead us always in Your love. We ask this grace, holy Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Then I prayed for Priests:
Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and to act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising. In time of weakness send them your Spirit, and help them to praise your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit, put your word on their lips and your love in their hearts, to bring Good News to the poor and healing to the broken-hearted. And may the gift of Mary, your mother, to the disciple whom you loved, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed you in her human image, may form them in your divine image, by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
I returned to Aguleri for lunch. Short rest. Then I set out for St Joseph's Church Okuzu Oba to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation. About 293 received the Sacrament this evening. After the Mass, I went round the Church to be sure that it was prepared well for dedication the next day. I pointed out a number of things to be taken care of in preparation for the dedication.
Back finally to Aguleri shortly before 8.00pm. At night, I had very little sleep.
Friday, 12 June 2020. Cor Iesu Sacratissimum, miserere nobis. Today we celebrated Votive of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Usual morning spiritual activities. Usually the language for the Mass of Fridays is Latin. Adoration. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” - Maya Angelou.
Adoration. Office of Lauds. Holy Mass. With the Church we prayed: Clothe us, Lord God, with the virtues of the Heart of your Son and set us aflame with his love, that, conformed to his image, we may merit a share in eternal redemption.
I spent some time searching for information on how to protect the People of God this coming Saturday and Sunday during my forthcoming pastoral encounters with them. First, I acquired the infrared thermometers to check the temperature of every person in the Church. Then I purchased extra face masks. And further, I obtained information on how to arrange the Congregation to observe permissible distance apart. It was good news to learn from World Health Organisation (WHO) that those without COVID19 symptoms do not transmit the virus to others. But the credibility of WHO is very low worldwide. My prayer: Lord, I love your people. Please help me to protect them. Let me be able to serve them in your name without exposing any of them to danger.
Late evening, I took a walk round my compound, good moment to say the rosary. Night fall. Some hours of work.
Nocte surgentes vigilemus omnes,
semper in psalmis meditemur atque
viribus totis Domino canamus
dulciter hymnos,
Ut, pio regi pariter canentes,
cum suis sanctis mereamur aulam
ingredi caeli, simul et beatam
ducere vitam.
Praestet hoc nobis Deitas beata
Patris ac Nati, pariterque Sancti
Spiritus, cuius resonat per omnem
gloria mundum.
Adoration. Office of Lauds. Holy Mass. With the Church we prayed: Clothe us, Lord God, with the virtues of the Heart of your Son and set us aflame with his love, that, conformed to his image, we may merit a share in eternal redemption.
I spent some time searching for information on how to protect the People of God this coming Saturday and Sunday during my forthcoming pastoral encounters with them. First, I acquired the infrared thermometers to check the temperature of every person in the Church. Then I purchased extra face masks. And further, I obtained information on how to arrange the Congregation to observe permissible distance apart. It was good news to learn from World Health Organisation (WHO) that those without COVID19 symptoms do not transmit the virus to others. But the credibility of WHO is very low worldwide. My prayer: Lord, I love your people. Please help me to protect them. Let me be able to serve them in your name without exposing any of them to danger.
Late evening, I took a walk round my compound, good moment to say the rosary. Night fall. Some hours of work.
Nocte surgentes vigilemus omnes,
semper in psalmis meditemur atque
viribus totis Domino canamus
dulciter hymnos,
Ut, pio regi pariter canentes,
cum suis sanctis mereamur aulam
ingredi caeli, simul et beatam
ducere vitam.
Praestet hoc nobis Deitas beata
Patris ac Nati, pariterque Sancti
Spiritus, cuius resonat per omnem
gloria mundum.
Thursday, 11 June 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST BARNABAS, Apostle. Usual morning spiritual activities. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Meditation has taught me to be in the present moment and observe the present moment at the same time. Just breathe, follow your breath, and your intuition can take you from there.” ― Tara Stiles.
Adoration. Morning prayers and Mass. At morning prayers, we said the following intercessory prayers:
A quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
Adoration. Morning prayers and Mass. At morning prayers, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- Since we have received from the apostles our heavenly inheritance, let us thank our Father for all his blessings. LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
- Praise t you, Lord God, for the gift of Christ's body and blood, handed on by the apostles, to give us strength and life; LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
- For the table of your word, served by the apostles, to bring us light and joy; LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
- For your holy Church, built on the apostles, to make us all one body; LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
- For the washing of baptism and penance, entrusted to the apostles, to cleanse our hearts from sin; LORD, THE APOSTLES SING YOUR PRAISES.
A quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
Wednesday, 10 June 2020. Usual morning spiritual activities. My mind turned to the Great Mercy of God. Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo, in generationem et generationem annuntiabo veritatem tuam in ore meo. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” - Anne Lamott. At Mass today we prayed: O God, whose mercies are without number and whose treasure of goodness is infinite, graciously increase the faith of the people consecrated to you, that all may grasp and rightly understand by whose love they have been created; through whose Blood they have been redeemed, and by whose Spirit they have been reborn. Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation 1.
Gradually, we are coming out of the, so far, most extended inter-State lockdown since COVID19 pandemic invaded our world. Many people are tired of staying indoors without the end in sight. It is becoming, for some, a boring world. I understand that some people are contemplating committing suicide. Something interesting happened. A friend sent me this message, and I think it is worth sharing:
A movie theater announced that an 8-minute movie won the title of Best Short Film in the World.
So, it was decided to display this movie in the cinema for free, so that the largest crowd could gather to watch it. The movie began with a snapshot of a room ceiling that is devoid of any decoration and of any details, just a white ceiling...
3 minutes passed without the camera moving and it did not move to any other scene, or any other part of the ceiling in the same room.
Another 3 minutes passed without the camera moving and without changing the scene.
After 6 boring minutes, the viewers started grumbling. Some of them were about to leave the theater hall. And some of them objected to the officials of the house because they wasted their time watching a ceiling.
Suddenly, before the majority became concerned and starting to leave, the camera lens slowly moved onto a wall without any details either until it reached down towards the floor. There a child appeared on a bed, who seems to be totally handicapped due to the spinal cord tear in his little body...
The camera slowly moved to the side of the handicap bed, showing a wheelchair without a back.
The camera moved to the boring location of the ceiling again. This time it displayed a sentence: "We showed you only 8 minutes of this child's daily activity, only 8 minutes from the scene that this handicapped child watches all the hours of his life, and you complained and weren’t patient for only six minutes, you couldn't bear to watch it...
So know the value of every second of your life that you spend in wellness, and thank God for every blessing bestowed on you, and you will not feel its existence unless you lose it.”
We suffer from quarantine and the curfew, which is, God willing, for a limited time. There are millions who live their entire lives in quarantine...
Covid-19 has possibly made some of us take time to think about our many privileges.
Many are our blessings, most of which are taken for granted...
COVID19 Lockdown protocol duly observed. Work at my desk continued.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the end. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace. The Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
Gradually, we are coming out of the, so far, most extended inter-State lockdown since COVID19 pandemic invaded our world. Many people are tired of staying indoors without the end in sight. It is becoming, for some, a boring world. I understand that some people are contemplating committing suicide. Something interesting happened. A friend sent me this message, and I think it is worth sharing:
A movie theater announced that an 8-minute movie won the title of Best Short Film in the World.
So, it was decided to display this movie in the cinema for free, so that the largest crowd could gather to watch it. The movie began with a snapshot of a room ceiling that is devoid of any decoration and of any details, just a white ceiling...
3 minutes passed without the camera moving and it did not move to any other scene, or any other part of the ceiling in the same room.
Another 3 minutes passed without the camera moving and without changing the scene.
After 6 boring minutes, the viewers started grumbling. Some of them were about to leave the theater hall. And some of them objected to the officials of the house because they wasted their time watching a ceiling.
Suddenly, before the majority became concerned and starting to leave, the camera lens slowly moved onto a wall without any details either until it reached down towards the floor. There a child appeared on a bed, who seems to be totally handicapped due to the spinal cord tear in his little body...
The camera slowly moved to the side of the handicap bed, showing a wheelchair without a back.
The camera moved to the boring location of the ceiling again. This time it displayed a sentence: "We showed you only 8 minutes of this child's daily activity, only 8 minutes from the scene that this handicapped child watches all the hours of his life, and you complained and weren’t patient for only six minutes, you couldn't bear to watch it...
So know the value of every second of your life that you spend in wellness, and thank God for every blessing bestowed on you, and you will not feel its existence unless you lose it.”
We suffer from quarantine and the curfew, which is, God willing, for a limited time. There are millions who live their entire lives in quarantine...
Covid-19 has possibly made some of us take time to think about our many privileges.
Many are our blessings, most of which are taken for granted...
COVID19 Lockdown protocol duly observed. Work at my desk continued.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the end. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace. The Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
Tuesday, 9 June 2020. Nel nome di Gesù ogni ginocchio si pieghi in cielo, in terra e sotto terra, e ogni lingua proclami che Gesù Cristo è il Signore a gloria di Dio Padre. Usual morning spiritual activities. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "One act of kindness per day, keeps selfishness away " - Macazinga Da Zing. Our Mass this morning was Votive Mass of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. The language of the Mass was, as usual on Tuesdays, Italian. We prayed in the Eucharistic Prayer II: Di noi tutti abbi misericordia: donaci di aver parte alla vita eterna, insieme con la beata Maria, Vergine e Madre di Dio, con gli apostoli e tutti i santi che in ogni tempo ti furono graditi: e in Gesù Cristo tuo Figlio canteremo la tua gloria.
At about 11.00am I paid a fraternal visit to the Priests working in Our Lady of Victory Parish, Umueri.
On arrival at the rectory, I met the pastor, Fr Augustine Okonkwo. Brief tour of the compound and recommendations on how to control the erosion in the compound.
The assistant pastor, Fr Thaddeus Ugwuoke, was out for Mass in one of the outstations - Ss Peter and Paul Church. I went there to see him too. I was pleasantly surprised to see the church building erected there. Hopefully my next pastoral visit to the parish will be held in that venue. Fr Ugwoke was just about to begin Mass when I arrived. I greeted the people briefly, blessed them and then returned to Aguleri.
Quiet evening. Then, the night came. With the psalmist (4,7-8), my prayer:
You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine.
I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.
At about 11.00am I paid a fraternal visit to the Priests working in Our Lady of Victory Parish, Umueri.
On arrival at the rectory, I met the pastor, Fr Augustine Okonkwo. Brief tour of the compound and recommendations on how to control the erosion in the compound.
The assistant pastor, Fr Thaddeus Ugwuoke, was out for Mass in one of the outstations - Ss Peter and Paul Church. I went there to see him too. I was pleasantly surprised to see the church building erected there. Hopefully my next pastoral visit to the parish will be held in that venue. Fr Ugwoke was just about to begin Mass when I arrived. I greeted the people briefly, blessed them and then returned to Aguleri.
Quiet evening. Then, the night came. With the psalmist (4,7-8), my prayer:
You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine.
I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.
Monday, 8 June 2020. Usual morning first ejaculatory prayers to our Blessed Mother. Before the Lord we bow our heads in adoration. To our Lord hidden in the tabernacle we sing:
O strength and stay upholding all creation,
who ever dost thyself unmoved abide,
yet day by day the light in due gradation
from hour to hour through all its changes guide.
Grant to life’s day a calm unclouded ending,
an eve untouched by shadows of decay,
the brightness of a holy death-bed blending
with dawning glories of the eternal day.
Hear us, O Father, gracious and forgiving,
through Jesus Christ thy co-eternal Word,
who with the Holy Ghost by all things living
now and to endless ages art adored.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Our willingness to be kind should not be predicated on how someone else will respond; rather, it should stem simply from knowing that God desires for us to be kind." - Kristin Demery
Mass of the 10th Week in Ordinary time. The language of our Mass was Italian. With the Church we prayed: O Dio, sorgente di ogni bene, ispiraci propositi giusti e santi e donaci il tuo aiuto, perché possiamo attuarli nella nostra vita.
At 10.15am, I was in Office at Aguleri. On instruction, my Secretary Fr Innocent Udolisah controlled the number of persons who came to see me. I needed to leave the office by 1.00pm. Mission accomplished. I left the office on time. Lunch. Brief rest.
I was at Onitsha shortly before 4.00pm for the monthly administrative meeting I hold with Archbishop Val Okeke. Usually we meet to compare notes and coordinate our pastoral ministries in the Archdiocese. It is also a moment of prayer for the People of God entrusted to our care, and for ourselves to be good and exemplary pastors. The meeting usually ends with a fraternal meal. So, it was today. I was back to Aguleri before 8.00pm.
Happy conclusion of today. In thanksgiving:
We praise you, Father, for your gifts
Of dusk and nightfall over earth,
Foreshadowing the mystery
Of death that leads to endless day.
Within your hands we rest secure;
In quiet sleep our strength renew;
Yet give your people hearts that wake
In love to you, unsleeping Lord.
Your glory may we ever seek
In rest, as in activity,
Until its fullness is revealed,
O source of life, O Trinity.
O strength and stay upholding all creation,
who ever dost thyself unmoved abide,
yet day by day the light in due gradation
from hour to hour through all its changes guide.
Grant to life’s day a calm unclouded ending,
an eve untouched by shadows of decay,
the brightness of a holy death-bed blending
with dawning glories of the eternal day.
Hear us, O Father, gracious and forgiving,
through Jesus Christ thy co-eternal Word,
who with the Holy Ghost by all things living
now and to endless ages art adored.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Our willingness to be kind should not be predicated on how someone else will respond; rather, it should stem simply from knowing that God desires for us to be kind." - Kristin Demery
Mass of the 10th Week in Ordinary time. The language of our Mass was Italian. With the Church we prayed: O Dio, sorgente di ogni bene, ispiraci propositi giusti e santi e donaci il tuo aiuto, perché possiamo attuarli nella nostra vita.
At 10.15am, I was in Office at Aguleri. On instruction, my Secretary Fr Innocent Udolisah controlled the number of persons who came to see me. I needed to leave the office by 1.00pm. Mission accomplished. I left the office on time. Lunch. Brief rest.
I was at Onitsha shortly before 4.00pm for the monthly administrative meeting I hold with Archbishop Val Okeke. Usually we meet to compare notes and coordinate our pastoral ministries in the Archdiocese. It is also a moment of prayer for the People of God entrusted to our care, and for ourselves to be good and exemplary pastors. The meeting usually ends with a fraternal meal. So, it was today. I was back to Aguleri before 8.00pm.
Happy conclusion of today. In thanksgiving:
We praise you, Father, for your gifts
Of dusk and nightfall over earth,
Foreshadowing the mystery
Of death that leads to endless day.
Within your hands we rest secure;
In quiet sleep our strength renew;
Yet give your people hearts that wake
In love to you, unsleeping Lord.
Your glory may we ever seek
In rest, as in activity,
Until its fullness is revealed,
O source of life, O Trinity.
Sunday, 7 June 2020. TRINITY SUNDAY. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
We confess our faith when we sing:
Firmly I believe and truly
God is Three, and God is One;
and I next acknowledge duly
manhood taken by the Son.
Adoration aye be given,
with and through the angelic host,
to the God of earth and heaven,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
On this special day, I remember some of the simple but powerful prayers we were taught in All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha. Yes, we begin every day by invoking the Most Blessed Trinity: Blessed be the Holy and undivided Trinity now and for ever. Amen. Then we continue: LET US PLACE OURSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND HUMBLY ADORE HIM. All of us then respond: Most holy and adorable Trinity, One God in Three Divine Persons, I believe that You are here present, I adore You with the deepest humility, and with all my heart I offer You the homage due to Your sovereign Majesty. Amen.
Usual adoration and morning meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and of love." William Wordsworth.
At Mass, with the Church we prayed: God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us, we pray, that in professing the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty.
I prayed in a special way for our Archdiocese: our Archbishop, Priests, Religious Men and Women and our the Lay Faithful. I begged the Lord: May your love be upon us, O Lord. Bless our efforts to serve you. Please, Lord, bless the work our hands.
We confess our faith when we sing:
Firmly I believe and truly
God is Three, and God is One;
and I next acknowledge duly
manhood taken by the Son.
Adoration aye be given,
with and through the angelic host,
to the God of earth and heaven,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
On this special day, I remember some of the simple but powerful prayers we were taught in All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha. Yes, we begin every day by invoking the Most Blessed Trinity: Blessed be the Holy and undivided Trinity now and for ever. Amen. Then we continue: LET US PLACE OURSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND HUMBLY ADORE HIM. All of us then respond: Most holy and adorable Trinity, One God in Three Divine Persons, I believe that You are here present, I adore You with the deepest humility, and with all my heart I offer You the homage due to Your sovereign Majesty. Amen.
Usual adoration and morning meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and of love." William Wordsworth.
At Mass, with the Church we prayed: God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us, we pray, that in professing the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty.
I prayed in a special way for our Archdiocese: our Archbishop, Priests, Religious Men and Women and our the Lay Faithful. I begged the Lord: May your love be upon us, O Lord. Bless our efforts to serve you. Please, Lord, bless the work our hands.
Saturday, 6 June 2020. Usual morning spiritual activities. We gradually begin to ease the restrictions of COVID19 in Anambra State. We are cautious not to make any mistake. Today I prayed the Lord to bless me and the People of God I would encounter as I decided to return to full pastoral engagement from now on. The first event planned was to go to our Blessed Mother to ask for her intervention. So, in the evening I went to St Peter's Parish Ojoto for Parish Community Rosary.
At 4.30pm, I was in Ojoto. There was a good turn out of the parishioners. I spent some minutes to talk about our Blessed Mother Mary, about the events in Fatima and the Spanish Flu (almost similar to our situation today). Then I explained the use of the booklet I prepared for Parish Community Rosary. This booklet was prepared in English and Igbo. The one used this evening was in Igbo language. I introduced a prayer which I composed to be said at the end of each decade. Here below in English and Igbo, not exact translation of one another:
O Blessed Mother Mary, lead me to your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, help those in need: give strength to the weak, comfort the sorrowful, pray for God’s People, assist the Clergy, and intercede for the Religious. May all who seek your help experience your unfailing protection. Amen.
Ezigbo Nne m Marịa, Nne nke Chukwu, biko búrú ekpere m tata bugara Nwa Gị Jesu. Mee obi m ka o jupụta na grasịa nke Chukwu. Nyere m aka ibi ńdụ di mma n’ụwa a, ka m were soro ndị Mmụọọma na ndị Nsọ niile kwee ukwe otito nke Chukwu n’ala eze eluigwe.
I returned home immediately after the Community Rosary. It is my intention to fill all Saturdays with a similar gesture - Parish Community Rosary - each Saturday in a different parish in the Regions assigned to me in our archdiocese.
O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
At 4.30pm, I was in Ojoto. There was a good turn out of the parishioners. I spent some minutes to talk about our Blessed Mother Mary, about the events in Fatima and the Spanish Flu (almost similar to our situation today). Then I explained the use of the booklet I prepared for Parish Community Rosary. This booklet was prepared in English and Igbo. The one used this evening was in Igbo language. I introduced a prayer which I composed to be said at the end of each decade. Here below in English and Igbo, not exact translation of one another:
O Blessed Mother Mary, lead me to your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, help those in need: give strength to the weak, comfort the sorrowful, pray for God’s People, assist the Clergy, and intercede for the Religious. May all who seek your help experience your unfailing protection. Amen.
Ezigbo Nne m Marịa, Nne nke Chukwu, biko búrú ekpere m tata bugara Nwa Gị Jesu. Mee obi m ka o jupụta na grasịa nke Chukwu. Nyere m aka ibi ńdụ di mma n’ụwa a, ka m were soro ndị Mmụọọma na ndị Nsọ niile kwee ukwe otito nke Chukwu n’ala eze eluigwe.
I returned home immediately after the Community Rosary. It is my intention to fill all Saturdays with a similar gesture - Parish Community Rosary - each Saturday in a different parish in the Regions assigned to me in our archdiocese.
O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Blessing and laying of the foundation of St Luke's Church, Omor
Friday, 5 June 2020. ST BONIFACE Martyr. Usual morning devotions. Adoration. Meditation.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein.
Office Lauds. Benediction. Lord our God, in this great sacrament we come into the presence of Jesus Christ, your Son, born of the Virgin Mary and crucified for our salvation. May we who declare our faith in this fountain of love and mercy drink from it the water of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Holy Mass followed.
At 10.50am, I was at the site for the new Church of St Luke, Omor for the blessing and laying of the foundation stone. Fr Paul Ihebighi, the Parish of St Paul's Omor and the administrator of St Luke's Independent Station, was there. Soon Fr Patrick Egwuatu arrived. He is the Parish Priest of the mother-Parish, Christ the King Parish Omor. The People came in good number. His Royal Highness, Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume, the principal donor of the Church to be built here arrive with some of his cabinet members. Simple but colorful ceremony. Here are some of the prayers said on this occasion:
Lord, you fill the entire world with your presence
that your name may be hallowed through all the earth.
Bless all those who have worked
or contributed to provide this land
on which a church will be built.
Today may they rejoice in a work just begun,
soon may they celebrate the sacraments in your temple,
and in time to come may they praise you for ever in heaven.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
With faith in Jesus Christ,
we lay this stone on which a Church will rise.
May it be a place of sacrament and a source of grace,
to the glory of the Father who with the Son and Holy Spirit
lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
I was back in time for lunch in my house. For the rest of the day, I continued my desk work.
Usual conclusion of my day. I thanked the Lord for the blessings of the day.
Labor is sweet, for thou hast toiled,
And care is light, for thou hast cared;
Let not our works with self be soiled,
Nor in unsimple ways ensnared:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, unto thee we call;
O let thy mercy make us glad;
Thou art our Jesus and our all:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein.
Office Lauds. Benediction. Lord our God, in this great sacrament we come into the presence of Jesus Christ, your Son, born of the Virgin Mary and crucified for our salvation. May we who declare our faith in this fountain of love and mercy drink from it the water of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Holy Mass followed.
At 10.50am, I was at the site for the new Church of St Luke, Omor for the blessing and laying of the foundation stone. Fr Paul Ihebighi, the Parish of St Paul's Omor and the administrator of St Luke's Independent Station, was there. Soon Fr Patrick Egwuatu arrived. He is the Parish Priest of the mother-Parish, Christ the King Parish Omor. The People came in good number. His Royal Highness, Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume, the principal donor of the Church to be built here arrive with some of his cabinet members. Simple but colorful ceremony. Here are some of the prayers said on this occasion:
Lord, you fill the entire world with your presence
that your name may be hallowed through all the earth.
Bless all those who have worked
or contributed to provide this land
on which a church will be built.
Today may they rejoice in a work just begun,
soon may they celebrate the sacraments in your temple,
and in time to come may they praise you for ever in heaven.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
With faith in Jesus Christ,
we lay this stone on which a Church will rise.
May it be a place of sacrament and a source of grace,
to the glory of the Father who with the Son and Holy Spirit
lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
I was back in time for lunch in my house. For the rest of the day, I continued my desk work.
Usual conclusion of my day. I thanked the Lord for the blessings of the day.
Labor is sweet, for thou hast toiled,
And care is light, for thou hast cared;
Let not our works with self be soiled,
Nor in unsimple ways ensnared:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, unto thee we call;
O let thy mercy make us glad;
Thou art our Jesus and our all:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Thursday, 4 June 2020. Usual morning interaction with our Creator. Adoration. The first reading at Mass is taken from letter of Paul to Timothy. I remember Fr Timothy Anunobi who used to respond to every line of the letter as if Paul addressed it to him directly and personally. I feel now the same. Here are some of the the phrases that touched me:
At Mass, we used the Eucharistic Prayer IV. It is truly right to give you thanks, truly just to give you glory, Father most holy.... Look, O Lord, upon the Sacrifice which you yourself have provided for your Church, and grant in your loving kindness to all who partake of this one Bread and one Chalice that, gathered into one body by the Holy Spirit, they may truly become a living sacrifice in Christ to the praise of yoür glory.
Usual activities during the COVID19 lockdrown.
Retire to sleep after the day's work. Good night, Lord.
Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release;
And bless us, more than in past days,
With purity and inward peace:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Do more than pardon: give us joy,
Sweet fear, and sober liberty,
And loving hearts without alloy,
That only long to be like thee:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
- we shall live with Christ
- Remember the Good News
- we shall live with him.
- we shall reign with him.
- but he is always faithful,
- for he cannot disown his own self.
- Remind them of this; and tell them in the name of God
- Do all you can to present yourself in front of God
At Mass, we used the Eucharistic Prayer IV. It is truly right to give you thanks, truly just to give you glory, Father most holy.... Look, O Lord, upon the Sacrifice which you yourself have provided for your Church, and grant in your loving kindness to all who partake of this one Bread and one Chalice that, gathered into one body by the Holy Spirit, they may truly become a living sacrifice in Christ to the praise of yoür glory.
Usual activities during the COVID19 lockdrown.
Retire to sleep after the day's work. Good night, Lord.
Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release;
And bless us, more than in past days,
With purity and inward peace:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Do more than pardon: give us joy,
Sweet fear, and sober liberty,
And loving hearts without alloy,
That only long to be like thee:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Wednesday, 3 June 2020. YOUNG MARTYRS OF UGANDA. Many years ago I had several opportunities to visit Uganda and to go on pilgrimage to Namugongo - the place where the twenty young people were burnt and killed because of their faith in Christ. With young people across Africa in a special meeting promoted by the Holy See, I have had the privilege of celebrating Mass in the Basilica of Namugongo.
Today here in my chapel, at Mass we prayed: O God, who have made the blood of Martyrs the seed of Christians, mercifully grant that the field which is your Church, watered by the blood shed by Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions, may be fertile and always yield you an abundant harvest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it."
The first reading of the Mass today is my favourite Biblical quotation. The passage started having special meaning to me when it was read to me on the day I took the oath of office in the Chapel of Propaganda Fide in Rome.
"I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling".
In the intercessory prayer for the Vespers today:
We praise you, Christ our Saviour, example and strength of the martyrs:
The day is done, its hours have run;
And thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Today here in my chapel, at Mass we prayed: O God, who have made the blood of Martyrs the seed of Christians, mercifully grant that the field which is your Church, watered by the blood shed by Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions, may be fertile and always yield you an abundant harvest.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it."
The first reading of the Mass today is my favourite Biblical quotation. The passage started having special meaning to me when it was read to me on the day I took the oath of office in the Chapel of Propaganda Fide in Rome.
"I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling".
In the intercessory prayer for the Vespers today:
We praise you, Christ our Saviour, example and strength of the martyrs:
- Because you have loved us to the end, WE PRAISE YOU, CHRIST THE LORD.
- Because you have brought us to this day with the gift of faith intact, WE PRAISE YOU, CHRIST THE LORD.
The day is done, its hours have run;
And thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall:
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Tuesday, 2 June 2020. Respice in me, et miserere mei, Domine,, quoniam unicus et pauper sum ego. Vide humilitatem meam et laborem meum, et dimitte omnia peccata mea, Deus meus. Usual morning activities.
This morning I was thinking about the challenges of preaching the Good News of Christ during this period of coronavirus pandemic. Suddenly some questions came up in my mind:
This is a sober moment to reflect on the deceit of those prosperity Gospel preachers.
My conclusion today: In the face of the COVID19 pandemic, God is offering us new opportunity to recover and return from the misadventure of "fake ministries, deceitful claims of miracles" that have almost drowned the right practice of Catholic faith in our part of the word.
I remember this prayer I learnt as a child:
Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, that fullness of FAITH in You and trust in her, to which it is given to conquer the world. Grant us a lively FAITH, animated by charity, which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of You, and ever to see You and serve You in our neighbour;
A FAITH, firm and immovable as a rock, through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life; A courageous FAITH which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls; A FAITH which will be our Pillar of Fire to lead us forth united; to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love; to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death; to inflame those who are lukewarm; to bring back life to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace; so that - the battle of life over – all of us may reassemble, without the loss of any one, in the kingdom of Your love and glory. Amen.
This morning I was thinking about the challenges of preaching the Good News of Christ during this period of coronavirus pandemic. Suddenly some questions came up in my mind:
- Where are the prosperity Gospel preachers?
- Where are our Priest-miracle workers?
- Where are those "specially" anointed and powerful priests that attract thousands of persons to their adoration and deliverance centres?
- Where are those who offer revelations about the future of their followers?
- Why have they not performed miracles on those infected by the virus?
- Have they gone into hiding?
This is a sober moment to reflect on the deceit of those prosperity Gospel preachers.
My conclusion today: In the face of the COVID19 pandemic, God is offering us new opportunity to recover and return from the misadventure of "fake ministries, deceitful claims of miracles" that have almost drowned the right practice of Catholic faith in our part of the word.
I remember this prayer I learnt as a child:
Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, that fullness of FAITH in You and trust in her, to which it is given to conquer the world. Grant us a lively FAITH, animated by charity, which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of You, and ever to see You and serve You in our neighbour;
A FAITH, firm and immovable as a rock, through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life; A courageous FAITH which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls; A FAITH which will be our Pillar of Fire to lead us forth united; to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love; to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death; to inflame those who are lukewarm; to bring back life to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace; so that - the battle of life over – all of us may reassemble, without the loss of any one, in the kingdom of Your love and glory. Amen.
Monday, 1 June 2020. First day of the month. I noticed that, as commong practice around here, many well wishers send greetings with prayers for the new month. I began my day in the usual way with bedside short conversations with our Blessed Mother. At Lauds, we celebrated the memorial of St Justin the Martyr. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: - “If you can see yourself as an artist, and you can see that your life is your own creation, then why not create the most beautiful story for yourself?”
Today's special feast, now made obligatory in the Universal Church's calendar: FEAST OF MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH. It is celebrated Monday immediately after Pentecost. Erant discipuli perseverantes unanimiter in oratione cum Maria, matre Iesu. At Mass, with the Church we prayed: God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also, grant, we pray, that with her loving help your Church may be more fruitful day by day and, exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples.
Gradually the days of the lockdown are counted. I decided to return to the field, while observing some of the basic protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus, to offer my pastoral services to the People God. During the Spanish flu, our Blessed Mother appeared to the Fatima kids and encouraged them to pray. I will in the coming months promote Saturday rosary in parishes. I will lead by example, Unless there is another more urgent pastoral commitment, I intend to go to parishes every Saturday for "Parish Community Rosary". I'd also resume Pastoral visits. Dan Schutte's missionary song I have made my own. Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.
So, I sat down throughout today to draw the plan of my pastoral activities. My prayer: Doce me, Domine, bonitatem, disciplinam et scientiam. And, Lord, make me instrument of your love.
Today's special feast, now made obligatory in the Universal Church's calendar: FEAST OF MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH. It is celebrated Monday immediately after Pentecost. Erant discipuli perseverantes unanimiter in oratione cum Maria, matre Iesu. At Mass, with the Church we prayed: God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also, grant, we pray, that with her loving help your Church may be more fruitful day by day and, exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples.
Gradually the days of the lockdown are counted. I decided to return to the field, while observing some of the basic protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus, to offer my pastoral services to the People God. During the Spanish flu, our Blessed Mother appeared to the Fatima kids and encouraged them to pray. I will in the coming months promote Saturday rosary in parishes. I will lead by example, Unless there is another more urgent pastoral commitment, I intend to go to parishes every Saturday for "Parish Community Rosary". I'd also resume Pastoral visits. Dan Schutte's missionary song I have made my own. Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.
So, I sat down throughout today to draw the plan of my pastoral activities. My prayer: Doce me, Domine, bonitatem, disciplinam et scientiam. And, Lord, make me instrument of your love.
Bigard 85/Centenary Priests with Fr Denis Ononuju (Requiescat in pace) - 10th front row from Right.
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SUNDAY, 31 May 2020. PENTECOST SUNDAY. On entry into my chapel, the decoration of the altar by our seminarians (Celestine Ibegbunam and Emmanuel Aneke) set the mood of the solemnity of the day. In addition to my closest assistants, all the holiday makers in the compound were in the chapel. My brother, Ogbuefi Gabriel Isizoh, was also present. His son, Jude Ikechukwu Isizoh, one of the holiday makers, received First Communion today.
The hymn for the Office of Lauds was in Latin: Veni Creator Spiritus, mentes tuorum visita, imple superna gratia, quae tu creasti pectora. At Mass we prayed: O God, who by the mystery of today's feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers. Prayer of the Faithful in different languages: English, Latin, Italian and Igbo, reflecting the xenolalia of the first Pentecost. We used the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer 1). For Jude Ik Isizoh, the high point of today's celebration was when he came forward and I said "Body and Blood of Christ", he brought out his tongue and received our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist for the first time. My prayer for him: May the Body and the Blood of Christ keep you safe for eternal life. Amen. After Mass, we had photo-taking opportunities. Then we had an elaborate breakfast. All of us ate together in my dining hall in honour of Jude Ik. Isizoh who was visibly happy today. I recall how happy I was when I received first Communion on 20 August 1964. How time flies! Jesus the same, yesterday, today and for ever. Evening came, and night came: the end of the day. Good night, Lord. |
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SATURDAY, 30 May 2020. Erant discipuli perseverantes unanimiter in oratione, cum mulieribus et Maria Matre Iesu, et fratribus eius, alleluia. Adoration. Meditation. From time to time, I read some pages of In sinu Iesu. A thought about self-improvement. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is a myth – as in being able to remake ourselves.” Usual morning spiritual exercises. At the end of Mass, I reminded my collaborators of the Holy Father's special request for rosary today. I invited each and everyone to make out time today to say the rosary in private or with another.
At 9.00am, I was in Brothers of Stephen's Novitiate to celebrate with Mass Fr Jude Oboshi BSS on his 76th birthday. I have Jude Oboshi from my days in All Hallows Seminary Onitsha when he was a plumber employed in St Charles Borromeo Hospital. He later joined the Brothers of St Stephen as a lay brother. The Religious Institute asked him to proceed to the priesthood in order to serve the Congregation. I found Fr Jude Oboshi a consistent man, simple, straight-forward, honest, hardworking, humble...and holy. Fr Emmanuel Ndubuisi BSS also concelebrated this Mass of thanksgiving. Together we prayed for Fr Jude Oboshi: O God, the Father of every gift, we confess that all we have and are comes down from you; teach us to recognize the effects of your boundless care and love you with a sincere heart and with all our strength. At the end of the Mass, which was attended by Br Pantaleon Okafor (BSS Superior General) and some other Brothers, we sang "Happy Birthday to you."
This evening, I took a walk round my compound while, at the same time, joining the Holy Father spiritually to say the rosary to implore our Blessed Mother’s intercession and protection amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After the rosary, I visited all the holiday makers in my compound and, in conversation with them, it was a buona serata.
At 9.00am, I was in Brothers of Stephen's Novitiate to celebrate with Mass Fr Jude Oboshi BSS on his 76th birthday. I have Jude Oboshi from my days in All Hallows Seminary Onitsha when he was a plumber employed in St Charles Borromeo Hospital. He later joined the Brothers of St Stephen as a lay brother. The Religious Institute asked him to proceed to the priesthood in order to serve the Congregation. I found Fr Jude Oboshi a consistent man, simple, straight-forward, honest, hardworking, humble...and holy. Fr Emmanuel Ndubuisi BSS also concelebrated this Mass of thanksgiving. Together we prayed for Fr Jude Oboshi: O God, the Father of every gift, we confess that all we have and are comes down from you; teach us to recognize the effects of your boundless care and love you with a sincere heart and with all our strength. At the end of the Mass, which was attended by Br Pantaleon Okafor (BSS Superior General) and some other Brothers, we sang "Happy Birthday to you."
This evening, I took a walk round my compound while, at the same time, joining the Holy Father spiritually to say the rosary to implore our Blessed Mother’s intercession and protection amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After the rosary, I visited all the holiday makers in my compound and, in conversation with them, it was a buona serata.
FRIDAY, 29 May 2020. MEMORIAL OF ST POPE PAUL VI. This is an optional memorial, but I remember this great man well as one of the modern Popes. It was in 1974 that I heard his voice for the first time during the national Holy Year Celebration. That time there was no video network connections. The organizers of the Holy Year played his recorded voice over the loudspeaker in Ogbe Stadium, Benin City. For me, it was the voice of God himself. He died on 6 August 1978 when I was already in the senior seminary, on apostolic work at Holy Trinity Cathedral Onitsha after first-year philosophy. I was privileged to be in Rome for his beatification on 19 October 2014. His canonization took place on 14 October 2018. This Pope brought the Second Vatican Council to a happy conclusion, and he supervised the implementation of most of the Conciliar resolutions. He was the first Pope to set foot on African soil.
Usual morning devotions. The programme of activities of the day was more or less like yesterday.
Usual morning devotions. The programme of activities of the day was more or less like yesterday.
THURSDAY, 28 May 2020. As we approach Pentecost, we hear more and more songs to and about the Holy Spirit:
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,
From thy bright heav’nly throne,
Come take possession of our souls,
And make them all thy own.
Thou who art called the Paraclete,
Best gift of God above,
The living spring, the living fire,
Sweet unction and true love.
Usual morning spiritual exercises. The activities we put together every morning help us to try to align whatever we do during the day to God's will. We do not always get everything right, but we try to place the Lord at the centre. In its simplest form, our prayer is what I have set out above in Latin: Doce me, Domine, bonitatem, disciplinam, scientiam. We attempt to renew our efforts every day.
Adoration and Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ― Ernest Hemingway.
OFFICE OF LAUDS. Before BENEDICTION, we said the following prayer: O God our Father, grant to your faithful the privilege to raise a song of praise to the Lamb sacrificed for us and hidden in this holy mystery, that we may one day be able to contemplate him in the splendour of your glory. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Mass. Short period of physical exercises. Breakfast. The day began smoothly.
With the great hope that the days of COVID19 control are numbered, I began organising my pastoral activities for the rest of the year, starting in June 2020.
Happily the day is concluded with the Compline Hymn:
En toi, Seigneur, nos vies reposent
Et prennent force dans la nuit ;
Tu nous prépares à ton aurore
Et tu nous gardes dans l’Esprit.
Déjà levé sur d’autres terres,
Le jour éveille les cités ;
Ami des hommes, vois leur peine
Et donne-leur la joie d’aimer.
Vainqueur du mal et des ténèbres,
O Fils de Dieu ressuscité,
Délivre-nous de l’Adversaire
Et conduis-nous vers ta clarté
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,
From thy bright heav’nly throne,
Come take possession of our souls,
And make them all thy own.
Thou who art called the Paraclete,
Best gift of God above,
The living spring, the living fire,
Sweet unction and true love.
Usual morning spiritual exercises. The activities we put together every morning help us to try to align whatever we do during the day to God's will. We do not always get everything right, but we try to place the Lord at the centre. In its simplest form, our prayer is what I have set out above in Latin: Doce me, Domine, bonitatem, disciplinam, scientiam. We attempt to renew our efforts every day.
Adoration and Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ― Ernest Hemingway.
OFFICE OF LAUDS. Before BENEDICTION, we said the following prayer: O God our Father, grant to your faithful the privilege to raise a song of praise to the Lamb sacrificed for us and hidden in this holy mystery, that we may one day be able to contemplate him in the splendour of your glory. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Mass. Short period of physical exercises. Breakfast. The day began smoothly.
With the great hope that the days of COVID19 control are numbered, I began organising my pastoral activities for the rest of the year, starting in June 2020.
Happily the day is concluded with the Compline Hymn:
En toi, Seigneur, nos vies reposent
Et prennent force dans la nuit ;
Tu nous prépares à ton aurore
Et tu nous gardes dans l’Esprit.
Déjà levé sur d’autres terres,
Le jour éveille les cités ;
Ami des hommes, vois leur peine
Et donne-leur la joie d’aimer.
Vainqueur du mal et des ténèbres,
O Fils de Dieu ressuscité,
Délivre-nous de l’Adversaire
Et conduis-nous vers ta clarté
WEDNESDAY, 27 May 2020. Usual morning devotions. Adoration. Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” ― William Faulkner. At Mass today, with the Church, we prayed: Graciously grant to your Church, O merciful God, that, gathered by the Holy Spirit, she may be devoted to you with all her heart and united in purity of intent.
At 9.45am, I was at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity for the Funeral Mass for Fr Charles Okeke-Odogwu, aged 41. This death pained me very much. Here was a young man unassuming, devoted, full of energy, ready to go extra mile in sacrificing himself for his parishioners. Occasionally he had to trek some kilometres when it was not possible because of water to drive to his parish. He was not an apostolic noise maker. He would do his work effectively without complaint. He never sang his praises. He was a perfect gentleman. It was a pleasant experience to work with him. His life on earth was short, but great was his achievements both seen and unseen. In prayer: Hear with favor our prayers, which we humbly offer, O Lord, for the salvation of the soul of Charles, your servant and Priest, that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name may rejoice in the perpetual company of your Saints.
Archbishop Valerian Okeke presided at the Mass, Fr Benjamin Ogbunuko gave the homily, while I did the Final Commendation. His parents were present at the Mass. What a painful experience. Our faith instructs us, following the words of the Lord: Ego sum resurrectio et vita, qui credit in me etiam si mortuus fuerit vivet, et ominis qui vivit et credit in me no morietur in aeternum. His mother was crying all the time. May God console them in a most adequate way.
For the first time, following my recommendation, in all the parishes of Onitsha archdiocese, Holy Masses were offered simultaneously for a deceased Priest. I hope that it will become a regular practice. Only very few priests, especially the classmates, were in the Basilica for the Mass.
Immediately after Mass, I returned to Aguleri.
At 9.45am, I was at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity for the Funeral Mass for Fr Charles Okeke-Odogwu, aged 41. This death pained me very much. Here was a young man unassuming, devoted, full of energy, ready to go extra mile in sacrificing himself for his parishioners. Occasionally he had to trek some kilometres when it was not possible because of water to drive to his parish. He was not an apostolic noise maker. He would do his work effectively without complaint. He never sang his praises. He was a perfect gentleman. It was a pleasant experience to work with him. His life on earth was short, but great was his achievements both seen and unseen. In prayer: Hear with favor our prayers, which we humbly offer, O Lord, for the salvation of the soul of Charles, your servant and Priest, that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name may rejoice in the perpetual company of your Saints.
Archbishop Valerian Okeke presided at the Mass, Fr Benjamin Ogbunuko gave the homily, while I did the Final Commendation. His parents were present at the Mass. What a painful experience. Our faith instructs us, following the words of the Lord: Ego sum resurrectio et vita, qui credit in me etiam si mortuus fuerit vivet, et ominis qui vivit et credit in me no morietur in aeternum. His mother was crying all the time. May God console them in a most adequate way.
For the first time, following my recommendation, in all the parishes of Onitsha archdiocese, Holy Masses were offered simultaneously for a deceased Priest. I hope that it will become a regular practice. Only very few priests, especially the classmates, were in the Basilica for the Mass.
Immediately after Mass, I returned to Aguleri.
TUESDAY, 26 May 2020. Ego sum primus et novissimus; et vivus et fui mortuus, et ecce sum vivens in saecula saeculorum, alleluia. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Success is a journey, not a destination."As usual, we concluded our morning meditation with some ejaculatory prayers:
V. Most Holy Name of Jesus,
R. We adore You
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart,
R. Make our hearts like Yours
V. For the sake of Your sorrowful Passion,
R. Lord, have mercy on us and on the whole world
V. Our Blessed Mother, Undoer of Knots
R. Intervene for us.
V. All you Angels and Archangels,
R. Intercede for us.
V. St Joseph most holy guardian and the head of the Holy Family,
R. Protect us.
V. St Charles Lwanga and all You Martyrs of Uganda,
R. Pray for us.
V. Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi,
R. Pray for us.
Office of Lauds, Benediction and Holy Mass. For a good part of today I was indoors, fully committed to completing the project already undertaken.
At 4.30pm, I was in Oroma Etiti Anam for the Funeral Vigil Mass for our beloved Fr Charles Okeke-Odogwu. Despite the lockdown and restrictions in place to prevent large assemblies, the parishioners of Holy Cross Parish came out in large numbers, almost all of them in their masks and maintaining permitted social distance. About 10 priests concelebrated. Fr Charles Okeke Odogwu became the second parish priest of Holy Cross Parish Oroma Etiti Anam to die you in active service. The first was Fr Gilbert Ohai. Requiescant in pace.
Back to Aguleri at about 6.43 pm. Quiet evening. And the night came. O Lord, may you grant us a quiet night and perfect end.
V. Most Holy Name of Jesus,
R. We adore You
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart,
R. Make our hearts like Yours
V. For the sake of Your sorrowful Passion,
R. Lord, have mercy on us and on the whole world
V. Our Blessed Mother, Undoer of Knots
R. Intervene for us.
V. All you Angels and Archangels,
R. Intercede for us.
V. St Joseph most holy guardian and the head of the Holy Family,
R. Protect us.
V. St Charles Lwanga and all You Martyrs of Uganda,
R. Pray for us.
V. Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi,
R. Pray for us.
Office of Lauds, Benediction and Holy Mass. For a good part of today I was indoors, fully committed to completing the project already undertaken.
At 4.30pm, I was in Oroma Etiti Anam for the Funeral Vigil Mass for our beloved Fr Charles Okeke-Odogwu. Despite the lockdown and restrictions in place to prevent large assemblies, the parishioners of Holy Cross Parish came out in large numbers, almost all of them in their masks and maintaining permitted social distance. About 10 priests concelebrated. Fr Charles Okeke Odogwu became the second parish priest of Holy Cross Parish Oroma Etiti Anam to die you in active service. The first was Fr Gilbert Ohai. Requiescant in pace.
Back to Aguleri at about 6.43 pm. Quiet evening. And the night came. O Lord, may you grant us a quiet night and perfect end.
SOME OF THE NIGERIAN BISHOPS PRESENT IN ROME FOR THE CEREMONY ON 25 May 1985:
(L-R) Bishop Albert Obiefuna (Awka), Bishop Brian Usanga (Calabar), Cardinal Ekandem (Ikot Ekpene), New Cardinal Arinze, Bishop Ephraim Obot (Idah), Bishop Anthony Gbuji (Issele Uku) and Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya (Onitsha).
[Not in the photo, but present in Rome for the occasion: Bishop Gabriel Ganaka (Jos)]
(L-R) Bishop Albert Obiefuna (Awka), Bishop Brian Usanga (Calabar), Cardinal Ekandem (Ikot Ekpene), New Cardinal Arinze, Bishop Ephraim Obot (Idah), Bishop Anthony Gbuji (Issele Uku) and Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya (Onitsha).
[Not in the photo, but present in Rome for the occasion: Bishop Gabriel Ganaka (Jos)]
MONDAY, 25 May 2020. Usual morning spiritual exercises. Adoration. Meditation. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” - Sam Walton
Today, thirty-five years ago, at the age of fifty-three, Archbishop Francis Arinze received a red biretta from Pope John Paul II, and thus was created a Cardinal. A large delegation from Nigeria led by Archbishop Ezeanya came to Rome for the event. We thank God for Cardinal Arinze's life. He is now 87 years of age, 62 years a Priest, 55 years a Bishop, and 35 years a Cardinal. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!
Our attention is gradually turned towards the coming of the Holy Spirit:
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,/ From thy bright heav'nly throne,
Come take possession of our souls,/ And make them all thy own.
Thou who art called the Paraclete,/ Best gift of God above,
The living spring, the living fire,/ Sweet unction and true love.
Today, thirty-five years ago, at the age of fifty-three, Archbishop Francis Arinze received a red biretta from Pope John Paul II, and thus was created a Cardinal. A large delegation from Nigeria led by Archbishop Ezeanya came to Rome for the event. We thank God for Cardinal Arinze's life. He is now 87 years of age, 62 years a Priest, 55 years a Bishop, and 35 years a Cardinal. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!
Our attention is gradually turned towards the coming of the Holy Spirit:
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,/ From thy bright heav'nly throne,
Come take possession of our souls,/ And make them all thy own.
Thou who art called the Paraclete,/ Best gift of God above,
The living spring, the living fire,/ Sweet unction and true love.
SUNDAY, 24 May 2020. SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER. This morning I should have been in Abuja with Fr Innocent Udolisah to celebrate WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY. As Liaison Bishop of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria responsible for Communications in Nigeria, I should have travelled to Abuja to celebrate Mass at St Gabriel's chapel, live on AIT Television, to commemorate this annual event. Such Mass is usually given nationwide coverage by different Television and Radio houses. On account of the COVID19 lockdown, we could not go to Abuja. I delegated the Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat to deputise on my behalf. Here is the Holy Father, Pope Francis' Message for this year:
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE 54th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
“That you may tell your children and grandchildren” (Ex 10:2) Life becomes history
I would like to devote this year’s Message to the theme of storytelling, because I believe that, so as not to lose our bearings, we need to make our own the truth contained in good stories. Stories that build up, not tear down; stories that help us rediscover our roots and the strength needed to move forward together. Amid the cacophony of voices and messages that surround us, we need a human story that can speak of ourselves and of the beauty all around us. A narrative that can regard our world and its happenings with a tender gaze. A narrative that can tell us that we are part of a living and interconnected tapestry. A narrative that can reveal the interweaving of the threads which connect us to one another.
1. Weaving stories: Human beings are storytellers. From childhood we hunger for stories just as we hunger for food. Stories influence our lives, whether in the form of fairy tales, novels, films, songs, news, even if we do not always realize it. Often we decide what is right or wrong based on characters and stories we have made our own. Stories leave their mark on us; they shape our convictions and our behaviour. They can help us understand and communicate who we are.
We are not just the only beings who need clothing to cover our vulnerability (cf. Gen 3: 21); we are also the only ones who need to be “clothed” with stories to protect our lives. We weave not only clothing, but also stories: indeed, the human capacity to “weave” (Latin texere) gives us not only the word textile but also text. The stories of different ages all have a common “loom”: the thread of their narrative involves “heroes”, including everyday heroes, who in following a dream confront difficult situations and combat evil, driven by a force that makes them courageous, the force of love. By immersing ourselves in stories, we can find reasons to heroically face the challenges of life.
Human beings are storytellers because we are engaged in a process of constant growth, discovering ourselves and becoming enriched in the tapestry of the days of our life. Yet since the very beginning, our story has been threatened: evil snakes its way through history.
2. Not all stories are good stories “When you eat of it … you will be like God” (cf. Gen 3:4): the temptation of the serpent introduces into the fabric of history a knot difficult to undo. “If you possess, you will become, you will achieve…” This is the message whispered by those who even today use storytelling for purposes of exploitation. How many stories serve to lull us, convincing us that to be happy we continually need to gain, possess and consume. We may not even realize how greedy we have become for chatter and gossip, or how much violence and falsehood we are consuming. Often on communication platforms, instead of constructive stories which serve to strengthen social ties and the cultural fabric, we find destructive and provocative stories that wear down and break the fragile threads binding us together as a society. By patching together bits of unverified information, repeating banal and deceptively persuasive arguments, sending strident and hateful messages, we do not help to weave human history, but instead strip others of their dignity.
But whereas the stories employed for exploitation and power have a short lifespan, a good story can transcend the confines of space and time. Centuries later, it remains timely, for it nourishes life.
In an age when falsification is increasingly sophisticated, reaching exponential levels (as in deepfake), we need wisdom to be able to welcome and create beautiful, true and good stories. We need courage to reject false and evil stories. We need patience and discernment to rediscover stories that help us not to lose the thread amid today’s many troubles. We need stories that reveal who we truly are, also in the untold heroism of everyday life.
3. The Story of stories Sacred Scripture is a Story of stories. How many events, peoples and individuals it sets before us! It shows us from the very beginning a God who is both creator and narrator. Indeed, God speaks his word and things come into existence (cf. Gen 1). As narrator, God calls things into life, culminating in the creation of man and woman as his free dialogue partners, who make history alongside him. In one of the Psalms, the creature tells the creator: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth” (139:13-15). We are not born complete, but need to be constantly “woven”, “knitted together”. Life is given to us as an invitation to continue to weave the “wonderful” mystery that we are.
The Bible is thus the great love story between God and humanity. At its centre stands Jesus, whose own story brings to fulfilment both God’s love for us and our love for God. Henceforth, in every generation, men and women are called to recount and commit to memory the most significant episodes of this Story of stories, those that best communicate its meaning.
The title of this year’s Message is drawn from the Book of Exodus, a primordial biblical story in which God intervenes in the history of his people. When the enslaved children of Israel cry out to Him, God listens and remembers: “God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel – and God knew” (Ex 2: 24-25). God’s memory brings liberation from oppression through a series of signs and wonders. The Lord then reveals to Moses the meaning of all these signs: “that you may tell in the hearing of your children and grandchildren… what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord” (Ex 10:2). The Exodus experience teaches us that knowledge of the Lord is handed down from generation to generation mainly by telling the story of how he continues to make himself present. The God of life communicates with us through the story of life.
Jesus spoke of God not with abstract concepts, but with parables, brief stories taken from everyday life. At this point life becomes story and then, for the listener, story becomes life: the story becomes part of the life of those who listen to it, and it changes them.
The Gospels are also stories, and not by chance. While they tell us about Jesus, they are “performative”[1]; they conform us to Jesus. The Gospel asks the reader to share in the same faith in order to share in the same life. The Gospel of John tells us that the quintessential storyteller – the Word – himself becomes the story: “God’s only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (Jn 1: 18). The original verb, exegésato, can be translated both as “revealed” and “recounted”. God has become personally woven into our humanity, and so has given us a new way of weaving our stories.
4. An ever renewed story The history of Christ is not a legacy from the past; it is our story, and always timely. It shows us that God was so deeply concerned for mankind, for our flesh and our history, to the point that he became man, flesh and history. It also tells us that no human stories are insignificant or paltry. Since God became story, every human story is, in a certain sense, a divine story. In the history of every person, the Father sees again the story of his Son who came down to earth. Every human story has an irrepressible dignity. Consequently, humanity deserves stories that are worthy of it, worthy of that dizzying and fascinating height to which Jesus elevated it.
“You” – Saint Paul wrote – “are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor 3:3). The Holy Spirit, the love of God, writes within us. And as he writes within us, he establishes goodness in us and constantly reminds us of it. Indeed, to “re-mind” means to bring to mind, to “write” on the heart. By the power of the Holy Spirit, every story, even the most forgotten one, even the one that seems to be written with the most crooked lines, can become inspired, can be reborn as a masterpiece, and become an appendix to the Gospel. Like the Confessions of Augustine. Like A Pilgrim’s Journey of Ignatius. Like The Story of a Soul of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Like The Betrothed, like The Brothers Karamazov. Like countless other stories, which have admirably scripted the encounter between God’s freedom and that of man. Each of us knows different stories that have the fragrance of the Gospel, that have borne witness to the Love that transforms life. These stories cry out to be shared, recounted and brought to life in every age, in every language, in every medium.
5. A story that renews us Our own story becomes part of every great story. As we read the Scriptures, the stories of the saints, and also those texts that have shed light on the human heart and its beauty, the Holy Spirit is free to write in our hearts, reviving our memory of what we are in God’s eyes. When we remember the love that created and saved us, when we make love a part of our daily stories, when we weave the tapestry of our days with mercy, we are turning another page. We no longer remain tied to regrets and sadness, bound to an unhealthy memory that burdens our hearts; rather, by opening ourselves to others, we open ourselves to the same vision of the great storyteller. Telling God our story is never useless: even if the record of events remains the same, the meaning and perspective are always changing. To tell our story to the Lord is to enter into his gaze of compassionate love for us and for others. We can recount to him the stories we live, bringing to him the people and the situations that fill our lives. With him we can re-weave the fabric of life, darning its rips and tears. How much we, all of us, need to do exactly this!
With the gaze of the great storyteller – the only one who has the ultimate point of view – we can then approach the other characters, our brothers and sisters, who are with us as actors in today’s story. For no one is an extra on the world stage, and everyone’s story is open to possible change. Even when we tell of evil, we can learn to leave room for redemption; in the midst of evil, we can also recognize the working of goodness and give it space.
So it is not a matter of simply telling stories as such, or of advertising ourselves, but rather of remembering who and what we are in God’s eyes, bearing witness to what the Spirit writes in our hearts and revealing to everyone that his or her story contains marvellous things. In order to do this, let us entrust ourselves to a woman who knit together in her womb the humanity of God and, the Gospel tells us, wove together the events of her life. For the Virgin Mary “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2: 19). Let us ask for help from her, who knew how to untie the knots of life with the gentle strength of love:
O Mary, woman and mother, you wove the divine Word in your womb, you recounted by your life the magnificent works of God. Listen to our stories, hold them in your heart and make your own the stories that no one wants to hear. Teach us to recognize the good thread that runs through history. Look at the tangled knots in our life that paralyze our memory. By your gentle hands, every knot can be untied. Woman of the Spirit, mother of trust, inspire us too. Help us build stories of peace, stories that point to the future. And show us the way to live them together.
Rome, at Saint John Lateran, 24 January 2020, the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales
Franciscus PP
-----------------
[1] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Spe Salvi, 2: “The Christian message was not only ‘informative’ but ‘performative’. That means: the Gospel is not merely a communication of things that can be known–it is one that makes things happen and is life-changing”.
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE 54th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
“That you may tell your children and grandchildren” (Ex 10:2) Life becomes history
I would like to devote this year’s Message to the theme of storytelling, because I believe that, so as not to lose our bearings, we need to make our own the truth contained in good stories. Stories that build up, not tear down; stories that help us rediscover our roots and the strength needed to move forward together. Amid the cacophony of voices and messages that surround us, we need a human story that can speak of ourselves and of the beauty all around us. A narrative that can regard our world and its happenings with a tender gaze. A narrative that can tell us that we are part of a living and interconnected tapestry. A narrative that can reveal the interweaving of the threads which connect us to one another.
1. Weaving stories: Human beings are storytellers. From childhood we hunger for stories just as we hunger for food. Stories influence our lives, whether in the form of fairy tales, novels, films, songs, news, even if we do not always realize it. Often we decide what is right or wrong based on characters and stories we have made our own. Stories leave their mark on us; they shape our convictions and our behaviour. They can help us understand and communicate who we are.
We are not just the only beings who need clothing to cover our vulnerability (cf. Gen 3: 21); we are also the only ones who need to be “clothed” with stories to protect our lives. We weave not only clothing, but also stories: indeed, the human capacity to “weave” (Latin texere) gives us not only the word textile but also text. The stories of different ages all have a common “loom”: the thread of their narrative involves “heroes”, including everyday heroes, who in following a dream confront difficult situations and combat evil, driven by a force that makes them courageous, the force of love. By immersing ourselves in stories, we can find reasons to heroically face the challenges of life.
Human beings are storytellers because we are engaged in a process of constant growth, discovering ourselves and becoming enriched in the tapestry of the days of our life. Yet since the very beginning, our story has been threatened: evil snakes its way through history.
2. Not all stories are good stories “When you eat of it … you will be like God” (cf. Gen 3:4): the temptation of the serpent introduces into the fabric of history a knot difficult to undo. “If you possess, you will become, you will achieve…” This is the message whispered by those who even today use storytelling for purposes of exploitation. How many stories serve to lull us, convincing us that to be happy we continually need to gain, possess and consume. We may not even realize how greedy we have become for chatter and gossip, or how much violence and falsehood we are consuming. Often on communication platforms, instead of constructive stories which serve to strengthen social ties and the cultural fabric, we find destructive and provocative stories that wear down and break the fragile threads binding us together as a society. By patching together bits of unverified information, repeating banal and deceptively persuasive arguments, sending strident and hateful messages, we do not help to weave human history, but instead strip others of their dignity.
But whereas the stories employed for exploitation and power have a short lifespan, a good story can transcend the confines of space and time. Centuries later, it remains timely, for it nourishes life.
In an age when falsification is increasingly sophisticated, reaching exponential levels (as in deepfake), we need wisdom to be able to welcome and create beautiful, true and good stories. We need courage to reject false and evil stories. We need patience and discernment to rediscover stories that help us not to lose the thread amid today’s many troubles. We need stories that reveal who we truly are, also in the untold heroism of everyday life.
3. The Story of stories Sacred Scripture is a Story of stories. How many events, peoples and individuals it sets before us! It shows us from the very beginning a God who is both creator and narrator. Indeed, God speaks his word and things come into existence (cf. Gen 1). As narrator, God calls things into life, culminating in the creation of man and woman as his free dialogue partners, who make history alongside him. In one of the Psalms, the creature tells the creator: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth” (139:13-15). We are not born complete, but need to be constantly “woven”, “knitted together”. Life is given to us as an invitation to continue to weave the “wonderful” mystery that we are.
The Bible is thus the great love story between God and humanity. At its centre stands Jesus, whose own story brings to fulfilment both God’s love for us and our love for God. Henceforth, in every generation, men and women are called to recount and commit to memory the most significant episodes of this Story of stories, those that best communicate its meaning.
The title of this year’s Message is drawn from the Book of Exodus, a primordial biblical story in which God intervenes in the history of his people. When the enslaved children of Israel cry out to Him, God listens and remembers: “God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel – and God knew” (Ex 2: 24-25). God’s memory brings liberation from oppression through a series of signs and wonders. The Lord then reveals to Moses the meaning of all these signs: “that you may tell in the hearing of your children and grandchildren… what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord” (Ex 10:2). The Exodus experience teaches us that knowledge of the Lord is handed down from generation to generation mainly by telling the story of how he continues to make himself present. The God of life communicates with us through the story of life.
Jesus spoke of God not with abstract concepts, but with parables, brief stories taken from everyday life. At this point life becomes story and then, for the listener, story becomes life: the story becomes part of the life of those who listen to it, and it changes them.
The Gospels are also stories, and not by chance. While they tell us about Jesus, they are “performative”[1]; they conform us to Jesus. The Gospel asks the reader to share in the same faith in order to share in the same life. The Gospel of John tells us that the quintessential storyteller – the Word – himself becomes the story: “God’s only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (Jn 1: 18). The original verb, exegésato, can be translated both as “revealed” and “recounted”. God has become personally woven into our humanity, and so has given us a new way of weaving our stories.
4. An ever renewed story The history of Christ is not a legacy from the past; it is our story, and always timely. It shows us that God was so deeply concerned for mankind, for our flesh and our history, to the point that he became man, flesh and history. It also tells us that no human stories are insignificant or paltry. Since God became story, every human story is, in a certain sense, a divine story. In the history of every person, the Father sees again the story of his Son who came down to earth. Every human story has an irrepressible dignity. Consequently, humanity deserves stories that are worthy of it, worthy of that dizzying and fascinating height to which Jesus elevated it.
“You” – Saint Paul wrote – “are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor 3:3). The Holy Spirit, the love of God, writes within us. And as he writes within us, he establishes goodness in us and constantly reminds us of it. Indeed, to “re-mind” means to bring to mind, to “write” on the heart. By the power of the Holy Spirit, every story, even the most forgotten one, even the one that seems to be written with the most crooked lines, can become inspired, can be reborn as a masterpiece, and become an appendix to the Gospel. Like the Confessions of Augustine. Like A Pilgrim’s Journey of Ignatius. Like The Story of a Soul of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Like The Betrothed, like The Brothers Karamazov. Like countless other stories, which have admirably scripted the encounter between God’s freedom and that of man. Each of us knows different stories that have the fragrance of the Gospel, that have borne witness to the Love that transforms life. These stories cry out to be shared, recounted and brought to life in every age, in every language, in every medium.
5. A story that renews us Our own story becomes part of every great story. As we read the Scriptures, the stories of the saints, and also those texts that have shed light on the human heart and its beauty, the Holy Spirit is free to write in our hearts, reviving our memory of what we are in God’s eyes. When we remember the love that created and saved us, when we make love a part of our daily stories, when we weave the tapestry of our days with mercy, we are turning another page. We no longer remain tied to regrets and sadness, bound to an unhealthy memory that burdens our hearts; rather, by opening ourselves to others, we open ourselves to the same vision of the great storyteller. Telling God our story is never useless: even if the record of events remains the same, the meaning and perspective are always changing. To tell our story to the Lord is to enter into his gaze of compassionate love for us and for others. We can recount to him the stories we live, bringing to him the people and the situations that fill our lives. With him we can re-weave the fabric of life, darning its rips and tears. How much we, all of us, need to do exactly this!
With the gaze of the great storyteller – the only one who has the ultimate point of view – we can then approach the other characters, our brothers and sisters, who are with us as actors in today’s story. For no one is an extra on the world stage, and everyone’s story is open to possible change. Even when we tell of evil, we can learn to leave room for redemption; in the midst of evil, we can also recognize the working of goodness and give it space.
So it is not a matter of simply telling stories as such, or of advertising ourselves, but rather of remembering who and what we are in God’s eyes, bearing witness to what the Spirit writes in our hearts and revealing to everyone that his or her story contains marvellous things. In order to do this, let us entrust ourselves to a woman who knit together in her womb the humanity of God and, the Gospel tells us, wove together the events of her life. For the Virgin Mary “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2: 19). Let us ask for help from her, who knew how to untie the knots of life with the gentle strength of love:
O Mary, woman and mother, you wove the divine Word in your womb, you recounted by your life the magnificent works of God. Listen to our stories, hold them in your heart and make your own the stories that no one wants to hear. Teach us to recognize the good thread that runs through history. Look at the tangled knots in our life that paralyze our memory. By your gentle hands, every knot can be untied. Woman of the Spirit, mother of trust, inspire us too. Help us build stories of peace, stories that point to the future. And show us the way to live them together.
Rome, at Saint John Lateran, 24 January 2020, the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales
Franciscus PP
-----------------
[1] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Spe Salvi, 2: “The Christian message was not only ‘informative’ but ‘performative’. That means: the Gospel is not merely a communication of things that can be known–it is one that makes things happen and is life-changing”.
SATURDAY, 23 May 2020. Populus acquisitionis, annuntiate virtutes eius, qui vos de tenebris vocavit in admirabile lumen suum, alleluia. Usual first ejaculatory prayers to our Blessed Mother before coming down from my bed. It is always wonderful to begin the day in friendship with our heavenly mother.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Life is too good to be taken for granted."
We started having problems with our Inverter. Darkness - patient till the electric generator would be connected. Need to save costs. I remembered the words of St Paul and I adapted it to suit our situation: Quis nos separabit a praesentia Christi? Nobody. Thanks to Fr Innocent Udolisah who applied his technical knowledge to keep us out of total darkness. Ecce lux. Short time to prepare for morning prayers. Soon we were in the chapel. On our knees we presented ourselves to the Lord. Tantum ergo Sacramentum, Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui: Præstet fides supplementum sensuum defectui. Genitori, Genitoque, Laus et iubilatio, Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio: Procedenti ab utroque Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
At Mass, the Communion Anthiphon reminded us of Christ's prayer for us: Father, I wish that, where I am, those you gave me may also be with me, that they may see the glory that you gave me, alleluia.
Throughout today, I continued my desk work, with the prayer: Mon Dieu, donnez-moi la sérénité d'accepter les choses que je ne puis changer, le courage de changer les choses que je peux, et la sagesse d'en connaître la différence.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
Sub tuum praesidium
confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Life is too good to be taken for granted."
We started having problems with our Inverter. Darkness - patient till the electric generator would be connected. Need to save costs. I remembered the words of St Paul and I adapted it to suit our situation: Quis nos separabit a praesentia Christi? Nobody. Thanks to Fr Innocent Udolisah who applied his technical knowledge to keep us out of total darkness. Ecce lux. Short time to prepare for morning prayers. Soon we were in the chapel. On our knees we presented ourselves to the Lord. Tantum ergo Sacramentum, Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui: Præstet fides supplementum sensuum defectui. Genitori, Genitoque, Laus et iubilatio, Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio: Procedenti ab utroque Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
At Mass, the Communion Anthiphon reminded us of Christ's prayer for us: Father, I wish that, where I am, those you gave me may also be with me, that they may see the glory that you gave me, alleluia.
Throughout today, I continued my desk work, with the prayer: Mon Dieu, donnez-moi la sérénité d'accepter les choses que je ne puis changer, le courage de changer les choses que je peux, et la sagesse d'en connaître la différence.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
Sub tuum praesidium
confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
FRIDAY, 22 May 2020. ST RITA OF CASCIA. I remember, as part of annual excursion by the Nigerian Priests and Religious in Rome, going to Cascia many many years ago to venerate this popular saint in Italy. Rita of Cascia (Born Margherita Lotti 1381 – 22 May 1457) was an Italian widow and Augustinian nun venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.After Rita's husband died, she joined an Augustinian community of religious sisters, where she was known both for practicing mortification of the flesh and for the efficacy of her prayers. Various miracles are attributed to her intercession, and she is often portrayed with a bleeding wound on her forehead, which is understood to indicate a partial stigmata. She is the patron saint of sterility, abuse victims, loneliness, marriage difficulties, parenthood, widows, the sick, bodily ills, and wounds.
One of my old Nigerian friends, Ichie Oruefi, love this saint so much that he built a chapel in his house in honour of the holy woman. Today I prayed for Ichie and his family. In a special way, I remembered his wife, who passed on about two years ago. Requiescat in pace.
Adoration. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” ― William Faulkner. At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
One of my old Nigerian friends, Ichie Oruefi, love this saint so much that he built a chapel in his house in honour of the holy woman. Today I prayed for Ichie and his family. In a special way, I remembered his wife, who passed on about two years ago. Requiescat in pace.
Adoration. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” ― William Faulkner. At Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- That the church may go on speaking in the name of Jesus and refuse to be silenced, knowing that the Lord is with her, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That God, who mounts His throune amid shouts of joy, may give to the rulers of the earth the light and strength to follow His ways of justice and life, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we may come before the throne of grace with confidence, carrying all the intentions of our hearts, knowing that the Father will do anything we ask for in Jesus' name, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who are in labour during a time of darkness and pain, that Jesus may bring them the joy which no one can take from them, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That our faithful departed may see Jesus int he kingdom of heaven, and that no one may be able to take this joy away from them, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day.
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
THURSDAY, 21 May 2020. SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD.
The Church in the Introit of today's asked the question that were asked to Disciples: "Men of Galilee (Viri Galilae), why gaze in wonder at the heavens? This Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven will return as you saw him go. Alleluia." -->
During the Office of Readings, to mark this special day, with the whole Church, let us sing:
Te Deum laudámus: te Dominum confitémur.
Te ætérnum Patrem omnis terra venerátur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi cæli et univérsae potestátes.
Tibi Chérubim et Séraphim incessábili voce proclámant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra majestátis glóriæ tuæ.
Te gloriósus Apostolórum chorus;
Te Prophetárum laudábilis númerus;
Te Mártyrum candidátus laudat exércitus.
Te per orbem terrárum sancta confitétur Ecclésia:
Patrem imménsæ majestátis;
Venerándum tuum verum et únicum Fílium;
Sanctum quoque Paráclitum Spíritum.
Tu Rex glóriæ, Christe.
Tu Patris sempitérnus es Fílius.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.”
Lauds. Benediction, and Holy Mass. I remembered Bishop Peter Okpaleke today on the anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination in 2013. May God bless his new episcopal ministry in Ekwulobia.
I spend these quiet days to plan how to relaunch myself into full ministry after this long lockdown. I have been praying for a new springtime of faith in the Church of our time. I'll do my best to help to gather "the pieces" after this unprecedented challenge to the Catholic faith and practice. Entirely for God.
The Church in the Introit of today's asked the question that were asked to Disciples: "Men of Galilee (Viri Galilae), why gaze in wonder at the heavens? This Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven will return as you saw him go. Alleluia." -->
During the Office of Readings, to mark this special day, with the whole Church, let us sing:
Te Deum laudámus: te Dominum confitémur.
Te ætérnum Patrem omnis terra venerátur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi cæli et univérsae potestátes.
Tibi Chérubim et Séraphim incessábili voce proclámant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra majestátis glóriæ tuæ.
Te gloriósus Apostolórum chorus;
Te Prophetárum laudábilis númerus;
Te Mártyrum candidátus laudat exércitus.
Te per orbem terrárum sancta confitétur Ecclésia:
Patrem imménsæ majestátis;
Venerándum tuum verum et únicum Fílium;
Sanctum quoque Paráclitum Spíritum.
Tu Rex glóriæ, Christe.
Tu Patris sempitérnus es Fílius.
OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.”
Lauds. Benediction, and Holy Mass. I remembered Bishop Peter Okpaleke today on the anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination in 2013. May God bless his new episcopal ministry in Ekwulobia.
I spend these quiet days to plan how to relaunch myself into full ministry after this long lockdown. I have been praying for a new springtime of faith in the Church of our time. I'll do my best to help to gather "the pieces" after this unprecedented challenge to the Catholic faith and practice. Entirely for God.
WEDNESDAY, 20 May 2020. Confitebor tibi in populis, Domine, et narrabo nomen tuum fratribus meis, alleluia. Usual morning devotions. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
During Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
I am still forging ahead with my many projects. Deus, illustra faciem tuam!
During Mass, we said the following intercessory prayers:
- For the Church and her leaders,s that the example of St Paul's apostolic zeal may invigorate the new evangelization and bring generous hearts to place their lives at the service of the Gospel, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For the deep conversion that our world needs in order to engage in a culture of life, so that the peace which is the fruit of justice and mutual respect may be restored to us, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who are still searching for an Unknown God, and yet trying in vain to find Him in the works of their own genius and art, that God may open their hearts to the humility of faith, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all those who are still unable to bear the fullness of truth, that the Spirit of truth sent by Jesus may strengthen their hearts and open their eyes to see His glory, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who have asked for our prayers, for those we hold in our hearts, and for our beloved dead, Lord, hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
I am still forging ahead with my many projects. Deus, illustra faciem tuam!
A Delegation of All Hallows Seminary Onitsha Old Boys Association (AHOBA)
present at Mons. Igboaja's Funeral
present at Mons. Igboaja's Funeral
TUESDAY, 19 May 2020. I woke up quite early, at about 3.30 am. I was thinking all through the night about my good friend Monsignor Eugene Ugonna Igboaja of Enugu diocese who would be buried today. At 6.00 am, I was in my chapel briefly for a short prayer. Then I had breakfast and was ready to set out for Enugu. It was necessary to leave early because all the borders of Anambra State were closed down. There was heavy security guarding all entry points to the State. Only those on essential services were allowed to cross the borders. I had a quick breakfast. My driver was punctual. We set out for Awka to meet a delegation of All Hallows Seminary Old Boys Association (Mons. Igboaja was an old boy of All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha). To guarantee free passage at our State border, I requested and got a Police escort. We had a smooth journey to Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu.
Monsignor Eugene Ugonna Igboaja impressed me because of the many sterling qualities I found in him. As a young man, he was focused. He knew what he wanted in life and set out to get it. He was a brilliant scholar, clear-headed, and apostle of the pen, writing and publishing many well-thought-out books. He was an action man. Once convinced about anything, he would set out to achieve it, even using unorthodox means (like throwing stones at the window of his bishop to get his attention), He simplicity was disarming. Although"philosophically an intellectual", he manifested child-like faith. My father, who knew him at the prayer ground of Ugwu di nso, enjoyed his down-to-earth sermons and his spiritual leadership. His classmate and very close friend, Fr Professor Benedict Ebo, was my philosophy teacher. I admired their friendship and came to love them both.
I recall that in January 2018, I invited SEPARATELY Mons. Igboaja and Father Eboh to visit me at Aguleri for a celebration of the 44th anniversary of their Priestly ordination. None of them knew that I invited the other. Eboh arrived first. After settling down in the room I assigned to him, we went out to stroll around my compound. From time to time, Igboaja would call to ask for direction, but Eboh did not know. Finally, Igboaja arrived and saw Eboh. I was thoroughly entertained to see how the greeted themselves. They arrived on 26th and departed on 28th January 2018. A special moment of a get-together to celebrate the gift of the priesthood. Around the Lord's table in my chapel, we broke the Bread and ate the Food of the Angels on 27 January 2018! We sang for both of them: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchizedek. It turned out to be the last anniversary of their priestly ordination celebrated together.
Before they left my house on 28 January 2019, Igboaja gave me a gift of a collection of his writings (FOURTEEN IN ALL): Tired in the Morning, Lessons from Bishop Eneja, Ready to Die, The Rise and Fall of Education Today: the Role of Mission and Private Schools in an Educationally Decadent Nation, Forgotten by God, Priest and Religious as Impact Makers, Who is Mad?, Ten Steps to Sainthood, Time on my Hand, A Sad Priest is a Tragedy, Too Busy to Love, Silenced by Love, Wisdom Through Foolishness, and A Mission of Happiness. Also, he forgot his rosary in my sacristy. Within one year of this encounter, Mons. Igboaja developed cancer of the tongue - something I never heard of before. I referred to this development in my journal entry for 27 January 2019. He recovered sufficiently for a thanksgiving celebration on 10 August 2019. During the Mass, I got the opportunity to address Mons. Igboaja. I rejoiced with him. Then I informed him that he forgot his rosary in my house during his visit some months earlier. When later he told me about his sickness in the hospital, I understood why the rosary was forgotten in my house. God wanted this rosary to be a bond with him during the period of his sickness. The rosary was left in my house to be used to pray for him. I did say the rosary for him. On that 10th August 2019, I brought it back to him. But before the Mass, I had time to say the rosary, thanking our Blessed Mother for Mons. Igboaja's recovery. Mission accomplished. I solemnly returned his property to him. He got up and embraced me. There was thunderous applause in the Church for this short drama.
Less than two weeks after this celebration, Mons. Igboaja returned to UK hospital for a medical check-up. Ok.
His New Year 2020 message read: "My Lord, in the first 6months of 2019, when I was hospitalized in Britain, battling with cancer of the tongue, you accompanied me with your UNDILUTED SOLIDARITY. I pray that in the New Year, 2020, you will always DO YOUR BEST WITH WHAT YOU HAVE WHEREVER YOU ARE. May the New Year equally bring you nearer to God in thoughts, in words and action."
On 28 February 2020, he wrote: "My Lord, there is a new development!!!!! They have found another growth under my tongue. I am booked for minor surgery (biopsy) on Tuesday, March 3rd. God bless you." I replied: "My God! I feared this when I saw you last. I'll keep telling God about you. Courage, my brother."
He eventually returned home later in March. The rest is history. He died, and today we gathered for the funeral Mass at the special arena within the compound of Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu.
On arrival, I paid a courtesy visit to Bishop Callistus Onaga at his Independence Layout Enugu. Together we came the arena for funeral Mass. I had occasion to see Mons Igboaja in the casket before the Mass. For today's Mass in attendance were the following Bishops: Anthony Gbuji, Callistus Onaga, John Okoye, Godfrey Onah, Denis Isizoh, and Ernest Obodo.
At the burial ground, I sang for him again that song that reminds us that it was God that chose us and not the other way round: Iuravit Dominus et poenitebit eum. TU ES SACERDOS IN AETERNUM SECUNDUM ORDINEM MELCHIZEDEK. Eugene Ugonna Igboaja, may you rest in perfect peace in the Lord. Praesta, quaesumus, Domine, ut anima famuli tui Eugenii sacerdotis, quem in hoc saeculo commorantem sacris muneribus decorasti, in caelesti sede gloriosa semper exsultet. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
I returned safely back to Aguleri. There was usual strict border control. The security officers even tested our temperature before entering Anambra State territory. Quiet evening and peaceful night.
O sanctissima, o piissima,
dulcis Virgo Maria!
Mater amata, intemerata,
ora, ora pro nobis.
Tu solatium et refugium,
Virgo Mater Maria.
Quidquid optamus, per te speramus;
ora, ora pro nobis.
Monsignor Eugene Ugonna Igboaja impressed me because of the many sterling qualities I found in him. As a young man, he was focused. He knew what he wanted in life and set out to get it. He was a brilliant scholar, clear-headed, and apostle of the pen, writing and publishing many well-thought-out books. He was an action man. Once convinced about anything, he would set out to achieve it, even using unorthodox means (like throwing stones at the window of his bishop to get his attention), He simplicity was disarming. Although"philosophically an intellectual", he manifested child-like faith. My father, who knew him at the prayer ground of Ugwu di nso, enjoyed his down-to-earth sermons and his spiritual leadership. His classmate and very close friend, Fr Professor Benedict Ebo, was my philosophy teacher. I admired their friendship and came to love them both.
I recall that in January 2018, I invited SEPARATELY Mons. Igboaja and Father Eboh to visit me at Aguleri for a celebration of the 44th anniversary of their Priestly ordination. None of them knew that I invited the other. Eboh arrived first. After settling down in the room I assigned to him, we went out to stroll around my compound. From time to time, Igboaja would call to ask for direction, but Eboh did not know. Finally, Igboaja arrived and saw Eboh. I was thoroughly entertained to see how the greeted themselves. They arrived on 26th and departed on 28th January 2018. A special moment of a get-together to celebrate the gift of the priesthood. Around the Lord's table in my chapel, we broke the Bread and ate the Food of the Angels on 27 January 2018! We sang for both of them: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchizedek. It turned out to be the last anniversary of their priestly ordination celebrated together.
Before they left my house on 28 January 2019, Igboaja gave me a gift of a collection of his writings (FOURTEEN IN ALL): Tired in the Morning, Lessons from Bishop Eneja, Ready to Die, The Rise and Fall of Education Today: the Role of Mission and Private Schools in an Educationally Decadent Nation, Forgotten by God, Priest and Religious as Impact Makers, Who is Mad?, Ten Steps to Sainthood, Time on my Hand, A Sad Priest is a Tragedy, Too Busy to Love, Silenced by Love, Wisdom Through Foolishness, and A Mission of Happiness. Also, he forgot his rosary in my sacristy. Within one year of this encounter, Mons. Igboaja developed cancer of the tongue - something I never heard of before. I referred to this development in my journal entry for 27 January 2019. He recovered sufficiently for a thanksgiving celebration on 10 August 2019. During the Mass, I got the opportunity to address Mons. Igboaja. I rejoiced with him. Then I informed him that he forgot his rosary in my house during his visit some months earlier. When later he told me about his sickness in the hospital, I understood why the rosary was forgotten in my house. God wanted this rosary to be a bond with him during the period of his sickness. The rosary was left in my house to be used to pray for him. I did say the rosary for him. On that 10th August 2019, I brought it back to him. But before the Mass, I had time to say the rosary, thanking our Blessed Mother for Mons. Igboaja's recovery. Mission accomplished. I solemnly returned his property to him. He got up and embraced me. There was thunderous applause in the Church for this short drama.
Less than two weeks after this celebration, Mons. Igboaja returned to UK hospital for a medical check-up. Ok.
His New Year 2020 message read: "My Lord, in the first 6months of 2019, when I was hospitalized in Britain, battling with cancer of the tongue, you accompanied me with your UNDILUTED SOLIDARITY. I pray that in the New Year, 2020, you will always DO YOUR BEST WITH WHAT YOU HAVE WHEREVER YOU ARE. May the New Year equally bring you nearer to God in thoughts, in words and action."
On 28 February 2020, he wrote: "My Lord, there is a new development!!!!! They have found another growth under my tongue. I am booked for minor surgery (biopsy) on Tuesday, March 3rd. God bless you." I replied: "My God! I feared this when I saw you last. I'll keep telling God about you. Courage, my brother."
He eventually returned home later in March. The rest is history. He died, and today we gathered for the funeral Mass at the special arena within the compound of Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu.
On arrival, I paid a courtesy visit to Bishop Callistus Onaga at his Independence Layout Enugu. Together we came the arena for funeral Mass. I had occasion to see Mons Igboaja in the casket before the Mass. For today's Mass in attendance were the following Bishops: Anthony Gbuji, Callistus Onaga, John Okoye, Godfrey Onah, Denis Isizoh, and Ernest Obodo.
At the burial ground, I sang for him again that song that reminds us that it was God that chose us and not the other way round: Iuravit Dominus et poenitebit eum. TU ES SACERDOS IN AETERNUM SECUNDUM ORDINEM MELCHIZEDEK. Eugene Ugonna Igboaja, may you rest in perfect peace in the Lord. Praesta, quaesumus, Domine, ut anima famuli tui Eugenii sacerdotis, quem in hoc saeculo commorantem sacris muneribus decorasti, in caelesti sede gloriosa semper exsultet. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
I returned safely back to Aguleri. There was usual strict border control. The security officers even tested our temperature before entering Anambra State territory. Quiet evening and peaceful night.
O sanctissima, o piissima,
dulcis Virgo Maria!
Mater amata, intemerata,
ora, ora pro nobis.
Tu solatium et refugium,
Virgo Mater Maria.
Quidquid optamus, per te speramus;
ora, ora pro nobis.
MONDAY, 18 May 2020. Le Christ, ressuscité des morts, ne meurt plus; sur lui la mort n'a plus aucun pouvoir, alléluia. Before the Lord in the tabernacle, we kneel in adoration: Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine. O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "True blessing comes in the dress of sweats, never delaying to wave bye to the excuses and procrastination. True blessing lies in hard work!"
Lauds. Benediction. Holy Mass. Our intercessory prayer today:
Concluding prayer for today's Compline: Lord, give our bodies restful sleep; and let the work we have done today be sown for an eternal harvest. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
in mortis examine. O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "True blessing comes in the dress of sweats, never delaying to wave bye to the excuses and procrastination. True blessing lies in hard work!"
Lauds. Benediction. Holy Mass. Our intercessory prayer today:
- For the church, that the Spirit who bears witness on behalf of Christ may make her witness strong even in the face of persecution, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Christians may reach out to praying hearts, as Paul did to Lydia, that the number of people who stand up for the right to justice and to human dignity may increase in the world, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we who have been with Jesus from the beginning of our lives may testify to Him as Lord by our faith, our moral truth, and our joy, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all who are suffering, especially those who have asked for our prayers, that they may experience the divine love and healing that will bring a new song of praise and exultation into their hearts, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That our beloved dead may sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful enrolled in heaven, Lord hear us: LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Concluding prayer for today's Compline: Lord, give our bodies restful sleep; and let the work we have done today be sown for an eternal harvest. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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SUNDAY, 17 May 2020. SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER. Vocem iucunditatis annuntiate, et audiatur, annuntiate usque ad extremum terrae: liberavit Dominus populum suum, alleluia.
For my meditation on our Blessed Mother, the question is: WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? And here is a response for my reflection today: "Remembering Mary in my prayer life has become a daily spiritual practice. I frequently begin my day with the Rosary. Throughout the day as I think about others, I will reach out to Mary with one of the Litany of Loreto prayer ejaculations: Mary, help of the sick; Mary, Queen of Peace. I have also asked penitents to reach out to Mary when they struggle with issues of purity: Mary, most pure; Mary, most chaste, pray for me. I include myself in these prayers, too." —Father Richard Klingeisen, Reedsville, Wisconsin.
Today I ventured out of my residence for a pastoral visit since COVID19-lockdown protocol was put in place. I was at St Kevin's Parish Nnobi. We tried to observe all that was imposed on us: face masks, social distancing, the brevity of sermon and ceremonies, etc. About 181 persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. These candidates occupied a good part of the Church. Most others stayed outside under canopies provided for today's Mass.
It was challenging for me to wear a mask all the time. To compound the situation, with zucchetto and mitre on the heard, more than half of the face covered with a piece of cloth that trapped part of the air breathed out - making me inhale it again, with a pair of reading glasses, I was in for a difficult moment in the Church. It was like I was choking during the Mass. I had to endure it. Already, I taught the people of God to offer their inconveniences to God as part of our prayer for the end of the coronavirus pandemic and atonement for our sins. The thought of this offering to God gave me much relief.
Immediately after the Mass, I asked those who received the Sacrament of Confirmation to leave the Church and those who stayed under the canopies to come inside the Church. I had a good interaction with them, and I responded to some of their questions. Quick reception organized for me followed this period of interaction. Soon we were all on our way to our homes.
Quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
For my meditation on our Blessed Mother, the question is: WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? And here is a response for my reflection today: "Remembering Mary in my prayer life has become a daily spiritual practice. I frequently begin my day with the Rosary. Throughout the day as I think about others, I will reach out to Mary with one of the Litany of Loreto prayer ejaculations: Mary, help of the sick; Mary, Queen of Peace. I have also asked penitents to reach out to Mary when they struggle with issues of purity: Mary, most pure; Mary, most chaste, pray for me. I include myself in these prayers, too." —Father Richard Klingeisen, Reedsville, Wisconsin.
Today I ventured out of my residence for a pastoral visit since COVID19-lockdown protocol was put in place. I was at St Kevin's Parish Nnobi. We tried to observe all that was imposed on us: face masks, social distancing, the brevity of sermon and ceremonies, etc. About 181 persons received the Sacrament of Confirmation. These candidates occupied a good part of the Church. Most others stayed outside under canopies provided for today's Mass.
It was challenging for me to wear a mask all the time. To compound the situation, with zucchetto and mitre on the heard, more than half of the face covered with a piece of cloth that trapped part of the air breathed out - making me inhale it again, with a pair of reading glasses, I was in for a difficult moment in the Church. It was like I was choking during the Mass. I had to endure it. Already, I taught the people of God to offer their inconveniences to God as part of our prayer for the end of the coronavirus pandemic and atonement for our sins. The thought of this offering to God gave me much relief.
Immediately after the Mass, I asked those who received the Sacrament of Confirmation to leave the Church and those who stayed under the canopies to come inside the Church. I had a good interaction with them, and I responded to some of their questions. Quick reception organized for me followed this period of interaction. Soon we were all on our way to our homes.
Quiet evening. Good night, Lord.
SATURDAY, 16 May 2020. Consepulti estis Christo in baptismo, in quo et resurrexistis per fidem operationis Dei, qui suscitavit illum a mortuis, alleluia. Saturday, a day for Mary. Early conversation with our Blessed Mother. Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous. Vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes, et Jésus le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs, maintenant et à l’heure de notre mort. Amen.
Usual morning devotions of Adoration, Meditation, Lauds and Holy Mass. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Friendship is like an investment; the best type yields the best profit for you! It's not just about making friends; it's about making right friends for the right reasons!"
My meditation on our Blessed Mother, the question is: WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? And here is a response for my reflection today: "Every priest has a mother, but one day she passes away, leaving the priest orphaned. Once the priest loses his mother, he is cared for by our Blessed Mother Mary in every moment of his life. What keeps him going forward is the love and care and motherly blessings he countlessly experiences in his life, and he is no more orphaned. May Blessed Virgin Mary bless all the priests of the world." —Father George Nellikunnel, Springfield, Illinois"
When my mother was alive, we used to celebrate her birthday today. It used to be a special day for her and my niece Ifunanya and nephew Chidubem, both MauMau's children. Three of them were born the same day but different years. I wish our little kids: BUON COMPLEANNO! I prayed that they might grow in wisdom and knowledge before God and human beings. Exchange of greetings through Family WhatsApp forum.
I was, as usual, at home due to COVID19 forced holidays. No dull moment as I pushed forward in developing the projects before me.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day. Lord, we thank you. In te ipso enim vivimus et movemur et sumus.
Usual morning devotions of Adoration, Meditation, Lauds and Holy Mass. OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "Friendship is like an investment; the best type yields the best profit for you! It's not just about making friends; it's about making right friends for the right reasons!"
My meditation on our Blessed Mother, the question is: WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? And here is a response for my reflection today: "Every priest has a mother, but one day she passes away, leaving the priest orphaned. Once the priest loses his mother, he is cared for by our Blessed Mother Mary in every moment of his life. What keeps him going forward is the love and care and motherly blessings he countlessly experiences in his life, and he is no more orphaned. May Blessed Virgin Mary bless all the priests of the world." —Father George Nellikunnel, Springfield, Illinois"
When my mother was alive, we used to celebrate her birthday today. It used to be a special day for her and my niece Ifunanya and nephew Chidubem, both MauMau's children. Three of them were born the same day but different years. I wish our little kids: BUON COMPLEANNO! I prayed that they might grow in wisdom and knowledge before God and human beings. Exchange of greetings through Family WhatsApp forum.
I was, as usual, at home due to COVID19 forced holidays. No dull moment as I pushed forward in developing the projects before me.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day. Lord, we thank you. In te ipso enim vivimus et movemur et sumus.
FRIDAY, 15 May 2020. Cor Iesu Sacratissimum, miserere nobis. Usual morning devotions here at Blessed Iwene Tansi Community. Silent adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament. All I notice around me is silence. God in the tabernacle is silent. I remember an article I read, entitled "When God seems silent." One line I remember is: "God's silences are his answers." So, before the Lord hidden in the Tabernacle who is silent, what answers are am I getting here? Adóro te devóte, látens Déitas, Quæ sub his figúris, vere látitas: Tibi se cor meum totum súbjicit, Quia, te contémplans, totum déficit.
Returning to the meditation on our Blessed Mother, the question is: WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? And here is a response for my reflection today: "The Blessed Mother plays an important role as an intercessor. I remember before being ordained that my bishop said to me, "Always keep the Blessed Mother close to you.”I have remembered that and so formed the habit of a daily Rosary, always asking for her help and intercession." —Father Todd Nance, Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Lauds. Holy Mass. Since last week, we have been hearing the readings recounting the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit in the mission of the Apostles. Today, I prayed deeply for the guidance of the Spirit in my own episcopal ministry. I asked God especially that I be always disposed to seek the promptings of the Spirit in whatever direction I take in the work of evangelization. For the Intercessions, we collectively presented to the Lord the following intentions:
Returning to the meditation on our Blessed Mother, the question is: WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? And here is a response for my reflection today: "The Blessed Mother plays an important role as an intercessor. I remember before being ordained that my bishop said to me, "Always keep the Blessed Mother close to you.”I have remembered that and so formed the habit of a daily Rosary, always asking for her help and intercession." —Father Todd Nance, Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Lauds. Holy Mass. Since last week, we have been hearing the readings recounting the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit in the mission of the Apostles. Today, I prayed deeply for the guidance of the Spirit in my own episcopal ministry. I asked God especially that I be always disposed to seek the promptings of the Spirit in whatever direction I take in the work of evangelization. For the Intercessions, we collectively presented to the Lord the following intentions:
- That the Holy Spirit may continue to move in the church today, creating unity and peace among her members: Lord, hear us. LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That the church may be a beacon of moral uprightness in the world, and that her light may be welcomed by those in positions of power and influence: Lord, hear us. LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That we, who have been called friends by our Lord Jesus Christ, may truly understand His Heart and keep His commandments to love each other: Lord, hear us. LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That Jesus, who called us and appointed us to go forth and bear fruit, may accept our prayer on behalf of our suffering brothers and sisters, and bring them healing, grace and strength: Lord, hear us. LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That God, whose mercy towers to the heavens and whose faithfulness is higher than the skies, may welcome our deceased loved ones into His holy kingdom: Lord, hear us. LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
THURSDAY, 14 May 2020. FEAST OF ST MATTHIAS, Apostle. I prayed especially for Fr Matthias Okpala. Usual morning devotions.
WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? I reflected on this response: “The Blessed Mother is the primary patron saint for priests. I believe as a priest my goal is to seek to love Jesus as she did. She knew and loved Jesus best on earth —with a pure heart. This is my ideal.”—Father Michael Quinn, Sausalito, California.
At Mass this morning we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal.
The COVID19 lockdown is still in place. So, I stayed indoors, doing what I love to do: reading, writing, etc.
The day ended happily. To our Blessed Mother during this Paschal time we turn:
Regina caeli laetare, alleluia:
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia:
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? I reflected on this response: “The Blessed Mother is the primary patron saint for priests. I believe as a priest my goal is to seek to love Jesus as she did. She knew and loved Jesus best on earth —with a pure heart. This is my ideal.”—Father Michael Quinn, Sausalito, California.
At Mass this morning we prayed: Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal.
The COVID19 lockdown is still in place. So, I stayed indoors, doing what I love to do: reading, writing, etc.
The day ended happily. To our Blessed Mother during this Paschal time we turn:
Regina caeli laetare, alleluia:
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia:
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
WEDNESDAY, 13 May 2020. Usual morning invocations of our Blessed Mother at rising. Adoration of the exposed Sanctissimum in the chapel. Sweet Sacrament divine, earth's light and jubilee, in thy far depths doth shine thy Godhead's majesty; sweet light, so shine on us, we pray, that earthly joys may fade away: sweet Sacrament divine.
WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? Today, I considered this reponse: ""Since 1972, when my grandparents brought me on pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fátima, I have always felt the close presence of Our Lady, who has guided my 32 years of priesthood as a model of love and humility. It has been a very personal and private presence until my last visit to Lourdes three years ago. I finally worked up the nerve to bathe in the waters of Lourdes. As soon as I was lowered into the waters, I began to cry like a baby. I felt so passionately that Our Lady interceded for me, and that my sins, my fears, my doubts were all washed away in 10 seconds. She remains my guide, my hope and my Mother. "—Father Frank Nelson , Seaford, New York.
Special remembrance of the first visit of our Blessed Mother at Fatima. Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. During this COVID19 pandemic, we remember what happened about 1918/1919 when the Spanish flu struck the world. Among the people killed were Jacinta and Francisco of the Fatima fame. Our prayer is to have an end to the COVID19 pandemic. I found this online prayer for healthcare workers:
Restoring and healing God, thank you for medical workers everywhere, embodying sacrificial love in these challenging times putting the welfare of others before their own staying away from their family and loved ones comforting the concerned and bereaved reassuring the anxious and vulnerable working to heal and restore people who are ill. Be their guide, strength, wisdom and hope.
We pray for those in authority to do right by them for proper protective equipment to be provided and for their dedication to be met with much gratitude and appreciation when they return home, exhausted.
And we pray for medical workers around the world, where resources and protective equipment are always in short supply, not only now but always. May these extraordinary times lead to deep and necessary changes in how our world works, resulting in a genuine effort to address the profound injustice of life expectancy being determined by geography, to awaken us all to the reality of how connected we all are and to work together to create the community and world we all want to be part of. So help us, God, Amen.
WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? Today, I considered this reponse: ""Since 1972, when my grandparents brought me on pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fátima, I have always felt the close presence of Our Lady, who has guided my 32 years of priesthood as a model of love and humility. It has been a very personal and private presence until my last visit to Lourdes three years ago. I finally worked up the nerve to bathe in the waters of Lourdes. As soon as I was lowered into the waters, I began to cry like a baby. I felt so passionately that Our Lady interceded for me, and that my sins, my fears, my doubts were all washed away in 10 seconds. She remains my guide, my hope and my Mother. "—Father Frank Nelson , Seaford, New York.
Special remembrance of the first visit of our Blessed Mother at Fatima. Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. During this COVID19 pandemic, we remember what happened about 1918/1919 when the Spanish flu struck the world. Among the people killed were Jacinta and Francisco of the Fatima fame. Our prayer is to have an end to the COVID19 pandemic. I found this online prayer for healthcare workers:
Restoring and healing God, thank you for medical workers everywhere, embodying sacrificial love in these challenging times putting the welfare of others before their own staying away from their family and loved ones comforting the concerned and bereaved reassuring the anxious and vulnerable working to heal and restore people who are ill. Be their guide, strength, wisdom and hope.
We pray for those in authority to do right by them for proper protective equipment to be provided and for their dedication to be met with much gratitude and appreciation when they return home, exhausted.
And we pray for medical workers around the world, where resources and protective equipment are always in short supply, not only now but always. May these extraordinary times lead to deep and necessary changes in how our world works, resulting in a genuine effort to address the profound injustice of life expectancy being determined by geography, to awaken us all to the reality of how connected we all are and to work together to create the community and world we all want to be part of. So help us, God, Amen.
TUESDAY, 12 May 2020. Laudem dicite Deo nostro, omnes qui timetis Deum, pusili et magni, quia facta est salus, et virtus, et postestas Christi eius, alleluia. Usual morning spiritual activities.
I started reading the survey section of the May 2020 edition of the magazine, The Priest. The question for the priest-readers is: WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? I considered this question important, needing adequate response from me as individual. I have chosen to use everyday one of the responses by the priest-readers of magazine as my meditation/reflection material. So for today: "I consecrated myself to her three years before my ordination. She has gently yet profoundly deepened my relationship with Jesus, and she has helped me to avail myself frequently of the Sacrament of Mercy and Eucharistic Adoration, which together have brought fruitfulness to my life and work as a priest. I would like to keep growing in my filial relationship with her so that she becomes to me who she was to her beloved son, Jesus." —Father Rendell Torres , Whitehall, New York.
Adoration. Lauds. Benediction. Holy Mass. The COVID19 kept me seated at home to continue the work already begun.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Ave, Regina caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.
I started reading the survey section of the May 2020 edition of the magazine, The Priest. The question for the priest-readers is: WHAT ROLE DOES THE BLESSED MOTHER PLAY IN YOUR PRIESTHOOD? I considered this question important, needing adequate response from me as individual. I have chosen to use everyday one of the responses by the priest-readers of magazine as my meditation/reflection material. So for today: "I consecrated myself to her three years before my ordination. She has gently yet profoundly deepened my relationship with Jesus, and she has helped me to avail myself frequently of the Sacrament of Mercy and Eucharistic Adoration, which together have brought fruitfulness to my life and work as a priest. I would like to keep growing in my filial relationship with her so that she becomes to me who she was to her beloved son, Jesus." —Father Rendell Torres , Whitehall, New York.
Adoration. Lauds. Benediction. Holy Mass. The COVID19 kept me seated at home to continue the work already begun.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day. Good night, Lord.
Ave, Regina caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.
A SIGNIFICANT DAY IN THE LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP ALBERT OBIEFUNA. Sunday, 12 April 2009 (Easter Sunday) - Mons. Denis Isizoh concelebrated Holy Mass with Archbishop Albert Obiefuna in Germany. For several weeks after his first throat surgery and subsequent radiation therapy, the Archbishop could neither celebrate Mass nor receive Holy Communion. He described this period and today's celebration in his own words/writing: "From October 22nd 2008, the day of the first operation and opening of the throat I could not receive Holy Communion, nor could I celebrate the Eucharist. this was the saddest aspect of my illness, Since I could not swallow there was no way I could receive Holy Communion or take the precious blood. This very sad condition lasted from October 22nd 2008 till Easter Sunday April 12th 2009. On Easter Sunday April 12th 2009 1 began to celebrate Mass again. It was for me the day of my resurrection. I have no way of describing the agony I felt in my soul during those days when everybody feared I would die. How could I have died without receiving the Eucharistic Lord?"
MONDAY, 11 May 2020. Surrexit pastor bonus, qui animam suam posuit pro ovibus suis, et pro grege suo mori dignatus est, alleluia. The day started in the usual way. Activities in our chapel - Adoration, Meditation, Office of Lauds and Holy Mass.
Reflecting on the courage to move on despite negative criticisms sometimes encountered in life, OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You will meet a lot of people in your life; some laugh with you, others will laugh at you; some will love to clean your mess, others will love to mess you up! Love all, but choose carefully the one who stays close to you forever! The dreams you have that may meet mockeries from the lips of negative people will yield the success that will squeeze tears from their eyes later! Dare to resist every negative criticism and persist to make it happen!"
Two great events happened in Onitsha archdiocese on this date but in different years.
On 11 May 1985, Mons. Stephen Nweke Ezeanya was consecrated Archbishop of Onitsha. I was there live as deacon on that occasion in Holy Trinity Cathedral Onitsha. This morning, at Mass in my chapel, I recalled that great, happy event in the life of the Church. It was Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya who ordained me priest.
On 11 May 2011, in far away USA, Archbishop Albert Obiefuna passed on. He suffered very much because of throat cancer. In the early stages of his sickness, I assisted him, especially when he was in Germany for treatment. I was particularly touched, despite his grave condition, he was present in Ogbunike for my sacerdotal silver jubilee. When I expressed surprise that he came to Ogbunike, he said: "I cannot be absent for your celebration." In the evening today, at 4.30pm, I was at St Albert's Church Oraukwu (Archbishop's home parish) to celebrate Mass of anniversary. Many people were in attendance. I asked Fr Barth Okonkwo to give a sermon on aspects of his life. I made few remarks on his life too, highlighting particularly his Eucharistic devotion. He indeed introduced the chapel of adoration in Nigeria. For him, with the Church, I prayed: Da, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut anima famuli tui Alberti episcopi, cui familiae tuae curam tradidisti, cum multiplici laboris fructu gaudia Domini su ingrediatur aeterna. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum.
I am looking forward to the dedication of the Church of St Albert Oraukwu on Sunday, 18 October 2020.
On my way back, I visited St Kevin's Parish Nnobi to see the extent of their preparation for my pastoral visit the upper Sunday. Not much on ground. Fr Chris Ngwu told me that he was working very hard to get everything in place.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening. To our Blessed Mother I commend myself and all my assistants, and with St Bernard Clairvaux pray:
Domina nostra, Mediatrix nostra, Advocata nostra,
tuo Filio nos reconcilia,
tuo Filio nos recommenda,
tuo Filio nos representa.
Reflecting on the courage to move on despite negative criticisms sometimes encountered in life, OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "You will meet a lot of people in your life; some laugh with you, others will laugh at you; some will love to clean your mess, others will love to mess you up! Love all, but choose carefully the one who stays close to you forever! The dreams you have that may meet mockeries from the lips of negative people will yield the success that will squeeze tears from their eyes later! Dare to resist every negative criticism and persist to make it happen!"
Two great events happened in Onitsha archdiocese on this date but in different years.
On 11 May 1985, Mons. Stephen Nweke Ezeanya was consecrated Archbishop of Onitsha. I was there live as deacon on that occasion in Holy Trinity Cathedral Onitsha. This morning, at Mass in my chapel, I recalled that great, happy event in the life of the Church. It was Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya who ordained me priest.
On 11 May 2011, in far away USA, Archbishop Albert Obiefuna passed on. He suffered very much because of throat cancer. In the early stages of his sickness, I assisted him, especially when he was in Germany for treatment. I was particularly touched, despite his grave condition, he was present in Ogbunike for my sacerdotal silver jubilee. When I expressed surprise that he came to Ogbunike, he said: "I cannot be absent for your celebration." In the evening today, at 4.30pm, I was at St Albert's Church Oraukwu (Archbishop's home parish) to celebrate Mass of anniversary. Many people were in attendance. I asked Fr Barth Okonkwo to give a sermon on aspects of his life. I made few remarks on his life too, highlighting particularly his Eucharistic devotion. He indeed introduced the chapel of adoration in Nigeria. For him, with the Church, I prayed: Da, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut anima famuli tui Alberti episcopi, cui familiae tuae curam tradidisti, cum multiplici laboris fructu gaudia Domini su ingrediatur aeterna. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum.
I am looking forward to the dedication of the Church of St Albert Oraukwu on Sunday, 18 October 2020.
On my way back, I visited St Kevin's Parish Nnobi to see the extent of their preparation for my pastoral visit the upper Sunday. Not much on ground. Fr Chris Ngwu told me that he was working very hard to get everything in place.
Back to Aguleri. Quiet evening. To our Blessed Mother I commend myself and all my assistants, and with St Bernard Clairvaux pray:
Domina nostra, Mediatrix nostra, Advocata nostra,
tuo Filio nos reconcilia,
tuo Filio nos recommenda,
tuo Filio nos representa.
SUNDAY, 10 May 2020. FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER. Cantate Domino canticum novum, quia mirabilia fecit Dominus; ante conspectum gentium revelavit iustitiam suam, alleluia. We started the day in our usual way.
Reflecting on the importance of being a person of integrity, OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "To maintain your integrity, just maintain your words in sanctity, and your works in sincerity. You can't be really trusted when your works of today are standing against your words of yesterday!" Other spiritual activities followed.
No external function today.
Reflecting on the importance of being a person of integrity, OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "To maintain your integrity, just maintain your words in sanctity, and your works in sincerity. You can't be really trusted when your works of today are standing against your words of yesterday!" Other spiritual activities followed.
No external function today.
SATURDAY, 9 May 2020. We started the day with our usual morning devotions. Before the Lord hidden in the tabernacle we kneel: Adoremus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum.
Laudate Dominum Omnes Gentes
Laudate Eum Omnes Populi
Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia eius
Et veritas Domini manet in aeternum.
Gloria Patri Et Filio et Spiritui Sancto
Sicut erat in Principio et Nunc et Semper
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Reflecting on the relationship between learning and humility, we have this OUR TODAY'S OUOTE: "If you want to go to a place you have never been before, you have to ask questions you have never asked before. Don't feel shy to ask questions about things you don't know!"
Office of Lauds. Holy Mass. Every day I have the privilege of listening to a short homily given by one of my Secretaries. All of us in our little community are enriched. After each homily, we observe a short period of silence to internalise the Word of God. Then intercessory prayers (Prayer of the Faithful) follow. Today we prayed:
Quiet morning and afternoon hours, which I gainfully used for the projects already undertaken. In moments like this, Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer comes to mind: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. ... Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other."
At 4.15pm, I was at the Convent of the Immaculate Heart Sisters in Aguleri for Mass for our amiable Sister Mary Lelia Idigo who died in a car accident on 28 April 2020, This was the last place she lived. The Mass was attended by all the Sisters of the community together with few persons who live nearby. I concelebrated the Mass with my secretary, Fr Innocent Udolisah. For Sister Mary Lelia we prayed: Praesta quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut anima famulae tuae, Maria Lelia, qua pro Christi amore perfectae caritatis viam percurrit, in adventu gloriae tuae laetetur et cum sororibus suis de regni tui beatitudine gaudeat sempiterna. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
To my Guardian Angel I pray:
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here,
ever this night, be at my side,
to light and guard, rule and guide. Amen.
Laudate Dominum Omnes Gentes
Laudate Eum Omnes Populi
Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia eius
Et veritas Domini manet in aeternum.
Gloria Patri Et Filio et Spiritui Sancto
Sicut erat in Principio et Nunc et Semper
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Reflecting on the relationship between learning and humility, we have this OUR TODAY'S OUOTE: "If you want to go to a place you have never been before, you have to ask questions you have never asked before. Don't feel shy to ask questions about things you don't know!"
Office of Lauds. Holy Mass. Every day I have the privilege of listening to a short homily given by one of my Secretaries. All of us in our little community are enriched. After each homily, we observe a short period of silence to internalise the Word of God. Then intercessory prayers (Prayer of the Faithful) follow. Today we prayed:
- For the church in her holy ministers, that like Paul and Barnabas they may speak the word of God and words of truth fearlessly especially in times of opposition, Lord hear us :; LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For leaders of nations that are known to be formed by centuries of Christian tradition, that they may radiate the light of Christian values to the watching world, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- That our words and deeds may be a true reflection of the work of the Father, and that we may be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For all the intentions that weigh heavily on our hearts, that we may glorify the Father in the Son by believing that if we ask for help with confidence in the name of Jesus, He will do greater deeds than we know how to expect, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
- For our faithful departed ones, that Jesus may show them the face of the Father unveiled in the clear light of heaven, Lord hear us: LORD GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
Quiet morning and afternoon hours, which I gainfully used for the projects already undertaken. In moments like this, Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer comes to mind: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. ... Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other."
At 4.15pm, I was at the Convent of the Immaculate Heart Sisters in Aguleri for Mass for our amiable Sister Mary Lelia Idigo who died in a car accident on 28 April 2020, This was the last place she lived. The Mass was attended by all the Sisters of the community together with few persons who live nearby. I concelebrated the Mass with my secretary, Fr Innocent Udolisah. For Sister Mary Lelia we prayed: Praesta quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut anima famulae tuae, Maria Lelia, qua pro Christi amore perfectae caritatis viam percurrit, in adventu gloriae tuae laetetur et cum sororibus suis de regni tui beatitudine gaudeat sempiterna. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
To my Guardian Angel I pray:
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here,
ever this night, be at my side,
to light and guard, rule and guide. Amen.
FRIDAY, 8 May 2020. Seigneur, par ton sang tu as racheté pour Dieu des hommes de toute race, langue, peuple et nation. Tu en as fait pour notre Dieu un royaume de prêtres, alléluia. Our Easter Hymn:
Alleluia! King eternal,
You the Lord of lords we own:
Alleluia! born of Mary,
Earth your footstool, heaven your throne:
You within the veil, have entered,
Robed in flesh, our great High Priest:
By your Spirit, left us heavenward,
In the Eucharistic feast!
Considering how best to use our time, especially during this COVID19 lockdown, OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When you come across an excellent invention, what it should tell you is that someone used most of his sleeping time as his thinking time... and he kept doing the same until his good became better and his better became the best!"
The Priests most hit by the lockdown are those who are ONLY parish priests without any other assignment. Since the lockdown, these priests spend days at home without the people to engage them in conversation or other activities. Since they depend only on offertory collection for their feeding, some of them have now very little to eat. It is reported that some are experiencing depression. How should they cope with such depression. I found some recommendations by Fr David Songy of the Capuchin Province of Mid America, in this month's edition of The Priest. Here are some of the recommendations:
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day. With our Blessed Mother we rejoice..
R
Alleluia! King eternal,
You the Lord of lords we own:
Alleluia! born of Mary,
Earth your footstool, heaven your throne:
You within the veil, have entered,
Robed in flesh, our great High Priest:
By your Spirit, left us heavenward,
In the Eucharistic feast!
Considering how best to use our time, especially during this COVID19 lockdown, OUR TODAY'S QUOTE: "When you come across an excellent invention, what it should tell you is that someone used most of his sleeping time as his thinking time... and he kept doing the same until his good became better and his better became the best!"
The Priests most hit by the lockdown are those who are ONLY parish priests without any other assignment. Since the lockdown, these priests spend days at home without the people to engage them in conversation or other activities. Since they depend only on offertory collection for their feeding, some of them have now very little to eat. It is reported that some are experiencing depression. How should they cope with such depression. I found some recommendations by Fr David Songy of the Capuchin Province of Mid America, in this month's edition of The Priest. Here are some of the recommendations:
- Daily Orientation: What do I do today? How can I use my time? Should I wait till tomorrow"Taking time at the beginning of a day to orient oneself can contribute to feelings of stability and diminished stress.
- Self-Care components (physical, health, emotional health, social support, ministerial environment, spiritual health and leisure) are necessary.
- A familiar routine reduces Stress. Getting up at the same time, keeping a fixed prayer schedule and continued exercise ad work all contribute to a sense of equilibrium.
- Reducing unproductive thinking decreases stress: excessive worry, projecting the future or trying to solve problems that cannot be solved in the present moment.
- Limiting necessary, difficult activities can reduce stress. Some problems cannot be be avoided: payment of bills, obtaining necessary information on appropriate precautions to take in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, etc. But spending hours and hours on television and internet is counter-productive.
- More contacts with friends reduces stress.
- Personal fulfilment lessens the impact of significant stress.
Evening came, and night came: the end of the day. With our Blessed Mother we rejoice..
R