THE ICON OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
 
          God’s ways are unfathomable! At the beginning of this Mass, I went down the podium to receive the icon of our Blessed Mother – Our Lady of perpetual help.
          When I saw the icon, I was filled with nostalgia. It was the first image of our mother Mary I ever saw. As a child, this icon was mounted in a prominent place in our humble parlour. My eldest uncle, Frederick, and almost all Catholics in our neighbourhood had the same image. Probably a missionary preached about it and made it available to them in the 50’s.
          As a Priest, opportuned to visit many religious houses, I had always wondered why Redemptorist houses have this image displayed. The Redemptorists have reminded us again and again that they have a special papal mandate to spread the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
          Here we are today. The Redemptorists are performing the tasks given to them. They gather us here together and invite us to turn to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
          Many of our friends, who are not Catholics, accuse us of worshipping images – something condemned in the Bible. We use images to help us gather our thoughts on the person behind the image. We venerate our Blessed Mother..
          I invite you to look at the image on the front cover of the brochure which you have in your hand. Please look at it closely. I am sure that you are all very familiar with this icon.
  • It is not by accident; it is providential that the figures on top of the icon are the archangels Michael and Gabriel. And this Parish is named after the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Your parish is represented on the icon.
  • I have wondered why St Michael (on the left corner) would hold the spear, the wine-soaked sponge and crown of thorns, and why St Gabriel (on the right corner) would hold the cross and the nails.
  • I have wondered why the child Jesus would lose one of his sandals.
  • But I admire the tenderness with which the Blessed Mother holds her son Jesus.
  • I admire the serenity on her face
  • I admire the trust with which Jesus grasps the hand of the Blessed Mother. Even with all the instruments of his passion and death close by, held up by the angels before him, he remains secure in mama Mary’s hand.
  • How secure we must feel whenever we run to our tender and reassuring mother.
Our Lady of perpetual help. Pray for us.
 
THEME OF PEACE
          Dear friends, for this year’s celebration of Mother of Perpetual Help and Parish Feast day here, you have chosen one of the titles of our Blessed Mother: OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE as your theme.
 
WARS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
          I googled and counted it – since the continent of Africa became identifiable, the has been total of 303 wars/conflicts/violence. I did not count instances. If Boko Haram killed several persons and on different occasions, I simply put  Boko Harm as one. You know how many people have been killed in Nigeria.
 
STATE OF THE NIGERIAN NATION
   In Nigeria, it will be difficult to count instances of violence.
  • Spilling of blood is now a common sight. How many persons are killed each day in Nigeria? Why is there no person to assure us that we have seen the end of all these violent acts? There are many experts who analyse everyday the causes of this bad situation in Nigeria. Why are short of practical leaders who take us out of this mess in our country?
  • All the things that keep us restless disturb our peace:
    • Bad roads
    • Endless road accidents:
      • Jan 2018: 456 died and 3,404 injured
      • Dec 2017: 557 died and 3,422 injured.
  • Poorly maintained vehicles: trucks, buses and aeroplanes
 
  • The abuse of modern gadgets MOBILE PHONES. You contribute to violence in Nigeria when you use WhatsApp to intimidate people and circulate false news. Some assassinate characters.
 
FAMILY STRETCH
  • What is the situation in you families?
  • How many fights and quarrels in families?
  • Can you count the number of times you have quarrelled and fought in your homes?
  • What usually causes quarrels in families?
  • Have you applied tested magic words?
    • I am sorry
    • I am at fault
    • I will not do it again
    • Pardon me/ forgive me
    • I love you
Did St Francis not teach us to pray to be agents of peace:
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace
  • Where there is hatred, let me sow love
  • Where there is injury, pardon;
  • Where there is doubt, faith;
  • Where there is despair, hope
  • Where there is darkness, light,
  • where there is sadness, joy.
 
OUR BLESSED MOTHER INVITES US.
          Our Blessed Mother has appeared a number of times publicly and privately to encourage us to pursue the path of peace. Just last year we celebrated the centenary of her visit to Fatima where she made recommendations that will guide us to peace. She invites us still to pray for peace and do penances for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. She has asked us consecrate ourselves to Her Immaculate Heart.
Today we place our country before her.
Today we place our families before her.
Today we present ourselves to her
 
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Queen of peace, pray for us.
Our Mother of Perpetual help, pray for us.