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Tuesday 26 January 2016

Homily for 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C by Fr. Munachi Ezeogu, CSSp



Jer. 1:4-5, 17, 18-19  1 Cor. 12:31-13:13  Luke 4:21-30

- on the Gospel - Prophecy or Popularity

One of the first indigenous bishops in Nigeria returned to his native town for a reception soon after he was made bishop. His townspeople, most of whom had only a faint idea of what the Christian faith or the office of bishop stands for, came together to give him a big reception. In the welcome speech, the people expressed how happy they were that one of their own sons had risen to the exalted position of those who had direct access to God. They promised him they would all embrace Christianity if he, as bishop, would use the power of his office to suppress one of the Ten Commandments for them. Before they could say which of the Commandments they had in mind, the young bishop shocked them by telling them that the Ten Commandments are of divine and not human making, and so are unchangeable. The celebratory mood turned into disappointment and the bishop had to make a hasty departure from his own people. Jesus, in today's gospel, went through a very similar experience.

Reflection/Homily: Fourth (4th) Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C (January 31 2016)



Theme: Courage in Christian Discipleship

The call to Christian discipleship is a call that requires a lot of courage. Courage is the ability to face difficulties and uncertainties without being overcome by the fear of the tribulations one might encounter. To be truly Christian, we need to be courageous. The Bible talks about so many great men and women of great courage. Peter was a good apostle because he had the courage to keep moving even when the circumstances were unfavourable. Stephen became the first Christian martyr because he had the courage to face a heroic death. St. Paul was successful in bringing the Good News to the gentile world because he had the courage to confront the difficulties he met on the way. Several other instances abound. 

Wednesday 20 January 2016

Homily for the Third (3rd) Sunday in Ordinary Time of the Year C (January 24 2016)



Theme: The Power of God’s Unchanging Word in Man’s Changing World
Today’s readings present us with the centrality and significance of the Word of God among believers. The first reading (Nehemiah 8:2-4.5-6.8-10) traces this centrality and significance back to the ancient Jewish community. Ezrah the priest and great scribe was asked to read the Word of God to the hearing of the Jews who had gathered. He read the sacred text devoutly before them, they prayed and the Levites explained the Word.

In the gospel reading (Luke 1:1-4.4:14-21), the evangelist narrates how Jesus visited the Jewish community in the synagogue and read the Word of God to their hearing. The most significant thing about this event was Jesus’ proclamation of His mission statement “to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed and to announce the Lord’s year of mercy”.

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s Sermon on the Occasion of the Thanksgiving of Chief Jim Nwobodo at Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu on January 10, 2016



When I saw two missed calls from Jim Nwobodo over a week ago, I decided to return the call immediately. He sounded quite excited when he answered the call and then went straight to the point. I have good news for you, he said.

I have decided to join the Catholic Church and I want to specially invite you to be at the Mass in Enugu on January 10th. I congratulated him and said I would check with my Diary to see if I had a window. I used the chance to first call the Bishop of Enugu, His Lordship, Bishop Onaga to intimate him of the invitation. He too sounded quite excited and went on to tell me some of the good things that Chief Nwobodo had done for the Catholic Church during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State. 

He added his voice to the invitation and by the time we had ended, he asked if I could take the Sermon for the day. Two days later, I again saw two missed calls or so from His Eminence, Antony Cardinal Okogie, the emeritus Archbishop of Lagos. I returned his call immediately. After the pleasantries, he confirmed enthusiastically that Chief Nwobodo had also invited him. He said despite his health, he would see if he can make the trip. Two days ago, I again saw two missed calls from him.

Tuesday 12 January 2016

“Who am I to Judge”: Pope Francis Explains Himself in His New Book – The Name of God is Mercy



In his new book on God's mercy, Pope Francis explains that his oft-quoted words “who am I to judge”, about a homosexual person who is searching for the Lord with a good will, is simply his reflection on Church teaching found in the catechism.

The Name of God is Mercy, released Jan. 12 2015, is a book-length interview of Pope Francis by Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli. The book is meant to “reveal the heart of Francis and his vision,” according to Tornielli's foreward. He had wanted to ask the Pope about mercy and forgiveness, “to analyze what those words mean to him, as a man and a priest.”

The journalist asked Pope Francis about his experience as a confessor to homosexual persons and about his “who am I to judge” comment, made during his in-flight press conference from Rio de Janeiro to Rome July 28, 2013. 

Saturday 9 January 2016

Catholic Priest Kidnapped in Syria Eventually Released



A Catholic priest, Father Dhiya Azziz who was abducted in Syria on December 23 2015 has been released. The clergyman was seized as he was returning to his parish in Yakubiya after visiting relatives in Turkey and was set free on Monday evening, January 4 2016. In announcing his release, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land declined to provide any details, citing “confidentiality reasons.” Earlier, Church spokesmen had said that Father Azziz was likely being held by an Islamic rebel group. His parish is situated in an area held by rebels. In fact,  Father Azziz had been kidnapped previously, in July, and held briefly by Islamic militants before he managed to escape.

Vatican Astronomer Reflects on the Magi Story and the Star of Bethlehem



Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, the director of the Vatican Observatory discussed the star of Bethlehem and the journey of the Magi in a front-page reflection published by L’Osservatore Romano on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. “The feast of Epiphany is special to us astronomers,” he said. “Of all the visitors who came to see the newborn Savior, only shepherds and astronomers are specifically mentioned by St. Matthew. Of course, this fame comes with a cost. Epiphany is also the season when we astronomers are besieged with requests to ‘explain’ the Star of Bethlehem.”

After discussing Johannes Kepler’s identification of the star with a conjunction of planets, Brother Consolmagno said that “my experience as a scientist makes me approach the Magi story with a completely different set of unanswerable questions … The story of the Magi inspires us to look at our own journey. What are we looking for? Why do we look? How do we know it when we find it? And are we brave enough to return home with it, once we have found it?”

‘Stop Capital Punishment’ Florida Bishops tell Governor Rick Scott



Following the execution of Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr. slated for January 7 2016, the Catholic Bishops of Florida have urged the state’s Governor, Hon. Rick Scott to abolish capital punishment in the state. 

According to a letter signed by Michael Sheedy, the director of the Florida bishops’ conference, the bishops affirmed that the use of the death penalty has been “inconsistent, arbitrary, and too often applied in error.” Noting that Florida was one of only six US states to execute criminals last year, he urged a stay on the pending execution of Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr.

Catholic Nuns attacked in South Sudan



Religious Sisters working at the Solidarity Teachers’ Training College in Yambio,  a city in South Sudan, were on December 28 2015 attacked by fine gunmen who stole computers, cell phones and cash from the nuns. According to De La Salle Brother Bill Firman, director of Solidarity with South Sudan, the gunmen after climbing the fence surrounding the college, confronted the nuns, who were locking up the building for the night, and demanded for guns, cash, phones and computers. The sisters had no guns, but handed over the other items. The Sudan Catholic Radio Network reported that one of the sisters was also sexually assaulted during the attack. The gunmen are believed to be associated with a rebel group in the country’s civil war which began in 2013. 

Solidarity with South Sudan is a Catholic missionary group implementing teacher and health training, agriculture, trauma healing and pastoral programmes in many parts of South Sudan, under the auspices of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference. According to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur website, the Solidarity community in Yambio includes religious from different congregations around the world, including Montana and California as well as Ecuador, Ireland and New Zealand.

Solemn Vespers to be Celebrated in King Henry VIII’s Chapel after 450 Years





The Solemn Vespers of the Roman Catholic liturgy will be held in the chapel of King Henry VIII in February 9 2016. This is the first Catholic liturgical ceremony to be conducted there in 450 years. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster will preside at the liturgy to be celebrated in the chapel of Hampton Court Palace while Anglican Bishop Richard Chartres of London will preach the sermon.

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