TheNewsGuru

Tag: Catholic Church

  • The conversion of St Paul – By Stephen Ojapah

    The conversion of St Paul – By Stephen Ojapah

    I am the least of the apostles; in fact, since I persecuted the church of God. I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace, that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I have worked harder than any of the others; or rather not I but the grace of God that is with me. (I Corinthians 15:9-10).

    Every January 25, the Catholic Church remembers the conversion of St Paul. One of most iconic figures in the bible, and in Christian theology and development. The reading from his letter to the Corinthians. St Paul referred to the fact that he is the least of the apostles and because of his past records; he is not worthy to be called an apostle. The detail of his conversion experience can be found in Acts of the Apostle 22: 3-16. In his first Homily at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the walls on the 25 of April 2005 Pope Benedict XVI said: “Even before Providence led him to Rome, the Apostle wrote his most important Letter, from a doctrinal point of view, to the Christians of this city, the capital of the Empire. The first part of it has just been proclaimed, a closely packed introduction in which the Apostle greets the community of Rome, introducing himself as a “servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle” (Rom 1: 1). A little further on he adds: “Through him [Christ] we have been favoured with apostleship, that we may spread his name and bring to obedient faith all the Gentiles” (Rom 1: 5).”

    At last, Paul proclaimed Christ with martyrdom, and his blood, together with Peter’s and that of many other Gospel witnesses, fertilized the Church of Rome which presides in charity over universal communion (cf. St Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Rom., Inscr.: Funk, I, 252). As we all know, the 20th century was a period of martyrdom. Pope John Paul II placed a strong emphasis on this, when he asked the Church to “update the Martyrology”, and canonized and beatified numerous martyrs of recent history. Consequently, if the blood of martyrs is the seed of new Christians, it is legitimate at the beginning of the third millennium to expect the Church to blossom anew, especially in the places where she has suffered the worst for the faith and Gospel witness.

    St Paul, was very convinced he was fighting a battle for God, he was so radical in his approach to the Jewish religion and its defense. He killed so many believers of the new faith notable among them was St Stephen the first martyr (Act 7:58). He equally put so many in prison (Acts 8:3). He continued to threaten many more with persecution and imprisonment ((Acts 9:1).  All of these and many more where his records of accomplishment before his conversion experience. That conversion story brought so many respite to the new Christian Ummah. 

    The horrendous deeds of Paul is the most documented in the new testament. With his conversion, the Holy Spirit began a quite revival of hearts and minds towards the Christian faith. And a fresh understanding began to immerge within the empire, the oppressive and virulent treatment meted out to Christians slowed down abit. It did not end, because for the next three hundred years the Church will continue to suffer in various degress, through wicked emperors like Nero,  (37-68 AD) Vespasian (69-79 AD), (Domitian 81-96 AD), (Trajan 98-117 AD), (Hadrian 117-138 AD), (Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD),  (Maximinus the Thracian  235-238), (Decius 249 -251 AD), (Valerian 253-260 AD), (Diocletian 284- 305 AD). (Constantius and Galerius Early 4th Century). With all the barrage of humiliation suffered by Christians right from the time of Paul. The Holy Spirit still guided the church even in the worst of times for over three hundred years it was one horror after another. For example, in 250, Decius decided that all Christians had to pay homage to the Roman gods or be killed and he was as good as his evil words. This carnage became known as “The Decian Persecution” as it came directly from the Emperor himself. This persecution took the life of no less a personage than Pope St. Fabian did. The persecution went so far as to prohibit Christian worship in the empire — period. Mercifully, Decius died one year after his edict had been in effect.

    The Catholic Church celebrates the conversion of St Paul to thank God for the great action of the Holy Spirit that touched his heart, and to thank God for the great work he did while on earth. For me as an MSP Priest and many of our Priests working round the world, it’s our major celebration as priests named after the great apostle Paul. We emulate him both in his passion for the great work of evangelization and if need be in his martyrdom.  

    The persecution of the Church is as old as the institution. However, we have not lost sight of the possibility of the great action of the Holy Spirit. There are so many elements and systems, whether, private or public that perpetuate the art of persecution of its citizens and members. We have numerous examples, both within Christian and Muslim Communities. All we pray for is a change of heart like Paul. Those who suffer for their faith in China, the Uyghur Muslims for example. Those who suffer for their Faith in Palestine, The Christian population and even the Muslim population, we pray for a change of heart those governments and systems.

    Nigeria has one of the most contestable theories of persecution, depending on who you talk to, but I know the stories of the Muslim population in Imo State and what they are going through. I am equally very informed about the situation of the Christians in Zamfara, Kebbi and what they are going through. All we pray for is a change of heart like St Paul.

     

    Fr Stephen Ojapah is a priest of the Missionary Society of St Paul. He is equally the director for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, a member of IDFP. He is also a KAICIID Fellow. (omeizaojapah85@gmail.com).

  • 2023 elections: Catholic Bishops warn against violence

    2023 elections: Catholic Bishops warn against violence

    The Catholic Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos have warned against electoral violence in the forthcoming general election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Catholic Bishops also lamented the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, saying Christians in the country are facing one of their most challenging times since the attainment of independence in 1960.

    This is contained in a communique issued by the Catholic Bishops at the end of their first plenary meeting for the year 2023 held on Monday, 23rd January 2023, st St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos.

    They commended the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), under the Department of Church and Society of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) for all its efforts in sensitizing Nigerians to participate actively in the forthcoming national elections, and also for its effort in securing registration and accreditation for 6000 members of the Catholic Church to serve as Election Observers nationwide.

    According to the communique signed by Most Rev. Francis Adesina, DD, Bishop of Ijebu-Ode,
    Secretary and Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, DD, Archbishop of Lagos, Chairman, if the incessant attacks across the country are not curtailed, they are capable of truncating the electoral process.

    The communique reads: “We, the Catholic Bishops of the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province, which comprises Lagos Archdiocese, Abeokuta Diocese, and Ijebu-Ode Diocese, met on Monday, 23rd January 2023, at St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos.

    “In the course of our meeting, we interacted with the leadership of the clergy, the religious, and the various lay organizations and societies in our province.

    “After prayerful deliberation on several issues bordering on the well-being of the faithful in our province and the people of our country Nigeria as a whole, we issue the following communique:

    “We thank the Almighty God for seeing us safely through the year 2022, despite its numerous challenges. Indeed, last year was particularly trying for most Nigerians as a result of excruciating economic hardship, widespread insecurity, and an unprecedented rise in the level of poverty, all of which made access to the basic necessities of life a herculean task.

    “We face the year 2023 with optimism and hope, urging Nigerians not to allow the challenges of the year just ended to weigh them down, but to remain focused and prayerful, as we work together for a better future for ourselves and generations to come.

    “We commend the Justice Development and Peace Commission, JDPC, under the Department of Church and Society of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, for all its efforts in sensitizing Nigerians to participate actively in the forthcoming national elections, and also for its effort in securing registration and accreditation for 6000 members of the Catholic Church to serve as Election Observers nationwide.

    “We note with some concern that the forthcoming national elections commencing on the 25th February 2023, will likely be among the most contentious in the history of our country, Nigeria.

    “Yet they offer another unique opportunity for all eligible citizens of this great country to rise to their civic responsibility by going out to vote for credible leaders with the capacity and competence to re-order the socio-economic and political dynamics of our nation, so that Nigerians can indeed have a new lease of life.

    “We call on all eligible voters to ensure that they obtain their PVCs and come out en-masse to cast their votes. Let them set aside ethnic, religious, and political biases to vote in only the candidates who are most qualified to take our country along the path of true growth and development.

    “We are aware that most of the candidates for the Presidency of our country have earlier signed a peace accord initiated by the Peace Committee put together by Elder Statesman, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar and Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, pledging to play by the rules of the Electoral Act.

    “We note with regret that some of them appear not to be adhering to the terms of the peace accord that they signed, given the rising cases of politically motivated violence across the country. If these are not checked, they are capable of truncating the electoral process.

    “We, therefore, appeal to leaders of all the political parties to honour the agreement that they signed by prevailing on their supporters to refrain from violence and all forms of political thuggery, and adhere strictly to the provisions of the newly enacted Electoral Act.

    “Similarly, we call on the law enforcement agencies and other relevant agencies of Government to work assiduously and impartially to ensure that peace prevails in the country before, during, and after the electoral processes.

    “The past year witnessed an unprecedented rise in cases of insecurity across the country as a result of the activities of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers who abduct and kill innocent Nigerians on a daily basis, even after collecting ransom for their victims.

    “Members of the clergy have not been spared these wicked and inhuman attacks. Many of our priests have fallen victim of these attacks, and not a few have been killed in cold blood. No country can thrive in an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy. Certainly not Nigeria.

    “On this note, we commiserate with our Venerable Brother, the Bishop of Minna Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Martin Uzoukwu, on the brutal killing of his priest, Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi, by yet-to-be-identified murderers, and the burning down of Church property. We pray the good Lord to grant eternal rest to the dead and protection for the living. We also pray that the perpetrators of the heinous crime will be apprehended and made to face the law.

    “There is no doubt that Christians in Nigeria are facing one of their most challenging times since the attainment of independence by Nigeria in 1960.

    “According to available statistics, Nigeria is among the countries of the world in which Christians are most persecuted. We are all witnesses to the atrocities directed at communities that are predominantly Christian as it is in Benue and Plateau states.

    “We, therefore, once again call on the Government to rise to its statutory obligation to protect the life and property of Nigerians of all faiths and no faith, and give them a sense of belonging.

    “That the ship of our nation is sinking rapidly is no exaggeration. This is not the same country that was bequeathed to us by our founding fathers. We cannot remain unconcerned while things continue to get out of hand, or else we shall, sooner than later, no longer have a country to call our own.

    “We, therefore, appeal to Nigerians in all walks of life, including professionals, politicians, media practitioners, the judiciary, security agencies, traditional rulers, the clergy, and, indeed, the populace in general, to join hands to rebuild our nation. We can respond to this call for national rebirth by being the change that we desire, by making necessary adjustments to our daily activities to stand for the truth at all times.

    “We should shun evil and all corrupt practices, and uphold whatever is just and edifying. It is time we began to say “No” to all the vices that weigh us down as a people, and promote positive values in all spheres of our national life.

    “We strongly believe that our country Nigeria will be great again, despite the numerous challenges that we are currently facing. The Bible urges us to pray without ceasing. Therefore, we urge our fellow Nigerians not to relent in praying for God’s intervention in the plight of our country. He sees what we are going through, and He will surely rescue us”.

  • Abducted Ikulu-Pari Catechist released

    Abducted Ikulu-Pari Catechist released

    Mr Kefas Ishaya, the Catechist of St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Ikuly-Pari in Kauru Local Government of Kaduna State, who was abducted Thursday night, has been released.

    A statement from the Kafanchan Diocese of the Catholic Church, said that Ishaya, who was kidnapped from the Parish Rectory, was released Saturday morning.

    “On behalf of the Bishop and the Catechetical Commission, we give thanks to God and sincerely appreciate all for your prayers and support,” the statement signed by Fr. Emmanuel Okolo, Chancellor of the Diocese, said.

    The statement did not indicate if any ransom was paid, but a source from the Church confirmed that an unspecified amount was paid.

    “The captors initially asked for N5 million but we discussed with them,” the source, a leader in the Church, told NAN.

    Recall that gunmen on Thursday abducted Ishaya when they could not get his boss, Rev Fr Joseph Shekari, who was not in when his residence was attacked.

    Fr Shekari, who was abducted in similar circumstances in February 2022, had travelled out of the village and was not available for a second ordeal in captivity.

    The Parish had held its annual Thanksgiving Service on Sunday and its members suspect the abductors were targeting the proceeds having succeeded in carting away what was generated in February 2022.

    Mr Sunday Bage, Chairman of Ikulu Zone of the Parish, told NAN that the abductors came “around 9.30 p.m.”

    “Thank God Father (Reverend) travelled. They didn’t get him, but they picked our Catechist. They dragged the Catechist to the bush. They took him with his phone,” he had told NAN.

    He said that the gunmen were many and kept shooting sporadically, moving through the Church, the school and the Priest’s residence in search of the Rev Father.

    Neighbours told NAN that the gunmen broke into the residence of the Priest after scaling through the fence.

    They were said to have broken the main door to the house using stones and bullets.

    “Immediately they broke into the house, they searched and ransacked everywhere. They checked under the beds, wardrobes, bathrooms and kitchen.

    “They even checked the ceiling, but Father had travelled. So, they did not get him. In anger, they took our Catechist. As we speak, he is with them in the bush.

    “It is a very sad situation. This is devastating. They dragged Catechist on the ground like a dog,” a visibly fear-stricken woman told NAN.

    She recalled that it was not long ago that Fr Shekari was abducted and was rescued after “a huge ransom” was paid.

    “They came again to take him. Luckily, he wasn’t in. This is really a dark period for us,” he said.

    Recall that Rev. Fr. Shekari was kidnapped by gunmen in February 2022.

    During the February attack, his cook, Sati Musa, was shot dead by the gunmen while trying to protect his master.

    A Church elder, Mr Yohanna Madaki, while speaking on the February incident, had noted that the abductors apparently targeted the more than N2 million realised from the annual thanksgiving service same day.

    Church sources indicated that the money was taken along with the Priest, while the murdered cook was a student of Government Secondary School, Kizakoro.

  • Slain Catholic cleric, Reverend Father Isaac Achi buried in Minna

    Slain Catholic cleric, Reverend Father Isaac Achi buried in Minna

    Reverend Father Isaac Achi of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church in Kafin-Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, who got burnt by bandits few weeks ago has been buried at the St Michael Catholic Cemetery in Bosso, Local Government Areas of the state amid tears.

    Catholic priests stormed the cemetery in their large numbers to pay their last respect to one of their own who lost his life to banditry.

    Recall that the priest was set ablaze in his residence when the bandits could not gain access to the parish house last Sunday, while his assistant, Fr. Collins was shot while trying to escape.

    Reverend Father Achi was the CAN coordinator of Paikoro Local Government Area, and the Dean and Parish Priest of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Kaffin-Koro in Minna Diocese.

    Speaking during the funeral service, the Dean of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Catholic University, Port Harcourt, Very Reverend Father Samuel Gwimi described the gruesome murder of Fr. Achi as shocking to him and other priests.

    According to him: “We are still looking for answers and explanations as to why he was killed, but we have also consoled ourselves in the Lord knowing the slain priest is resting in the bosom of God.”

    Gwimi called on other priests and Christians to immortalize Rev. Achi by exhibiting his character of generosity and seeker of truth and peace.

    “Father Achi has touched every one of us in one way or the other. His generosity to individuals and groups cannot be quantified, and that is why his death is painful to us all. The separation from him is painful because of the touch and impact he has had in our lives.”

    He also appealed to political leaders and security agents in the nation to be more proactive about the issues of security to stop future occurrences from happening.

    “Father Achi fought a good fight of faith and finished the race and is already sitting peacefully with God,” the cleric added.

     

  • RT. MSGR. Anthony Ewherido for Episcopal Ordination on February 9 in Warri

    RT. MSGR. Anthony Ewherido for Episcopal Ordination on February 9 in Warri

    The city of Warri in Delta state will on February 9th 2023 witness the largest gathering of Christian faithful in and around the world in  recent times, as the episcopal ordination and installation of the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Dr. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Warri will take place.
    Guests will fly in from all over the world to witness the great occassion and ordination of one of Warri’s finest Catholic Bishop.
    The appointment of Rt. Rev. Msgr.  Anthony Ewherido  as Bishop of Warri Diocese by Pope Francis has been greeted with widespread jubilation across the Diocese and everyone awaits his episcopal ordination and installation ceremony with joyous anticipation.
    Catholic sons and daughters of Warri Diocese across the globe will be returning home in their hundreds to grace the historic occasion. Likewise  all priests of Warri Diocese in the Diaspora who  have already indicated their interest to attend the august event.
    Warri, as it is popularly described in local palace “non dey carry last”. Same is true with the advent of Christianity.  Historically, Warri had very early contact with Christian missionaries. After the initial contact led by the Capuchins and Augustinian missionaries between the 15th and 18th centuries which made some converts, the exercise  was not quite successful, owing to some factors. However,  the missionary  enterprise was reinvigorated in the 20th century led  by the Fathers of the Society for Africa Mission (SMA) of the Irish Province. Apart from churches built, the missionaries established schools and hospitals which served the  people and were also means of evangelisation.
    Chapels and Churches were built to cater for the spiritual wellbeing of the students and villagers in the neighborhoods. It was such stations that gradually envolved into Parishes in some places, thus evangelisation and growth of the Church blossomed. Therefore, with a flourishing Christian community, His. Holiness, Pope Paul V1, created the Diocese of Warri from the then old Benin Diocese on March 10, 1964, with Bishop Lucas Nwaezeapu as the Diocesan Bishop. Since then, the Diocese has been governed by several Bishops which includes Most Rev Edmund Fitzgibbon, Most Rev. Richard Burke and lately by Most Rev. John Afareha, upon whose retirement Archbishop Augustine Akubeze was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese. Each of the above shepherd made their mark in the history of the Diocese. May God bless them and grant eternal repose to the dead.
    As usual government functionaries, traditional rulers, professional bodies, the academia, youth bodies, women groups etc are all gearing up to join Christ’s faithful of Warri Diocese and the not less than sixty Catholic Bishops and other religious leaders across the country for the great event. God’s children will gather in their thousands to  celebrate this precious gift of God to Warri Diocese.  A red-letter day!
    Similarly,  corporates bodies and institutions around Warri/Effurun metropolis are already readjusting their schedules to free up that date as the twin cities  will witness an unusual human and vehicular traffic that may impact on normal business schedules.
    The Holy Martyrs of Uganda Minor Seminary, venue of the ceremony, and it’s adjoining Bishopscourt premises are  already wearing a new look as the date draws nearer. There is something very significant about the Minor Seminary as venue of  the ceremony. That was the first place of pastoral assignment where  Msgr Anthony Ewherido  served as head. He was the Rector (1988- 1992), two years after his priestly ordination and there he unleashed his youthful energies so dexterously and build a reputation of creativity, brilliance, discipline and pastoral commitment that endeared him to many, especially his homilies which  resonated in the hearts of many and attracted worshippers from outside the seminary community who traveled long distances on Sundays to the Chapel to listen to his beautiful heart-piercing homilies. Rev. Fr. Silvanus Anamali, a highly respected senior brother of the presbyterium once described the era in these words: “People  came from far and near to listen to the wisdom of Solomon” Indeed, at that time, in many homes across the Diocese, “Fr Tony is the Rector” was a common refrain  and served as a badge of honour by which the Minor Seminary was rated very high.
    Consequently, the Seminary witnessed unprecedented increase in entry  and  many of those who passed through him are doing very well today in different endeavours, and as priests. Meanwhile, the rise in the number of students necessitated the expansion of facilities and, Fr Ewherido in his characteristic creative thinking,  looked around and found an asset lying nearby.
  • CAN Youth wing condemn killing of Priest in Minna

    CAN Youth wing condemn killing of Priest in Minna

    Amb. Belusochukwu Enwere, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing) has condemned the killing of a priest in Minna, Niger, by bandits.

    According to Enwere, the killing of Rev. Fr Isaac Achi, a Catholic Priest of Minna diocese on Sunday at about 1 am by bandits is pure terrorist attack.

    “The killing and burning alive the  priest as well as the parish house is the most wicked and barbaric act by this blood sucking bandits whose aims and objectives are becoming suspicious.

    “But our enemies will not succeeded so long as Nigeria remains a secular state,” he said.

    He said that the continuous killing as well as kidnapping of Christian clerics in Nigeria is alarming.

    “This has to be stopped at all cost. The Christian community must rise up and come together to put to an end this insult.

    “Those behind this senseless killings and burning of the parish house must be brought to book.

    “Nigeria is becoming a killing field where Christian clerics and its members are slaughtered like chicken,” he said.

    The chairman called on the Federal Government, security agencies, government of Niger state to help salvage this ugly situation before it got out of control.

    Enwere sent his condolences to the Niger State Christian community as well as the Catholic diocese of Minna.

    Rev. Fr Achi was on early hours of Sunday, at the Rectory (Fathers’ House) of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro, attacked and shot dead and burnt beyond recognition.

    His assistant, Fr Colins Omeh sustained severe bullet wounds.

    He was also Parish Priest of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro in Niger State and the Dean of Kafin Koro Deanery.

  • Police begin manhunt for killers of Catholic Priest in Niger

    Police begin manhunt for killers of Catholic Priest in Niger

    The Police in Niger said they deployed reinforcements to track down suspected killers of Catholic Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Issac Achi of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Paikoro Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

    This is contained in a statement on Sunday issued by DSP Wasiu Abiodun, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state.

    According to the statement, “On 15/01/2023 at about 0300hrs, armed bandits invaded the Parish residence of one Rev. Father Isaac Achi of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church along Daza road, Kafin-Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area.

    “Unfortunately, the bandits reportedly attempted to gain entrance into the residence, but seems difficult and set the house ablaze, while the said Rev. Father was burned to death.

    “A colleague of the Rev. Father, identified as Father Collins, was equally shot on the shoulder while trying to escape from the scene.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Ogundele Ayodeji had dispatched a reinforcement team to the area and effort is ongoing to apprehend the assailants as investigation into the unfortunate attack has commenced.”

    It said that the police tactical teams attached to Kaffin-Koro Division were immediately drafted to the scene, but the hoodlums had escaped before the arrival of the teams.

    Abiodun said that the lifeless body of late Isaac was recovered while Father Collins was taken to the hospital for treatment.

    Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, had condemned the dastardly act in a statement.

    CAN called on the three tiers of government to do more in securing lives and property in the state and urged the authorities to apprehend the suspected killers.

  • CAN flays killing of Catholic Priest in Niger State

    CAN flays killing of Catholic Priest in Niger State

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger has condemned the killing of a Catholic Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi, in Paikoro Local Government Area of the state.

    A statement issued by Daniel Atori, media aide to the CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna on Sunday in Minna called for investigations into the attacks and the culprits brought to book.

    “CAN, Niger state strongly condemns the gruesome killing of Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi, priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kaffin Koro, in Paikoro local government area of Niger state.’’

    The CAN chairman called on the government at all levels, the police and other security agencies to double their efforts in tackling banditry and insecurity.

    “One of the primary responsibilities of any government is to protect lives and properties of the people, enough of the attacks and wanton killings of innocent Nigeria citizens.

    “In the early hours of today (Sunday) the bandits got to the community, shooting sporadically, setting ablaze the Catholic Parish house, killed the parish priest and injured his assistant.”

    The association condoled the Catholic Diocese of Minna, parishioners and  the entire Christendom as well as the immediate family of  the slayed priest.

    Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, prayed for the repose of the soul of late Achi and the souls of all the faithful departed to rest in peace.

    The late Achi was until his death, the CAN Coordinator of Paikoro local government area, the Dean and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church kaffinkoro in  Minna Diocese.

  • BREAKING: Catholic priest burnt to death in Niger State

    BREAKING: Catholic priest burnt to death in Niger State

    A Catholic priest, Very Reverend Father Isaac Achi has been burnt to death in his residence at Kafin Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the home of Very Reverend Father Achi, it was learnt, was attacked by armed bandits at about 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.

    Until his death, Achi was the Dean of Kafin Koro Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Minna and the Reverend Father in charge of St. Peter’s and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro.

    He was also the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State.

    According to a reliable source, armed bandits in their numbers stormed the uphill residence of the deceased Reverend Father and burnt it down after about an hour of fruitless effort to force their way into the house.

    The bandits were said to have poured Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly refers to as petrol around the house before setting it ablaze.

    His assistant, whose name was given as Rev Father Collins, was shut on his leg while trying to escape from the fire and he is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Minna, the state capital.

    It was gathered that while the gunmen were trying to get access into the house, the deceased, according to our source, put a distress call to a family member who alerted the Divisional Police Office in charge of Kafin Koro Division but the gunmen were said to have outnumbered the police.

    It was further gathered that the gunmen, after setting the building on fire, waited until it was razed down to ashes with the late Reverend Father inside before taking their leave without any challenge.

    Meanwhile, the state Police Command was yet to issue a statement on the incident, but the Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the murder of the Catholic Priest but said the security agents have been mobilised to the area.

    Recall that the late Reverend Father Isaac Achi, a native of Kafin Koro, survived the December 2011 bombing of Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Madella in the Suleja local government area of the state.

    Two years later in 2013, the late Reverend Father escaped another kidnap attempt when the gunmen invaded his residence.

  • Pope Benedict XVI: A curator of truth – By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Pope Benedict XVI: A curator of truth – By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    It all began on June 29 1951: Two blood brothers: Joseph Ratzinger (24), and his older brother, Georgi Ratzinger (27) are ordained to the priesthood in Freising, a university town in Bavaria, Germany. With outstretched hands the two brother priests impart their first blessing on the waiting bemused crowd, and, by extension on the 1.2 billion Catholics-one-sixth of the world’s population. April 19 2005: Joseph is elected Pope by a clear majority of 115 Cardinals. He replaces Pope Saint John Paul 11. Immediately after his election, he presents himself to the faithful on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica amid the spontaneous outbursts of “Habemus papam ex Germania”. The outbursts shake the pillars of St. Peter’s Basilica to their foundation. There are about 400,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, some of them radiantly waving the German flags. Joseph is the first German Pope succeeding St. Peter, the first Pope, for gargantuan 482 years. The new Pope chooses the name, Benedict XVI after Saint Benedict of Nursia, the great religious founder and educator whose motto is: ora et labora (“pray and work”). September 14 2005: the new Pope unveils and blesses a statue of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, which is placed in a niche on the outside of St. Peter’s Basilica. February 28 2013: Pope Benedict XVI resigns citing his advanced age and declining health as the reasons for his decision. He is the first Pope to do so in over 600 years. I can go on and on reeling out the prominent events that shaped Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate.

    In his funeral homily at the funeral of Saint Pope John Paul 11, Joseph Aloysius Cardinal Ratzinger said: “This is not the time to speak of the specific content of this rich pontificate”. Likewise, this piece does not aim to cover the full extent of Pope Benedict XVI’s rich pontificate and his rich literary achievements. Instead, it serves as a way for billions of people across the world to pray for the merciful judgment of the soul of Pope Benedict XVI. We pray that the Lord Jesus will welcome him home as his humble servant and a curator of saving truth. We pray too that all those who loved and admired and inspired by him may take consolation in the following words of his homily in the solemn inaugural Mass of his pontificate at Saint Peter’s Square: “Do not be afraid of Christ. He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything..”

    As John L. Allen jr. rightly noted in his book: The rise of Benedict XV1, to be elected Pope is tantamount to being sentenced to life imprisonment, meaning that the job of a Pope is not only tasking but entails gigantic self-immolation. One of the first remarkable things about Pope Benedict, in my view, is his calm recollection, self-assurance and serenity even during seemingly turbulent times. He stood out for his surpassing intelligence, calm demeanour and strong convictions. Another remarkable thing is his towering stature and presence in the world. For short of a better expression, he was a first-class world intellectual. He could be counted among the first 10 most intelligent human beings that have lived in this world. He was known for his strong stance on issues such as the defence of traditional marriage and opposition to violence and terrorism. He was the professors’ professor. Above all, he was a professor of dogmatic theology. He was the theologians’ theologian. Elmar Bruber, who was his student in theology at the Academy of Freising, recalls that Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger taught theology ex-tempore as if the whole body, branches and principles of theology was in his head. “His rational brilliance, inked with his verbal gifts, generated an unconditional admiration”, writes Bruber. Bruber recalls that whenever it was the turn of Joseph to preach on Sundays the cathedral was packed to the brim, and that even Ratzinger’s fellow professors attended and “listened to his words in a breathless silence”. After publishing his benchmark book: Introduction to Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI had published more than 135 solid theological works including Jesus of Nazareth; The nature and mission of Theology; Salt of the Earth: Christianity and the Catholic Church at the End of the Millennium; Values in a time of Upheaval: Meeting the Challenges of the Future; What it means to Be Christian: Three Sermons, Christianity and Crisis of Cultures; The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State and the Church.

    Undoubtedly Pope Benedict XVI derived his strength in accomplishing the foregoing from prayer. I think this largely accounts for the success of his pontificate. He was rooted in the faith of his parents, in a rural, liberal-Bavarian Christian piety. As Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pope Benedict XVI, in collaboration with his boss, Saint Pope John Paul 11, worked indefatigably hard to ensure that the message of the Gospel might be handed down bereft of errors, untruths and falsifications. In fact, Saint Pope John Paul 11’s numerous encyclicals bear the imprint of Cardinal Ratzinger’s resolve to maintain Christian values and doctrinal purity. Small wonder Saint Pope John Paul 11 gave him the task of producing the Catechism of the Catholic Church which he successfully produced.

    Perhaps Pope Benedict XVI’s most-prized achievement was his unflinching commitments to providing the right answers to the following eschatological questions which threaten the happiness of most right-thinking persons: Who am I? What is the meaning of human existence? What am I doing in this world? Where am I going after this life?. I think Pope Benedict appreciated that his answers to the above queries would not be readily acceptable in a highly secularized world which seeks to remove God from the public space. The world crisis is essentially a crisis of religion not much crises of intellectual conviction. During the pontificate of Saint Pope John Paul 11, the primary challenge was communism and its suppression of human freedom. But at the election of Cardinal Ratzinger in 2005 the primary challenge had shifted and focused on confronting what he dubbed “dictatorship of relativism”. Pope Benedict’s crusade against dictatorship of relativism although rather diffused and amorphous was very effective. Allen writes that the real challenge which Pope Benedict faced was to convince the secularized world that there was a “dictatorship” to be resisted in Europe. As Cardinal Francis Stafford then aptly put it: “The tragedy of Europe is rooted in the eclipse of the Christian identity of individual Europeans and their society as a whole… Unfortunately that is being repeated in the European Union. There is a kind of Christophobia, a fear of Christ, not just a withdrawal from him…Pope Benedict will be able to bring the people of Europe a new, rediscovered sense of the dignity of what it means to be a child-to be chosen by God in Christ to be his child”

    Pope Benedict knew from the onset that his pontificate would be buffeted from side to side by the different forces swelling up the secularized culture. Even the cardinals who elected him had identified secularized culture or post-Christian secular culture as the dangerous ill-winds that would attempt to rock the boat of the successor of St. Peter. He was pained by the crisis of religion. He often repeated that the Church needed a revolution of faith. That probably explains why he chose the name Benedict after St. Benedict XV the great, founder of European monasticism. According to Pope Benedict XV1, St. Benedict XV “lived at a time when Roman Empire was collapsing, and he saw the role of the Church as to preserve the best in human culture throughout the centuries…in his footsteps, I place my ministry in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples”

    In imitating Pope Benedict V1 who preserved the best in human culture, Pope Benedict XV1, according to German journalist, Peter Seewald, decided to run a papacy of love. This is not surprising because Pope Benedict XVI loved humanity and had always nurtured love and sympathy for the poor and needy. Perhaps not many are aware that Pope Benedict XVI freely authorized the use of his organs after his death for those who are in need of them to stay alive. According to Pope Benedict, “to offer, spontaneously, parts of one’s body for someone who needs them is an act of great love”. Although Allen and others do not think that such an offer will be accepted after Pope Benedict’s death, the offer goes to illustrate the Pope’s unwavering social concerns and his love for others. In his first encyclical letter, Deus caritas est (God is Love) he extensively treats the different aspects of love. He ends up explaining why all loves should find their root in the real Love-love of God.

    Another enthralling encyclical letter of Pope Benedict XVI with masterful scholarship is Caritas in Veritate (Charity in truth). This particular encyclical, in my humble view, is a must read especially for those involved in promoting or building human development, democratic culture and ethical standards in banking and financial institutions and others. The encyclical covers themes such as integral human development in our time, ethical considerations of the world economic crisis, notion of rights and duties in development, dignity of the human person and demand for justices and the search for lasting peace in the world. In this encyclical, Pope Benedict writes that world peace cannot be considered a product of mere agreements between governments or product of inter-diplomatic contacts, economic, technological and cultural exchanges. For these efforts to lead to lasting peace, according to Pope Benedict XVI, the voices of the people affected by injustice must be heard and their situation must be taken into consideration if their expectations are to be adequately corrected. In concluding the encyclical, the Pope states that while technology has greatly helped to transform the world, the supremacy of technology has prevented many people from recognizing the higher things which cannot be explained in terms of matters alone. He finally ends by stating that “a humanism which excludes God is an inhuman humanism”

    A good thought for Pope Benedict XVI will not be complete without mentioning his unbelievable ecumenical drive. If Saint Pope John Paul 11 provided different platforms for collaboration between Christians and Muslims, non-believers, Jews, free thinkers, atheists, agnostics and all that, Pope Benedict XVI equally did something greater in his short stint as Pope. He was excited about the growing rapprochement between the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Orthodox Church and other churches. During his pontificate, about 4,000 traditional Anglicans comprising clergymen and laymen returned to the Catholic Church, thanks to Pope Benedict’s papal endorsement.

    As the remains of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is reverently being carried for interment amid tears of sorrow and joy, we pray God to welcome him to eternal home, that heavenly convivium, as Richard John Neuhaus liked to put it, where fellowship, laughter, smile, love and conversation will never end. The legacy of Pope Benedict XVI will continue to be felt within the Church and beyond.