'We Are All One Community': Saint Joseph's Catholic Church Celebrates Its 70th Anniversary

From left: Chinonso Akano, Kathy Bearden, Monsignor John Walsh, Chris Gibbs and Esther Honori are pictured after the 70th birthday service at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Marietta March 18.

LEO TOCHTERMA

MARIETTA (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL) — Organizers for the 70th-anniversary service at Saint Joseph Catholic Church were pleasantly surprised.

They had expected some 400 people to show up, and instead found around 800 people gathered in its pews last Friday.

Founded in 1952, the church has more than 4,000 families, according to Monsignor John Walsh. Congregants filled it to the brim for the anniversary of its founding, which, not coincidentally, is also the birthday of the church's namesake.

Walsh was happy to see such a vibrant crowd.

"People are ready to come back after COVID-19," Walsh said. "When I looked out tonight, especially around 6:30 and saw a big group of people there, I figured we would have a very good product tonight."

The two-hour service was attended by high-ranking church leaders, including Bernard Edward Shlesinger III, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, and those in attendance offered prayers and well-wishes by the clergy for Ukraine.

Since Walsh arrived at the church 14 years ago, he's seen it diversify, with large Mexican and African populations joining the parish. To welcome this diversity, some parts of the Mass are conducted in Spanish depending on the number of worshippers in attendance.

"We have different cultures," Walsh said. "We still have people from different areas, and they all seem to be mingling away and working together, which has been great."

In its 70 years in Marietta, the congregation has undergone plenty of changes, most notably building a bigger church building to accommodate a growing population.

After the anniversary service, members of the church spoke of the sense of community they feel coming through Saint Joseph's doors.

Stephen Bird first attended the church's school back in 1966.

"It's changed a lot, but it's always been a welcoming community," he said.

Bird and his wife, Romi Rivera Bird, a native of Mexico City, appreciated Walsh and the church's involvement with Marietta's Mexican community.


"We came here to start a ministry (in 1999) to serve the Hispanic community that was rolling a lot into Marietta at the time," she said, "so that's something I appreciate about Saint Joseph."

Chinonso Akano, 45, moved to Marietta from Nigeria in 2012 in search of a parish to call home and found it at Saint Joseph's. Akano serves as president of the church's African community and has a seat on the parish council.

"We met people of African descent (here), so we felt like we were at home," Akano said. "They want your input. They want people to be heard because we are all one church, we are all one community."

Now more than a decade into his time with the congregation, Akano, whose four daughters and wife attend service there with him, believes he made the right choice on a place of worship.

"If I had to do it all over again, I'd still come back to St. Joseph," he said.

The Real Truth On Rev. Canon Sylvester Eboh And The Bishop Of The Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo

Combo image via 36NG/Ebube News

BY EMMANUEL LALA

Mrs. Eboh Ifeoma, the wife of the embattled Rev. Was never submissive to the husband ab initio.

Rev. Sylvester Eboh has never for one day hot or beat the wife.

Rev. Eboh tendered his voluntarily retirement/ resignation on the 21/12/2021

The wife ran away with the children to an undisclosed location at 3-3 Onitsha to a house being rented for her by Bishop Owen.

The problem between Rev. Lumen Kristi Eboh and his Bishop was as result of not making the latter (Bishop) and his wife trustees in God in Action Adoration Ministry.

The allegedly impregnating of a lady by Rev. Eboh was a concorted story yet to be proven by the law enforcement agencies in a bid to character assassinate the former.

Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo has threatened to deal with Rev. Eboh in a text message dated on Wednesday 22 Dec. 2021 at exactly 08:34 PM

The press briefing in Awka on the 10th of March, 2022 and the statements from the deputy Chancellor of the Diocese and the director of communications was done by the orders of Bishop Owen Nwokolo to bring Rev. Eboh to public ridicule.

PROLOGUE:

A Latin adage says, “Veritas Omnia Vincit”….. Truth conquers all things.

According to William Faulkner, and I quote “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world, would be this, it would change the earth”.

An English proverb which dated as far back at the 18th Century says “Give a dog a bad name and hang him”, hence if a person’s reputation has been besmirched, then he will suffer difficulty and hardship. Those who usually are in these fields do that for the purpose of preventing one’s advancement. The people on the other hand are apt to think poorly of others on weak evidence which is then reinforced by confirmation bias as people give more weight to evidence that supports a preconception than evidence which contradicts it. Most especially when a higher authority is involved; and has orchestrated a level of cult like followership to smear his subordinate in a pugnacious manner.

BACKGROUNG AND GROWING UP

Rev. Eboh was born into a Catholic family. During his secondary school days as a Junior Seminarian; he had to leave as a result of being the only son of his parents. He was never expelled or had issues or altercations with anyone as was being reported by agents hired to discredit him and his reputation. His mother’s sorrowful disposition to the vow of celibacy for Catholic Priests and seeing how the family lineage will be brought to an end; as the body of Christ is one and given his call to serve as a priest of God; he applied and was enrolled as an Anglican Seminarian. He is an Anglican now and would remain so.

EARLY MINISTRY AND ORDINATION

Rev. Eboh Sylvester Lumen-Christ was ordained on the 13th of June, 2010 by the retired emeritus Bishop of the Niger; Rt. Rev Ken Sandy Okeke. After his ordination, his ministry has been orchestrated by zeal for the Lord’s house and the salvation of souls. Fr. Eboh have labored tirelessly in the vineyard of God that he became the most sought priest whenever Revs are being posted to parishes owing to his good heart, priestly anointing, gift of healing, deliverance and his development strategies. He has built parsonages with money people dash him on daily basis; paid off debts of any new parishes he was posted to; and has through his God in Action Adoration Ministry; elevated the image and prestige of his diocese.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Canon .Eboh have in the past donated 78 plots of land to his Bishop; Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, the said land was given to the former; but he chose to gave it to his Lord Bishop; this was when the going was good. Rev’d.Eboh have equally made it mandatory to be given Rt. Rev. Owen a huge amount of money ranging from N500,000.00 to N1,000,000.00; in every programme he held. This does not exclude the numerous gifts he always gives to his Bishop.

Canon LumenChristi Eboh ,built School at St. Barnabas Oze Nkwelle Ezunaka.

He molded ten thousand blocks (10,000.00) at St. Barnabas Oze Nkwelle Ezunaka within a year for the new church building and hosted episcopal confirmation.

He brought the person that graded the Oze community pathway and also wrote to the government through the then Local Government Chairman, Hon. Uche Okafor (Wiper), who later intervened and included culverts in some pathways.

He built Parsonage (a church house provided for a member of the clergy) at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Odumodu Umunya from the foundation.

He finished the church building and dedicated it.

He hosted the “Women International Conference” at St. Paul’s Parish Umunya.

He gave pipe borne water to the Umunya community in Anambra State.

He stopped the fight and communal crises at Odumodu, Umunya and mediated for peace. Those benefitting from the crisis used it as an avenue to write petitions against him to the Bishop.

He built Christ Anglican Church Umudioka. He was the one that started the Parsonage and completed it within a year. Constructed toilets facilities.He however extended the Church building and remains till his resignation, the highest Church donor in every synod.

He stopped the people trying to grab the land of the Church at Umudioka, in their defeated state; they started writing petition against him to the Bishop.

He cleared the assessment debts from 2017 when he was posted to Christ Anglican Church, Umudioka in 2020; he equally cleared the debt/ loan borrowed by the Church from the Diocesan Bank for fencing of the Church building. All these debts were cleared by him through support from friends and well wishers; even when he was not on the pay role of the Diocese, in receiving monthly allowances, which the church treasurer can attests to with members of parochial church committee (PCC). He inherited no structure from the Church at Umudioka; no altar, no seats, no bishop throne; but through well meaning friends; those things where brought to the Church and structures fixed.

He has given 29 persons scholarships from Secondary School to University level. He has helped numerous people coming to his Adoration Ministry seeking for help; many have received instant healing and breakthrough through his ministry by the power of Almighty God.

He has built toilet facilities at Odumodu Umunya and Umudioka respectively.

During Covid-19, he shared huge amount of money to the less privileged and distributed food items to cushion the effect and hunger orchestrated by the deadly virus.

While he was at St. Paul’s Parish Umunya; he attracted a Borehole to the community through a Non- Governmental Organization to salvage the ever prevailing water scarcity facing the community.

PROBLEM WITH HIS BISHOP

The problem with the Bishop emanated when he told his Bishop that he can’t release the documents of the land owing to the revelation he received from God after prayers; when the former communicated to him via text message to submit the documents, or he will withdraw his license and suspend him as a priest of the Diocese on the Niger; if he fails to do so within seven (7) days.

The incident happened on the 2nd of December, 2021 at exactly 3:04pm. We can earlier deduce how the Bishop requested that Rev. Eboh must include him (Bishop) and his wife as trustees of God in Action Adoration Ministry Wonderland Ogidi. The Bishop further issued a threat to the Priest and I quote “You have drawn the battle line. It is a pity that you chose to bite the finger that fed you”. This led to the fracas between the Bishop and the spiritual director of God in Action Adoration Ministry; note that the refusal to concede to the pressures of the Bishop was divinely inspired in-order that the vision of the ministry won’t crumble; since it is a prayer group for both Anglicans and non-Anglicans alike; hence it is not another Church as reported by the Bishop’s spokesman, that he opened another Church, while as an Anglican Priest whereas God in Action Adoration Ministry is simply a “Prayer Fold”, hence it is the duty of every Priest called by God as his the Spirit of God leads to organize the fold of Christ for special prayers and liberation, most especially gifted ones, that God has placed on special assignment on earth; just as our faces varies, so is our talents and gifts from God.

ALLEGATIONS LEVELED AGAINST HIM AND REFUTATIONS

Rev. Canon Eboh was accused of misappropriation of Church funds. Well, the above assertion sounds like a fairly tale and a report issued just to add to other allegations in-order to malign his image; it was the same auditors of the Diocese that have held him in high esteem over the years for his financial diligence, management and track records in keeping accounts and maintaining financial discipline.

If Rev. Eboh is not stable in financial dealings, how was he able to achieve landmark projects for the Diocese?

Even when he sacrificed his salary for the good of the church and to lessen the financial burden of the Diocese.

Can such a person be termed to be misappropriating church funds?

Even when the said person has over the years cleared financial debts of parishes not due to him and maintained the financial obligations, levies etc due to him and till date is the highest donor in the Diocese with regard to clergies.

At the juncture, the public demands evidence of where and how the priest as alleged lavished and misappropriated church funds.

Rev. Canon Eboh was accused of sexual misconduct/ scandal. The representative of the Diocese went further to assert that the matter was in court whereas the matter was still at the police station; and the lady in question has schizophrenia

( a mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel and behave clearly), your guess is as good as mine; to me; I would rather allow the law to take its full course after investigation, since the law enforcement agencies are still on the matter; and the court to sentence the accused person when found guilty than coming to the media to propagate lies and rumours in-order to tarnish the image of the priest.

There are a lot of stories that aren’t adding up; can the public know why the Diocese hired a law firm to release a petition other than the accuser herself or member of her family? To many, this is a witch-hunt which is clearly motivated to bring the priest to his knees; but truth be told; no one can bring down someone God is helping.

No one, not even the Pope went through what Christ suffered; he was maligned and castigated even from those he regarded as friends; those he fed and those he healed of their ailments; but in all these, he chose to carry his cross on the thorny road to Calvary; We believe, just like Christ, Rev. Eboh is carrying his own cross, because without cross there is no salvation.

Jesus Christ never preached falsehood, he never segregated, he was not power intoxicated nor sought for vain glory; he opted for peace in all his dealings with men; and thus said “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the Sons of God”.

In all things lawful and honest (Canonical Obedience), according to the Canon of the Anglican Church.

MARRIAGE ISSUES

Fr. Eboh loved his wife with his soul and body. His love for his wife, made him to seek the best for her in all things. He made sure that he graduated from the university, as he personally purchased form for her at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He saw the wife all through her first degree and masters and the PHD she is studying currently.

He has invested in her wife so much that it is visible to the blind and very audible to the deaf. For her personal development, he bought machines for the manufacturing of candles which was running smoothly. She has a supermarket which she has never for one day, related accounts to him as the head of the family or proceeds from the business; but notwithstanding, he always take care of her wife needs and that of her kids. Reports have it that people are envious of the love the Priest has for the wife. To ease her transportation stress and that of his kids; the priest bought 2 cars for the wife and till the date she absconded with his kids, has never for a day failed to service them or fuel them.

To my utmost conviction; Rev’d.Eboh loved his wife but was deeply burdened emotionally how his wife was being used to bring him down by agents very close to the Diocese. Canon Eboh have in most prayer sessions; prayed for the wife and he kept seeing evil revelations about his wife; while the spirit of God kept saying he should keep praying for her conversion and always treat her well; and to always turn the left cheek. He has given the wife much love to receive hate and acrimony in return owing to ill advisers and bad friends, who always fabricate lies against him and his ministry. At this juncture, we recall the case of Sampson and how Delilah was used to bring, the most feared man by the Philistines on his knees; what about Portiphar’s wife and how he sent innocent Joseph to jail for refusing to sleep with her and levelled allegation against a poor innocent young man, tarnished his image and brought him to public ridicule; we won’t forget that of Jezebeel who angrily swore to have Elijah killed; what about Gomer who was married to Prophet Hosea, she abandoned him in order to pursue relationships with multiple lovers. Her prodigal lifestyle eventually led to financial ruin and she was forced to sell herself into slavery to satisfy her debts. Despite her betrayal, Hosea rescued her by settling her debts and welcoming her home. A prodigal wife who learned the meaning of true love, her story served as a lived-out-parable, poignantly expressing God’s love for a people who had committed spiritual adultery by worshiping multiple gods.

What about Lot’s wife who lived in Sodom, a city of legendary wickedness. When an angel told Lot and his family: “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back…,” she ignored the warning and was turned into a pillar of salt. Lot’s wife was probably guilty of more than a fateful glance backward. Most likely she abandoned her fleeing family in order to return to the city, thus sharing in its destruction.

What about Herodias, the granddaughter of Herod the Great, she married two of her uncles, Herod Philip I and Herod Antipas. An ambitious and ruthless woman, she hated John the Baptist for thundering against her marriage to Herod Antipas, whom she had married after divorcing his half-brother Philip. John the Baptist was later beheaded.

What about Athaliah who was the daughter of Ahab and probably also of Jezebel, the Bible’s wickedest queen. Married to the King of Judah, she grew paranoid after his death, murdering her grandchildren in order to secure the throne. Thanks to a conspiracy, this ruthless queen was finally overthrown and executed just outside the temple in Jerusalem.

We aren’t forgetting the first mother of creation, Eve, who made the fatal-for-everyone mistake of listening to the serpent’s lie that God wasn’t telling the truth about the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. After taking a bite, she offered it to Adam and the two were ejected from paradise. These history and so many others come to mind while unravelling women as a creature. This is why we must owe it as a duty to always pray for families considering the seed of discords Satan though human elements continues to plant in families and homes. Though we have negative elements; we must also take into considerations virtuous women like Hannah, Esther, Deborah, Rachel, Elizabeth, Ruth, Mary Mother of Jesus etc, and why women who value their homes must always strive to be like them.

Readers and commentators continue to ask why the Church never intervened in Rev. Eboh’s marriage instabilities but went to the media to lay false accusations on him, on matters bothering on domestic violence; which were cheap propaganda to discredit the latter whose only crime was to love his wife and his family excessively; while the agents of the Diocese where using the loopholes to further instigate crisis on the marriage; making his wife not to be submissive to the husband, and always does things to discredit the man he once claimed that he loves and adores so much; and pledged to be with him “To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part”. Hence, the only criteria for dissolution of marriage according to the Bible are Infidelity, threat to life and Death. Fr. Eboh has always been occupied with both Church activities and ministry activities; that one begin to wonder where all the lies reported by the Spokesman of the Bishop emanated from, that his wife left him because of his sexual misconduct and infidelity, whereas during the course of investigations; the Priest has been battling with moles and paid side-trackers from his traducers and enemies of the good works he is doing in the lord’s vineyard; to use the prospects of marriage to manipulate him and drag his name in the mud.

It is on record that Fr. Eboh have always ignored his wife’s nonchalant attitude and bossy nature; investigations equally revealed how the wife of the Rev. has always had quarrels with the workers in the adoration ministry; she has chased the first, second, and third secretary of the Rev. away from working for the Priest out of malicious rumours; that the priest is having illicit sexual affairs with them; trouble emanated when the Priest told her enough in causing havoc in the ministry and allow the voluntary workers do the work of God. She started asserting that the husband is dating his current secretary. Even when the news of how she has been chasing away and instilling fear on church workers have remain object of topic and caricature; well, in life, one should never pray to have a wife that he cannot control; we equally observed the trending saga between the ex first lady of Anambra and how she called a fellow lady ashawo in public during the swearing in of Governor Charles Soludo; if not the camera; no one will believe that the wife of the former Governor can be so erratic and toxic; hence, what about the wife of the Rev., who leave the church at her whims and caprices, without the husband’s notice, makes calls inside cars and stays in the church field for hours, lest the husband hears the discussion,most times sleep outside his matrimonial home without the consent of the husband, and she will start shouting on top of her voices when the Priest tries to caution her on her ways which is not good for the image of the family.

A report has it that the wife secretly has a shop at main market where she sells babies clothes without the consent of the husband. In the year 2014, she bought a land at 3-3 Onitsha, with the name of her sister; when the incident was leaked to the knowledge of her husband, she hurriedly said, she took a loan from their meeting at Nnobi to purchase the land. One could decipher the character of the woman married to Rev. Eboh, I believe everyone has instinct and intellect to decipher situations of this magnitude. Despite all these, the priest was undeterred in loving his wife and kids and remains till date, the greatest supporter of his wife; even in all this travails, the priest sends them money on weekly basis for their feeding and upkeep. The wife has equally attacked and blocked people trying to advise her on social media on the dangerous path she is threading to destroy her family, and being used by the Diocese to bring his husband down, and close his ministry.

REPORTS FROM WORKERS AT GOD IN ACTION ADORATION MINISTRY

Mr. Chukwuemeka Omejieke, a member and a worker at the adoration ministry for more than four years said that he knew Fr. Eboh while he was still at Ozeh in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Anambra State and later became his worker owing to what God has been using him to do in the life of the people. “I have never seen any misbehaviour, immorality, fault and mismanagement is his Ministry”. “He is the type that trust people and take them like his own self”. “He is a man, I can comfortably stand with at any point in time”, he concluded.

He further narrated how the Rev. got a call from his Bishop last year, during a counselling session at the Adoration Ministry, to hand over this property, “God in Action Adoration Ministry” Wonderland, Ogidi. According to him, they discussed it for over three hours and the Rev. told his Bishop that he will pray over it and seek God’s direction on the matter; that he will revert back in a short period after his prayers. The Rev. after prayers told the Bishop that the revelations he received from God was not in line with his (Bishop) decision to submit the said property. He further said that the Bishop gave him 7 days to submit the documents of his Adoration Ministry Ground/ land to him or have him to contend with. The Bishop further threatened him on voice call that the battle line has been drawn. He further narrated the sufferings of the Priest and his zealous efforts towards the development of the Church and any where he was posted.

“To the best of my knowledge, the Rev. has never received any allowances from the Diocese and he has not withdrew any voluntarily support due to the Church in any way; he is very loyal to his Bishop but the new development, to me is traceable to those who wants to bring Rev. Eboh down owing to his spiritual gifts and what God uses him to do in the society with regard to liberating people from bondage irrespective of your Christian background”, he concluded.

Another worker in the Church, who happens to be the sales representative of the wife, narrated her experience with the wife of the Rev.

According to her; she stays in the canteen at the Church and handles the sales of Candle, Liberation Candle, olive oil etc and has never for a day, made account to her husband. She also said that the wife always zooms off whenever a particular number calls her; she will leave to a distant location in the church to answer the call and would stay 3-4 hours on the phone call; whenever she is done with the call, she will tell her to go and prepare food for her husband and wash the dishes and other chores in the house. “The wife of the Rev. find it difficult staying at the house and the shop; she only comes to collect money of items sold; and also lags behind in taking care of the kids”, she concluded. “As someone who is always at the Church; I have never seen where the Rev. has beaten or harassed his wife”, she asserted.

“It was on the 28th of December, 2022, that Rev. Eboh was chased out of the Parish at Umudioka like a common criminal; the Bishop called Police, the Diocesan security and some thugs to threw his things out of the parish and further malign his character”, she concluded.

Peace Nwuda another worker in the church narrated the ugly incident that took place at Christ Anglican Church Umudioka on the 28th day of December, 2022; she said “When arrangement of vehicle was being made for the Rev. and his family to move out from the parish, the wife told her that two bus will be okay to convey their luggages, but she was surprised when the vehicle arrived; the wife started parking her belongings and that of the kids on a separate bus”, she equally noted with dismay how the wife of the Rev. joined the attackers of the husband to be saying evil things against the husband, even when she is still trying to get where the Rev. has gone wrong. Is it from purchasing her form and saw her through Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; equally saw her through her PGD and Masters; and also the PHD she enrolled currently, yet she was busy fighting her husband and calling him names. She went further to say how the Rev.’s wife shunned everybody who advised her on the part she was threading to destroy her home; to avoid it; that those people who are backing her will eventually lead her astray.

Nnaji Ebere, a worker and friend to the wife of the Rev. When contacted; said that the wife of the Rev., does not like who tells her the truth. She has always been on the habit of accusing her husband falsely on sexual immorality yet without any iota of proof but mare speculations owing to bad eggs around her who can’t stop in their bid to destroy her home and everything her husband has laboured for; she narrated how her best friend made her an enemy for telling her to protect her home at all cost and never giver outsiders chance to come and break her family due to negative and false rumours.

SUSPENSION AND DISMISSAL BY THE DIOCESE

Rev. LumenKristi Eboh turned in his voluntarily retirement otherwise resignation as a priest of the diocese on the Niger on the 21st of December, 2021. To set the records straight, he was never suspended before he tendered his resignation, but the Bishop directed that he be issued a letter of suspension, which was backdated to 20th December, 2021 to make it look like he resigned because of the suspension; the said letter was brought to him by one Venerable Ofoegbu Josiah in the presence of the Parish committee, security men and police officers on 24th December, 2021. I wonder if any person in his or her right senses would write resignation letter after being issued a sack letter from his or her employer. Hence, need to scrutinize the whole scenario and come to a logical conclusion devoid of fallacy.

It was the same Diocese that wrote to Rev. Eboh as the Vicar of Christ Township Anglican Church, Umudioka on the 23rd of December, 2021 under the instruction of Bishop Owen Nwokolo, as the letter was signed by the Chancellor of the Diocese, directing him to hand over to Bishop Owen Nwokolo, documents of the land acquired by his prayer ministry on the basis that there was a petition against him with regard.

QUALITIES EVIDENT IN THE LIFE OF REV. EBOH

Anyone who knows Rev. Eboh would attest to his simplicity, humility and respect for people. He has always greeted anyone that calls him on phone call with, Good day sir, Good day ma, Good evening sir, Good evening ma, irrespective of social status, age and doctrine of the caller. He always returns his calls and pick his calls when called on phone, even amidst large crowds or numbers always in queue to see him during consultations; he usually stop to pray for the people who are far and couldn’t make it to the prayer ground. He is a priest, one can boldly say; that he is accessible and doesn’t discriminate irrespective of the position of the caller in the society.

Rev. Eboh has a strong personal relationship with God evidenced by prayer. He loves God and the Church. This is evident in his numerous development strides and achievements within a short period. He has great interest in serving people. He has ability to work with others. He has great respect for other people even evident on how he relates with his subordinates. He is open to different races, ethnic groups, cultures, religious doctrines and has good social skills; above all, he has the capacity and desire to learn and to serve God through the salvation of souls and liberation of mankind. Rev. Eboh is a humanitarian who have contributed so much for the human race through his vast intervention in sustainable communities, he has mediated for peace on several communal crisis. He has chosen to go hungry that his brothers and sisters might eat. His acts during the dreaded Covid-19 will remain indelible in the hearts of the populace as he shared money and food items amounting in millions of naira to salvage the hunger in the land as brought about by COVID-19 lockdown. Fr. Eboh through his priestly ministry and through the power of God have liberated so many families from the shackles of the enemy and evil spirits, so many testimonies have been attributed to his bended knees to God to intervene in the llives of Christians who always flood the adoration ground in millions.

Rev. Eboh have equally supported the Church in a greater way and have through his numerous interventions brought so much repute to the Diocese of the Niger. This is a man, one would pray to have encounter with; and not join the media brouhaha that is orchestrated by envy, jealousy and rancour. Just like G.J Gurdjieff would say “ I ask you to believe nothing, that you cannot verify for yourself”. Hence the need to scrutinize every information we read online and discern the voice speaking, and to take into cognizance why rumours spread faster than truth.

DOXOLOGY

In the words of Radhanath Swami “Religion is meant to teach us true spiritual human character. It is meant for self-transformation. It is meant to transform anxiety into peace, arrogance into humility, envy into compassion, to awaken the pure soul in man and his love for the Source, which is God’’. The centre of religion is “Love”. Any religion that doesn’t preach love stands to be questioned. Even Christ said that we should love Him, love our neighbour as our self; but what we witness in today’s Christianity is directly the opposite; that people have left the injunctions of God and continue to emphasize on doctrines, which have rather caused disunity amongst us as a body of Christ.

I call on well meaning Nigerians, Christians and ndi Igbo in general to look keenly on this matter and never resort to the terms “Giving a dog a bad name; in order to hang it”

The Priest has tendered his resignation, the Diocese of the Niger should accept it in good faith and stop further altercation and image laundering of the former, which to many; is a clear sign of witch hunt. They should however stop troubling the priest, in whatever way and give peace a chance.

To be continued!

Comprehensive report from the Editor in Chief of Ebube News

Email: ebubenews247@gmail.com
The Real

Young Africans, Leave Jesus Alone

BY CHRIS ANIEDOBE

Traditional African religions. Image via Wiki Commons

Young people, I was there. If you were, you would be thanking God for Christianity and Islam. Before they came, every African carried his penis like a deity. We worshipped sacred trees, dense forests, rivers, mountains, and even animals like crocodiles. Every object or natural phenomenon that seemed mysterious was worshipped rather than interrogated. Every household had a deity, not to mention the ones planted in front of their entrances.

So when I was young, I saw Africans drowning in deities. It was a dense landscape of gods. We slept with them in our rooms and carried them as ancestral dieties on our personal trays, and even wore them on our bodies. We were suffocating ourselves with gods.

With Christianity and Islam came light and freedom from a thousand deities. The difference is that instead of a thousand deities, we now have a thousand churches of the same God.

You could argue that the African is deeply spiritual. That's part of the story. But could it be that he lacks the desire for innovation and reinventing himself? That's also part of the story of why he has stagnated.

All Jesus ever taught was love one another. Those who find fault with this teaching and blame Christianity for the woes of African society are really just being anti Christ while trying to sound philosophical.

Let's blame whatever it is that made some Africans worship animals, trees and nature. In Nigeria, cows have more rights than humans and Africans are slaughtering fellow Africans because of cows rather than innovate and ranch their cattles. Or should one say, that their cows are treated like deities.

These issues are deeply organic and I would be the first to admit that Jesus would prefer productive Africans to lazy Africans who invest far too much energy on religious matters rather than innovation. Let's leave Jesus out of African man's laziness and go to work.

The first job we might need to do is kill looters and corrupt public officers found guilty of embezzlement. Believe me, Jesus wouldn't have problem with that if we do so fervently, fairly and honestly. Jesus desires an honest African society and is not standing in the way of eliminating or jailing public officers found guilty of corruption. In fact, he assures us that they would go to hell. Africans should send these people to hell and take back their lives and their resources. That's the China way.

Jesus is not standing in the way, corruption and laziness are the twin bane of African societies. Send looters to Jesus and he will surely send them to hell. Let's start from there.

And for those guilty of electoral malfeasance, the only electoral reform we ever needed is send them to jail.

Osu Caste System Buried In Igbo land: Archbishop Obinna

BY VICTOR NWACHUKWU

Archbishop Anthony Obinna

Outgoing Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Owerri, His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, said that the Church has completely abolished the Osu caste system in Igbo land.

Obinna said this while addressing newsmen in Owerri as part of activities marking St Patrick’s Day celebration.

The Apostolic Administrator who mentioned the abolition as part of his achievements while he served as Archbishop, said that the Diala/amadi – osu – ume – ohu caste systems are no longer in existence.

According to him, the practice had negatively affected marriages and Chieftaincy titles as well as various offices in church, public and community life, hence the need to abolish it.

“On Thursday, March 10, 2022, the Catholic Bishops of lgbo land in Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces, jointly issued a pastoral directive to end the idolatrous, inhuman and painful discrimination among Ndiigbo (Igbo people),” he said.

He, however, said that he would continue as the Archbishop Emeritus and Apostolic Administrator of the vacant seat of Owerri Archdiocese until Archbishop Lucius Ugorji takes over the Archdiocese of Owerri on June 23, 2022.

“We pray for Archbishop Ugorji, who was elected the new President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), on Wednesday, 9 March, 2022, and wish him all the best as he takes up his multiple responsibilities,” he said.

Speaking on the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Obinna called for prayers for an end to the war.

“The war in Ukraine, a pandemic worse than COVID-19, is in the air and affecting even lgbos and other citizens of the world.

“People are intensifying prayers to God between bombs and death.

“Let us all join in praying for Nigerians, Ukrainians and Russians for an end to this annihilation and brutality,” he said.

All Welcome At monthly Mass Celebrated In Igbo language

Men and women from the Igbo Catholic Apostolic gather once a month for Mass, fellowship and Nigerian food and music. Image via the Catholic Star Herald

BY E. JULIET NJOKU

CAMDEN, NJ (CATHOLIC STAR HERALD) -- Igbos from the Eastern region of Nigeria, one of the three dominant tribes in the multilingual and multicultural country, gather at noon every third Sunday of the month at Saint Francis de Sales in Barrington to celebrate Mass in the rich Igbo language accompanied by spirit-filled liturgical Igbo songs and music.

The Igbo Catholic Apostolic (ICA), which was inaugurated on Nov. 19, 2017, under its first chaplain, Father Mike Ezeatu, is grateful to its host parish, Saint Rose of Lima in Haddon Heights, and then-pastor Father E. Joseph Byerley for giving the ICA a place to call home for monthly worship. A true expression of the parish mission of St. Rose of Lima, to love God and others.

ICA is proud of its mission to evangelize and foster a faith community that embraces the heart of Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit, to strengthen family units, with a focus on guiding young children and youth to be firmly rooted in the Catholic faith expressed in the Igbo language and culture of their parents and for their liturgical and ritual formation. ICA is guided by the vision to model a vibrant, loving and supportive family faith community that is warm and welcoming to all in the usual Igbo culture.

This sense of community is truly felt in the efforts of the men and women’s group who rally support for members in times of joy or sorrow. The ICA encourages youth to be involved in the liturgy and engaged in giving back to the wider community through service.

The youth are also organized to participate in diocesan and national programs, with some attending the 2019 National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. The ICA dedicates a special Sunday each year to celebrate the various educational milestones of the youth. This day is filled with joyful youth activities and gift awards.

During the global shutdown, the youth coordinator organized and engaged young people in various faith-focused Zoom events and prayers, ending the year with an online Nativity story and caroling event during the 2021 Advent season, which featured many of the youth as announcers, narrators and singers.

As Igbos, we enjoy coming together and celebrating our rich culture and Mass traditions here, and every opportunity of gathering with family, friends or neighbors is typically a celebration. It is therefore not surprising that a feast with Nigerian delicacies is shared after every Mass. The eating and dancing serves more than nourishing our bodies, it strengthens our brotherhood/sisterhood and builds the bonds of friendship between the old and young alike.

The ICA is very grateful to Father David A. Grover, pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, who in true spirit of encountering Jesus and evangelism, responded to the invitation of Father Francis Oranefo, current ICA chaplain, and makes an effort to join ICA for the monthly Mass and feast. His presence fosters a great spirit of acceptance of the ICA community and a warm and indescribable joy among its members, who feel truly blessed by his spiritual support.

A Sunday evening Adoration organized by Father Oranefo once a month enhances the ICA’s spiritual formation. Members pray the Rosary together as a community, presenting their personal and family petitions, and intercessions, and receiving blessings and benediction.

In the spirit of a true missionary community called to reach out to others with the richness of Christ’s love and fellowship, ICA’s vibrant choir participates in the annual diocesan Black History Month Mass and other invitations to sing in cultural choir events in the Diocese.

The ICA community was glad and blessed by the presence of Father Vincent Guest, coordinator of the diocesan Black Catholic Ministry Commission, who joined the community to celebrate last year’s annual Mass of Family Thanksgiving, which featured a procession of families bearing different kinds of gift offerings to give thanks to God.

The ICA community invites and welcomes all in the Diocese of Camden to join us in worship, to experience the liturgy expressed beautifully in the Igbo language with soulful, spirit-filled songs!

Dr. E. Juliet Njoku, youth coordinator, ICA, Barrington, is a member of the Black Catholic Ministry Commission, Diocese of Camden.

Nigeria: Catholic Bishops Wearing Black To Protest Killings By The Islamic Jihadists

BY REV. FATHER AHAM NNOROM


The cowardly inaction of the Catholic bishops of Nigeria-indeed of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide and of the 1 billion Protestants to the massacres and Islamization of their Nigerian co-religionists-is a tragedy. For decades now, even before the current nigerian administration, thousands of priests, Pastors, Seminarians, Revered Sisters, and members of the laity have be been slaughtered, beheaded, raped,  kidnapped, and driven from their homes, by Islamic groups like boko haram, isis in west Africa, and the Fulani "herdsmen" terrorists. Islamic terrorists have also destroyed thousands of churches, homes, schools, hospitals, and villages in Nigeria. And what have the bishops done?: Ask members to wear black on Ash Wednesday! What a joke!

This weird reaction is symptomatic of their usual behavior. For example, in the early 2000's, the muslims imposed sharia thus undermining the supposedly "secular" nature of the Nigerian State. And what did the Church do? Bark and no bite. It is most probable that if the Church leaders had reacted more forcefully by warning the Muslim leaders: "if you impose sharia, we will not be part of an Islamic state," the latter could have relented; and Boko Haram and its evil terrorist cousins may not have emerged. But what has been the Church's response? It's one cowardly concession after another-even to the point of accompanying top northern Islamic leaders to Europe and the US in campaigns to promote Islam as a "peaceful religion." Surely, peace is now blooming in Nigeria!

But did Pope John Paul II ask Polish Catholics to wear black in his campaign to defeat Soviet communism? Did the Polish Church not ally herself with the Labor Unions in a joint effort that toppled communism, a totalitarian ideology similar to radical Islam? And why is the papal nuncio (Pope's ambassador) in Abuja silent? Why is the Pope quiet? Why has the Catholic Church failed woefully to use her powerful multinational connections and immense diplomatic clout to save Nigerian Christians? Why are the bishops afraid to alert the church in America and Europe of the Islamic threat in Nigeria? Or are they resigned to suffer the fate of the ancient Churches of North Africa and the Middle East? Why are Nigerian and American Evangelicals the only ones who care about the massacres of Nigerian Christians? Perhaps the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury don't care, because Black African Christian lives do not matter as much as those of Christians of the Middle East, where the Church has been more outspoken and protective of her members?

It is well known that Saudi Arabia and Sunni Muslims worldwide protect the interests of fellow members in Nigeria; and Iran does the same for the Shiites. Why have the Vatican and the World Council of Churches abandoned Nigerian Christians to minimization and fulanization?

Or are they waiting for a Cardinal, an Archbishop or a bishop to be beheaded by boko haram before they act more forcefully?

Surely, Rome and Canterbury would have intervened if the Christians were engaged in mass revenge killings of Muslims-as they did in the Central African Republic.

INTERVIEW: Nkechi Anayo-Iloputaife: Grace, Anointing Are Not Gender Specific

Harford Anayo Iloputaife. Image: Omah Diegu/Iloputaife Blog

BY MARY NNAH

Twenty-five years after the sudden demise of the founder of Faith Revival Ministries World Outreach aka Victory Christian Church, Bishop Harford Anayo Iloputaife, his widow, Dr. Nkechi, in this interview with MARY NNAH, shared the challenges she faced after his demise, her pet projects, as well as a forthcoming programme tagged “Celebration of the Legend” put in place to celebrate the life and times of her late husband, and other sundry issues. Excerpts;

Let’s talk about the forthcoming programme tagged, “Celebration of the Legend”

Bishop Harford AnayoIloputaife was the ‘real deal’. He loved God unreservedly and served people selflessly. He was passionate about his call. ‘Church is about people, and I will give my life for it’ reveals his philosophy and principles. He combined ministry and family life well, there was no dichotomy. Though ministry was busy, he found creative ways for his family members. He believed ones’ dedication to God should not be at the expense of his family life. Devotion to God should be seen in our commitment to family life so; he was a great preacher and a great husband.

The legend will live in the heart of everyone that truly knew him forever. He was such a phenomenon, a very interesting person to meet. He exemplified Christlikeness in his brief passage, and left a legacy of faith with us. We are celebrating charisma, character, integrity, class etc. His departure was sudden, we were not prepared for it and the crisis introduced more issues that are anything but benign from betrayals and abandonment to conspiracy and intimidation by the powers that be to say the least.

In the natural, the ministry didn’t have a chance of survival, but 25 years after, we are still here to the glory of God. In celebrating the legend, the vessel God used to establish this commission who created the spiritual content that has kept this ministry focused on God and His Word, we celebrate God’s goodness and, greatness and faithfulness. Only God could have done this.

What does this event really mean to you as a widow, host and the ministry?

I am very grateful to God for the opportunity to celebrate 25 years of widowhood, He fought my battles. I was shattered, wounded and abandoned. My future and that of Victory Christian Church was bleak. Some people took advantage of that to create mayhem. Though, I was named the Vice President of the ministry from the beginning, when it didn’t look anything but a child’s play. While he was alive, my office and person enjoyed the respect and the honour of my status. But it was different without him. I had to deal with gender discrimination, plight of widowhood and the loneliness of leadership. Severally in the first five years, I tried to quit, but God won’t let me, and Bishop Mike Okonkwo was of great encouragement.

In 1995, we had the flagship church in Victory Village, Onitsha in Anambra State; Isolo in Lagos; Owerri in Imo State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State on rented properties. Today, we have 18 churches in their very choice properties except one. This number may not impress everyone but I am very grateful to God for His grace and mercy. I had to deal with enemies inside and outside, diabolical machinations and stiff satanic oppositions not to mention the harassment and intimidation from the powers that be. I am not where I want to be, but I am very thankful of God’s help these past 25 years. We have entered our Jubilee period having waited out the troubled times which God has turned to His treasures. I am celebrating jubilee.

The sudden vacuum created by your late husband’s transition to glory marked your leadership for 25 years, how challenging has this been?
Quite frankly, it has not been a stroll in the park, but God has been present the whole time. He promised to help me and He did. Generally, leadership across every spectrum is challenging, but the circumstance of gender discrimination is the fundamental problem in my case. God has continued to defend my authority with bold statements of supports in many ways. He is truly the Husband of the widow, and I will continue to depend on Him for every step of the way ahead.

This celebration also marks 25 years of my leadership. Haters will criticise me for my mistakes, but before you do, remember I was the chief mourner and did not have a prior preparation for the sudden vacuum. Trust me, God who put me on that seat anticipated the mess and used it anyway. Don’t you think God would have used a man if He wanted, but He chose a woman? With God it is not about gender but grace. My husband raised me to believe that what a man can do spiritually, a woman can as well because grace and anointing are not gender specific. I celebrate God’s help these 25 years so come celebrate with me. I am sure my husband will join well-wishers to celebrate God’s grace upon my life as we kick start the event on February 1.

What role would the bishop play in Nigeria and the body of Christ if he were to be around?

He was legendary! He actually lived many years ahead of himself. He said things would not get better in Nigeria and around the world because God is shaking and challenging every system that perpetuates its glory above the Glory of God. He was a Prophetic voice. He emphasised that the only way out for the church is faith in the unadulterated Word of God. He upheld the whole counsel of God, but he was post redemption.

His character of integrity and excellence would have qualified him as one of the few voices of God in the Christian Community and in the nation. This is the main reason for the satanic and political conspiracy to take him out. But it wouldn’t have happened if God did not permit it. He lived for God and spoke out for Him in his brief but impactful passage. God measures life by significance not duration. It will be a wasted life to God for one to live a long time for the devil and to perpetuate his personal glory.

Let’s talk about the church and the state of the nation, where are we?
The church seems to have lost its bearing because of the impact of corrupt and inept leadership. A major component of leadership is influence which the church has lost and therefore has become marginalised. The leaders are occupied with competitive jealousy, self-gratification and aggrandisement, and have had to compromise true Christianity. Syncretism has actively become part of the church today. Our reputation is at an alarming low. We have lost our voice.

The decade of 2020, is the period of God’s Glory. It will be marked by divine visitation. The church will come into alignment with God’s agenda in preparation for the Rapture. God is always on top of His game.

The political landscape of the nation as well as the economy needs the help of God. The problem of the nation is largely traceable to the failure of the church to live up to its mandate and provide spiritual leadership as the ‘Salt and Light’. But God has plan for Nigeria!

Very importantly, generational shift… where are the children born and raised in the church for governance and leadership, especially when the church has abandoned her tasks towards godly families.

The erosion of godly values in human families have compromised proper child upbringing which has impacted negatively on the human society. Generational shift has always been part of God’s eternal order. Psalms 145:4. Children are God’s link to successive human generations.

God is eternal and humans are transient and as such, every plan of God for mankind must have a provision for carrying it to successive generations, and children are the link. The mood of the 21st Century is not God-friendly, and the impact of Information Technology and social media has exacerbated the erosion of godly values.

The family is the bedrock of every institution, the first human institution given to mankind by God. It is the first platform for inculcating values and ethics, and the first unit of socialisation. God gave the church the mandate and authority to uphold family values, so it is the first responsibility of the church to intentionally crusade family values. The pastor’s family should mirror commitment to family life. Church life should be organised around family life.

The church must be strategic and intentional with their programme content. We can employ contemporary methods to drive church growth and widen our scope of evangelisation to reach the young ‘unchurched’ demographic of the society without compromising the spiritual content. The church needs the wisdom of God to balance the sacred and secular deliberately or we run amuck, and loose our future leaders who are to uphold godly legacies.

What should people expect from the event?

The event is designed to celebrate God’s greatness and faithfulness, and the memory of His servant every Sunday in February which was his month of birth, death and burial. We have invited some of the leaders that were present in his life, and his friends and colleagues in the College of Bishops created by Archbishop Benson Idahosa, our father of very blessed memory of which such personalities as Bishop David Oyedepo are a part of. My brother and our friend Rev Dr Emiko Amotsuka will be there as usual. Archbishop Joseph Ojo will be speaking. To close the celebration on the last Sunday of the month, which is February 23, Bishop Mike Okonkwo. The Sunday services will hold at 9am at Victory Village opposite Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

Also, to commemorate his memory, every Wednesday throughout the month, we will have an interactive session on dating, courtship and marriage at 5pm same venue. He was dedicated to this subject in his time here. He addressed other subjects such as politics and maximised manhood. We expect to receive these eminent personalities, and the grace of God upon their lives will bless the august gathering of God’s people. The memory of the Just is blessed. Proverbs 10:7.

The general public are all invited to come celebrate with us as you cried with us 25 years ago. February 18, 1995 was the day the man of God was laid to rest. The motorcade that escorted him from Ikeja to his final resting place invited the stillness and serenity of Heaven. There was a Holy hush throughout the nation. As soon as the casket was lowered, he was saluted by a brief shower. On that day, Nigeria stood still, even the government of the day was not at peace. Contractors across all religions whose services were contracted for Victory Village including the road safety authority of our area mourned with tears. The church community mourned. Come celebrate God’s Goodness with us. God kept us!

I especially invite everyone of Victory heritage to come celebrate their Papa. You can only have one spiritual father but many instructors. 1st Corinthians 4:15. See you there!

Have you forgiven those who murdered your husband?
Sure I have! Forgiveness is freedom

How would you describe yourself?

I revere God, and love Him with all my heart, mind and strength. I cannot compromise this for anything.

What led you to set up your empowerment scheme where widows are trained with vocational skills and scholarship awards given to children?
Widows and their families are neglected. But God is concerned about this demographic of the society. James 1:27. The word of God says empowering widows and their children is true measure of obedience to God and prove of practical Christianity. The government and the church must look into the plight of widows and their families; they are part of our society. I am trusting God for provisions to enable me do more. It’s a good thing to do!

What is your advice to Christian women, some of whom are leaders in various churches?
To fear God, make His word final authority, and spend time with Him through His word and prayer. Be sure to avoid shortcuts. Don’t fake it, be the real deal. Secondly, believe in yourself, be sure in your own skin and don’t compete with anyone. By all means be and do you. Finally, don’t apologise for being a leading woman, with God it is not about gender but grace.

Would you advise that Christians go into politics?

Yes, if God called them for governance. It is not enough to pray for change, but participating and persevering in the process is part of the Christian Cultural Mandate. Matthew 5:13-14. Jesus gave His church a leadership mandate. The church needs a new transformation theology to equip Christians participate in the process of change in the society they are all called to serve.

What is the way forward for the church, the government and believers?

God ordained all authorities to promote unity and peace in the human society. Romans 13:1-7. The spiritual and civil authorities are ordained to work together for the good of all. A good Christian should be a good citizen; it is part of the believer’s cultural mandate to lead an honest and godly life as the image bearers of Jesus Christ. The signs of the end are upon us, God is shaking every human system to set the stage for His glory in these last days before the rapture. Habakkuk 2:12-16. The pressure all human systems face today is an indication that humans are not in control, but God is. All flesh must seek the Glory of the God of Heaven.

SOURCE: THIS DAY LIVE

Catholic Church Annuls 30 Marriages Over Fake Birth Certificates, Deceits

Catholic Diocese of Orlu Pastoral Center, Imo State. Image: Image: Orlu Diocese

BY DAMIAN DURUIHEOMA

30 marriages allegedly contracted with fake certificates have been annulled in Imo.

The Catholic Diocese of Orlu in Imo State, which raised the alarm, lamented the rampant cases of people going into marriages with fake birth certificates.

The church said the certificates were responsible for the annulment.

Addressing the faithful during a Holy Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Owerri-Ebiri in Orlu council area of the state, the Judicial Vicar of Orlu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Donsteve Nnagha, lamented most of the annulled marriages were on the grounds of deceits by spouses.

Fr. Nnagha, according to a Catholic newspaper, The Leader, added that deceits by spouse, which the other partner deems non-acceptable soon after wedding, had been a major cause of broken marriages in recent times.

The cleric listed other reasons behind annulment of marriages in recent times to include forgery in the birth certificate and other sensitive documents.

According to the priest, the acts, which had caused serious troubles in the family, were identified mostly with women.

“In this situation, the man has the legitimate right to file for annulment and this would a long way in bringing peace to both parties”, the Vicar is quoted as saying.

He added that birth certificate is equal to West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate, which cannot be altered, irrespective of the situation.

Nnagha also spoke on the importance of baptism, which he said Christ himself participated in, adding that is every baptism made in the Catholic Church, was always recorded and documented for future references.

He warned those involved in the acts of rewriting their age with a view of retaining their public offices to desist and retire from the civil service when they are due, so the younger could get jobs.

The priest described such acts as bad omen and injustice in the law of the church and society.

SOURCE: THE NATION

Papal Nuncio Visits Borrisoleigh To Celebrate A Famous Son In 2019

Derry Bourke honoured Archbishop Jude Okolo with gifts on June 2 during a parish celebration

TIPPERARY LIVE REPORTER

Borrisoleigh in north Tipperary celebrated the memory of one of their famous sons, Bishop Joseph Shanahan, on Sunday, June 2 this year.

The Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Jude Thadeus Okolo, from southern Nigeria, was the chief celebrant, proud to acknowledge the man of whom they say, ‘He was our Saint Patrick.’

He was the apostle of southern Nigeria, from the day he stepped ashore from the River Niger in Onitsha in 1902.

With other Spiritan priests he brought the news of the saving love of Jesus which the people accepted eagerly; he also brought them education which he believed in passionately, as their gateway into the modern world.

As time went on he felt strongly that women missionaries were needed to reach out to the women, and this led him to found the Holy Rosary Sisters to do just that.

In Borrisoleigh, Fr Hennessy, the parish priest, the nieces and nephews of Joseph Shanahan to the third and fourth generation, with all the people of the parish, gave a big welcome to those who came to celebrate with them; after a beautiful Mass, at which the story of his life was told and everyone did their part with practiced skill, including the choir, there was tea and sandwiches for all, and music, song and Irish dancing performed by young and old.

After this they visited the Bishop Shanahan monument in Glenkeen and heard more of the story and more songs.

Borrisoleigh poet and local historian Derry Bourke presented a gift of two commemorative CDs to Archbishop Okolo, and Sister Angele Nkamsi.

Sister Nkamsi wrote to Derry. “I was overtaken by the words of the song and Paudric’s rendtion of Borrisoleigh My Native Home on June 2. The words are powerful.”

Archbishop Okolo wrote: “On that beautiful day, everyone was happy and the weather was very cooperative. Bishop Shanahan must have smiled from heaven. Please share our best wishes with the good people of Borrisoleigh.”

Borrisoleigh My Native Home

It's the place I was born and raised in,
Borrisoleigh is my native home,
You may travel far, far over,
To find a place like Borrisoleigh
Those winding roads that keep you going,
Slope down to Glenkeen, Where history is around you, In our ancient monastery,

Chorus
Those lovely hills and sleepy valleys,
Are the byways to my home,
You may far, far over, to find a place like Borrisoleigh,
Where the people are so fair and happy,
And their music so nice and sweet,
Where our hurling is like religion,
In my home from Borrisoleigh,

We can't forget that lovely chapel,
Sitting on fair Illeigh,
Where the views are full of beauty,
And bring you home to Borrisoleigh.

Experts Say Pope’s Metaphor Of A ‘Field Hospital’ Has Special Punch For Africa

BY CHRISTOPHER WHITE

ENUGU, NIGERIA (CRUX) - According to a range of scholars at a Pan-African Congress on Theology, Pastoral Life, and Society, the pope’s metaphor for the Church as a “field hospital” provides particular resonance for the African continent - and, they say, must guide pastoral practice in the realms of education, liturgy, and the laity.

The pope used the phrase in his first major interview after his election in 2013 where he emphasized the need for the Church to respond to immediate and pressing needs of the people before less life-threatening concerns.

“It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars,” he said at the time. “You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.”

During the December 5-8 congress at the Bigard Memorial Seminary in southeastern Nigeria, a number of the delegates relied on the pope’s metaphor to cast a vision of a church in Africa that encourages a reshaping of their ministries and programs more closely modeled after the pontiff’s method of dealing with a wounded flock.

Father Osita Asogwa, a lecturer in philosophy at Bigard Memorial Seminary, told attendees that the pope’s vision of a field hospital must focus on “pastoral care in concrete situations.”

Asogwa’s remarks focused particularly on the realm of education, and he encouraged a complete rethinking of the way it is approached in the African context.


Motivated by the pope’s call for greater missionary activity, Asogwa said the “good news must speak directly to the person,” with a particular focus on “renewal and revival.” He went on to add that education should focus on the “reality on the ground,” to better understand the field hospital in which the Church is operating and focus less on intellectual concerns and more on the need to speak to people about their particular sufferings and situations.

He criticized the fact that to this day, there are no pontifical universities in Africa - a question that he said he has posed to Roman curial officials, and it has gone unanswered. Further, he said educational programs have too often been shaped with the Vatican in mind, and that “Rome may not like it” is “a mantra that has killed most of our academic activities.”

For Professor Patrick Chibuko, chair of Sacred Liturgy at the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Francis’s lifestyle of simplicity and a focus on the margins “portrays the type of ecclesiology he is proposing to the Church.”

The field hospital, Chibuko maintained, “demands a corresponding liturgy in content and expression.”


Liturgy, he went on to argue, must appeal to the head, the heart, and the hands and that the appeal to intellect, emotion, and service must all be present. Chibuko also noted that liturgy could not be “strict and static,” but should reflect the life of the Church.

“It is, by nature, dynamic, since it is at the service of the Church,” he noted, adding that in the field hospital, liturgy cannot be only Roman but one that appreciated local culture and “helps Africans understand themselves.”

Dr. Nontando Hadeb, who teaches pastoral and systematic theology at St. Augustine College in South Africa, said that the field hospital of the Church must be outward focused and that the laity should serve as the “focal point of the hospital” and that programs and ministries should be shaped based on different needs and realities.


“Just like a hospital has different patients with different health needs, the laity is not homogenous. They have different needs, different voices, different wounds,” she continued. “They are the ones having to live in the world, and they represent different voices, the able bodied see things differently than the disabled, there are sexual minorities, there are the divorced, the remarried, and others. We have to listen to them.”

“You must walk with them and provide different solutions,” she concluded. “You can’t just give one medicine.”

Follow Christopher White on Twitter: @cwwhite212

New Australian Law Forces Priests To Break Seal Of Confession

BY MARTIN M. BARILLAS

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (LIFE SITE NEWS) -- A state legislature in Australia passed a law on Tuesday that would impose sentences on priests who fail to report child abusers who come to them for the sacrament of confession.

New legislation passed the upper house of the Victoria state parliament on Tuesday evening with bipartisan support. On Wednesday morning, state premier Daniel Andrews said the intent of the bill is to send a message to the Vatican and impose requirements on sacramental ministers to report abuse or mistreatment of minors, regardless of how they learn about it.

The bill amended the Children, Youth and Families Act of 2005 and made priests and representatives of various religions mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse. According to the amendment, it defines "person in religious ministry” as “person appointed, ordained or otherwise recognised as a religious or spiritual leader in a religious institution.” Examples included rabbis, imams, monks, pastors, nuns, priests, religious brothers and sisters, and even Salvation Army officers.

"The most important thing is to send a message that the law is to be taken seriously; if people don’t obey the law, then the penalties are very significant," Andrews said, according to The Age. “The culture is one where people have taken the laws and their responsibilities in terms of mandatory reporting very seriously."

"I've made it very clear that the law of our state is written by the Parliament of Victoria, it's not made in Rome, and there are very significant penalties for anybody and everybody who breaks the Victorian law," said Andrews, who is reportedly Catholic. He introduced the legislation in early August.

He told reporters upon the passage of the bill: “There’s been some controversy in recent weeks and months about churches, particularly the Catholic Church. We believe this is exactly what needed to happen.”

He went on to say, “The seal of the confessional, no one, no politician, no priest … has any reason, any right … to put their faith, or the laws of their church above the protection of kids. That's the most important thing.”

Priests who inform authorities of what they learn in confession are subject to automatic excommunication, according to the canon law of the Church. In the laws of the Latin rite of the Catholic Church, Canon 983 states, “The sacramental seal is inviolable. Accordingly, it is absolutely wrong for a confessor in any way to betray the penitent, for any reason whatsoever, whether by word or in any other fashion.”

In 2017, an Australian priest was excommunicated for breaking this law. Fr. Ezinwanne Igbo, a native of Nigeria, was found to have broken the seal of confession, after a Church investigation and more than a dozen complaints. The sanction can, however, be lifted by the Pope. Excommunication means that the priest can no longer celebrate the Mass and the sacraments, or can he receive the sacraments.

Canon 984 states that a confessor is “forbidden to use knowledge acquired in confession to the detriment of the penitent, while it also says that Church authorities may not use, “for the purpose of external governance,” knowledge of sins that come from the hearing of confession.

While the new laws would make priests mandatory reporters, as are physicians, police, teachers, nurses, school counselors and youth justice workers, lawyers remain exempt.

After the vote, Child Protection Minister Luke Donnellan said, "The special treatment for churches has ended and child abuse must be reported."

Victoria state Attorney General Jill Hennessy rejected objections that the law would endanger religious liberty. According to a press release, she said, “I don’t think in contemporary and mainstream times, knowing what we know now, that we can do anything other than say the rights of children trump anyone’s religious views.”

The legislation in Victoria came as a response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse, which recommended in 2017 that clergy and confession no longer be exempt from mandatory reporting. South Australia and the Northern Territory have introduced similar mandatory reporting laws. Tasmania and western Australia are expected to do the same.

Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne has stated in the past that he is ready to go to prison rather than break the seal of confession.

In August, he said, "For Catholics, confession is a religious encounter of a deeply personal nature. It deserves confidentiality."

Father Bob Maguire of Melbourne said in response to the legislation, "They'll have to get the prisons ready." He told the media that his fellow priests will refuse to report abuse to police. He added that while he understands the motivations behind the law, he asserted that “restorative justice,” rather than “retributive justice,” for sexual predators, is preferable.

In August, Archbishop Comensoli wrote to his flock saying he was committed to safeguarding children and was working closely with Victoria’s Commission for Children and Young People. “I am strongly committed to reporting to the appropriate authorities, and have already exercised that duty here in Melbourne. I am also strongly committed to upholding the seal of confession. I have begun conversations with our public authorities about finding a way in which these two principles can be upheld, for the sake of the safety of all. Tomorrow I will be meeting with the Clergy of the Archdiocese, where I will reiterate my commitments and priorities, and seek their full cooperation in our common task ahead.”

SOURCE: LIFE SITE NEWS