SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD ( 9TH MARCH, 2024)

Eghe Okonofua

MY REFLECTION

He who believes in the son of man will be saved. But what does it mean to believe in Jesus, is it just by professing it with your mouth, no. He who embraces light has no hiding place, he avoids anything wicked and shows love in everything he does. Only such a person can say he believes in the Son of God. Such a person will not receive condemnation from God.

That is the one who truly believes in Jesus Christ.

Oboh Ngozi

My Reflection from 1st, 2nd, and gospel readings:

The love and mercy of God towards us is immeasurable. It can't be quantified, he lavishes so much love on us even when we are nothing. The question is, what do we do to make sure that all this love is not in vain, we need to surrender totally to him, focus and put all our gaze on him, be determined to leave our evil ways and ask him for grace.

In all that we do, let's always remember that God's love and mercy should not be taken for granted, though he is rich in mercy and compassion, he is a God of Justice.

Our persistence in sin and our inability to change from our evil ways invoke the wrath of God.

We should strive to reciprocate his love for us.

Nkechi Oki

MY REFLECTION

TITLED: DISOBEDIENCE AND RESTORATION BY GOD'S MERCY

The first reading in 2nd Chronicles 36vs24-16 and 29-23 shows us how merciful God is to mankind. Despite the amount of sin we have committed against Him, his mercies abound with us. 

This is evident in the responsorial psalm which reflects the deep sorrow of the Israelites in Babylonian Captivity, there they remembered (Jerusalem) even in their hardship. (The Question is - WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU STRAY FROM THE RIGHT PATH, FROM GOD, DO YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO DROWN IN MISERY 'SIN' OR do you remember GOD and return to to HIM by MERCY?

in MERCY, we find GOD'S Abounding LOVE and this be can seen in the gospel reading JOHN 3 v 14-21., where the popular verse of God's mercy is shown to mankind by God's love of sacrificing his BELOVED SON (JESUS CHRIST) to reunite mankind back to HIMSELF.

The question here is: WHAT ARE YOU WILLING AND READY TO SACRIFICE TO REGAIN BACK GOD'S LOVE?

ARE YOU READY TO FORSAKE YOUR OLD HABIT OF STEALING, BACKBITING, UNFORGIVENESS, BEARING FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR? etc. 

Finally, brethren, we see in Ephesians 2vs4-10 (2nd reading) where Apostle Paul teaches the good news for those who feel abandoned and unloved. He said that God's mercy and grace in saving believers is through FAITH and also SALVATION is a GIFT and is not earned by human effort.

Raphael Chukwudi Christaugunus

My Reflection

Our sins great and big as they may seem, are not the worst of it all, permit me to say,  but the worst of it all is that of fidgeting God and not believing in Him. Not believing is the greatest of errors we humans and especially Christians make, for though we claim to be born again we doubt a lot of things and ones with scriptural evidence. 

We need the Grace to be able to believe,  but we overall need the will to believe,  so that Grace combined with our will,  will increase our Faith and remove any faithlessness and doubts in us. 

Lord give us the Grace to believe without doubt that no matter the weight of our sins we would believe and trust in Mercy to be redeemed and forgiven of our sins,  and so once again become sons and daughters of God. Amen.

SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD( 24TH FEBRUARY, 2024)

Reflections

Elizabeth Iwuoha.       

                                              

 My little sharing from the first reading. 

Most times, the tests and trials we go through as Christians are God's way to see how much we are willing to give up for him. 

Are we like Father Abraham willing to give up our most precious gift to God? 

Or we hide it and keep complaining, God why do you want to take this away from me? 

Let us bear in mind, that to get the best, we must be willing to give the best

This reading is therefore challenging us, what are we giving up this Lenten season?

Ojo Emmanuel aka Jesus-Pikin

THE FAITH OF A CHILD

Come what may, a child CAN NEVER loose faith in the ability of the parents to provide and protect him.....regardless of how rich a neighbour might be, the child can never trust that the neighbour can care for him better than the parents...the child really don't know how the parent will go about their responsibilities for him...he just know that they will meet all his needs 🤷‍♂️.

This child trust/faith in the parent begins from the child's knowledge of 'who the parent is' and their ability/capacity (as to how they know this is left to God alone and time of course).

God needs us like Abraham and His Only Begotten Son to trust in Him. He sees the vision and He will certainly make the Provision.... _for if He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?_

If for nothing, let us spend more time this lent season to learn WHO GOD IS through His Word...... _for if we approach Him in the faith of our knowledge of Him, He is pleased to give us all we ask according to the measure of our faith in Him_

Lord, increase our faith🙏

Eshiebor Asemokhai Simon 

If God is for us, who is against us?

This is a powerful statement. And this should be a strong tripod for which our faith should stand. If God is for us, no man can fight us. 

If God is for us, though a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, no harm will come near you.

If God is for us, we shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death and we shall fear no evil. 

If God is for us, we will conquer the world. We will conquer the flesh with his help. 

If God is for us, and we walk like one who has God by his side, the devil will tremble with fear.

Dear friends, God is for us. 

The big question is, are we for God?

And are we walking in the path he has asked us to walk?.

Comfort Mary Edewor

My Reflection on the First Reading.

This narrative of the sacrifice of Abraham on Mt Moriah , a prefigurement of the sacrifice of God's only begotten son on the Cross is one that should nourish and strengthen our faith and absolute trust in  God's love for us. In trusting God, who is loving and all powerful, there can be no room for arguments or silly attempts at making sense of God's demands.

When I put myself in Abraham's position, l know how more likely l will be trying to .make sense of that instruction. Instantly I will forget that I am dealing with the God who blessed me with that child, and who has the power of life and death in his hands. Worse still I can try convincing myself that the instructions came from some evil spirit disguising as God. I actually believe that will be reaction of the average man. 

This generation would refer to this as prank, which many in Abraham's position will fail.

 Nevertheless,one of my favourite hymns in the Catholic Hymn Book says..."Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey". No matter how humanly senseless God's instructions may sound, if we have like Abraham learnt to trust God like a true friend that he is, we shall have nothing to worry about. He can do and undo.His plans for us are for good ,each and every time. We should all pray for the grace to live God's word in blind obedience and trust. That is the only route to true peace .

SOCIAL FRIDAY (Celebrating Our February Celebrants Across The Forums)

FEBRUARY CELEBRANTS

At OCCF, we celebrate our members' collectively at the end of the month, collate their intentions and have our Spiritual Director (Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ) and his Assistant (Fr. Toby Ndiukwu) offer the Holy Mass for them.

We wish them many happy and fruitful returns...

Parabéns, dear members, and many blessings!

Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ

Spiritual Director

(On behalf of OCCF Council)

Hwange Francisca

BIRTHDAY

D.O.B - Feb 16th

State of Origin - Benue

Marital Status - Married

Mr & Mrs Nnaji

 WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Date of Wedding - Feb 13th

State of Origin - Imo

Marital Status - Married

Kelechi Mary-Peter Adrian Ekwuriba 

BIRTHDAY

D.O.B - Feb 28th

State of Origin - Abia

Status - Single

Sr. Ugwu Ogechukwu 

BIRTHDAY

D.O.B - Feb 7th

State of Origin - Enugu

Status - Religious

 

Uzoegbu Oghenekome Henrietta 

BIRTHDAY

D.O.B - Feb 13th

State of Origin - Delta

Marital Status - Married

                              

Agwude Anastasia Blessing 

BIRTHDAY

D.O.B - Feb 17th

State of Origin - Anambra

Marital Status - Married

Ahom Valentine

BIRTHDAY

D.O. B - Feb 14th

State of Origin - Benue

Marital Status - Married

Mr & Mrs Ibekwe Daniel

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Date of Wedding - Feb 26th

State of Origin - Imo state

Marital Status - Married

SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (17TH FEBRUARY, 2024)

 

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 1ST SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR B)

1st Reading: Genesis 9:8-15
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 25:4-5ab.6 and 7bc. 8-9 (R. cf. 10)
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:12-15

.  Michael Umande

   MY REFLECTION

From the Responsorial Psalm

 Psalm 25:4 NASB

  Make me know Your ways, O LORD;     Teach me Your paths.

 David expressed his desire for   guidance. How do we receive God’s guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God’s primary guidance system is in his Word, the Bible. Psalm 119 tells of the endless knowledge found in God’s Word. By reading the Bible and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God’s direction in our lives.

Another step is prayer. Prayer does not change God's Ways but conforms our ways to God's Ways. Therefore, by communicating with God through prayer, we come to know his ways and purposes in our life. As we journey through lent, we should intensify our prayer life and study of the word. May we not just bear knowledge of the Word but also be doer and observers of the Word.

Rosemary Ibazebo 

MY REFLECTION 

"O Lord, make me know Your ways.
Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
For You are the God of my salvation"

This is a deep and heartfelt prayer by the psalmist, which resonates with our desire of walking with God.

In our world today where different ideologies, concepts and even sermons are springing up, we need to keep asking God to guide us in His truth, and not the world's truth.

I think this is a prayer we can all key into in this Lenten season and beyond.

Glory to Jesus!

Nnanna K. Ogbonna

MY REFLECTION 

Jesus charges us to REPENT and BELIEVE in the gospel. The Gospel is the WORD of God, and the WORD is Jesus.

In summary, we should repent and believe in JESUS.

How do we do this?

1). Obedience is the way of showing we believe. So we should be ready to total comply with what Jesus wants from us. This is the only way for us to enjoy the mercy of God. In the first reading, if Noah had not believed and obeyed, he, too, would have been destroyed. 

The responsibility psalm reminds us that if we keep believing God by our obedience, we will keep enjoying the mercy and the faithfulness of God.

2) Repentance / turning away from those things that don't please God. This is a way to show we're really ready to follow Christ.

May God give us the grace to be faithful to our baptismal vows and be ever ready to do His will, Amen.

Comfort Edewor

MY REFLECTION 

On the Gospel.

"The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand". 

This statement which continues to resound today has been preached from time immemorial, even during the era of the old prophets. This no doubt is a clarion call to repentance. This call will continue to be relevant till the end of time. Since no one is aware of their own time, this call by our Lord Jesus Christ is therefore a call to daily conversion and perpetual life of holiness. Since we are not holy before God, this call must continue to resound in the mind of every serious Christian who wants to make heaven.

 Again reflecting on the temptation of Jesus 

I am personally convinced from experience that each time I want to be deliberate in carrying out spiritual exercises to get closer to God, or prepare for an assignment, all manner of temptations, like wild beasts sometimes unbelievable in nature, would overwhelm me but by remaining calm , prayerful and feeding on the word of God, God  always takes charge and victory is often assured in each case. I pray for continued growth in perseverance to always allow God to show up for me in all my life's challenges.

Philip Okoye

MY REFLECTION

The first reading of this first Sunday of Lent, reiterates God's covenant and faithfulness to me in the face of temptations and trials. These stumbling blocks are likely to come as I strive in retracing my steps to Him in repentance and reconciliation.

Here, I am being reassured of God's mercy and compassion, which are the very fruits of His covenant with me, even in the face of sins. 

To enjoy this covenant on His mercy and compassion, I have a duty to ensure I do not default on my part this Lenten season.

The Psalmist in the responsorial psalm, re-echoes the need for me to persist in being upright on the path of the Lord. Saying that if and when I do, I will be privileged to enjoy the mercy, compassion and faithfulness of God.

In the second reading, St. Peter reminds me of the covenant God made with Noah of old. On this, it teaches that the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, comes as the new covenant God has made with me. It reassures me of His compassion, mercy,

Stanley Oregie

MY REFLECTION 

The First Sunday of Lent is usually set aside for us to reflect on the temptations of Jesus. Mark's Gospel doesn't give us the details of either the baptism or the temptations but tells us that Jesus was first baptised, and then he was tempted. But why would the devil wait till after his baptism before tempting him?

The second reading lay emphasis on the theme of baptism as prefigured by the ark of Noah - the first reading. Yet, what is most outstanding in the first reading is the fact that after the flood, God enters a covenant with Noah. The terms of this covenant were that man was to abstain from flesh with its blood while God will never again destroy man by a flood. This is only a shadow of the new covenant.

All the baptised, by virtue of their baptism have entered into a covenant with the Lord. The Lord saves us through the waters of baptism and receives us into his family - the Church. We are, thus, a covenantal people. We have become members of the family of God. This is what God did.

CELEBRATING THE PERPETUAL RELIGIOUS PROFESSION OF REV. SR LUCY OYIJE AGBESE(MMM)

 THE PERPETUAL RELIGIOUS PROFESSION OF VOWS BY REV. SR. LUCY.  OYIJE AGBESE (MMM)

The Perpetual Religious Profession of Vows of Rev. Sr Lucy Oyije Agbese of the Medical Missionary of Mary (MMM) took place on the 10th of February, 2024, at Medical Missionary of Mary Convent Chapel,Upper Sakponba road, Benin City by 10am.

The event was a joyous celebration, and was graced by the Bishop, priests, friends and well wishers, including a member of Our Catholic Community Forum (OCCF) - Sis Blessing Imumorem, as Sr. Lucy is also a member of OCCF.

                            Sr. Lucy taking her vows

            During the praying of the Litany of the Saints

                                       Profession of Vows

                   Praying the Litany of the Saints

                   Receiving prayers from the Bishop

                                  Profession of vows

                                Procession into the chapel

                              Dancing in thanksgiving 

                           Picture with the Bishop

                            Presentation of wine

                    Meet newly professed Rev Sr. Lucy (MMM)

       Rev Sr. Lucy with Sis Blessing Imumorem (middle) and religious

                             Sr. Lucy and Sis Blessing Imumorem

                              Thanksgiving

              Appreciation note from Rev. Sr. Lucy (MMM)

We heartily congratulate Sr. Lucy and pray for the grace of final perseverance in her calling.

SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG, FEBRUARY 10TH, 2024)

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

First Reading: Leviticus 13:1-2;44-46
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1-2;5;11 (R. 7)
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Gospel Acclamation: Luke 7:16
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

THE CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPH (DECEMBER, 2023)

 

Congratulations to all participants who recently had their consecration to St. Joseph in their various regions. We join together to celebrate them for taking this step towards achieving a devotion to St. Joseph.

May St. Joseph, our Spiritual Father, guide and intercede for them always, as they establish a close relationship with Him.

Dear friends, kindly go through the attached images below for your perusal, as you offer up prayers for the new devotees to St. Joseph.

Shalom!