Have you Truly been Born Again of Water and the Spirit - Jerry Sakala

We Must First Know about Our Sins to be Redeemed ( Main Episode) - Jerry Sakala

Cleric says Nigeria needs the Holy Spirit for renewal, redemption

By Julius Augustine

Rev. Fr. Linus Barau, a visiting Priest to St. John Mary Vianney Catholic Church, Kubwa extension, Abuja has called on Nigerians to embrace the gift of the Holy Spirit for total cleansing and redemption.
Barau said on Sunday in Abuja after a Holy mass to mark the feast of the Pentecost Sunday.
According to Christian tradition, Pentecost Sunday is celebrated forty days after Easter by Christians of the

Catholic Bishops’ Conference endorses measures by FG to curb insurgency, criminality in Nigeria

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has endorsed recent measures adopted by the Federal Government to check insurgency and rising wave of crime in certain parts of the country.
President of CBCN, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday at the end of a week-long retreat for bishops and other clergymen of the Catholic faith in Nigeria.

Pope Francis confirms new saints

Catholic pontiff Francis today gave the church new saints, including hundreds of 15th-century martyrs who were beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam, as he led his first canonization ceremony before tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

60 Catholic bishops to grace installation of new Nsukka bishop

Sixty Catholic bishops are expected to attend the installation of Monsignor Godfrey Onah as the new bishop of the Nsukka Catholic Diocese in Enugu State, an official has said.
Rev. Fr Chuma Nnamene, the Director of Social Communication in the diocese, said on Monday that the bishops would be joined by 4,000 revered fathers and sisters from within and outside the country at the installation.

Pope Francis welcomes retired Pope Benedict back to Vatican

The helicopter carrying Pope Benedict XVI passes the dome of St. Peter's Basilica as the retired pope returns to the Vatican May 2. The pope will live in a monastery in the Vatican Gardens. (CNS/Paul Haring)

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- For the first time in history, the Vatican is home to a pope and a retired pope.

Pope Francis welcomed his predecessor, retired Pope Benedict XVI, to the Vatican May 2 outside the convent remodeled for the 86-year-old retired pontiff and five aides. Pope Francis and Pope Benedict entered the convent's chapel together "for a brief moment of prayer," said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman.

Cardinal Dolan asks for prayers for kidnapped Orthodox clergy in Syria

 

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan challenged Massgoers to hold onto hope and to pray for the safety and well-being of two Orthodox archbishops kidnapped in Syria in late April while carrying out a humanitarian mission.

"Our prayers are singularly fervent this spring morning as I invite all of us to unite in supplication," Cardinal Dolan said during Mass May 2 in St. Patrick's Cathedral for Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo and Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan Gregorios Yohanna of Aleppo.

EUCHARIST: OUR BOND OF UNITY FOR SERVICE TO HUMANITY - Archbishop Job

Pope Francis

"Dear young people, have a great heart! Do not be afraid to dream big things!" - Pope Francis

Pope prays for earthquake victims in Pakistan

Pope Francis on Wednesday offered prayers for the victims of an earthquake that struck near the Iranian border with Pakistan, which killed more than 30 people in a neighbouring region of Pakistan.
``I learned with sadness of the violent earthquake that struck the peoples of Iran and Pakistan, bringing death, suffering and destruction,’’ he said during his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square.

Vatican is forced to admit Pope Emeritus Benedict's health has worsened following reports 'he will not be with us much longer'

• Respected Vatican expert sparks fears for Pope Emeritus's health
• Spanish journalist Paloma Gomez Borerro suggested Pope Benedict is close to death
• He blamed his decision to stand down on health reasons

The health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has deteriorated, the Vatican has revealed.
Senior church officials were forced to make their fears public after a respected Vatican expert declared 'we won't have him with us for very much longer'.
The 85-year-old, who stepped down in February, has looked increasingly frail in his few public appearances.

Concerns: New fears have been raised over the health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI since he resigned

He is reported to have appeared unsteady on his feet when his successor, Pope Francis, visited him at the papal summer retreat of Castel Gandolfo near Rome recently.

Pope, UN chief discuss Syrian conflict, Korean Peninsula tensions

Pope Francis and UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday discussed the civil war in
Syria and escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
They talked about ``issues of common interest, in particular the conflict situation and serious humanitarian emergency, especially in Syria, and others, like in the Korean Peninsula and conflicts in the African continent,’’ the Holy See said.

Pope Francis: Church must 'act decisively' against paedophile priests

Pope Francis said the Catholic Church must "act decisively" against the scourge of paedophile priests, in his first public remarks on the scandal since being elected last month.

Pope Francis during Easter Mass in the Vatican Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Tackling the sexual abuse of children by clergymen was vital for restoring the "credibility" of the Church worldwide, Francis said.

He issued the declaration after holding a meeting with Archbishop Gerhard Muller, the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department which investigates cases of sexual abuse and decides if priests should be defrocked.

Rosary renews family prayer in Year of Faith

The group, created by Dr. Blythe Kaufman, mother of three and a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, has helped establish Children’s Rosary prayer groups across the country.

Pope stresses ``fundamental'' importance of women in Church

Pope Francis has emphasised the ``fundamental’’ importance of women in the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, saying they were the first witnesses of Christ and have a special role in spreading

the faith.
The pontiff's decision a week ago to include women in a traditional foot-washing ritual drew ire from traditionalists, who see the custom as a re-enactment of Jesus washing the feet of his apostles and said it should therefore be limited to men.

Pope plans stargazing show at St Peter's Basilica

St Peter's Basilica could be used as a makeshift planetarium

The new Pope is considering letting astronomers use the dome of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City as a makeshift planetarium, in a bold attempt to heal the long-standing rift between science and religion. Pope Francis has already given his blessing to the plan, which would see the constellations being projected onto the dome's interior as they would have appeared around the time of Jesus's death. The Pope's interest in the cosmos is said to have been sparked after he was shown recent images of the cosmic microwave background – dubbed the echo of the Big Bang – obtained by the European Space Agency's Planck mission.

Pope Appeals For Peace In Nigeria In Easter Message

Pope Francis used his first Easter Sunday address to call for peace in the world and appealed for a diplomatic solution to the crisis torn countries and regions of the world such the Korean peninsula, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Mail and the Central Republic of Africa.
The Pope decried the continued insurgent attacks in Nigeria when he prayed for Africa and and referred to Mali and Nigeria, “where attacks sadly continue.” He sued for peace across the world.

Good Friday Basic Definition

Good Friday is the Friday of Holy Week, which commemorates the crucifixion, suffering, and death of Jesus. Good Friday is a fast day in the Catholic Church, and falls within the Paschal Triduum. In 2013 it is celebrated on March 29th (dates in other years). Prayer: Good Friday Prayer.

Basic Facts About Good Friday

Thanksgiving Prayer after MassPrayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

 I thank you, holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, who deigned to feast me, sinful and unworthy servant, with the precious body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, not for any merit of mine, but only because of your merciful goodness. And I pray that this Holy Communion, far from condemning me to punishment, may bring about my pardon and salvation, encompassing me with the armor of faith and the

Pope Francis kisses and washes feet of young offenders at Rome prison after mass inside St Peter's Basilica begins four days of Easter ceremony in spectacular style

• Pope Francis made remarkable gesture to demonstrate the church's commitment to marginalised in society
• Earlier conducted his first Holy Thursday service as Roman Catholic leader
• Francis' homily was the latest sign of his determination that the Church should be closer to the poor
• He was speaking to 1,600 priests from Rome who attended the Mass
• It kick-starts four days of hectic activities leading up to Easter this Sunday

He has spent much of his first fortnight on the job hobnobbing with world leaders and VIPs.
But yesterday Pope Francis visited a prison to wash and kiss the feet of convicted criminals.
He broke with tradition to hold a major Easter Week service at Casal del Marmo young offenders’ prison in Rome, telling 50 inmates: ‘I’m happy to be with you. Don’t give up hope.’
The foot washing on Maundy Thursday echoes a New Testament passage in which Jesus honours his 12 disciples before his Crucifixion.
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The Pope kisses the feet of one of twelve prisoners during the Holy Thursday ritual 

Pope Francis urges Catholics to reach out to the ``lost sheep’’

Pope Francis on Wednesday urged Catholics to go beyond a ``tired and routine way’’ of living their religion and to reach out to those who are furthest away from the Church.

CHRISM MASS IN ABUJA

CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF ABUJA DIOCESE,JOHN CARDINAL ONAIYEKAN (L) CONSECRATING THE OIL OF CHRISM DURING THE CHRISM MASS IN ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY

Pope: Holy week challenges us to step outside ourselves

(Vatican Radio) Please find below the English summary of Pope Francis’ first general audience. An English translation of the Holy Father’s complete catechesis will follow shortly:
Dear Brothers and Sisters, On Palm Sunday we began Holy Week, the heart of the liturgical year, when we commemorate the great events that express most powerfully God’s loving plan for all men and women. Jesus enters Jerusalem in order to give himself completely. He gives us his body and his blood, and

CHRISM MASS

The Mass of Chrism comes once a year to your cathedral. If you've never celebrated it, you're missing one of the most solemn and significant liturgies of our church. During the Mass, your bishop will bless the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the oil of chrism. We use the first for adult catechumens and infants, the second for anointing the sick, and the sacred oil of chrism for baptism, confirmation, the ordination of priests, and the consecration of altars.

Holy Thursday - March 28, 2013

Holy Day of Obligation

The Last Supper

During Lent, we should; live as children of the light, performing actions good, just and true - (see Ep 5:1-9).

Nos autem gloriari oportet in cruce Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
in quo est salus, vita et resurrectio nostra per quem salvati et liberati sumus.

We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation,
our life and our resurrection; through Him we are saved and made free. (cf. Galations 6:14)

Holy Week

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the first joy of the season, as we celebrate Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palm leaves before him. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week, with the greatest tragedy and sorrow of the year.