Love Never Fails

01-30-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

In many ways, the prophet Jeremiah is a prototype of the person and mission of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, Jeremiah was divinely designated prophet even before he was born: he confronted the evil and vice of the religious and political leaders of his time, plus his message was rejected and he was persecuted for seeking the right relationship with God. Jeremiah’s travails and Jewish antagonism against the person and mission of Christ reminds us that the quest to be perfect will inevitably lead to conflict with others who are not comfortable with that quest. Thus, every Christian should expect persecution from agents of unrighteousness.

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Catholic Schools Week

01-28-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

This week we celebrate the 48th Annual Catholic Schools Week (CSW) in all of the Dioceses throughout the United States from January 30th through February 5th. Traditionally, CSW is held from the last Sunday in January and runs all week.  

The theme for National CSW 2022 is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” This theme embodies the core values found in Catholic schools across the country; that is, to train the child academically, morally, spiritually, and socially so they can become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples, and good citizens.

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"The Spirit of the LORD is Upon Me"

01-23-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

In verse 63 of the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel, Jesus told His disciples “the words I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life.” This assertion forms the basis of the response to the Psalm at the Liturgy today and provides the theme that runs across the Readings. This response: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and Life” strongly suggests the primacy of place the Word of God ought to occupy in the life of every Christian. The Word of God is Spirit and Life because it empowers, animates, influences and radically transforms any person who sincerely immerses themselves in it.

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Pro-Life Week

01-21-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

This week, Catholics across the country are encouraged to actively participate in prayers, fasting, a peaceful March For Life, vigils and Mass as we pray for protection and respect for human life from the moment of conception to natural death. Catholics across the country started the annual Nine-day Novena for protection for human life beginning on Wednesday this week, January 19 continuing through Thursday next week, January 27. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. It is not too late for you to join the novena if you have not already started. You can download the novena or sign up to receive the daily prayers via email or text message here.

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"Do Whatever He Tells You"

01-16-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

On the very first day of the year, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Apart from reflecting on her virtues, we were encouraged to humbly seek her unfailing maternal intercession for our world and for our individual selves. Two Sundays later, the Gospel presents to us how effective her maternal intercession can be, even when it is unsolicited.

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Revisiting Our New Year Resolutions

01-14-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

How is your New Year going so far? Did you know that this mid-weekend in January is commonly known as “Quitters Weekend? Studies found that today, January 14 and Monday January 17 are considered as Quitters Days. The theory behind this is that most people generally give up their motivation to keep their new year resolutions by the second Friday of January. Research also found that only 10% of people generally keep their new year resolutions to the end. I found this very interesting! Do you think you could be one of the 10% this year? Whether you made your new year resolutions privately or as a family, this weekend is a wake-up call to all of us revisit our new year plans as we move farther on our journey through the year.

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You are My Beloved Son, With You I am Well Pleased

01-09-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord effectively brings to a close the liturgical season of Christmas and gives way to the very rich period of “Ordinary Time” within the Liturgical calendar for Christ Himself, His baptism marked the beginning of His public ministry. He would continue from where His precursor was and effect the establishment of the reign of God on earth.

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End of Christmas Season

01-07-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration. We have one of the shortest Christmastide this year as the Christmas season ends this weekend with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. We can now put away all of our Christmas decorations. We will begin the 1st week of Ordinary Time, Year “C” from Monday next week. The Ordinary Time will last from next week until Ash Wednesday on March 2, 2022.

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Come to do Him Homage

01-02-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, VC

The Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ is the self manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that when Christ was born, wise men from the East, led by a guiding star, decided to journey to Israel bearing gifts for the newborn King. When they arrived at Jerusalem, capital of the southern kingdom, they decided to inquire with Herod, King of Judea, where precisely Christ was expected to be born.

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