ST. PETER’S SEMINARY OKIGWE HOME OF HOMES @ 31 BY OGUJIOFFOR PAUL IKECHUKWU FR

ST. PETER’S SEMINARY OKIGWE HOME OF HOMES @ 31 BY OGUJIOFFOR PAUL IKECHUKWU FR

Better be in a home than a house, for in a home you find a house, but in a house you seldom find a home. In the home you found that there are lots of sacrifices to make the home sound in various ambient but above all to walk in the light and to be enlightened as a cooperate identity found in an encapsulated form of a human person and his personality. This home cannot be great if there are no persons to teach and imbibe the basic moral cum spiritual principles and strictly cultivate them into the clear or cloudy minds, hearts and body of a human person. A home becomes what it ought to be when the teacher teaches by example and corrects immediately any scandal that may arise within the course of trying to form the inmates; for any delay may crumble the endeavours that the teacher might have exercised towards his accompaniment to the persons under formation. Both the teachers and students ought to be aware that for a home to be a home they cannot lose sight of the fact that many crosses, sufferings, persecutions, lack of acknowledgment of efforts or ungratefulness must abound but we cannot be discouraged for the Holy Scripture says: Sufficit tibi gratia mea, nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Libenter igitur gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis, ut inhabitet in me virtus Christi. Propter quod placeo mihi in infirmitatibus meis, in contumeliis, in necessitatibus, in angustiis pro Christo; cum enim infirmor, tunc potens sum  – “My grace is, enough for you or what you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor.12:9-10.

In this our home (.ST. PETER’S SEMINARY OKIGWE) each of us received these special things as a particular individual or as a group or class (insults, beatings, floggings, scolding, punishments, praises, acknowledgments, appreciations, encouragements, gifts, prizes, cares, concerns and above all sincere love that ought to exist between Father-Son or Senior-Junior Brothers relationship) that helped us become what we are today, Ad Mayorem Dei Gloriam. Ipso facto, each individual person, groups, sets or classes owe a profound gratitude or thanksgiving to GOD ALMIGHTY who made it possible for us to be part of this family and home, St. Peter’s Seminary Okigwe. Therefore, we appreciate the sincere efforts, love and sacrifices that the past and present rectors with their team of formators have contributed in no small measures to us all. Let us at this juncture mention some of their names: Msgr Luke Onyekachukwu ILONU (pioneer rector 1981-1999), Fr Godwin NWACHUKWU R.I.P, Fr Michael Nkwachukwu EBOH, Fr Maurice JIWIKE, Fr Ukachukwu Sebastine A. ONYEABOR, Fr Ephraim NWACHUKWU, Fr Kenneth EKEUGO, Fr Placid IHEDURU, Fr Michael Ajuzieogu AGBAYI (rector 2002 till date), Fr Benedict EJEH, Fr Kenneth CHUKWU, Fr Kenneth KURUMEH, Fr Paul Chinemerem ODOEME (rector 1999 - 2002), Fr Cyriacus ONYENAUCHEYA, Fr Geoffery Maduabuchi EBOH, Fr Paul Ikechukwu OGUJIOFFOR, Fr Lawrence Olivia EJIOFOR, Fr Isdore Chidi OCHIABUTO, Fr Anthony Ifeanyichukwu UMEOBIKA, Fr Joseph Emeka IKERIONWU, Fr Gabriel OFFOR, Fr MarkJohnVianney Eberechukwu OKORO, Fr Joseph ANUMNU, Fr Peter ANYANWU, Fr James Maduabuchi ONYENANI, Fr Lucis KWEKWE, etc. We also owe gratitude to our rectors and team of formators in St. Peter’s Seminary IHITTE (now St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary IHITTE) for their sacrifices and love to us, who actually underwent through IHITTE as well, the pioneer rector Fr Kevin MADU, other rectors and the incumbent rector Fr Martin OSOROBI under whom the seminary got autonomy and its present name: St Thomas Aquinas Seminary IHITTE. A special mention ought to be made of REV FR CLETUS EHIEM, because since ever I was admitted in the seminary as a junior seminarian up till this moment, Fr Cletus EHIEM has been a regular confessor to the seminarians and the formators, no matter wherever he was posted, he had been constant in the administration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) to this our home. He was also a special confessor to the our late emeritus Bishop Anthony Ekezie ILONU, the contemporary saint and un-bloody martyr of our time, though many refuse to believe or see that, only to burst it out with great passion of respect at his death. As the pioneer Bishop and with his immediate younger brother Msgr Luke Onyechukwu ILONU as the pioneer rector gave this our beloved home the name ST. PETER’S SEMINARY OKIGWE. The love and serenity of this home prompted our incumbent Bishop, Most Rev Dr. Solomon Amamchukwu AMATU to live together with the seminarians and formators for over a year before he packed in to the Bishop’s Court at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Site Okigwe.

As alumni of this great formation home let us always be conscious of these words: Ipse autem Dominus noster Iesus Christus et Deus et Pater noster, qui dilexit nos et dedit consolationem aeternam et spem bonam in gratia, exhortetur cordad vestra, et confirmet in omni opera et sermon bono – So then, our friends, stand firm and hold on to those truths which we taught you, both in our preaching and in our letter. May Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, encourage you and strengthen you to always do and say what is good 2 Thess.2:15-17.

Therefore, beloved brothers of same family and home, let us be aware of the fact of, North, South, East or West that home is the best. Let our nostalgia for our beloved home be on the increase that we may continue to appreciate her sincere and undiluted efforts to us. Make the best of home as well wherever fate sees you, be it as an ordained or lay faithful for our common vocation is our journey towards sanctity for the Holy Scripture said: Estote ergo vos perfecti, sicut et Pater vester caelestis perfectus est – You must be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt.5:48.

RELIGIOUS PROFESSION ANNIVERSARY

3^RD RELIGIOUS PROFESSION ANNIVERSARY OF SR SOCHINWE CHUKWU DDL,THURSDAY 16^TH JULY 2009 – MONDAY 16^TH JULY 2012

The number 3 signifies Divine Completion and Perfection. Three, therefore, stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. All things that are specially complete are stamped with this number three:

·         God's attributes are three: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.

·         There are three great divisions completing time: past, present, and future.

·         Thought, word, and deed, complete the sum of human capability.

When we turn to the Scriptures, this completion becomes Divine, and marks Divine Completeness or Perfection. The significance of three comes from the fact that it is the first of four perfect numbers:

·         Three denotes divine perfection;

·         Seven denotes spiritual perfection;

·         Ten denotes ordinal perfection; and

·         Twelve denotes governmental perfection.

It is with this figure of three that you, SR SOCHINWE CHUKWU DDL reverently and piously took a three VOWS of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Thursday 16^th July 2009. Today Monday 16^th July 2012, you joyful sings with Our Mother Mary: Magnificat anima mea Dominum et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutri meo Lk.1:47. From the 15^th Week of Ordinary Time Monday Psalter Week Three of Office of the Reading, the First reading from 1Kg.18:16-40, at the Mount Carmel of Holy Land, we behold God that answers with fire. He answered Elijah against the prophets of Baal and of the goddess Asherah. Having prepared the Altar of the Lord Elijah ordered the people to pour water 3 times, Do it the third times 1Kg.18:34. At this sight, the beauty of Mount Carmel was seen as Elijah defended the Purity of Israel’s faith, before the Living God who answers with a consuming fire that sanctifies and purifies.

Therefore, three years after your first profession over the  Vows of OBEDIENCE, POVERTY and CHASTITY, I wish and pray you to contemplate meditatively over these questions:

OBEDIENCE: How do you respond and accept your mission and apostolate in different capacities and areas as wished by your superiors? Do you grumble or murmur over them first before carrying them out? How joyful are you when doing them? Are you aware that your humble and sincere love over them are means towards sanctity of life?

POVERTY: How do you practice the spirit of detachment towards your religious life? Are you so attached to your family and relatives that you are already the Breadwinner of the family, siphoning the congregation for the good of your family, relatives or friends? This may be termed robbery in holocaust. Do you think that because you are earning salaries or getting gifts from people you MUST do with them whatever you wishes that is ok for you?

CHASTITY: How many times have you allowed yourself to be salve of your flesh or concupiscence . The Three-fold nature of man is Spirit, and Soul, and Body, the man consisting of neither separately, but of the whole three together. The Three-fold Nature of Temptation (1 John 2:16)

• "The lust of the flesh."
• "The lust of the eyes."
• "The pride of life."

Non enim vocavit nos Deus in immundatiam, sed in sanctificationem. Itaque qui haec spernit non hominem spernit, sed Deum, qui etiam dedit Spiritum suum sanctum in nobis – God did not call us to live in immorality, but in holiness (sanctity or chastity). So then, whoever rejects this teaching is not rejecting a human being, but GOD, who gives you his Holy Spirit 1Thess.4:7-8. As your Profession name goes thus SOCHINWE, is GOD truly the owner and custodian of your body since this past three years? Your baptismal name is CATHERINE meaning PURITY or CHASTITY, have you been able to maintain that since past three years of your vows? Your confirmation name is MARIAGORETTI virgin and martyr, will you sincerely and conscientiously boast of imitating you patron saint?

FROM, REV FR PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR

2012 SUMMER HOLIDAYS AT PARROCCHIA SAN MARTINO RICCIONE

7TH PRIESTLY ANIVERSARY OF FR CHINEDU

REV FR RICHMOND CHINEDU IBENEZI @ 7^TH PRIESTLY ORDINATION ANNIVERSRY TODAY MONDAY, 16^TH JULY 2012

A joy that knows no bound envelops Rev Fr Chinedu IBEZIE’s heart, today Monday 16^th July 2012 feast of Our lady of Mount Carmel. It was on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Saturday 16^th July 2005, that you answered Ego me mitte Domine – I am here send me Lord Isa.6:8. Today Monday 16^th July 2012, you are joyful singing with the Psalmist: What can I offer the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will offer a chalice of salvation to the Lord as a form of thanksgiving. In the assembly of all his people I will give him what I have promised…I will give you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and offer my prayer to you. In the assembly of all your Temple in Jerusalem, I will give what you I have promised Ps.116:12-14, 17-19. From the 15^th Week of Ordinary Time Monday Psalter Week Three of Office of the Reading, the First reading from 1Kg.18:16-40, exactlty at the Mount Carmel of Holy Land, we behold God that answers with fire. He answered Elijah against the prophets of Baal and of the goddess Asherah. Having prepared the Altar of the Lord Elijah ordered the people to pour water 3 times, Do it the third times 1Kg.18:34. At this sight, the beauty of Mount Carmel was seen as Elijah defended the Purity of Israel’s faith, before the Living God who answers with a consuming fire that sanctifies and purifies. This calls to mind the nature of God whose Son Christ Jesus is the Eternal and high Priesthood with a Divine Completeness or perfection. This is exactly what the number 7 signifies: Completion or Perfection, as seen in Gen.7:2 – 4 and Apoc.1:20. It is called God's number, as Only HIM is the Perfect One and Complete. Ipso fact, seven implies Resurrection and Spiritual Completeness or Perfection, as you, REV FR RICHMOND CHINEDU IBENEZI have been celebrating this Resurrection or Spiritual Perfection for seven years once you mount the Altar of Sacrifice. As you are seven years in the priesthood be assured that your sacrifices will ever be blessed by God. Remember always the promises you made on that day of ordination before the people of God, Meditate over the profound gesture of your prostration during the Litany of the Saints, By that act you professed your nothingness before God. Let those noble exhortations by Church through your Bishop continue to re-echo in your mind and heart always. Being in a foreign land for mission demands a lot. BE always a good ambassador of Christ and to your beloved NNEWI DIOCESE, in the CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SENEGALIA-ITALIA as you pastor the faithful people of God in PARROCHIA SANTA MARIA CASTAGNOLA CHIARAVALLE. From the meaning of your name RICHMOND (meaning POWERFUL PROTECTOR of German origin & FRUITFUL HILL from French origin), you are really a gift to the Church, This gift is special because you share in the extraordinary nature of God as an ALTER CHRISTI and IN PERSONA CHRISTI, you forgive the sins of the people of God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, being IPSE CHRISTI. In so doing, you powerfully protect them from the snares of the devil thereby producing much fruit in them through the gift of Holy Spirit. By this act you show people the meaning of your Igbo name CHINEDUM (GOD IS GUIDING or LEADING ME). Therefore, I urge you and congratulate you for your 7^th priestly ordination anniversary to remember that: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech Ps.110:4; Heb.5:6. Ipso act, the life of testimony and witness which ought to be preached and lived as a priest ought to be characterized in your sincere life With Christ (sacrifice), For Christ (obedience) and In Christ (holiness of life). Congratulations, augurione

From, REV FR PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR (OKIGWE DIOCESE)

TRIBUTE TO OUR BELOVED AND UN-BLOODY MARTYR EMERITUS BISHOP ANTHONY EKEZIE ILONU BY REV PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR (ROMA)

TRIBUTE TO OUR BELOVED AND UN-BLOODY MARTYR EMERITUS BISHOP ANTHONY EKEZIE ILONU BY REV PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR (ROMA)

The un-bloody martyr of our time is gone. Your sincere life as a priest and Bishop is characterized by your life With Christ (sacrifice), For Christ (obedience) and In Christ (holiness of life). Your life of detachment is very much evident in the total sacrifice of all you have for the growth of the Church. The legacy you left shall not be forgotten even by generations yet unborn. The love of salus animarum lead you into the apostolate of creating schools and parishes-in-buildings into every nook and cranny of the diocese. Today other dioceses has copied your original and pioneer thought, Ad Mayorem Dei Gloriam. Your sacrifices were blessed with glorious passage into eternity as those who saw you the last three days of your earthly existence. You were a lover of Saints that made you on Wednesday June 13, 2012 Memorial of your Patron Saint Anthony of Padova, you started your saintly transformation of your body exhibiting the most excellent gift of clarity of your handsomeness that people around you were saying behold how innocent and childlike nature you were oozing out, before you were rushed to St. Anthony’s Specialist Hospital Okigwe. At the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 15, 2012 you were silently reciting the Litany of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, as He forgives your imperfections, Our Blessed Virgin Mary accompanied you gloriously with the Divine Fire of Holy Spirit that has already purified you through the un-bloody martyrdom you have undergone. For with St Paul you preached thus: Gladly then will I boast of my weakness that the strength of Christ may be mine. So I rejoice when I suffer infirmities, humiliations, want, persecutions: all for Christ! For when I am weak, then I am strong 2Cor.12: 9b-10. Today, memorial of St. Benedict, father of Western monasticism, you are committed to the mother earth. Requiescat in pace, Amen.

THE EXIT OF A SPIRITUAL ICON

Most Rev Dr. Anthony Ekezie Ilonu (Bishop emeritus of Okigwe) you are indeed the saint of our time, which very many did not see in you because of your humility. Today you has answered the teleological yes and by so doing has meet the Lord and Saviour on His Solemnity of Merciful and Most Sacred Heart, with a radiating and illuminating nature oozing out from your Episcopal body and nature as you silently signs and prays the Litany of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus early this morning 15th June 2012. My most beloved Bishop rest perfectly in the peace of the Lord which you preached, taught, and lived throughout your life time. Your good works were the testimonies proclaimed by all whom you touched with your apostolic and missionary spirit. Rahu na udo nke Chukwu. Ecce sacerdos magnum. As I came back from the University after my examination, I heard of this then I called Rev Fr Mark Okoro who confirmed the news then I became sad and started crying for the exit of my ideal and model priest, the illuminating and radiating saint of our time which very many refuse to see