TRUTHFULLNESS IN COMMUNICATION

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON TRUTH FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATIONS FOR RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF APOSTOLIC LETTER OF JOHN PAUL II

BY

PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR

Introduction

     Christ is the Incarnate Word which was communicated to the world by the annunciation of Archangel Gabriel to our Blessed Virgin Mother of God and this message was received with a Fiat by Mary (cfr. Lk.1:26-38) and she communicated same Word by the birth of Christ (cfr. Lk.2:1-20) to the world for the salvation of all. Christ is communication par excellence, for He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” Jn.14:6. We ought to know and accept Him before ever we are able to communicate Him to others.

 Communication devoid of Christ is unspiritual, unethical, unsocial, and un-educational. Therefore, such communication lacks basic informational content and is non-communicational, empty in mass media character and is a “junk message” in the spiritual, moral, social, cultural and academic world. Communication that is truthful is Trinitarian and Christ-like, loving, communal or community orientated. Communication of Christ is Eucharistic, pastoral, sanctifying, redemptive and paschal, because it is Incarnated Word and renews the life of man as many times as possible through the power of Word made flesh visible and concrete in an invisible sacramental signs of grace. This is spiritual enlightenment that dispels the darkness of lies and the father of liars. In this form we experience the ecclesial dimension of the truthful communication by the powerful media, whereby the Word is disseminated into the world for Christ commanded that we should “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” Mk.16:15. This is the pastoral and missionary dimension of truthful communication which brings about the positive development and responsible progress in the whole human person as a common good in form of re-orientation spiritually, morally, academically, socially, culturally and proper relationship which solves the fundamental options of formation, participation and dialogue governed by the communicative power of the Holy Spirit. Within this few pages we shall present a research theological reflection on truth for those responsible for communications for rapid development of Apostolic Letter of John Paul II.

 Truthfulness in communication a way to rapid development

     Communication is not just a mere word but a reality in the person of God. This is intrinsic in the nature of God. “Truth is in God’s intellect properly and first (proprie et primo); in human intellect it is present properly and derivatively (proprie quidem et secundario)”[1]. In conclusion we arrive at succinct formula, God is “ipsum summa et prima veritatis - truth itself, the sovereign and first truth”[2]. “This formula brings us close to what Jesus means when he speaks of truth, when he says that his purpose in coming into the world was to ‘bear witness to the truth’. Again and again in the world, truth and error, truth and untruth, are almost inseparably mixed together…Man becomes more true; he becomes himself, when he grows in God’s likeness. Then he attains to his proper nature.  God is the reality that gives being and intelligibility.  ‘Bearing witness to the truth’ means giving priority of God and to his will over against the interests of the world and its powers. God is the criterion of being. In this sense, truth is the real king that confers light and greatness upon all things. We may also say that bearing witness to the truth means making creation intelligible and its truth accessible from God’s perspective-the perspective of creative reason-in such a way that it can serve as a criterion and signpost in this world of ours, in such a way that the great and the mighty are exposed to the power of truth, the common law, the law of truth”[3]. In view of these, “besides denoting the epistemic validity of one’s knowledge and the intrinsic knowability of being, truth can also denote a property of one’s communicative expressions, the words, deeds, or products by which one purports to inform other persons of something. Communicational truth is the fidelity to one’s own knowledge that one intends for those expressions by which one both purports and aims to inform. The non-dialectical opposite of truth in this sense is communicational non-truth, the simple absence of intended fidelity to one’s own knowledge, the characteristic feature of those expressions by which one does not purport to inform. The dialectical opposite is communicational untruth or mendacity, the presence of intended infidelity to one’s own knowledge, the characteristic feature of those expressions by which one purports to inform but aims to deceive”[4]

 The ethics of communication

     Prof. JUAN RAMÓN AREITIO in discussing the ethics of communication sees it as a wide topic, ranging from the technological, political or social ambient but if it lacks spiritual and moral backing is nothing worth a communication. This is because public opinion many a time has accepted lying as a normal part of life. Many believed that nothing is wrong with lying since everyone lies. The world seems to function just fine with this state of affairs, this adds to the difficulty of teaching an ethics of communication. Information technology has added another realm that needs much attention. To live in the truth, brings another form of communication and testimony- testimony to the life of faith. A person who professes faith but does not live according to that faith is giving false communication, in a sense he is lying. One area that will need further research also is that of art. Truth in art effects not only the building of Churches but also all forms of art used in daily life such as advertising, games etc

     Furthermore, the Eucharist is the fuller presence of Christ in the Mass and should not be made to look equal to the Scripture for Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.  The morality of the Church is not merely, 'do not lie’; it is 'live in the truth'. The truth is not only something to protect but to promote and to live. Augustine based his theory on the Trinity. The Father speaks a Word and that Word is Christ and Christ is the Truth, the Way and the Life. We are made in the image of the God. The image of God in us is the Reason. If God speaks truth then we should speak truth. To lie would be to mar the image of God in us. The truth must be seen also as a self donation and not just as truth telling. According to the Catechism 2464-2513, the basis of the necessity of telling the truth is the dignity of God primarily and humans secondarily. Our lives must reflect the holiness of God; therefore we need to live in the truth. Man protects the truth and has a natural capacity for the truth.

     Telling a truth in order to embarrass someone in public is an evil in most cases. Communication is more than mere truth-telling. It must include also the communication of goodness and beauty. Telling the truth does not mean that one has to tell the whole world everything. The 'end' for which the truth is told is essential to the morality of the truth telling. The means of communication are developing so quickly that we can only speak of prudent principles. Issues: communicate of information, promotion of culture, communication-formation-and manipulation, Communication and the common good, friendship, moderation and discipline, relation between consumer and producer of mass communication.

     Art and Truthfulness: Beauty is another aspect of genuine and 'truthful' communication. Art itself most express truth and charity. The Good, True and Beautiful are not separable. Beauty indicates or can be used to convince of Truth and present things as Good. God is the author of beauty, truth and goodness. These three are constitutive of all reality. Art communicates the message of the artist. His intentions can be good or bad. It is not sufficient just to use the new media, and new language to express the Gospel but to think in a more profound manner in order to interpret more deeply the truths of the Good News.  

     Regarding Professionalism and Faith, the presence of the faith without a witness of the faith serves nothing. Faith and professionalism need to go together. The people’s faith should shine through by the quality of their work. The quality of communication should be a testimony itself to the faith. Professionalism without faith is just as problematic as faith without professionalism. We need solid lay catholic professionals in the field of communications. There has to be a respect for diversity of transmitting the message. There needs to be a transparency and coherence between the faith and the mediums of communication. The medium should not betray the message and the message should use the best mediums in the best way.

 Apostolic letter: The rapid development of the Holy Father John Paul II

     The call for sincerity in communication brought about truthful words and action in the developing world of communication. This is exactly the summary of the Apostolic Letter that communication based on mere human knowledge and his exposition of his ingenuity without finding any root in Christ in totally non-communicational matter, ipso facto a bundle of untruthful propositions.

 Conclusion

Communication is ever clear and distinct. For it s proper apostolate we need not to be afraid to communicate because Christ promised to be with us, “I am with you always till the end of the world” Mt.28:20. Therefore, the message of communication as an Incarnate Word is eschatological, sanctifying and love, which has its objective as salvific and redemptive. To communicate oneself for selfish motive is very bad. Prudence is mostly needed in the communication of ordinary truth be it to the world or an individual.

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[1] S.T., De Veritatis., q. 1, a. 4c.

[2] S.T., Summa Theologiae I, q. 16, a. 5c.

[3] BENEDICT XVI, Jesus of Nazareth.  Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2011 p.192-193.

[4] VERTIN M., “Truth” in KOMONCHAK J. A-COLLINS M-LANE D. A (eds.), The New Dictionary of Theology, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville-Minnesota, 1987 p.1063.

A CRY FOR HELP

RESPONSE TO CRY FOR HELP OF A SEMINARIAN BY REV FR PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR ON WEDNESDAY 12TH MAY 2010
Wednesday: 12th May 12, 2010: 1: 11am
Hello Dear,
How are you battling with your exams, I hope all is well over there? Everybody is fine; just remember us in your prayers.
It is very penitent to say that experiencing this world full of miseries, struggles, enemies, worst still sin. Can one still be a priest and be a man? The joys and sorrows of priesthood are what border me most. What is the meaning of life without happiness? Where can that happiness be found excluding “God”. My identity is so much important that even what I do with it seen or unseen, still that wonderful voice still speaks to me O BOY WHAT ARE YOU DOING? What is the essence of all my philosophical and theological studies that only a sixteen year old girl can pull me down, what a shame? People who cluster around you in the name of love and they mess you up and go away. Their demands are always contrary to your identity even in the mist of their wonderful promises. WHAT A CONTRADICTION? This call lies in the consciousness of my identity but how can we live this life of priesthood without the world? The glories of this world are so wonderful, interesting, and enjoyable. How can one enjoy them and still be in communion with his God? Considering the fact that life is too short to waste it and too long to bear its misuse. Just consider these questions and many which will come later. Make effort to reply this mail as soon as possible.
RESPONSE:
I will not leave YOU as an orphan in my vineyard, Christ the Eternal Priest is telling you, inasmuch as you put on your sincere best without fear or favour. Let your daily endeavours gear towards the Parousia (Divine Presence). Please spend at least quarter an hour before the Sanctissimum and tell him what you think of your personal response to your questions, but make sure that you listen to him too. Christ knew that we are weak yet he called us and so you are not excluded.
The dignity of a human person is a supernatural gift. In humans when the egg and sperm mixes they form human being, but the INTEGRITY of a person is rather from God. Animals reproduce but do not produce INTEGRITY, therefore your vocation is a gift of integrity which of course you ought to maintain as a person. NOTHING (eternal forces: family, psychosomatic, friends, worries-intra or extra) should be a barrier between your VOCATION and the GIVER OF THIS GIFT. Be aware that the dignity of the work does not depend on the work, rather from the spirituality of the person who does the work, because work is done by the birth of LOVE, and Christ is that love, hence as priests and seminarians we are not just ALTER CHRISTUS or working IN PERSONA CHRISTI, but we are properly IPSE CHRISTUS. Ipso facto, going back to the temptation narrative of the synoptic, we owe Christ a lot, hence CAREFULNESS in relationship with people is highly commendable, but not without total trust in God and confidence in OUR BLESSED MOTHER MARY. The Psalmist, related to us of: THE MAJESTY OF GOD and THE DIGNITY OF MAN in Ps. 8, in every situation God takes care of us, that is why the Psalmist said: “Quid est homo, quod memor es eius, aut filius hominis quoniam visitas eum? Minuisti eum paulo minus ab angelis gloria et honore coronasti eum et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum, omnium subiecisti sub pedibus eius. – What is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him? Yet you made him little less than a god; with glory and honour you crowned him gave him power over the works of your hand, put all things under his feet” (4-6).

GOOD FRIDAY MEDITATION

Good Friday 10th April 2009, meditation at Santuario Monasterio di Montevergive Mercogliano by Rev Fr Paul Ikechukwu Ogujoffor.
The day is still and tranquil,
Nature is at its most calm condition,
No noise is heard,
The weather is brightened by the chilled sun.
God-man is symbolically at Gethsemane,
Jesus is experiencing the naive quietude of man’s concept,
Though his nature was Divine,
He accepted human nature to uplift and up-grade the son-ship of man.
Human nature abhors stillness,
Man by nature is an enemy to calmness,
Human beings are in constant turmoil,
This is so because we are in warfare with the creator of serenity.
The mystery of Good Friday is a form of contradiction to man’s likings,
Man prefers freedom in his search to be engaged,
This engagement which suppose to be Christological,
Are thwarted by immorality and deliberate cum conscious spiritual debasement.
Lord Jesus, as you hang on the cross for me,
Look not on my selfish desires and ambitions,
My thoughts are full of distracted imaginations,
Permit me to share in your divine silence.
O Lord, your death is LOVE for me,
Yet, I abhor this divine gesture by my sins,
I am in continuous dislike and abhorrence of your love to me,
May I understand that love, so that I may be saved.
O Lord, by my sins I continue to renew your wounds,
The blood and water from your sides are the great signs of my salvation,
Yet each time I deliberately contaminate them with my stupidity in sin,
Yet, what is my being that you care for always?
By your mystery Lord, you raised me to the highest point as a human,
Lord, you allowed me to be configured in your priesthood,
You drew me to yourself as to share in your power of creation,
This power of creation, I, mere and wretched creature exercises in my priestly duties daily in the church.
O Lord, for the many times I have shared in your sacramental creation unworthily, pardon me of my insensibility,
For the uncountable scandals which I have committed consciously or unconsciously , Lord erase completely the idea from the hearts and heads of those involved, for their sincere love and respect of your priesthood,
For the sacrileges which I have plundered myself into, Lord Jesus make me innocent and pure once again,
For many vocations to the priesthood and religious life which I have failed to nurture or encourage consciously or unconsciously by my indifference, O Eternal high priest pardon me and call them back to your service.

LABOURERS IN THE LORD'S VINEYARD

“… A LABOURER DESERVES HIS WAGES” LK.10,6- ALL TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD. BY REV FR PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR, S.P.S. OKIGWE.
God never allows his servants to be in want’,
And the Psalmist said: “The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want”,
Indeed Christ was aware of this,
Hence he said, ” a labourer deserves his wages”.
Christ mandated us priests of the necessary things needed in the mission,
He also knew of the difficulties involved,
Hence he said, ” I am sending you out like a lamb among wolves”,
He also emphasized, “if you want to be my follower carry your cross everyday and follow me”.
Being a labourer in Christ’s vineyard implies imitating him,
This imitation is engraved in the sincere following of Christ,
For Christ, we are to be sustained in the vineyard,
In union with other things the wage ought to sustain us individually.
As a sincere servant our “WANTS” should not be prior to our “NEEDS”,
When the “spirit of want” is more than the “spirit of need” in the priestly life,
There is always a cohesion between spirituality and morality,
Indeed egocentricism and bankruptcy in priestly dignity evolves.
The result of this is lack of shame,
No shame in our urge for the pursue of money,
No shame in an unholy competitions,
No shame in our words and actions.
When we become “breadwinners” outside the sincere mission of Christ,
Our personal wants increases in geometric progression,
Then our hearts and minds will travel even faster than sound,
Thereby the genuine sacrifice of priestly life is in total eclipse.
In my priestly life I need to re-emphasize the virtue of detachment,
The spirit of detachment will help me increase the sincere love of the wage,
The wage ought not be weighed or equated in quantity,
For the spirit of weighing increases the inordinate search of “wants”.
This inordinate search of “wants”,
Makes the priest to be “invisible” (unavailable) in his area of apostolate,
When he is visible (available) many a time he is incomprehensible,
Why? Because his thoughts, words and actions mostly in liturgical services are incoherent.

GOLDEN JUBILEE OF MARRIAGE

HAPPY GOLDEN JUBILEE (50 YEARS) CELEBRTAION OF YOUR SACARMENT OF MATRIMONY MR FRANCIS XAVIER NYARWEGENDEHO AKIIKI AND MRS NYARWA JANE ROSE MASIKO AKIIKI of KITARASA FORT-PORTAL DIOCESE IN UGANDA AT KITUMBI PARISH TODAY 11^TH FEBRUARY 2011

     Christian marriage is a covenant and a Sacrament but not a contract. The Word of God invites us to reflect over the marital and conjugal love; and the chastity with faithfulness therein. Marriage is Sacrament of love and covenant, also a mystery of infinite togetherness. It is a sacrament of love and not a contract of love. This is a sacrament because it is a mystery. It is not a contract as very many think and does also hence ought to be kept and seen as such. If we believe it is a covenant then it demands love and sacrifice from both the husband and the wife, for no third party is needed for the execution of solemn promise made before the people of God in the Church by both of you (MR FRANCIS XAVIER NYARWEGENDEHO AKIIKI AND MRS NYARWA JANE ROSE MASIKO AKIIKI) on 11^th February, 1961at VIRIKA CATHEDRAL CHURCH UGANDA, because whatever God has joined nobody should put asunder (Mk.10:9). Today, Friday 11^th February 2011in KITUMBI PARISH after fifty (50) years both of you are re-echoing and making anew the promise, now in the presence of your Church’s hierarchy, many priests and religious men and women including your first Son a priest, REV FR CHARLES LIGHT and other children of yours, your grand children, relatives, in-laws, friends and many Christ’s faithful. Indeed this is a real and sincere concrete act of love and great joy, hence an appreciation of marriage dignity. Be aware that the slogan: “Variety is the spice of life” has no foundation in real and concrete conjugal love in marriage life. This is because it is a Sacrament of Love, the Mystery and Covenant of infinite togetherness; not a contract of love. Marriage is all about sacrificial love and covenant. Manifested in the consent when each couple says, “In good health and in sickness, in riches and in poverty, I will love you till death do us part”, therefore anything outside of this sacrificial love and covenant is bigamy, concubinism, adultery, promiscuity, moral licentiousness or immoral living within the marriage wedlock. Therefore, sincerity is the key to openness; Openness is a short cut to appreciation in marriage, appreciation is an expression codified in acceptance of each person’s imperfections and acceptance is the foot-match towards expression of genuine marital love. In concreteness there is full of relationship, relationship is the manifestation of feelings; feelings in marital reactions help each couple to grow, hence this growth finds fulfillment in the promise at the exchange of consent. Love is that which we cannot be tired of given, progress of marital concern cannot be devoid of charity, Charity makes way to concreteness, and therefore concreteness cannot be hidden in marriage. It was in view of this that you expressed your indelible love in the choice and meanings of the names you gave to your children thus:

1.    FLORENCE (from Latin derivative means FOLLOWER, ADHERENT or SUPPORTER OF THE NATURE’S BEAUTY OF FLORA) NIGHT BROWN

2.    GRACE (from Latin etymology GRATIA, which is GRACE meaning GOOD WILL)  AGRIPPINA

3.    [REV FR] CHARLES (from German origin signifies FREE MAN, no wonder then he freely chose to be a priest) LIGHT.

4.    EDWARD (of German origin signifying HE WHO TAKES CARE OF THE PROPERTY or OWNERSHIP, coincidentally immediately after the first son who is now the Church’s property, the beloved Edward becomes the successor of he who takes proper and direct care of the family after the father FRANCIS XAVIER)  MUGANZI (Beloved)

5.    ANGELINA (derived from Greek and means MESSENGER or HARBINGER OF GOOD NEWS) MUHUMUZA (Consoler)

6.    STEPHEN (of Greek origin signifying HE WHO IS CROWNED, because of his strong Faith in God) KUGONZA (Love)

7.    MARY (from Egyptian it signifies SHE WHO IS LOVED BY GOD or BELOVED LADY BY GOD, and from Hebrew means LADY) GORETTI KANYIGINYA

8.    ELIZABETH (derived from Hebrew signifying GOD HAS SWORN AN OATH or GOD IS PERFECTION) TUSIIME (Let us give thanks to God)

Hence both of you (MR FRANCIS XAVIER NYARWEGENDEHO AKIIKI AND MRS NYARWA JANE ROSE MASIKO AKIIKI) as you are celebrating your Golden Jubilee 50 years of Sacrament of Matrimony today Friday February 11, 2011 the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, always be aware that the word MARRIAGE uniquely reminds both of you as one body these things:
M - MARRIAGE is a covenant keep to it.
A - ADMIT the things you cannot change in life.
R - RESPECT is a must to be shown to each other.
R - REASONING together for the smooth going of the family is an obligation.
I - IMITATE the Holy Family (JESUS, MARY and JOSEPH) in the Bible and INSIST on good moral behaviours of your children, even now they are all grown up and your grand children.
A - ACCEPT each person’s imperfection and ADD his or her virtues to yours.
G - GIVE no third party a chance in your marriage, so that what God has joined nobody should put asunder.
E - ENCOURAGING each other ought to be a daily duty.

From, REV FR PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR (OKIGWE DIOCESE NIGERIA)

PRIESTLY ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY

17^TH PRIESTLY ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY OF REV FR CHARLES NYARWA LIGHT ABOOKI OF CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF FORT-PORTAL UGANDA ON THE FEAST OF TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AUGUST 6, 2011

The Mystery of Divine Manifestation or Epiphany is concrete in the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This Mystery of Transfiguration is concrete in the sacerdotal ordination which is manifested ontologically in the candidate at ordination of Catholic Sacred Priesthood. Christ as the Eternal High Priest, through the apostolic succession given to the Bishops, changes, transforms and transfigures man ontologically into a priest (Spiritual-Moral-Bridge between God and man). This is exactly what you (Rev Charles) experienced on the Solemnity of Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ on August 6, 1994 at CHRIST THE KING PARISH KITUMBI through your then Bishop, Most Rev Dr KALANDA PAUL AKIIKI. The family of MR FRANCIS XAVIER NYARWEGENDAHO AKIIKI and MRS NYARWA JANE ROSE MASIKO AKIIKI of KITARASA FORT-PORTAL in UGANDA, remembering their promise to God on January 15, 1965 when Charles was born, were highly grateful that in the family of a School teacher, God has chosen a teacher of Faith, Moral and Spiritual things in the person of their son REV FR CHARLES, Oh what a great privilege God has bestowed on this family. Indeed, years passes like a twinkle of an eye. Meditate on the aura of your “ontological-transfigured-personality” as a priest which you experienced sixteen (17) years ago. It seemed like a dream when the Lord delivered his Lord from bondage the Psalmist says. To you what does the priesthood seem like especially now that you are into the vineyard for 17 years? Does it still seem a Mystery and Transfiguration before you? Are you so familiar with the Eternal High Priest that the mystery of the priesthood is meaningless or common to you? The solemn promises you made before Christ, represented by the Bishop and the Christ’s faithful, how far have you gone with them within these 17 years in the service of the Lord? Do you still have the transfer of obedience which you promised the then Bishop to your present Bishop, Most Rev Dr ROBERT K. MUHIIRWA AKIIKI? Do you still remind yourself that you an ALTER CHRISTUS acting IN PERSONA CHRISTI and at the same time you are an IPSE CHRISTUS, who celebrates the TRINITARIAN LOVE daily in the sacraments? Therefore, always remember that solemn ordination exhortation: BELIEVE WHAT YOU TEACH, PRACTICE WHAT YOU TEACH AND IMITATE THE MYSTERY YOU CELEBRATE. Ipso facto, we wish to remind you that your whole life ought to be that of SACRIFICE, OBEDIENCE and HOLINESS OF LIFE, which is a form of IDENTIFICATION AND IMITATION OF CHRIST, THE ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST. The mystery surrounded by the priesthood of Christ is such that we ought to be constantly thanking God for choosing mere creature to be “HIS-SAME-SELF”. We ponder and meditate upon the power of absolution of sins, so great a mystery which is same with the power of creation, for in this mystery Christ the Priest re-creates, renews, re-born and make present SIMILACURUM DEI into an excellent and most pure form of humans. This privileged human enjoys being in a state worthy to commune and stay with his creator in the SANCTISSIMUM SACRAMENTUM celebrated yet by his “transfigured creature”, the priest. The power in and of the Word makes visible the “Invisible” in a very concrete form full of divine and celestial aroma. The FEAST OF TRANSFIGURATION vis-à-vis your priestly ordination ought to be seen in your daily life clearly from the word TRANSFIGURATION thus:

T – TRANSFORM all who come to you by what you are for Christ.

R – RESIST any form of unworthy inclination contrary to the Priesthood of Christ.

A – ADMIT your mistakes humbly even when they are made public.

N – NOTHING whatsoever should put off your mind from showing and giving people Christ all the time.

S – SANCTITY is the key to successful priestly ministry.

F – FORTIFY yourself always with constant union with God in your prayer life.

I – IDENTIFICATION with Christ is a sine qua non.

G – GOD ought to be projected in your service to humanity and not you as a person.

U – UNION with your Bishop and the Church is tantamount to humility to God.

R – REMAINING chaste all the time is a true celibate life.

A – ACCEPT the things you cannot change in life.

T – TEACH always with your life.

I – IMITATE your patron saint, it is also a way to IMITATE Christ.

O – OBEDIENCE to your Bishop at all time.

N – NO to sin always.

Therefore, looking back these seventeen years in the Lord’s vineyard, we wish to say congratulations and at the same time remind you of your endeavours to Christ’s faithful in these areas:

1)      KAHUNGE PARISH September 1994 – December 1994, as Curate how was your ministry in your first year as a priest?

2)      KAMWENGE PARISH January 1995 – January 1996, as Curate how did you exhibits your obedience and loyalty to the Bishop and his successors?

3)      BUKWALI PARISH February 1996 – August 1998, as Parish Priest, did you still remember the good things you wished to do excellently whenever you are made the Parish Priest and were faithful to them?

4)      YERYA SISTERS’ NOVICIATE August 1998 – October 2004, as Chaplain, can you imagine how many vocations you fostered by your sanctity of life or in the contrary how many that left the religious life because of you?

5)      MABIRA PARISH October 2004 – August 2009, as Parish Priest, at this point do you still have the strong desire to work for the people of God irrespective of their ingratitude or were you insensitive to their flight and was only interested in your self?

6)      ROME FOR STUDIES August 2009 - 22^nd June 2011. How, has the change from Pastoral environment to Academic environment edified and brings in an increase or growth in your priestly life outside your diocese and country too? What are you thinking regarding the orientation and ongoing formation you accumulated academically and otherwise, more importantly as you have now specialized in Spiritual Theology in the enviable PONTIFICIA UNIVERSITÁ DELLA SANTA CROCE ROMA? Congratulations Rev Fr Charles Nyarwa Light Abooki. Tui est sacerdos in aeternem secundum ordinem Melchizedek.

From, REV FR PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR (OKIGWE DIOCESE NIGERIA)