27 Jan 2013

RE : THE CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA DARES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TO PULL OUT OF THE ORGANIZATION

For me, if the Nigerian factor would make it possible, Christianity in Nigeria needs a body or government agency that would be duly constituted and empowered to regulate the registration, floating, activities and credentials of the practitioners of these Private Gospel Enterprises faking Christianity more than it needs C. A. N.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (C.A.N.) is an Ecumenical body aimed at, or better put, attempting to bridge the gap between the Church and the churches in Nigeria. The gap between Catholicism and Protestantism may have been manageable if not for Pentecostalism, which is a world and religion of its own. If only Pentecostal Gospel Practitioners would concentrate on their trade union, the Pentecostal Fellowship Of Nigeria (P.F.N) and leave C.A.N alone. This is because, their worldview and mission vis-à-vis Christianity,  and those of Catholicism and mainline Protestantism are truly worlds apart. For instance, while all other denominations or member churches have their single representatives (e.g. Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, etc.), theirs is a different case. Every Pentecostal member represents his or her own private religious kingdom, operated within his or her own private doctrines and ideologies, under nobody's supervision, but all sharing more or less, common denominators as motives.

One of the funniest choices I made as a job seeker was accepting to lecture in three GLORIFIED SUNDAY-SCHOOL CENTERS, a.k.a., PENTECOSTAL THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTES. I had to descend so low (even without a clear pay package) because, it was only better than going Yahoo! But it was also an opportunity to de-worm some of the pastors and General Overseer students who were open to learning, of their Pentecostal world view vis-à-vis Christianity.

Talking about the biblical or non-biblical aspects of this cosmo-vision in question is just dealing with an aspect of it. What is Christian or biblical about this movement and the practitioners aside redefinition and misappropriation of Christian and biblical concepts to suite personal proselytizing ideologies and sales-talks? If this is not only non-biblical, but at least in consonance with the universal first principles of human action (the good must be done and evil avoided), it would have been manageable. Show me a Pentecostal and his or her pastor or General Overseer, and I will show you a customer being deceived and taken undue advantage of, by a fake practitioner.

The noise about the Catholic Church damning C. A. N is simply because, operating so closely with the Catholic Church boosts the ego and credentials of those Private Gospel Entrepreneurs.

For me, if the Nigerian factor would make it possible, Christianity in Nigeria needs a body or government agency that would be duly constituted and empowered to regulate the registration, floating, activities and credentials of the practitioners of these Private Gospel Enterprises faking Christianity more than it needs C. A. N.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/can-dares-catholic-church-describes-them-as-appendage-of-pdp/#comment-776617191

12 Jan 2013

ADIEU, REV. FR. DR. VINCENT CHINWEM ANUFORO, RCJ (1960 –2013).



Rev. Fr. Dr. Vincent Chinwem Anuforo (July 18, 1960 – Jan 1, 2013) was an indigenous Catholic priest of Ikeduru LGA., Imo State in the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri. He was ordained for the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in Italy. He joined the congregation in Rome in 1992, made his first profession in 1995, final profession in 1999, and was ordained a Catholic Priest in Rome in 2000.

Fr. Anuforo had a Doctorate Degree in Moral Theology, and was in the final year of his Licentiate in Philosophy in the Pontificias Università Urbaniana Roma, before his death. Apart from his studies and pastoral ministry in Rome, he was the Founder and Spiritual Director of the Mission of Solidarity and Fraternity, as well as the Spiritual Director of Amici dei Santi Angeli (the Mission of the Holy Angels).

His health problem took an unanticipated left-turn on November 30, 2012. And on January 1, 2013, Fr. Vin gave up the ghost in Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Rome, Italy.

Eternal rest grant to him oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine on him. May his soul and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.

    Adieu Dee Chinwe, w mkpa any jiri h ụwa a!


7 Jan 2013

THE EPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF MOST REV. DR. FORTUNATUS NWACHUKWU (PICTURES)

On November 12, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Most Rev. Dr. Fortunatus Nwachukwu (his former Head of Protocols) as the Titular Archbishop of Aquaviva and at the same time the Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua. On January 6, 2013 (the Feast of Epiphany of our Lord) at   St. Peter’s Basilica Rome, he was ordained an Archbishop by His Holiness alongside Nicolas Thevenin (Apostolic Nuncio to Guatemala), Georg Ganswein (prefect of the papal household and the Pope’s personal Secretary), and Angelo Zani (the new Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education). It was a very colourful ceremony as can be seen from some selected pictures below.

His Grace, Most Rev Dr. Fortunatus Nwachukwu.
Procession before the Mass.
Introductory Rites; the Pope.
First Reading.
During the Gospel Reading.
Homily by the Pope.
Litany of the Saints.
Litany of the Saints.
Presentation of Candidate
Laying of Hands & Prayer of Ordination.
Anointing of the Head...
Receiving the Ring, the Seal of Fidelity.
Investiture: the Skullcap.
Investiture: the Miter, Splendor of Holiness.
Investiture: the Crosier, the Sign of Pastoral Office.
Behold the New Archbishop, His Grace, Most Rev Dr. Fortunatus Nwachukwu.
Kiss of Peace with the Pope. 
Kiss of Peace with the Cardinals and other Archbishops.
Ecce Homo, Procession after the Mass.
Ecce Sarcedos Magnus.
 Lee Nnukwu Ukochukwu. Behold the High Priest.
Vote of Thanks after the Reception.