SOME SECRETS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL WOMEN

“Don’t take ‘no’ as an answer. You’re going to fail. Failing is very natural, and it’s all part of getting a decent job,” Williams said. “Don’t stop doing it. If you work hard and you’re really nice to people, it’ll happen.”

These talented young women were recognized by the iconic magazine for their outstanding achievements and goals at Barnard College in New York City.

In addition to the awards ceremony hosted by Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive, a panel discussion took place examining the topic of “How to Build Your Personal Brand and Land Your Dream Job.” Moderated by MSNBC’s Alex Wagner, Chief Digital Officer for the City of New York Rachel Sterne Haot, the panelists included “Veep” actress Anna Chlumsky, Teach For America founder Wendy Kopp, “Covert Affairs” star Piper Perabo and the hilarious “Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams.

These empowering ladies spilled their secrets to success and shared some of the best lessons they learned along the way. Check out the seven most inspiring pieces of advice we took away from the panel — and prepare to feel ready to take on the world.

1. Take a Risk.

Before she snagged the leading role in the hit USA show “Covert Affairs,”

Piper Perabo got her big break when she crashed her boyfriend’s audition. While waiting for him, a casting director approached her and said, “You look like one of the parts.” She asked Perabo if she could be ready to audition in 10 minutes. Perabo grabbed her boyfriend, went into a stairwell and quickly learned her lines. Although she didn’t nab the part that day, she did find a manager, proving that sometimes taking a leap of faith is worth it.

For Grace Young, a budding engineer and award recipient, she lives by Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer’s mantra: “Do something that you’re not ready to do. Worst case, you’ll discover your limitations.” Young said, “That advice that I read has really encouraged me to do a lot of the things that I thought I’d never have the courage to do, like drop out of high school to go to MIT or work alone in Geneva one summer programming.” Next on Young’s list? Running a marathon in May.

2. Don’t take Things Personally.

As an actor, rejection can become an all too familiar feeling — but that doesn’t mean you’re not good at what you do. Anna Chlumsky said, “You could be a great actor, but not right for the role.” She recalled a time where she went to an audition and wasn’t sure if she wanted to work with the director. “I’m auditioning them as much as they’re auditioning for me. Not every project is going to be exactly right.” In the meantime, try not to sweat the small stuff — better opportunities will come along.

3. You Only Need One “Yes.”

For Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach For America, the idea of recruiting recent college graduates to teach in low-income areas across the country came in the form of her senior thesis proposal at Princeton University. “I was obsessed with this idea. I was convinced that this had to happen,” Kopp said. The problem was finding someone to fund it. After drafting dozens of letters to CEOs, Mobil Corporation agreed to give her$26,000 as a seed grant towards Teach For America.

“I tell people all the time. there are lots and lots of ‘no’s,’” said Kopp. “Keep on asking. You only need one or two ‘yeses.’ It’s just about the search for allies.”

4. Believe in Yourself.

Even at a young age, Jessica Williams always knew she wanted to be a comedian. She convinced her parents to let her go to Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre if she took part-time classes. Throughout college, she balanced doing schoolwork, commuting to L.A. to take Citizens classes and then trying to be seen by as many people as possible. Williams was on the quad meeting her best friend at Panda Express when she got a call from her manager to audition for “The Daily Show.” Wearing a T.J. Maxx suit for her big day, she left knowing she got the gig. “I walked into the audition and I could feel that they weren’t trying to intimidate me. I knew I got it when I left. I knew it was mine.” Lesson learned: Hard work pays off.

5. Own It.

Confidence is key in getting what you want. Perabo shared the story of being on the set on her second movie with the legendary Robert DeNiro and how his words inspired her. “We’d have coffee and talk and stuff. I was like, ‘I’m so nervous,’” remembered Parabo. “And he [DeNiro] said, ‘I love auditioning. When I would go in, this is my 10 minutes to show them. If I was gonna do it, this is what you’d get.’ It was a revelation.”

6. It’s OK to Fail.

Even when we’re excited about something, we all know that little voice that pops up in our head and asks, “WHAT are you doing?” Williams says, “Acknowledge that voice, but do it anyway.”

“Don’t take ‘no’ as an answer. You’re going to fail. Failing is very natural, and it’s all part of getting a decent job,” Williams said. “Don’t stop doing it. If you work hard and you’re really nice to people, it’ll happen.”

As you make your way to the top, Williams advises to remember to appreciate those who have helped you along the way. “I try to thank people and look them in the eye and remember who helped me,” said Williams. “It is making sure that it’s clear because no matter what, people aren’t going to like you. You just have to know that you are true to yourself. You have to know what you are and what that means to you.”

7. Trust Yourself.

“Trust yourself. I remember as a teen, you worry about everything. ‘My hair doesn’t look right’ and ‘I wish I had that thing.’” remembered Perabo. “Or ‘he didn’t talk to me, maybe he doesn’t like me.’ Or ‘if I fail this class, my grade point average is gonna be this’ and you’re worried about all this crazy sh*t. Trust yourself that you are doing the right thing to become who you want to be. And keep listening to your own inner-voice about who you are and what you feel and try and make decisions from that place. Teenagers worry so much and it’s all OK. You can take a deep breath. I didn’t know that then, and I was so worried.”

Say it with us: Inhale. Exhale. You’ve got this.

Cf http://www.weddingdigestnaija.com/7-piece-of-advice-from-highly-successful-women-to-you/

MOST THINGS WOMEN SECRETLY CHERISH IN MEN

Men do a lot of things to try and attract women. Some of them work, and well, some of them crash and burn. The problem is that most men really have no idea what women find attractive about men. This is what leads them to shooting in the dark and hoping for the best.

To really get your attraction levels soaring you have to know what women actually find attractive about men, all the time, not some time. Take the guess work out of attraction.

1. Dominance: Women absolute love dominance in a man. Now this doesn't mean you walk around like the best thing since sliced bread and chain your woman to the stove, but it does mean you are in control. You take control, you command control and your control is incredibly attractive to females.

2. Confidence: Similar to dominance, confidence will make women swoon over you. They adore the alpha male that stands in front of the line. You can’t be the little puppy that just falls in line. Be sure and proud of who you are, confidence in yourself and what you do is what will reel women in like the catch of the day.

3. Relaxation: Women really like it when you seem calm and relaxed. Now this doesn't mean you need to pop a Valium before talking to a woman but it does mean you need to take a few deep breaths and just cool it. When you appear relaxed women will take notice at how cool calm and collected you are.

4. Hygiene: An incredibly important and yet overlooked part of attracting women is hygiene. Yes, appearances are important, they are what shows the world how you care for yourself. Poor hygiene shows that you don’t respect yourself and that DOES NOT attract women. It’s also important because I don’t know a single time when two people met eyes across a crowded room and said “Wow he looks smart.”

5. Being Funny/Humorous: When you are the “life of the party” everyone INCLUDING women want to be around you. They see fun people and automatically assume they will have fun being around them. Now being fun can be anything from being a social butterfly to always having a good time no matter where you go. No matter which suits you BE FUN and women will respond.

6. Being Positive: Being happy will really attract great attention. No one wants to hang out with a gloomy Gus, so if you’re moping around you are not going to attract women, in fact it will be the antithesis of attraction. You will push people away. You will find them turning and walking the opposite direction rather than engaging you.

7.  Generosity: Being giving is a good way to get female attention and it will be very positive attention. This doesn't mean kill your bank account trying to be the cool guy that gives everything anyone asks for, but it does mean you shouldn't shy away from offering drinks, food or something that will help them at that moment. Giving will make you appear to be the care taker and women love when men take care of them.

8. Being Chivalrous: As much as people say “Chivalry is dead” it doesn't mean it can’t be revived. And trust me women will eat it up like the last box of Chunk Munky ice cream. Open doors for them, pull chairs out and be all around a knight in shining armor. Chivalry is NOT dead and it will win women over time and time again.

9. Spontaneity: Spontaneity shows excitement and women don’t want to be a part of a humdrum life. Women love spontaneous acts of passion and romance. They love it when they are surprised and when you keep things interesting no woman will be able to resist.

10. Showing Commitment: Before you freak out and have a heart attack this doesn’t mean you should get down on one knee and ask the girl to marry you. It just means you need to show her you are capable of commitment and you don’t shy away from it like most men. Women love when men can commit and showing her you can, will lock in your position at the top of her list.

 < http://www.naijaonpoint.org/10-things-women-love-about-men-but-will-never-say/

MARGARET THATCHER DIES OF STROKE AT 87

The children of Baroness Thatcher have announced with great sadness that their mother died peacefully this morning following a stroke.

Born October 13, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Margaret Hilda Thatcher (née Roberts) was a British politician, the longest-serving and the only woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of the 20th century. She held the post between 1979 and 1990, and has been credited with transforming Britain in one decade, restoring her among the world’s leading industrial nations.

She was an alumna of Oxford University, a research chemist and later, a barrister in 1954. She got married to Denis Thatcher 1951, and they were blessed with two children: Mark and Carol Thatcher. Due to her personal and political toughness, she was nicknamed the Iron Lady and the name Margaret Thatcher became synonymous with the concept of toughness and authoritativeness in women.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT  MARGARET THATCHER

Early Political Career

Thatcher became a Conservative member of parliament for Finchley in North London in 1959, serving as its MP until 1992. Her first parliamentary post was junior minister for pensions in Harold Macmillan'sgovernment. From 1964 to 1970, when Labour were in power, she served in a number of positions in Edward Heath's shadow cabinet. Heath became prime minister in 1970 and Thatcher was appointed secretary for education.

Leadership

After the Conservatives were defeated in 1974, Thatcher challenged Heath for the leadership of the party and, to the surprise of many, won. In the 1979 general election, the Conservatives came to power and Thatcher became prime minister.

She was an advocate of privatising state-owned industries and utilities, reforming trade unions, lowering taxes and reducing social expenditure across the board. Thatcher's policies succeeded in reducing inflation, but unemployment dramatically increased during her years in power.

The Eighties

Victory in the Falklands War in 1982 and a divided opposition helped Thatcher win a landslide victory in the 1983 general election. In 1984, she narrowly escaped death when the IRA planted a bomb at the Conservative party conference in Brighton.

In foreign affairs, Thatcher cultivated a close political and personal relationship with US president Ronald Reagan, based on a common mistrust of communism, combined with free-market economic ideology. Thatcher was nicknamed the 'Iron Lady' by the Soviets. She warmly welcomed the rise of reformist Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

In the 1987 general election, Thatcher won an unprecedented third term in office. But controversial policies, including the poll tax and her opposition to any closer integration with Europe, produced divisions within the Conservative Party which led to a leadership challenge. In November 1990, she agreed to resign and was succeeded as party leader and prime minister by John Major.

The End of an Era

In 1992, Thatcher left the House of Commons. She was appointed a peeress in the House of Lords with the title of Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven and continued giving speeches and lectures across the world. She also founded the Thatcher Foundation, which aimed to advance the cause of political and economic freedom, particularly in the newly liberated countries of central and eastern Europe. In 1995 she became a member of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of knighthood in England.

After a series of minor strokes, Baroness Thatcher retired from public speaking in 2002. 

(Cf. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/margaret_thatcher)

POPE FRANCIS OFFICIALLY TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS CATHEDRAL, THE ARCHBASILICA OF ST. JOHN LATERAN.

Pope Francis officially takes possession of his cathedral, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.

Pope Francis today Sunday April 7, 2013 officially takes possession of his Cathedral, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. 

The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran was founded in Rome by the two Apostles Peter and Paul, and sanctified by the blood of many martyrs. It is the first and oldest of the four major papal basilicas of Rome, and the cathedra (seat) of the bishop of Rome. The other three are St. Peter’s Basilica (located in Vatican City), St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) - located in Rome, Italy. The archpriest of the basilica is Cardinal A. Vallini, cardinal vicar of the Diocese of Rome.

The prime title of the Pope is Bishop of Rome, and St. John Lateran is the seat of the head of the local Church. According to Fr. James F. Puglisi, Minister General of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, … this title is a very important ecclesiastical title because it is a sacramental title...

The celebration was shifted to the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, says Fr. F. Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, so as not to coincide with the Lenten season.

HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS AT THE MASS OF THE INAUGURATION OF HIS PAPACY IN ST PETER’S SQUARE, ROME.

 A TRANSLATION OF POPE FRANCIS' HOMILY AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE PETRINE MINISTRY MASS, HELD IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE, MARCH 19, 2013 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Holy Mass for the inauguration of my Petrine ministry on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church.  It is a significant coincidence, and it is also the name-day of my venerable predecessor: we are close to him with our prayers, full of affection and gratitude.

I offer a warm greeting to my brother cardinals and bishops, the priests, deacons, men and women religious, and all the lay faithful.  I thank the representatives of the other Churches and ecclesial Communities, as well as the representatives of the Jewish community and the other religious communities, for their presence.  My cordial greetings go to the Heads of State and Government, the members of the official Delegations from many countries throughout the world, and the Diplomatic Corps.

In the Gospel we heard that “Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife” (Mt 1:24).  These words already point to the mission which God entrusts to Joseph: he is to be the custos, the protector.  The protector of whom?  Of Mary and Jesus; but this protection is then extended to the Church, as Blessed John Paul II pointed out: “Just as Saint Joseph took loving care of Mary and gladly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ’s upbringing, he likewise watches over and protects Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model” (Redemptoris Custos, 1).

How does Joseph exercise his role as protector?  Discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand.  From the time of his betrothal to Mary until the finding of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, he is there at every moment with loving care.  As the spouse of Mary, he is at her side in good times and bad, on the journey to Bethlehem for the census and in the anxious and joyful hours when she gave birth; amid the drama of the flight into Egypt and during the frantic search for their child in the Temple; and later in the day-to-day life of the home of Nazareth, in the workshop where he taught his trade to Jesus.

How does Joseph respond to his calling to be the protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church?  By being constantly attentive to God, open to the signs of God’s presence and receptive to God’s plans, and not simply to his own.  This is what God asked of David, as we heard in the first reading.  God does not want a house built by men, but faithfulness to his word, to his plan.  It is God himself who builds the house, but from living stones sealed by his Spirit.  Joseph is a “protector” because he is able to hear God’s voice and be guided by his will; and for this reason he is all the more sensitive to the persons entrusted to his safekeeping. He can look at things realistically, he is in touch with his surroundings, he can make truly wise decisions.  In him, dear friends, we learn how to respond to God’s call, readily and willingly, but we also see the core of the Christian vocation, which is Christ!  Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!

The vocation of being a “protector”, however, is not just something involving us Christians alone; it also has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone.  It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world, as the Book of Genesis tells us and as Saint Francis of Assisi showed us.  It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about.  It means caring for one another in our families: husbands and wives first protect one another, and then, as parents, they care for their children, and children themselves, in time, protect their parents.  It means building sincere friendships in which we protect one another in trust, respect, and goodness.  In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it.  Be protectors of God’s gifts!

Whenever human beings fail to live up to this responsibility, whenever we fail to care for creation and for our brothers and sisters, the way is opened to destruction and hearts are hardened.   Tragically, in every period of history there are “Herods” who plot death, wreak havoc, and mar the countenance of men and women.

Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be “protectors” of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.  Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world!  But to be “protectors”, we also have to keep watch over ourselves!  Let us not forget that hatred, envy and pride defile our lives!  Being protectors, then, also means keeping watch over our emotions, over our hearts, because they are the seat of good and evil intentions: intentions that build up and tear down!  We must not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness!

Here I would add one more thing: caring, protecting, demands goodness, it calls for a certain tenderness.  In the Gospels, Saint Joseph appears as a strong and courageous man, a working man, yet in his heart we see great tenderness, which is not the virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love.  We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!

Today, together with the feast of Saint Joseph, we are celebrating the beginning of the ministry of the new Bishop of Rome, the Successor of Peter, which also involves a certain power.  Certainly, Jesus Christ conferred power upon Peter, but what sort of power was it?  Jesus’ three questions to Peter about love are followed by three commands: feed my lambs, feed my sheep.  Let us never forget that authentic power is service, and that the Pope too, when exercising power, must enter ever more fully into that service which has its radiant culmination on the Cross.  He must be inspired by the lowly, concrete and faithful service which marked Saint Joseph and, like him, he must open his arms to protect all of God’s people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison (cf. Mt 25:31-46).  Only those who serve with love are able to protect!

In the second reading, Saint Paul speaks of Abraham, who, “hoping against hope, believed” (Rom 4:18).  Hoping against hope!  Today too, amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others.  To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope!  For believers, for us Christians, like Abraham, like Saint Joseph, the hope that we bring is set against the horizon of God, which has opened up before us in Christ.  It is a hope built on the rock which is God.

To protect Jesus with Mary, to protect the whole of creation, to protect each person, especially the poorest, to protect ourselves: this is a service that the Bishop of Rome is called to carry out, yet one to which all of us are called, so that the star of hope will shine brightly.  Let us protect with love all that God has given us!

I implore the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saints Peter and Paul, and Saint Francis, that the Holy Spirit may accompany my ministry, and I ask all of you to pray for me!  Amen.

< Vatican City, March 19, 2013 (Zenit.org) 

THE NEW POPE, POPE FRANCIS I, SJ.

MEET THE NEW POPE, FRANCIS I (CARDINAL JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO, S.J.), THE 265th POPE AFTER ST. PETER

POPE FRANCIS I, was until his election this evening as the 265th Successor of Saint Peter, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. He was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina.

Born:  December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires.

He studied philosophy at the Colegio Máximo San José and taught literature and psychology at the Colegio de la Inmaculada in Santa Fe, and the Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires.

He was ordained a Jesuit priest on December 13, 1969, while studying theology at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel. 

He was novice master and theology lecturer in San Miguel.

He was Provincial for Argentina from 1973 to 1979.

He served as the Rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel from 1980 to 1986.

He did his doctorate in Germany, and served as a confessor and spiritual director in Córdoba.

He was appointed the titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires on 20 May 1992.

He was consecrated Bishop on June 27, 1992.

He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires on 3 June 1997.

He succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on February 28, 1998.

He was also Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite.

He became Adjunct Relator General of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2001.

He became President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from November 8, 2005 to November 8, 2011.

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by the Blessed John Paul II on February 21, 2001, of the Title of St. Robert Bellarmine.

He is a member of the following Congregations:

Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments; Congregation for the Clergy; 

Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; 

Congregation for the Pontifical Council for the Family; 

Pontifical Commission for Latin America. 

He participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, gaining the second-highest total vote in several rounds of voting.

With his election this evening, he has become the first non-European and first Jesuit Pope.

May God who has begun this good work in him bring it to a glorious end, Amen.

PAPAL RESIGNATION AND THE CANONICAL PROVISIONS

The surprise announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he will resign his office on February 28^th has raised many questions about the laws surrounding the resignation of a Pope. There is no doubt he can do so: Canon 332 §2 of the Code of Canon Law states: “If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.”

But the Code does not elaborate. Before now, there was no need. Church law leaves many questions unanswered.
“We lack a law, so far, on the status of a former pope, of someone who resigned the papacy,” said Msgr. David-Maria Jaeger, OFM, a professor of canon law at Rome’s Pontifical University Antonianum. “It is possible either Benedict XVI in the next few days, or his successor, will make such a law, because many questions must be asked: What is the proper title by which to address a former pope? What are his immunities and prerogatives? There is a question of his international standing. All of this has to be settled…There was never any need to deal with it.” It was announced by the Holy See Press Office that Pope Benedict XVI will not participate in the conclave to elect his successor. The ability of a Pope to do so has been debated for generations, but it had always previously been an academic point. In this case, too, there is no law.

“The idea that a former pope would participate in the conclave would be premised on a determination that a pope who resigned returns to being a Cardinal,” explained Msgr. Jaeger. “Far be it for me to express an opinion on this occasion, except to say that it is not obvious!”
The canonist said the Pope’s decision not to participate was “the most discreet and appropriate course,” and said other decisions on the many remaining unclear questions will likely be announced in the coming days.  “We are in uncharted waters, although we can be absolutely confident that Pope Benedict XVI will know how to chart them for us,” Msgr. Jaeger said. “And, of course, for himself.”

<http://www.news.va/en/news/church-law-surrounding-papal-resignation-uncharted

POPE BENEDICT XVI TO RESIGN ON FEBRUARY 28, 2013.

POPE BENEDICT XVI announced on Monday February 11, 2013 that he will resign at the end of February because he no longer has the strength to effectively continue with the duties of his office, news services reported.

He is to become the first head of the Catholic Church to resign since after Pope Gregory XII who resigned in 1415 to end the Western Schism, after 9 years in office. BENEDICT XVI will be 86 years on April 16, 2013. He is retiring at the age of 85 after having been elected in April 2005 to succeed Pope John Paul II. He was the oldest man named to the papacy in almost 300 years. The Vatican said his departure would leave the post temporarily vacant.

Part of his resignation message reads:

 "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.

"I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

"However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."

Pope Benedict XVI, a German, was born as Joseph Aloysius Ratzinger. He is the 265th Pope and head of the Catholic Church. Rumors that the Holy Father would resign his office had been common in the early years of his pontificate.

Catholic cardinals will now convene in Rome in order to choose a new pope.

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

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, ọ wụ mkpa anyị jiri hụ ụwa a!