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Tag: #Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja

  • There Is Time And Season. Being A Sermon Delivered By Rev Fr John Ike Igiri CMT, At Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja

    There Is Time And Season. Being A Sermon Delivered By Rev Fr John Ike Igiri CMT, At Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja

     

    There is a time for everything under heaven. Yesterday it rained within the environs of Ogoja. By implication, the dry season is gradually fading away. In the same way, the Church also moves through different liturgical seasons, each with its own purpose and grace.

    The Church celebrates four main seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent and Ordinary Time.

    During Advent, we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. Advent ushers us into the joyful celebration of Christmas, where we celebrate the birth of our Savior. After Christmas, we enter a short period of Ordinary Time Six weeks, and now we find ourselves in the holy season of Lent.

    Lent is the season in which we celebrate and prepare for the Paschal Mystery, the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church presents readings that reflect this sacred season. It is a time to refrain from sin, to give alms, and to fast. In doing these, the Church calls us to be spiritually alive, to turn away from wickedness and embrace love.

    The first reading invites us to open our hearts and recognize that we have offended God and our neighbors. God desires not merely external signs like wearing sackcloth, but true interior conversion. He calls us including the children seated here to turn away from sinful ways and embrace righteousness.

    During this season, the Church invites us to reflect deeply on three important spiritual practices: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving (Charity)

    We are called to intensify our prayer life. It is through prayer that we overcome the challenges of life. Prayer strengthens our relationship with God and keeps us spiritually alert.

    The Church encourages fasting, often through abstinence. But the best form of fasting is abstaining from sin and immorality. When we abstain from food, we discipline the body and strengthen the spirit so that it does not lead us away from God. True fasting also means detaching ourselves from material excess so that we may share with the poor. There is none of us who does not have something to give.

    This period also calls us to offer good and charitable words. When we speak ill of others, we damage their dignity. Let our words build up, not destroy.

    As our Lord teaches us “I was hungry and you gave me food.” Recently, Pope Francis encouraged us to be charitable even in our thoughts and words.

    Charity is said to begins at home. Some of our homes are in chaos because we are not charitable in speech toward our husbands, wives, and children. We may not always have material things to give, but we can always give kind and loving words.

    In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us not to fast like hypocrites. When we give alms, it should not be for public recognition. Those who seek public praise have already received their reward. Our acts of prayer, fasting, and charity must come from sincere hearts.

    My prayer is that God, who has given us the grace to be among the living today, will grant us the strength to express kindness in all we do. May He help us to turn away from sin, embrace love, and live this season faithfully.

    Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

  • Freedom Of Choice: Being A Sermon Delivered During 6:00am Mass At Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja BY REV FR FELIX EKPE 

    Freedom Of Choice: Being A Sermon Delivered During 6:00am Mass At Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja BY REV FR FELIX EKPE 

     

    Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.
    15th February, 2026.

    Freedom of choice is central to our human existence. Every aspect of our lives has to do with choosing. Even when you refuse to choose, you have already made a choice. There is something beautiful about God: He gives us free will. He respects our freedom. He does not force us. But for every choice we make, there is a corresponding consequence.

    In the First Reading, we are reminded: “If you will, you can keep the commandments, and they will save you.” When you keep the commandments that guide marriage, family life, work, and every aspect of your life, they will serve you and you shall live.

    God has placed before you fire and water. Stretch forth your hand and take what you want.
    Before a person dies physically, he first dies inside. You hear people say, “I cannot make it.” The moment you accept defeat within, the battle is already lost. But I once heard of a woman who refused to die. She had a fighting spirit.

    God says: I place before you good and evil. You can choose to be: A good Christian, a faithful wife or husband, an obedient child, a responsible civil servant, a good neighbour, or you can choose the opposite. Just know this, whatever you choose carries consequences.

    You can choose to serve God in His house. Some say they have no time, not for the choir, not for the charismatic group, not for any service. But choosing not to serve is also a choice. So, choose wisely.

    As a counsellor, I have seen marriages crumble within months. Why Because some people married simply because their friends were getting married. Marriage is not competition. You can choose to make your marriage work.

    Greatness does not happen overnight. To become somebody tomorrow is not the product of waking up one day and becoming great. It is the product of daily choices, small, consistent, disciplined choices.
    You can choose to live recklessly, drinking everything you see, living carelessly. But at 35, when health problems begin, you will face the consequences of yesterday’s choices.
    Marriage should build your faith and make you think responsibly about your family.

    I remember when I was much younger, driving from Abuja to Apiapum in Obubra Local Government Area. I picked up a man on the road. We were driving very fast. When we reached Makurdi, he said, “Father, I want to stop here.” I asked why. He said, “Father, I have a wife and four children.”

    At that moment, I understood the value he placed on his life and his family. For the rest of the journey, we drove like a snail.

    When you place value on yourself, others will value you. Some of you are always present at every friend’s occasion, but when it is your turn, they do not show up. Learn to value yourself. Stop forcing yourself where you are not valued.

    When you come to the house of God, do not hide. Serve. Let people talk about you. When people talk about you, it means you matter.
    The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear Him. When you choose, He knows. So choose good. Choose to forgive your spouse. Choose peace over quarrels and fights.

    Jesus says, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there. Go and reconcile first, then come back and offer your gift.”

    Some of you carry people in your heart like tenants who refuse to pay rent. You keep grudges. You think you are hurting them, but you are only hurting yourself, causing yourself high blood pressure. Some even keep records, long notes of every wrong their spouse has done from January to December. Yet many have not gone for the Sacrament of Reconciliation all year.

    When you choose wisely: The blessings of God will come upon you. The favour of God will rest on you. Peace will dwell in your home.

    Today, God still places before you life and death, good and evil, fire and water.

    Stretch forth your hand and choose life.

    Compiled By Elijah Ugani

  • Bishop Akpan Charges Priests To Prioritize Building Befitting Place Of Worship Over Rectories, As He Rededicate Holy Trinity Parish

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The local ordinary and Bishop of Ogoja Diocese, the Most Rev Donatus Edet Akpan, has charged shepherds of the flock to prioritize building of God’s temple over R
    rectories where they live.

    Bishop Akpan made the charge during the rededication of Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja, today December 13th 2024.

    The Bishop commended the Parish Priest, Very Rev Fr Felix Ekpe, for leading the christain faithfuls to remodel the beautiful place of worship, congratulated him and noted that the temple is made decent and sacred.

    In his words “With what Fr Felix has done here, it is a great challenge thrown to us, the shepherd of the flocks begining with me. We should not build rectories as mansions and abandon the temple of God, build a good place of worship and ensure that what is dedicated to God accommodate God”.

    He admonished christains to support priests who wants to build a place of worship, when he said “When any priest demands that we build a place of worship for your use, please don’t hesitate to do so, so that a beautiful place of worship will be put up”

    The Bishop reiterated the sacredness of the temple and assured that “If anyone enters this temple to pray, God will hear the person.
    We must be careful how we handle this temple, it is holy.

    “Two things in this celebration are brought together. One is earthly and the other is spiritual. The physical, we see, the spiritual we can not see. God uses the teachings of St Paul talking about our bodies. If we realize that God talks to us both physical and spiritual, we have become one with God.
    We have to see and use this physical structure in a way that God is happy with us. If we do not have regards for God, you will not have regards to what is dedicated to him. If we desecrate what is dedicated to him, we destroy our very foundation.

    When we visit traditional rulers, we pay homage to them. Some people when they visit the Bishop, including some clergies, they pull their shoes and walk bare footed.

    “They have shown regards towards the person they believe have some authority over them. But if you come to the house of God and walk carelessly, you must try to remember that this place you’re going to is not like every other place. God lives here.

    “When you regard and believe that God is in this temple, when you ask, you must get results for what you ask for. Some people don’t believe, they run into the church, the kind of things they do, they eat chewing gum inside the church during mass, and sometimes their phone rings, you see a faithful Catholic brings out a phone and talking in low tune during mass. They don’t have time to dedicate few hours for God. You have to develop faith in you”.

    He further charges priests to ensure that God’s temple remains sacred”What the pastor does is to ensure that the place of worship looks sacred” he added.

    Commenting on the beautiful edifice, Bishop Akpan said “If you enter a place of worship and it looks like this, surely you will believe that God is there.

    “I congratulate Fr Felix Ekpe for leading you to put this place of worship to look like this. May all who contributed to make this place look like this experience joy and fulfillment. May God reward you all. Like David, who said I live in a mansion and God house looks like a tent. I will build a temple for the Lord, you have done what David did, may God reward you abundantly.

    “This place is made decent and sacred, Fr Felix congratulations. Some human beings are careless. Anything goes.

    “Jesus beats some people who misused the temple. You may not see Jesus physically when you misuse this temple. The beating may follow you to wherever you go. Show regards to what is Holy and dedicated to God. Some people may be reluctant to sweep the temple. Nobody should see him/herself too big to clean the church, make efforts to preserve this temple”.

    He encouraged christains to see God in the temple noted “In places where we have chapel of adoration, a lot of people do not go to the main church to seek God. The chapel is an emergency place for the priest”.

    He admonished christains to see their bodies as the temple of the holy spirit and treat it same as the temple that is rededicated today said “Some people believe that they can do what they like with themselves. As you regard the sacredness of this temple, that is how you should regards your bodies, because it is the temple of God. You cannot do what you like with your body because you will give an account of what you do with your body. Do you realize that you’re God’s temple and the spirit of God dwells in you? You have children, will you not just wake up and kill your child. Your child is part of your body. I commend your efforts and may God reward you”.

    The mass was attended by priests numbering 40, religious, guests and parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja.