Religion
Anglican Archbishop Urges Nigerians to Embrace peace
Most Revd. Alexander Ibezim, Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, has called on Nigerians to embrace peace to foster love and unity in the country.
Ibezim made this call on Sunday during the first session of Sixth Synod of Diocese of Aguata, Anglican Communion, at St John Divine Oko, Aguata Local Government Area.
Ibezim said the church was duty-bound to pray for the peace of the country, work toward sustenance of peace, progress and the unity of the nation through its moral messages.
He urged the faithful to pray without ceasing, to attract God’s mercy to save the nation from the ugly trend of insecurity and economic hardship.
“The principles of discipleship must be practised in this period of uncertainty.
“I urged everyone to amend his ways, especially in this perilous time,” he said.
Earlier, Rt Revd. Samuel Ezeofor, Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Aguata, urged the faithful to be transformed and engage in only activities that promote peace, love and unity of purpose in order to build a greater nation.
Ezeofor, in a homily entitled “The urgent need of transformation through discipleship” taken from the Holy Bible, Matthew 28: 18- 20, Acts 17: 5-7, urged the faithful to hold on fast to God’s command.
He urged the people to shun any act capable of disintegrating the nation but work towards eliminating any devices against the unity and progress of the country.
Chief Emeka Aforka, a state law maker representing Orumba North in the Anambra House of Assembly, who was in attendance, disclosed that the legislature was working hard to pass progressive bills.
“These bills would enable the executive arm of government to sustain the security of lives and property in the state,” he said.
Aforka commended Gov. Willie Obiano for being on track in containing the activities of lawbreakers.
Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, an industrialist, said that creating employment opportunities for the youth would bring lasting solution to the insecurity challenge in the country.
Ezeemo called on the government to create more jobs as a way to curb the insecurity challenge and appealed to the church not to relent in its effort to create a sane society.
He commended Obiano for fulfilling his promise of completing the Anambra passenger and cargo airport and urged him to complete other developmental projects.
The theme of the Synod was ‘Divine Principle of Transformation through Discipleship”.
NAN reports that the Synod attracted bishops and dignitaries from across the state. (NAN)
Religion
Not Everything on Social Media Should Feed You- Cleric
The Senior Pastor of Streams of Joy International, Jerry Eze, has urged Christians not to feed on everything they see on social media.Eze made the call during his sermon at the church service on Sunday in Abuja.He noted that certain contents on social media could corrupt the minds of God’s children,negatively influencing their thoughts,spirit and behavior.
“Don’t let everything feed you. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Not everything on social media should feed you.“You remember the vile words of the enemy more than you remember what is in the word(the Bible).“I didn’t even want to talk about it, but I do recognise that when you head Equatorial Guinea, it fed you and re-fed you, “he said.He said that God has unique plans for His children, but required them to be in tune with Him.He added that they also need to be intentional about the information they consume on social media, the company they keep, and the places they go.Eze urged the congregants to guard their vision in accordance with God’s instructions, just as a pregnant woman was advised on what to consume to keep her body safe and healthy.The cleric prayed for wisdom and understanding for the congregants, asking God to guide them on their unique life paths.He added that they should not dwell on their fears and insecurities, but instead look to God for the fulfillment of their new seasons.According to the pastor, some difficulties are allowed by God to build and prepare his children to handle greater responsibilities in the future.(NANReligion
Bigard Seminary has Produced 4 Cardinals, 37 Bishops– Rector
The Rector, Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Very Rev. Fr. Albert Ikpenwa, says the seminary has produced four cardinals, 14 archbishops, 37 bishops and thousands of priests since it officially opened in 1924.
Ikpenwa disclosed this on Tuesday at news conference to give insight on Bigard Centenary Celebration scheduled to begin on Nov.
10 in Enugu.He said the seminary had also produced thousands of priests working in Nigeria, Europe, America, Australia and other parts of the world.
Ikpenwa listed the Cardinals to include Francis Arinze, Dominic Ekandem, Christian Tummi and Peter Okpalaeke.
According to him, some of the archbishops are Valerian Okeke, Bishops Callistus Onaga, John Okoye, Albert Obiefuna, among others.
He added that the seminary had also served in the formation of seminarians from Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Liberia and produced professors in many universities as well as other individuals who studied there but did not serve as priest.
The rector said Bigard Memorial Seminary started as St. Paul’s Seminary, Igbariam, Anambra, in 1922, an initiative of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, the then Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Southern Nigeria.
“The seminary was, however, officially opened in 1924 to teach theology and philosophy following Pope Benedict XV’s 1919’s letter that emphasised the need and urgency of establishing indigenous clergy in mission lands.
“In 1928, the seminary was moved to Onitsha and a senior seminary was opened at Eke in Enugu State in 1934 to separate it from the junior seminary.
“The senior seminary was later transferred to Enugu in 1939, then to Okpala, Imo, in 1942, and finally back to Enugu in 1951 where it has remained as Bigard Memorial Seminary,” he said.
He explained that seminary was named Bigard to honour Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, the mother and daughter foundresses of the Opus Sancti Petri Apostoli society, which funded the building of the seminary.
Speaking on the 100 years anniversary, the Chairman Planning Committee, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Udenwagu, said the event was going to be a great and unique one as it would be a reunion of the people that passed through the seminary in the past 100 years.
He listed the activities to mark the event to include inaugural Mass, inauguration of academic year and award to distinguished students, cultural event, Biblical quiz, symposium, football match and dance.
The clergyman added that the celebration would begin on Nov. 10 and end on Nov. 21.
The highlight of the conference was a media facility tour that included the new student hostels built by Ikpenwa. (NAN)
CRIME
Chief Imam’s Sallah Ram Stolen in Jos
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.