Reflections (Page 3)

As I was driving to Castlegar on Wednesday, upon arriving at Rock Creek, I started hearing a strange sound coming from the engine. I pulled over at a mechanic workshop. The owner opened the oil compartment and said to me: “There’s metal in the oil. The engine is dead.” “What happened” I asked. “The car was serviced two weeks ago and the oil was changed.” “Well, I don’t know what happened. Maybe something gave way in the engine.” How much…

Two years ago at the Priest’s retreat, we all received anointing. It was really a powerful moment for me. It seemed as if I was hearing the words of anointing anew: “May the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.” The Lord himself showed great concern for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the sick and commanded his followers to do likewise (See James 5:14-16). Some clarification Anointing of the sick is…

What Am I Going to Do With the Life God Has Given Me? Visa to US: The past two weeks have been a roller coaster for me. I flew to Vancouver yet again. I did get the visa this time, but it was not without drama. I didn’t think I was going to get it because I didn’t have six months remaining on my Nigerian passport. As the Visa Officer went through my passport, my heart was pumping blood as…

San Diego – No Sunshine for me, no Conference…. First, thank you for the prayers, love and kindness which you sent my way and to heaven that I may get the visa. Well, I did not get the visa but God answered our prayers differently as he sometimes does. After all the attempts made, including intervention from MP’s office, the embassy could not do anything. In all of this, however, I have met amazing people along the way both on…

Last week, we launched our Pilgrimage of Faith Campaign. I have been asked to put in the bulletin my personal testimony about Pilgrimage of Faith Appeal. Many may not have been aware of this: your Pilgrimage of Faith donation helped me to become a priest here in our diocese. When I arrived in 2012, I was to go to the seminary in Edmonton to conclude my studies. Where was I going to get the money for the school fees, to…

To all the members of St. Vincent de Paul, you worked extra hard during the Christmas festivity and distributed hampers to the people in need. May the Lord bless you abundantly. We are grateful to Pat Lovering who has been the president of St. Vincent de Paul for a number of years. Pat is retiring. We wish her well and pray for her and her family. I join my voice to the members of St. Vincent de Paul Society to…

I will be away for a Priest’s Conference in San Diego from Jan 6 – 10. The retreat is geared toward helping priests in their ministry and to be deeply rooted in scripture and sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Fr. Obi

CHRISTMAS – THE GREATEST WONDER I once heard the story of a group of school children who were asked to list what they thought were the “Seven Wonders Of The World.” Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes: Egypt’s Great Pyramids, Taj Mahal, Grand Canyon, Panama Canal, Empire State Building, St. Peter’s Basilica, Great Wall of China. While gathering the papers, the teacher saw that one student had not finished hers yet. So she asked the…

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Throughout the year, you (our parishioners) work so hard in making our parishes a beautiful, welcoming, joyful, house of prayer a place where we and our visitors truly come to encounter Jesus. It is through your sacrifice and ministry that the doors of our parishes have remained open. As we celebrate Christmas, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all who do ministry in our parishes: the Altar servers, the Greeters…

I came to Canada (Penticton) in 2012. In 2017, December 27, I had the joy of returning home to Nigeria after 5 years. I was happy I was returning to my family, to where it all began for me. It was a time to also reconnect with my kindergarten, elementary and high school friends. I couldn’t locate one of my friends, not even on Facebook. After Mass one morning, he came to say hi. “Where have you been” I asked.…