Pastor’s Messages (Page 23)

The weather is so hot in Nigeria. Many times, coming back from school I realized that my throat was parched with thirst. Sometimes when I was a good boy, Mom will buy a bottle of coke or fanta for me. I loved it. But that didn’t happen very often. Drinking a bottle of coke or fanta on a hot day was very refreshing but after a minute or two, I realized that I was still thirsty. More than fanta or…

I resisted going for the Stations of the Cross. Back from school on a Friday, I wanted to enjoy the whole weekend and not be bothered by another ‘Church stuff.’ Mom’s invitation to go fell on deaf ears. One Friday, I decided to go and something in me changed that day. I have never missed it ever since. What happened that day? When we got to the 4th Station – ‘Jesus meets Mary, His Mother.’ As a child, I had…

God loves his creatures so much that He loves to spend time with them. He would come in the cool of the evening to speak with Adam and Eve as a friend would. Friendship grows when it is nourished by communication or communion. We know too well how friendship fades away when there is no communication. But who we speak with matters. There are voices that come to lure the human person away from God. We hear that voice today…

Time of Grace: It is yet another time of grace, a favourable time, a time of intense prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I am so happy to make the journey of Lent with our parishes this year. It is indeed a special time to grow in friendship with Jesus, to draw nearer to God and to our loved ones. This year, our Lenten theme is: ‘There is nothing more beautiful than friendship with Christ.’ Invite a friend to Mass this Lent…

Due to lack of space in the bulletin, a part of the story was not included. When my car broke down, I phoned Chuck, one of our parishioners – the owner of Fountain Tires. (a very good place for service) After sharing with him what had happened, he said to me: “Fr. I’m coming to pick you up.” “You mean, you are going to drive all the way from Penticton to Rock Creek to pick me up?” I asked. “That’s…

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…