Nigeria Federation Of Catholic Students UNIMAID

HOMILY FOR THE 26TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR IN ORDINARY TIME C BY: Rev. Fr. Solomon P. Zaku Texts: Amos 6:1, 4-7;  Psalm 146:7.8 -10; I Timothy 6: 11-16; Luke 16:19-31 The readings of today speak to us on the importance of being sensitive to the needs of others. We live in a very difficult time in our country today. We have insecurity and humanitarian crises/ needs in different parts of the country. Many people, are sick, hungry and depressed. We need to come to their aid. Our readings cautioned us to the our best so as not to regret In the first reading (Amos 6: 1, 4-7), Amos  the prophet of social justice  condemns those who live extravagantly or wastefully, with little or no concern for the poor or needy. The prophet Amos takes time to graphically describe the   extravagance of the rich in terms of their beds and meat (Amos 6:4), musical taste and instruments (Amos 6:5), wine and perfumes (Amos 6:6). In the second reading, St. Paul tells us the kind of life...

HOMILY FOR TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY C3 Readings: Amos 8:4-7; psalm 113:1bc-2, 4-6, 7-8; I timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13 By Rev. Fr Solomon Patrick Zaku Chinua Achebe, in his little book, The Trouble with Nigeria, stated simply that the trouble with Nigeria is its leadership. No one has disputed this claim almost 39 years ago. Rather, there are more additional supports for this as reality is proven beyond all reasonable doubt that it is the leadership which brings more trouble than is expected. Today, many people are saying that the leaders have taught the followers. We can say that the trouble with Nigeria is its followership too. But the truth of the matter is that, it is the combination of leadership and followership which has brought Nigeria to its knees. Although many called Nigeria the giant of Africa in terms of population, some today are calling Nigeria, ‘a crippled Giant’, or ‘a Giant with legs with clay’. Some social analysts claim that ‘we are dancing on wet graves’. In the...

A Communiqué issued at the end of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Divine Mercy Pastoral Centre, Agbamaya, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, 11-20 September 2019. 1. PREAMBLE We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria held our Second Plenary Meeting for the year at the Divine Mercy Pastoral Centre, Agbamaya, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State from 11-20 September 2019. Having prayerfully reflected on issues affecting the Church and the Nigerian State, we now issue this Communiqué. 2. IN COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY FATHER POPE FRANCIS The Holy Father Pope Francis has come under attacks in recent times. Of more serious concern are the attacks coming from some higher levels of the Church in some parts of the world. As members of the Episcopal College, of which the Holy Father is the Head, we regard these attacks as the proverbial ill wind that blows no one any good, bearing in mind that there are other more legitimate and traditionally teste...

Today being the 19th of September 2019 wasn't just a Thanksgiving day for the Nigeria Federation Of Catholic Students Unimaid but a sessional Thanksgiving marking the end of the 2018/2019 Academic session. However, the event occurs every semester. The Thanksgiving event began at exactly 6pm with praises and Worship led by the NFCS Praise Band. After the praises and worship, the NFCS Anthem and congregational hymn were sang. The event was moderated by Sis. Margaret Adiel. During Testimony time, lots of people gave thanks to God for his mercies, favors ,grace and intercession. Some Final year brethren also thanked God for bringing them to the end of their study. They expressed their joy and Thanksgiving. The testifiers were prayed for. The day's speaker's in person of Bro. Charles Mackay Onoja spoke on the topic "You are no longer ruled by your desires." The Scriptural reading was made from Romans 8:9. Bro. Mackay charged the congregation to desist from g...

HOMILY FOR TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C BY: Rev. Solomon Patrick Zaku Exodus 32:7-11,13-14; Psalm 51: 3-4,12-13,17,19; I Timothy 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-32 Dearly beloved in the Christ, the readings of this Sunday remind us of the nature of our God. Our God is loving, compassionate and Merciful God. There is no God like him. His love and mercy is are incomparable. God’s love towards his children is unconditional, non calculating benevolent and infinitely merciful. God is concern with those who stray from his love, he searches for the lost and welcomes back those who acknowledge their weaknesses. Psalm 103 :8-10 captures it well when it says: “the lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love…..he  does not treat us as our sins deserves or repay us according to our iniquities”. The first reading ( Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14) tells us how the Israelites rebelled against God and committed idolatry shortly after God had delivered them from Egypt. God had...

Homily for TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY C By Rev. Fr.Solomon P. Zaku Readings: Wisdom 9:13-18b, Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17; Philemon 9b-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33 The Gospel of today tells us, ‘Great multitudes accompanied Jesus, and he turned and said to them, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”’. For us Nigerian Christians, today Jesus challenges us –“If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”’. This is the true test for a follower and for a leader too –for the leader because if he is not of substance, of the greatest importance, he will not give this standard or condition. One of the reasons for this hard condition is not unconnected with the flitting and flirting minds of men. Even in religious terms, man does not care...

Homily for TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY C3 By Rev. Fr.Solomon P. Zaku (Chaplain, All Saints Catholic Chapel, University of Maiduguri) Readings: Sirach 3:17-20, 28-29; psalm 68:4-5ab, 10-11; Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14 One of the virtues we supposed to possess as Christians is the virtue of humility. Once we are humble we can be able to do our work well and touch people’s life. Humility is known as the mother of all virtues. This is because if one humble all other virtues will follow. Humility is not low self-esteem. A person who has low self-esteem has a negative look of life; he feels nobody likes him and cannot do anything. While a humble person knows his strength and weaknesses and he works on his weaknesses in order to become a better person. WHAT IS HUMILITY? The Oxford advanced learners dictionary defines humility as the quality of not thinking that you are better than other people. St Thomas Aquinas sees humility as “the inclination towards the lowest place; a ...