Promoting my Catholic faith.

16/08/2026

*⏰20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A), 16TH AUGUST, 2026.*

*📖Is 56:1.6-7 + Ps 67 + Rom 11:13-15.29-32 + Mt 15:21-28.*

*✍🏾FR.OGECHUKWU F OKPULU*

*📡 PERSEVERANCE, PERSISTENCE AND FAITH*

In different fields of learning, formulas are usually applied to solve and answer questions. In Mathematics, Chemistry, Physis etc, different formulas are used to solve different questions. Christianity too has its own formula for breakthrough. Every Christian prays for breakthrough in life. The formula to achieving breakthrough in life is; *P1 + P2+F= BT. (P1- perseverance, P2- persistence+ F- faith=BT- Breakthrough.*

Our readings today is centred on these three qualities.

The Gospel today presents to us a Cannanite woman, a Gentile whom the Jews regards as pagan who possesses these three great attributes which even the so-called Jews never had.

She had a strong faith that only Jesus had the power to cure her daughter's sickness, so she decided to take a bold step by approaching Jesus. She also displayed this great faith when Jesus spoke to her with some discouraging words, but she refused to be discouraged and was moved to action when she saw her level of faith.

Perseverance and persistence we also see from the attitude of the woman - Even when it seemed that Jesus was not ready to grant her wish or request, she never gave up. She was not ready to take No for an answer and never took offence at Jesus' statement. Even in the face of discouragement, she persevered and continued in her persistence to making sure Jesus granted her request.

We go through similar experiences in life as Christians. Often times, we come before the Blessed Sacrament to pray for weeks and months and it seems that Jesus doesn't want to answer us. He does, but He is just testing our faith to see how much we can persevere in challenging times. When we pray, we should never stop till our request is granted. Don't ever give up, delay is not denial in prayer. Only those who persevere to the end wins th

02/08/2026

The family of Father Arsanios Wadid, who was murdered in April 2022, confirmed that the man found guilty of the crime has been put to death.

31/07/2026

The body of Rev. Fr. Joseph Ajakor was laid to rest yesterday at the Basilica of the most Holy Trinity Onitsha. His months mind will take place on 7th of August 2026 At his home parish St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Igbariam . May the Lord grant him eternal rest through Christ our Lord, Amen.

31/07/2026

Friday 31, July 2026
Seventeenth Week, Ordinary Time, Year II
Memorial Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest.
Jer. 26:1-9; Mt. 13:54-58

BE OPEN TO THE TRUTH

Good morning my dearly beloved child of God. Hope you’re fine in the Lord? God is always there for us. We are God’s own. Jesus is our best teacher in everything. He cares for us more than we care for ourselves.
So, another new day with new opportunities has come, let us rejoice and be glad and not worry too much.

In today's readings, we see different kinds of people and their receptivity to the truth or prophetic voice of God.

If someone were to ask you, who preached the homily at Mass last Sunday, you might take a while to recall which priest it was. But if he goes further to ask, "So what did he preach about?" then you really have to crank up your memory in order to recall what you heard.

And three or more other persons, who were there listening to the same homily would have different versions of the same sermon preached.

Could it mean that people were doing their own reflections about the Word of God? Or they heard differently? Or people tend to listen with varying degrees of openness and receptivity? Or does it depend largely on, who is speaking or what is being spoken about? Or how it’s being said?

In today’s two readings, we see two types of people who are not open to what is said. In the First Reading is the type, who is not open to correction, and hence do not want to hear the truth. The type that wants Jeremiah dead.

Thus, when Jeremiah have finished speaking, “the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, You will die” (Jer. 26:8):

In the gospel, is the other type, who is not open to the person, and hence not open to the truth coming from the person. Thus “they were amazed and said, “From where did this man get this wisdom and these miracles?

Is not this one, the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary... From where then did this man get all

31/07/2026

31/07/2026

*5,952 – Message from Our Lady, Queen of Peace, transmitted in 19/7/2026*

Dear children, love and defend the Truth, for only thus will you be able to walk the road to holiness. I want to tell you that God is in a hurry and that the time of your return to the God of salvation and of peace has arrived. You live in a time worse than the time of the flood. Humanity walks blind and My poor children are walking toward a great spiritual abyss. Behold, the most difficult times for you have arrived. Give Me your hands and I will lead you to My Son Jesus. Take ye care of your spiritual life. All in this life passes, but the grace of God in you will be eternal. Have courage, faith and hope. You will still see horrors everywhere, but the just will be protected. Onward without fear! At this moment, I make fall from Heaven upon you an extraordinary shower of graces. This is the message I transmit to you today in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Thank you for allowing Me to gather you here once again. I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Stay in peace.

31/07/2026

In 1 Corinthians 3:13–15, St. Paul the Apostle describes what will happen when each person stands before God's judgment:
"Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire. The fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved but only as through fire."

This passage is one of the strongest biblical foundations of Purgatory.

Notice what St. Paul says.

First, the person is saved. This cannot be Hell because no one in Hell is saved.

Second, the person suffers loss and passes through fire. This cannot be Heaven because there is no suffering, pain, or purification in Heaven.

So where is this state in which a saved person undergoes purification before entering Heaven?

The Catholic Church calls this 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?

Many people imagine Purgatory as another place between Heaven and Hell. That is not what the Catholic Church teaches.

The word "Purgatory" comes from the Latin word purgatorium, from the verb purgare, meaning "to cleanse" or "to purify."

Purgatory is a temporary state of purification for those who die in God's grace but are not yet perfectly purified. It is God's merciful way of preparing saved souls to enter His holy presence.

The Bible tells us:

"Nothing unclean shall enter it." (Revelation 21:27)

Since nothing unclean can enter Heaven, every remaining stain of sin must be removed. That is exactly what this purification accomplishes.

Does This Mean Christ's Sacrifice Was Not Enough?

Some people object by quoting Hebrews 10:14:

"For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

Catholics completely agree that Christ's sacrifice is perfect, complete, and sufficient for our salvation.

However, notice the words:

"...those who are being made holy."

The Bible speaks of

31/07/2026

Meet Little Li, the brave 10-11 year old girl from 1950s Communist China.

When soldiers desecrated her church, imprisoned the priest, and scattered the Blessed Sacrament on the floor like trash... most people stayed away in fear. But not Little Li.

Every day, this courageous child sneaked into the locked church, knelt in silent adoration for a full hour (preparing her heart), then reverently consumed one Host from the floor with her tongue—saving Jesus from further sacrilege.

She did this again and again... until the last Host remained.

On that final day, a soldier caught her. He shot her. Yet even as she fell, wounded, she crawled forward, pressed her tongue to the floor, and received her Lord one last time before dying.

Her heroic love for Jesus in the Eucharist moved hearts across the world. A little mustard seed of faith that grew into a towering tree of inspiration.

"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (John 12:24)

Little Li, pray for us—especially for those facing persecution for their faith today. 🙏

31/07/2026

In the most recent development in an immigration case that has gained national attention, Sister Leticia Ugboaja, the Nigerian Catholic nun and nurse who was briefly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in south Texas in June, was informed today that third-country removal was not off the table, which her attorney called “very concerning.”

After a July 28 check-in with ICE officials in Harlingen, Texas, Carlos M. Garcia, Ugboaja’s lawyer, told reporters gathered outside the ICE field office that the possibility of third-country removal “is very concerning for us ... That is obviously not what we want. And that’s why we are exploring all our legal alternatives.”

Read more: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/south-texas-nun-still-at-risk-of-third-country-removal-after-recent-ice-check-in-attorney-says