Cathoic Youth Organization of Nigeria of St Monica Parish Ado Ekiti

14/04/2024

09/04/2024

One good thing about the grave of Jesus Christ our Savior that gladdens my heart is that the grave was empty, we serve a living God not a dead God. He has power over death and grave

07/04/2024

The CYON of St. MONICA Parish, Ado Ekiti wants to use this golden opportunity to appreciate all the Catholic parishes in Ado Deanery that supports and attended the picnic.

31/03/2024

Easter, a time of renewal and rejoicing. A celebration of hope and new beginnings.

The CYON, st. Monica Parish celebrates with all believers and welcomes the eternal salvation Jesus has won for us.

Easter symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, of life over death. It's a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there's the promise of dawn. Just as the earth awakens from its wintry slumber, Easter invites us to awaken to the possibilities of transformation and growth in Christ Jesus.

For Christians, Easter holds profound significance as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's a testament to the power of faith, love, and redemption. The empty tomb serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring believers to embrace life with renewed vigor and purpose.

Yet, Easter's message of joy transcends religious boundaries. It speaks to the universal human longing for renewal and restoration. It's a time to cast off the shackles of doubt and despair, and embrace the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Whether through joyful gatherings with loved ones, acts of kindness, or moments of quiet reflection, Easter invites us to celebrate the beauty of life and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead.

May the joy of Easter fill our hearts and illuminate our paths as we journey through life's ever-unfolding story.

29/03/2024

Jesus was nailed on the Cross!
Freedom from death

Hebrews 2:14-15 teaches that Jesus has released us from the fear of death because, by his death, he has ‘destroyed’ (or, better, ‘made ineffective’) the one who holds the power of death.

Because sin is the ‘sting’ of death, the primary reason why death is painful and unpleasant, Jesus dealt with death by dealing with sin. It was sin which caused death in the first place, and which continues to cause humanity to face divine judgement after death – and this sinful root is the essential reason for the universal human fear of death.

Christ, however, has died for our sins and has taken them away. His victory over sin means that we are released from the fear of sin and judgement, and, therefore, from the fear of death.

In 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, the apostle Paul likens death both to a scorpion whose sting has been drawn and to a military conqueror whose power has been broken. Now that we have been forgiven through the death on the cross, death cannot harm us: through our Lord Jesus Christ, God has given us victory over the fear of death.

Of course, like the devil, death still remains: it has been neutralised, not eliminated. It still exists, but has lost its power to harm and terrify. John 11:25-26 records Jesus’ great promise to his disciples about death:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish.”

This does not mean that we will escape physical death, but that it will simply be a transition from life on earth to fullness of life.

29/03/2024

Good Friday (Easter Period Demonstrated by the youth of Saint Monica Parish, Ado Ekiti) Tag Victory of Jesus Christ over flesh, world, devil, and death.
Bible Text : ISAIAH 53 : 13 - 53, 53 : 12. John 18 : 1 - 19: 42

It may seem that evil triumphed over goodness at the cross, but the Bible declares that it was the place where goodness conquered evil. It may seem that Christ was crushed by earthly powers on the cross, but it was the place where the Seed of the woman finally crushed the serpent’s head. We owe this victory completely to the victorious Jesus. Colossians 2:15 states that it is Christ who overcame and triumphed – and that he did so on the cross.
THE CONQUERING CHRIST
How can a crucified Christ be a conqueror? How can a victim be a victor? How can an executed criminal, who was rejected, betrayed, denied, and deserted by his own disciples, be deemed triumphant? The answers lie in God’s plan of salvation to turn defeat into victory and death into life. That plan was accomplished in what we know as the Easter story.
Predictions of victory
Genesis 3:15 is the first glimpse of the gospel, the first foreshadowing of the cross, and it points specifically to the victory of our salvation:
From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel
This first prediction of triumph identified the woman’s seed, or offspring, as the one who would be completely victorious. It was later revealed to the prophets that this ‘seed’ would be the Messiah, the Christos or ‘Anointed Man’, who would establish God’s righteous rule and eradicate evil.
When we take an overview of the Old Testament, and interpret each passage in the light of the cross, we see that God’s righteous rule over Israel and the promise of the future rule of Messiah are further predictions of the Seed’s ultimate triumph over the serpent.

24/03/2024

Passion/Palm Sunday, Year B, Isaiah 50:4-7, Psalm 22, Philippians 2:6-11, Mark 14 : 1-15,47
He saved others, but He can not save himself.
Today, we begin the celebration of our salvation. Today, well marked the story of our Lord Jesus regarding
our salvation. This week is tag Holy week because of what it stands for "the Mystery of our salvation.
in the narrative passion of our text above, He saved, healed, and delivered others, let him come down from the cross and save himself
Maybe if Jesus has done so, the story may be different. while God used the way of passion for the salvation of man. it is best known to Him. There are thousands of ways to kill rat without shedding blood. There are thousands of ways God could have used to save man than the way og passion and the cross.
This week is referred to as the Holy week. What is Holy about the week? Jesus offered himself. The sacrifice of Jesus. The totality that Jesus has done in sacrifice. And this
what defined our faith and mystery of our faith and salvation. in the narrative text, it is shown that Jesus was also a human being like us that feel pains and agony, At a point or jucture of the event Jesus wanted to pack out, He said, my father, my father, let this cup pass me by, but the will be done and another deep cry of a man in pain, "He said."Why has thou forsake me", why do l have to face this pain and angony? All these show that Jesus is also a human being. May the plan of God be fulfilled in our life. This reflects the submissiveness of Jesus to the plan of God. Isaiah and so many Prophets prophesied about the suffering of Jesus Christ,
In the second reading, Philippians 2:6-11, He was equal with God but emptied himself and assured the position of man. At times, it may be assumed we are afflecting ourselves
as christain. Some people only talk about the resurrection but before ressurrection. There is suffering. Glory is sweet, but before the sweatness of glory, there must be cross and suffering.

14/03/2024

*GAZE AT THE IMAGE OF THE SACRED HEART*

The Heart of Jesus is the abode of true love. His heart is the fountain of love and mercy. From it flows the fulness of God's compassion. We understand better the blessings of the Heart of Jesus when we recall that when on the cross, he was pierced with a lance, blood and water flowed from his side. That blood shed for the life of the world and the water of baptism which washed us clean all come from him. The power in his heart, which teaches us purity and gentleness, is still what it was yesterday, and so will it be forever. Therefore, all who come to that heart will experience love and a deep sense of the invitation to redemption. Come to think of it, only the love of the Sacred Heart can truly sacrifice itself for the salvation of the world. So, there is no need to put arguments for or against the love of the Sacred Heart. It is self-evident.

The image of the Sacred Heart has Jesus opening his heart as an invitation to all to come to drink of the goodness and mercy of God. On some images, we may find the heart pierced with a lance. We should gaze at and concentrate on this image. It reminds us of love. It compels us to make sacrifices. It demands that we show compassion unconditionally. It invites us to be like Jesus, our master, who showed the supreme example of death for all mankind. It all boils down to the fact that Jesus invites us to come to him. As he said to us in the scripture, “come to me all you who labour and are heavy-laden, I will give you rest.” That rest is best found in the him. This is another gainful bracelet. It is valid for every time during the year.

13/03/2024

PRAY FOR THE SICK

The attitude of charity extends to reaching out to those who need help. We should share material goods with the needy. However, being charitable is not limited to offering material benefits. We should also learn to pray for the needy. We should accompany the needy in prayer that as we help them materially, they may find solace also in mind and heart. The sick are a part of the needy who need not just our material support but also spiritual support. Even though it is becoming a common language to as we say speak good, positive things to ourselves, and for that some people claim to be strong when they are sick. So instead of accepting they need help, they “reject it in Jesus' name."” Yet, first among what Jesus and his name would rather have a sick person do is to accept that he needs help and to pray with faith for healing.

It is, therefore , essential to support the sick by praying for them. While there are many who we know, there are surely many more we do not know who need our prayers. The prayer we say with faith for them will surely reach them. For example, those who visit and pray with the sick, as part of their Legion of Mary duties, come back with a lot of beautiful testimonies, of how the sick felt supported in their pain and of how many were healed by the prayer of faith which they prayed. If you can do this, it will not go in vain. If you can not visit a hospital, you can still do so from wherever you are. Spend some time today to pray for the sick. You may even make it a daily duty even beyond the season of Lent. You will be providing comfort and support for them.

12/03/2024

*PARTICIPATE IN A RETREAT*

The period of forty days has broken in two, and we are treading the second half of the season. As things stand, each one of us should have taken some bold steps personally, which would amount to counting the blessings of the season when Easter comes. This is commendable. But there is still a lot to gain when we can gather with a group for a retreat. This could be physical or virtual, as the media affords us the opportunity today. The benefits of participating in a retreat are immense, as it helps to listen to and learn from the experiences of others. We are led by the voice of God through the one who directs the retreat. We also pray together. In a world where there is a lot of talking because everyone wants to have a voice and be heard, not minding whether what is said is meaningful or not, a retreat helps us to listen.

One of the best ways to achieve this is to look out for the time of your parish Lenten retreat and be part of it. Psalm 1 has some deep words about gathering to meditate on the dictates of the Lord. Have you ever reflected on it? They are just fitting for anyone who wishes to take part in such a gathering as a retreat. Hear this excerpt from the psalm, “Blessed is he who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of scorners; but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and ponders his law, day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” This is the kind of benefit that participating in a retreat could give.

*Fr. Martin Badejo*

11/03/2024

STAY STRONG! LOOK UP!!

The journey continues. We go again after the Laetare Sunday. With every step, we inch closer to the goal to rise to new life with the risen Lord. The message of the Laetare Sunday is that we should rejoice. That joy comes to its height when the Son of Man is raised up, as the serpent was raised in the desert, that everyone who looks at him will be saved. He promised it. He will never fail. It is ours to stay strong, stay focused and look up. We may not have arrived at the finishing line yet. But we have come a long way. Staying focused is key.

Going back into ourselves, reconciling with God and the neighbor, is an important message for this season. Indeed, it would not be limited to Lent. The message is louder in the season because it is expected that the impact would show in our lives after the season. It is expected that we come out of the season better than we began it. Hence, the various activities we carry out, denying ourselves pleasure that our bodies may obey us. In other words, we should try to make each step count not just for the period of forty days. The good we have acquired in our character and for the soul must continue to manifest. This demands that we look up and stay strong. It is another way of saying never give up. Focus on the prize.

Have a great day ahead of you.