St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Trikania, Kaduna.

01/09/2026

WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER ✨

31/08/2026

Happy new week

Be happy always

May this new week be a blessing for us all. AMEN

30/08/2026

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF KADUNA

St Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Trikania

Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

30th August 2026

29/08/2026

Saturday August 29, 2026
MARTYRDOM OF JOHN THE
BAPTIST (MEMORIAL)

VESTMENT: RED

REFLECTION: THE COURAGE TO BE FAITHFUL

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St John the baptist. St John the baptist was a man who did not look powerful in the eyes of the world. He had no palace, no army and no political influence. Yet he possessed something Herod could not buy: the courage to stand for the truth.

John told Herod that his relationship was wrong. He could have kept quiet. He could have chosen safety. He could have said, “It is not my business.” But John understood that his calling was greater than his comfort.

And this is where the readings become personal for us.

Sometimes, we think being strong in faith means doing extraordinary things. But perhaps God is asking us for something much simpler: the courage to remain faithful in the ordinary moments when nobody is watching.

To tell the truth when lying would be easier.
To choose forgiveness when resentment feels better.
To say no when everyone else is saying yes.
To remain faithful when compromise would make life easier.

Herod actually knew that John was right. The Gospel tells us that he was distressed when he was asked to kill him. Knowing the truth, however, is not the same as having the courage to live by it.

Herod allowed his pride, his promise and the pressure of those around him to become stronger than his conscience.

John, on the other hand, lost his head but never lost his conviction.

That is the challenge for us today: What are we willing to lose so that we do not lose ourselves in the process?

There may be moments when doing what is right costs us friendships, opportunities, comfort, approval or even our reputation. But St. John reminds us that a life lived for Christ cannot be measured by how comfortable it was, but by how faithfully it was lived.

God does not need us to be powerful.
He needs us to be faithful.

And perhaps that is why St. Paul tells us not to boast in ourselves, but in the Lord. Because when God uses ordinary people who are willing to surrender themselves to Him, His strength becomes visible through their weakness.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us,

Peace be with you✨

28/07/2026

*ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF NIGERIA DURING A COURTESY VISIT TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR ON 28 JULY 2026*

*PARTNERS IN BUILDING A JUST, PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS NIGERIA*

Mr. President,

1. Greetings: I bring you warm greetings and prayers from all the members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. I am Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, the Archbishop of Kaduna and the newly elected President of our Conference. I thank you immensely for granting us this audience, which offers us the opportunity to share with you some of our observations and genuine concerns about our country. This ensures the continuity of our collaborative engagement in the task of building a healthy nation that all of us would be proud to belong to: “a nation of justice, love and peace.”

2. The Visit of Archbishop Gallagher: Your Excellency, may we use this opportunity to express our gratitude to you and the Ministry of External Affairs for the warm reception that you gave to the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, during his recent visit on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We, as Nigerians and Catholics, are happy to share the two identities and proud of the healthy and unbroken relations between the two states. We believe that the relations will bear perceptible fruits for Christianity and Christians in our country. This, Mr. President, is a time when many Christians have legitimate concerns about their place in Nigeria, especially regarding the departure from the Christian/Muslim presidency, and we hope that, through deliberate government policies, those concerns will be addressed and Christians will be reassured of their rights as citizens. We expect that you will take steps to soothe frayed nerves and address the concerns.

3. Quality tertiary education and the challenge of limited spaces: Mr. President, Sir, you have shown a commitment to giving hope and succour to our youth through NELFund, the Student Loan Initiative. This deserves commendation. Unfortunately, by global standards, Nigeria does not as yet have enough universities to cater for a bulging youth population. Only a tiny fraction of the persons seeking admission into the university actually get it, owing to limited number of places available. We therefore hope that the recent moratorium placed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the establishment of new private universities does not cancel out the gains of NELFund.

4. Sustaining the gains of the democratic experience: Mr. President, on matters of the state, we are genuinely concerned by fears expressed across the country on the fate of opposition politics. You have a track record of having been in active opposition. Many voices are screaming over what they consider to be the constriction of the political space, with some fearing that a one-party state is being anticipated. Whether these fears are genuine or not, can only be tested by the signals citizens receive from Your Excellency as the leader of the party in power. To this end, we urge you to encourage elected political office holders who are members of your party – Governors, members of the National Assembly, Local Government Chairmen – to ensure that a genuine level playing field is maintained and that focus is placed on making everyone see that the rules and processes are fair to all and respected by all. As a man who risked so much in the struggle for the return of democratic rule in the dark days of military dictatorship, your greatest legacy would be the strengthening of our democratic institutions.

5. Credible elections for the avoidance of disaster: Furthermore, there have been growing concerns about the electoral processes. We note the efforts being made to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible. Sadly, there is an increasing feeling of disenchantment with the clear manipulation of the electoral processes, and the collective feeling that people’s votes do not count. Lower voter turnouts are a mark of distrust in the electoral processes. It is our hope that you be on the forefront in demanding that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, delivers credible elections, to ensure that Nigeria is set on the path of national development and integrity. This ought to start with making voters’ cards easily available to all eligible voters and end with election results that reflect the true choice of Nigerians. Adequate and timely funding of INEC is required to ensure that the Agency inspires the confidence of citizens. Anything short of transparent, free, fair and credible elections in 2027 would be an invitation to avoidable disaster against which all well-meaning Nigerians have been praying. We urge that the conduct of the political class should be in tune with the voices we lift to God in prayer.

6. But we need to be alive and secure first: Mr. President, we congratulate you for the recent successful release of the kidnapped school children and their teachers in Oyo State. The arrest of some of the kidnappers and their speedy prosecution is one of the few positive indicators of what a willing government and its agencies could do to protect the life and property of the citizens. We commend you for this and for other such cases in recent times. Unfortunately, these remain few and isolated exceptions. Our nation still remains a favourable destination for terrorism, banditry and high levels of insecurity that threaten our collective existence. Schools, places of worship, homes, farms, rural roads and highways. Nowhere is safe anymore, as bandits and criminals freely carry away scores of worshippers and schoolchildren, even in broad daylight undisturbed, kidnap and butcher simple as well as high profile citizens mercilessly and unapologetically. Our sovereignty is at stake and, even by African standards, our insecurity continues to diminish our standing and our ability to serve as the leader of Africa.

7. Worsening quality of life, suffering and pain: When the security situation in the country is taken together with the deterioration and near collapse of the power sector, the sorry state of our roads, the economic hardship, one wonders how much of the renewed hope agenda flaunted by your administration is being realised. Mr President, our nation is bleeding. The citizens are suffering and crying. Not only on account of the constant threat to their life by criminal elements, but also because of some policies of government whose promised positive effects have been delayed too long before being felt. You have said a couple of times that you hear their cries and feel their pain. But words are not enough. They expect concrete action that engenders some change in their condition.

8. Pope Leo XIV among us will strengthen our collective prayers and efforts: Finally, we believe that the problems and burden of our nation require a sincere commitment to good governance for the common good to the glory of God. We continue to pray for our dear country and appeal to you to take seriously our pleas for greater collaboration between the Church and the State for the overall wellbeing of our people. We believe that Mr President is aware that the Holy Father, Pope Leo holds our country very close to his heart and constantly prays for us. During our visit to him in March this year, he was quite enthusiastic about a visit to Nigeria on a date in the future. As you know, Sir, that will only happen if you invite him. We request that this be done soon. Our land and its people will benefit immensely from his presence and blessing.

9. Two particular requests: Mr. President, we respectfully place two specific requests before Your Excellency. First, we ask that Your Excellency give favourable consideration to the request on the return of mission schools to their original proprietors. We recall that this matter was raised during our meeting with you last year, and we remain hopeful that your Government will take the necessary steps towards its implementation.

Second, in the light of the Supreme Court judgment of 10 February 2026 affirming the constitutional right of Muslim students at Rivers State University to freedom of religion and worship, we respectfully request that Your Excellency direct the appropriate Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government to ensure that this same constitutional principle is faithfully implemented throughout the Federation. In particular, we appeal that Christians, especially in the northern part of the country, who continue to face difficulties in acquiring land for the construction of churches or in freely exercising their right to worship, should enjoy the same constitutional rights and protection accorded to all Nigerians. Equal citizenship must be reflected not only in law but also in practice.

Once again, we thank you very sincerely for granting us this audience. We pray that the Almighty and merciful God may grant you the wisdom and strength to lead our nation and all its citizens towards that greatness that God has destined for us.

*✠Matthew Man-Oso NDAGOSO*
*Archbishop of Kaduna*
*President, CBCN*

14/07/2026

Thanksgiving Mass of Rev. Fr. Solomon Dogara – Homily Nuggets

Homily delivered by Rev. Fr. John Allahmagani Bagobiri on 12th July 2026 at St. Nicholas Parish, Trikania.

Rev. Fr. John Bagobiri began his homily by inviting the choir to lead the congregation in a song, which they did beautifully. He then acknowledged all the priests present at the altar and recalled that 19 years ago, he had stood in the same church to celebrate his own First Thanksgiving Mass, just as Fr. Solomon was doing that day. Referring to Fr. Solomon, he asked, “Who is next?” and remarked that perhaps another priest would emerge in the next nine or ten years.

Reflecting on the day’s readings, Fr. Bagobiri said they speak to every one of us. He quoted former U.S. President Barack Obama, who once said that what kept him in the White House was hope. He also noted that President Donald Trump often encourages people never to give up in life. He referred to a song by the Zumunta Mata, whose message can be translated as: “They have hope that one day their sufferings will come to an end.” Hope, he said, is essential, especially in the life of Fr. Solomon.

He recounted Fr. Solomon’s journey to the priesthood, explaining that although he sought admission into seminaries in Kaduna and other places, it was eventually the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan that admitted him. Fr. Solomon persevered through ten years of seminary formation. Fr. Bagobiri remarked that ordination is “not the end of a beginning, but the beginning of an end”—the beginning of a lifelong mission of service.

He went on to say that everyone has a unique mission on earth and must keep hope alive. He compared the priesthood to marriage, emphasizing that both are lifelong vocations requiring maturity and commitment.

To illustrate this, he narrated the story of a monk who regularly celebrated Mass at an outstation. Before crossing a river, the monk would carefully remove his chasuble and throw it across to the other side before making the crossing himself. When someone asked why he did this, the monk replied that he loved his vocation and treasured his chasuble. If his chasuble crossed the river, then he too must cross, it was not an option to turn back and abandon it. The story emphasized commitment and faithfulness to one’s calling.

Fr. Bagobiri also explained the Book of Isaiah, noting that it is commonly divided into three sections:
• Chapters 1–39, known as First Isaiah, written around 700 B.C.
• Chapters 40–55, known as Second Isaiah, from which the day’s first reading was taken, written during the Babylonian exile.
• Chapters 56–66, known as Third Isaiah, written after the exile.

He explained that the reading from Second Isaiah is a message of hope. He observed that all the day’s readings centered on farming. Just as a farmer plants seeds and patiently waits for the harvest, so too must Christians learn patience and perseverance.

Quoting St. Paul, he reminded the congregation that “the sufferings of this present life cannot be compared with the glory that will be revealed to us.” He also referred to the familiar saying, “No pain, no gain.” Citing St. Augustine, he said that God never promised a life free from trials and challenges, but He always provides a way through them.

He further referred to Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:25–30, where Christ says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light,” and to John 16:33, where Jesus assures His disciples that they should not lose heart because He has conquered the world. Christians, therefore, should never give up, regardless of the challenges they face. According to Fr. Bagobiri, suffering is meant to strengthen us and make us better people.

Speaking on the Gospel of the day, he noted that the sower remained focused despite the different types of soil on which the seed fell. Likewise, in life, there will always be distractions, but everyone, whether priest, parent, child, or lay faithful, must remain focused on the mission God has entrusted to them. He encouraged everyone to dwell more on the positives of life than the negatives and not to become discouraged by the absence of immediate results.

Addressing Fr. Solomon directly, Fr. Bagobiri reminded him that he is now on a mission. He described him as a perfect gentleman and encouraged him to remain focused, never doing anything without first consulting God. Jesus Himself, he said, never acted without communion with His Father.

He added that the secret of the priesthood is constant prayer. A priest may have many good ideas, but discerning the will of God is far more important than merely pursuing personal plans. He also advised Fr. Solomon never to undertake major decisions without consulting his bishop. While creativity and initiative are valuable, obedience and collaboration are essential in priestly ministry.

He reminded Fr. Solomon that the greatest gift he possesses is the priesthood itself, nothing more and nothing less. He encouraged him to begin his ministry humbly, with a willingness to learn and observe. Referring to the Young Christian Students (YCS) movement, he recalled its guiding principle: See, Judge, and Act.

He also shared the wisdom of Fr. Abraham Abui, who often advised young priests: “Observe for five years, ask questions for another five years, and then act for the rest of your life.” In any new parish assignment, Fr. Bagobiri said, a priest should spend time observing before making changes. He encouraged Fr. Solomon to respect everyone, both young and old, remembering always that the priesthood is a privilege. God could have called anyone, yet He chose him.

Finally, Fr. Bagobiri advised Fr. Solomon to maintain trusted relationships with experienced priests or reliable classmates and always have a regular confessor. He encouraged him to remain pure in heart and conduct, assuring him that with God by his side, he could confidently serve anywhere.

He also warned him never to compare himself with anyone, not even his classmates, because everyone has a unique journey. Comparison only leads to frustration.

Turning to the lay faithful, Fr. Bagobiri encouraged them to pray constantly for their priests and to offer respectful advice whenever appropriate. He concluded by reminding everyone that while some people contribute to the Church’s mission by going, others support it through giving, and still others through prayer. Every contribution is valuable in building God’s Kingdom.

Homily nuggets from the First Thanksgiving Mass of Rev. Fr. Solomon Dogara, delivered by Rev. Fr. John Allahmagani Bagobiri and compiled by Oshaps. 😊

09/07/2026

We congratulate our son and are proud to identify with him. Wishing him a faithful and fruitful ministry ahead.

Happy 19th Priestly Anniversary, father!

06/07/2026

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C) – HOMILY NUGGETS

Sunday, 5th July 2026
Homily by Rev. Fr. Joshua Y. Achir at St. Nicholas, Trikania

Fr. Joshua began his homily by leading the congregation in two powerful hymns: “No, Not One” and “In Christ Alone.”

He then reflected on today’s Gospel reading, Matthew 11:25–30, describing it as one of the clearest invitations Jesus extends to humanity. It is an invitation to those who are physically, morally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted; to everyone carrying burdens, facing difficulties, or struggling with life’s challenges.

Almost every one of us has one problem or another troubling us. Today, Jesus invites us to come to Him. Whatever your burden may be, simply come to Jesus. He will give you a shoulder to lean on, and He will give you rest.

Jesus invites us, even in the messiness of our lives, to come to Him personally. No one can carry your burden to Christ on your behalf; each of us has been personally invited to come to Him. This invitation excludes no one. It embraces everyone burdened by life’s challenges, guilt, anxiety, or the exhausting effort of trying to earn God’s approval through mere religious works.

Reiterating the Gospel, Fr. Joshua explained that when Jesus says, “I will give you rest,” He is speaking of much more than physical rest. The rest Jesus promises is an inner peace that remains even in the midst of chaos. It also includes reconciliation with God, the joy of forgiveness, and the confidence that comes from trusting completely in God. As the psalmist says, “In God I trust.”

Even when the economy is difficult and life seems uncertain, we can still be reconciled with God and with one another, thereby experiencing His peace.

Fr. Joshua summarized the burdens Jesus speaks about into five categories:

1. Spiritual Burdens
These include guilt over past sins. Many people remain trapped in their past, living with shame and regret. Others feel separated from God because they believe they are unworthy to come before Him. Some are afraid and cannot forgive themselves. Yet Jesus says to them today: “Come to me, and I will give you rest.”

2. Emotional Burdens
Many people carry invisible emotional wounds. Some are anxious about the future, even though the Word of God reminds us not to worry about tomorrow—about what we shall eat or wear.

Others grieve deeply over the loss of loved ones and struggle to accept the reality that death comes to all. Some experience profound loneliness, feeling isolated even while surrounded by people. Others battle depression, discouragement, hopelessness, fear, insecurity, bitterness, and unforgiveness. Living without hope is one of life’s greatest burdens. Fr. Joshua encouraged everyone carrying these hidden burdens to bring them to Jesus.

3. The Burdens of Daily Life
Life itself presents many pressures—financial hardship, family responsibilities, illness, chronic pain, workplace stress, and countless other challenges. Some people cannot even boast of having ₦1,000 in their accounts, making it difficult to care for themselves and their families.

Jesus does not promise that these problems will instantly disappear. Rather, He promises to walk with us through them, offering His strength, comfort, and companionship.

4. The Burden of Sin
Sin is a heavy burden because it damages our relationship with God and with others. It also wounds the community of believers.

Fr. Joshua mentioned various forms of sin and addiction, including po*******hy, fornication, adultery, abortion, alcoholism, drug abuse, and other destructive habits that enslave many people. Christ came to offer forgiveness, healing, and freedom from every form of sin.

5. Religious Burdens
Finally, Fr. Joshua spoke about religious burdens, referring to Matthew 23:4, where Jesus condemned the heavy burdens placed on people by religious leaders without offering them help.

Jesus’ invitation remains open to everyone. He offers us His shoulder to lean on, His forgiveness, His presence, and His peace. No one is excluded from His loving invitation.

Fr. Joshua concluded his homily by leading the congregation in a series of heartfelt prayers, entrusting every burden to God.

Homily nuggets from today’s homily delivered by Rev. Fr. Joshua Y. Achir.

Written by Oshaps 😊