Catholic Diocese of Katsina

24/05/2026

BISHOP’S PASTORAL VISIT TO ST JOHNPAUL II CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF DUTSINMA (FUDMA).

CELEBRANT - Most Rev Dr Gerald Mamman Musa
CONCELEBRANT - Rev Fr John Amos Bahywa
LITURGIST/MC - Rev Fr Chibuzor Victor Somadina

EVENTS
- Confirmation
- Commissioning of Lectors
- Launching of Magazines
- Thanksgiving of Graduating Students

23/05/2026

HOLY SPIRIT FIRE

Bishop Gerald M. Musa

St. Augustine compares the Holy Spirit to the soul in the human body. He writes: “What the soul is to the body of man, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of Christ, which is the Church.” Just as the body cannot move, breathe, or live without the soul, Christians cannot truly live the life of grace, holiness, and mission without the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives life, unity, wisdom, and strength to the Church and to every believer. Similarly, St. Basil the Great uses the image of iron placed in fire to explain the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He says: “As iron plunged into fire becomes fire itself while still remaining iron, so the soul filled with the Holy Spirit becomes radiant with divine life.” The iron remains iron, but it glows, burns, and acts like fire because it has absorbed the fire’s heat and energy. In the same way, when Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit, they remain human, but their lives begin to radiate God’s love, courage, wisdom, and holiness.

The Holy Spirit plays a special role in the lives of all believers. Pentecost is a special day set aside by the Church to remember the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus. Pentecost is normally celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. Pentecost is also considered the day on which the Church was born – the birthday of the Church. On the feast of Pentecost, the Church celebrates the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Every language has a name for the Holy Spirit: Mmuo Nso (Igbo), Ruhu mai Tsarki (Hausa), Emi Mimo (Yoruba), Chia Jijingi (Tiv), Roho Takatifu (Swahili), Santo Spirito (Italian), Esprit Saint (French), Heiliger Geist (German).

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity, but many believers lack a deep understanding of him and how he operates in our lives. Ignorance about the Holy Spirit has led some authors to write on the Holy Spirit. Francis Chan wrote a book titled “The Forgotten God” , and Luis Martinez wrote on True Devotion to the Holy Spirit. It appears today that many people have left the Holy Spirit for Holy Ghost Priests and the Charismatics. Most often, we exclaim, “Holy Ghost Fire” without a proper understanding of who the Holy Spirit is. One of the problems in the Church today is that people are less committed to their prayers and relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Ignorance of the Holy Spirit began even in the early church. Jesus met Nicodemus, a scholar who knew so much about God, but knew next to nothing about new birth in the Holy Spirit. Jesus instructed him, “Unless one is born of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3,5). Another incident of ignorance regarding the Holy Spirit occurred during Paul's Third Missionary Journey. He travelled to Ephesus, and there he met some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit?” When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” (Acts of the Apostles 19:2,6). The people of Ephesus grew in the knowledge of their faith as Paul remained with them and taught them for two years.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit
Knowledge of the Scriptures helps us to understand the roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Scriptures present the Holy Spirit in different ways:
 Holy Spirit as Wind: “…There came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the house in which they were” (Acts 2:2).
 Holy Spirit as Fire: “Then, there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:3).
 Holy Spirit as Breath: “…He breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). This Holy Spirit is translated as breathe – the source of power and energy.
 Holy Spirit as Water: “…And we were all given to drink of one spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Fire of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles as tongues of fire. Therefore, it is right to say that a spiritual person is someone who is filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit and with a burning zeal for the spiritual works. Not many people are able to sustain the fire of the Holy Spirit because of the many distractions in the journey of life. Jesus predicted that in the last days the love of many would grow cold (Matthew 24:12). When the spirit dies in us, our love for God and our neighbour grows cold. There are many other ways in which the Spirit grows cold in us:

 The fire of the Holy Spirit grows cold in anyone whose prayer life is completely dry.
 The fire of the Holy Spirit grows weak in anyone whose conscience is lax and permissive.
 The fire of the Holy Spirit grows dim in anyone whose heart is dominated by envy, jealousy, hatred and lust.
 The fire gradually fizzles out in anyone whose zeal for the work of God and service to the community is getting cold.
 The fire becomes so low in the heart that it is constantly in sorrow and has little or no joy.
 The flame of the Holy Spirit is under threat in people weighed down by worries, rather than in those with stronger faith in God.

Paul admonishes the Thessalonians not to quench the Spirit of God (I Thessalonians 5:19). This is why we pray constantly to God to kindle the fire of his divine love in our hearts. God warns in the Book of Revelation: “If you are neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out” (3:16)

Ignite, Rekindle and Sustain the Fire
 Embrace cleanliness: The Holy Spirit dwells in places, people and things that are clean. He fills only clean vessels. Therefore, those who wish to be close to the Holy Spirit must purge themselves of every filth, anger, bitterness and lust and be dead to sin (Romans 6:11). St. Paul says to Timothy, “If anyone cleanses himself, he will be a vessel to be used by God (2 Timothy 2:21).

 Read the Word of God: Daily study of the Word of God enables us to fill our minds with spiritual things. "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29).

 Daily communion with God through prayer and the Holy Eucharist: The fire of prayer propels a healthy spiritual life. According to St. Ephraim, “Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws the Holy Spirit into the soul and raises man to Heaven. The prayer of the Holy Eucharist does better for the spiritual life. St. John Chrysostom admonishes all those who return from the table of the Eucharist: Let us return from that Table like lions breathing out fire, terrifying to the devil!

 Beware of the constant struggle between the flesh and the spirit: St. Paul draws our attention to the constant battle between the spirit and the flesh/ world (Galatians 5:17-18); the struggle between the ‘new man’ (old nature) and ‘new man’ (new nature) (Romans 7:14-25; Colossians 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:17-24). The best way to conquer the flesh is to think and live in the Spirit.

Cardinal Basil Hume reminds us, “There is a gentle breeze if we can but catch it, which blows all the time to help us on our journey through life to our final destination. That breeze is the Holy Spirit.” Let us celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we celebrate Pentecost. Let us pray that through the Holy Spirit, God will enkindle in our hearts the fire of his love.

Pentecost Sunday, Year B; Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23.

23/05/2026

22/05/2026

Requiem Mass For Late Kaduna Grand President Brig. Gen. Augustine Odoemena At St Theresa’s Funtua.

19/05/2026

JOURNALISTS IN NIGERIA FACE PERSECUTION FOR “speaking the truth”: CATHOLIC BISHOP WARNS

By Abah Anthony John

Jos, 18 May, 2026 / 5:40 pm (ACI Africa).

Bishop Gerald Mamman Musa of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Katsina has expressed concern over what he described as increasing persecution of journalists who speak the truth.

Speaking to ACI Africa on the sidelines of activities marking the 60th World Day of Communications (WDC) organized by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Bishop Musa said media practitioners remain among the most endangered voices in society.

“Journalists in Nigeria are being persecuted for showing their faces and speaking the truth,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishop said during the May 17 interview.

He reiterated, “We have journalists who show their faces, speak the truth, and enlighten the public, and they are persecuted. We have journalists who have disappeared mysteriously. We have journalists who have been killed.”

For him, “The Church must continue to honour media professionals who risk their lives in the service of truth and the Gospel message.”

Bishop Musa said World Communications Day should also serve as a moment to remember journalists who remain “constantly persecuted” for defending truth and the national conscience.

The Chair of the Commission for Communications of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) acknowledged that many Nigerian journalists and communication professionals continue to uphold moral, cultural, and religious values despite mounting challenges.

“Nigerian media upholding national values, we can say that in many ways they do their best in upholding what is true, in upholding what is charitable, and in upholding our very positive cultural and religious values,” he told ACI Africa on May 17, the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the same time, Bishop Musa warned against the misuse of digital communication platforms, saying untrained and irresponsible actors are contributing to misinformation and negative influence, especially among young people.

“There are misguided people, there are untrained people, there are people who are unskilled in using media technology. Some people are negative influencers; some people influence society, and particularly the young people, negatively,” he lamented.

The Catholic Bishop emphasized that media practitioners have a responsibility not only to report events but also to help correct societal wrongs.

“The media is motivated by what is wrong. That is to say, the media looks at our society, judges what is happening, and is ready to correct the many wrong things that are going on in our society,” Bishop Musa said.

Addressing the impact of digital communication on children and youth, the pioneer Catholic Bishop of Katsina Diocese Consecrated in December 2023 urged young people to develop critical thinking skills to distinguish truth from misinformation.

“We know that young people, children, and youth are impressionable,” he said, adding, “Most of the time, they are influenced by what they read and what they see. Most of the time, they find it difficult to differentiate between fantasy and reality.”

“With the many forms of misinformation that we have, young people have to have critical minds, minds that enable them to differentiate between truth and fantasy, between misinformation and truth itself,” Bishop Musa added.

He also called for the responsible use of digital technologies to promote truth and evangelization.

“But the Church continues to advise us, especially on a day like this, to use all these digital technologies positively to enlighten society, to propagate the Gospel message, to inform, and to enlighten the public,” he said.

In a separate interview during the May 17 event, the CSN Secretary General, Fr. Michael Banjo, urged journalists and media practitioners to defend truth and promote responsible communication ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.

“Elections are not merely about political parties, candidates, or winning power. They are about people, their hopes, fears, aspirations, and future,” Fr. Banjo told ACI Africa.

He warned against fake results, manipulated videos, hate speech, vote-buying, and political intimidation, and urged citizens to vote according to conscience and the common good.

17/05/2026

14/05/2026

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD HELD AT SAINT MARTIN'S DE PORRES CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL, KATSINA STATE.

Forty days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, He ascended into Heaven in glory with the promise of sending the Comforter to remain with us.
As partakers in the Lord’s Ascension, the celebration commenced with a rosary procession led by Mr Malachy Ugwu of the Association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

THE HOLY MASS
The Holy Mass began at 6:07pm and was presided over by the Cathedral Administrator, Very Rev Fr Mathias Abbas Bakoshi.

LITURGY OF THE WORD
The first reading, taken from Acts of the Apostles 1:1–11, was read by Miss Elizabeth Joseph.
The Responsorial Psalm, taken from Psalm 47 with the response: “God has gone up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast,” was also taken by Miss Elizabeth Joseph.
The second reading, taken from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians 1:17–23, was read by Mr Ekele Emmanuel.
The Gospel reading, taken from Matthew 28:16–20, was proclaimed by the Chief Celebrant.

HOMILY
In his homily, the Chief Celebrant explained that the Feast of the Ascension is celebrated forty days after the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord, while Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter.
He emphasized that the Ascension celebrates Christ’s victory over sin, death, and Satan. Before ascending into Heaven, Christ gave His disciples the Great Commission and promised to remain with them through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
The faithful were reminded that the solemnity of the Ascension gives Christians hope in the resurrection and eternal life. Just as Christ conquered death, believers are encouraged to remain steadfast with the assurance that they too shall overcome every challenge through God.
The homilist further stressed that Christians are pilgrims on earth journeying toward the Father. No matter the difficulties faced in life, believers should keep their focus on Christ, who overcame suffering and now reigns in glory.
Speaking in line with the ongoing Communications Week, he cautioned the faithful not to allow man-made technology and Artificial Intelligence replace God in their lives, emphasizing that true peace, hope, and consolation can only be found in God.
He concluded with prayers that as Christ ascended into Heaven, He may grant the faithful their heart desires and allow them to continually experience His presence and grace.

The Creed was recited by all the faithful, followed by the Prayer of the Faithful led by Mr Ekele Emmanuel. The offertory procession followed immediately after.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
The Liturgy of the Eucharist was solemnly celebrated with active participation from all present on this glorious solemnity of the Ascension of Christ into Heaven.
The faithful were also encouraged to continue participating actively in the ongoing Communications Week activities, now on Day Five. Announcements were made concerning the commencement of the Novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for Pentecost.
The Holy Mass ended with the final blessing at 6:57pm.

Judith Onwordi 🖊️

14/05/2026

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD AT ST THERESA'S FUNTUA.
14th May, 2026.

The Holy Mass began with an entrance procession led by Rev. Fr. Reuben Ahmodu alongside the catechist, lay readers and altar servers.

The liturgy of the word continued with the first reading taken from the book of Acts 1:1-11. The Responsorial Psalm from Psalm "God has gone up with shouts of joy. The Lord goes up with trumpet blast." The second reading taken from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians 1:17-23. The gospel reading was taken by Rev. Fr. Reuben Ahmodu from the gospel of Matthew 28:16-20

In his homily titled “Christ’s Presence is Eternal,” Rev. Fr. Reuben Ahmodu reflected on the abiding presence of Christ in the lives of believers even after His ascension into heaven. He explained that although Jesus physically ascended to the Father, He did not abandon His people. Rather, His presence continues to remain alive in the Church, in the sacraments and in the lives of those who believe in Him.

To further illustrate this message, he shared the story of a blind man who received help from a kind couple. Through this story, he reminded the faithful that God still works through people who show compassion, kindness and love to others. According to him, every act of assistance given to the helpless and suffering is a sign that God is still present among His people.

Rev. Fr. Ahmodu also reflected on the command of Jesus to His disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” He encouraged Christians not to keep the message of Christ to themselves but to become instruments of hope and encouragement to people who are discouraged, abandoned or helpless. He stressed that the mission of every Christian is to spread the Gospel through words, actions and good example.

He further reminded the congregation of Christ’s comforting assurance: “I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
He explained that trusting in God does not mean that one already knows what lies at the end of the journey, but rather having confidence in the One who holds our hands and leads us through life. He urged the faithful to remain steadfast in faith even during moments of uncertainty and difficulty, knowing fully well that God never abandons His children.

He concluded by reminding the faithful of Jesus’ promise that He has gone to prepare a place for His people, giving Christians hope of eternal life with God.

The Mass continued with the Prayer of the Faithful, offertory procession, consecration and Holy Communion, which was received reverently by the faithful.

The celebration came to a joyful close with the final blessing imparted by Rev. Fr. Reuben Ahmodu.

✍️Ummi Saidu