Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja

27/05/2026

It's about Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja

26/05/2026

24/05/2026

E-Photos of Pentecost Sunday

24/05/2026

Happy birth anniversary to you madam
Tanya Rose Ambor

24/05/2026

It was a pleasure having the mother of our amiable, amazing, didactic, hardworking and quintessential Parish Priest, Rev Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe, Mrs Ekpe visit our parish today.

Thank you Mrs Ekpe for offering your son to the service of the Church. We are indeed glad to have your son as our pastor.

Thank you also for the training and upbringing!

24/05/2026

Thanksgiving

24/05/2026

Pentecost Sunday Reflection
Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja

Lord, Rekindle in Us the Fire of Your Love
Sermon By Rev Michael Itekpa MSP

Today is one of the greatest days in the life of the Church, the day the Church was born through the power of the Holy Spirit.

On Pentecost, the Apostles who were once timid, fearful, and hiding suddenly became bold witnesses of Christ. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, they went out into the world courageously preaching the Gospel. Peter stood before a large crowd and proclaimed the risen Christ without fear.

Jesus had promised them: “I will not leave you orphans. I will send you another Counselor, the Spirit of Truth. He will teach you and lead you into all truth.”

Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter. Today, we gather not simply to remember an event of the past, but to remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit is still alive and active in us. St. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that no one can witness to Jesus except through the power of the Holy Spirit. No one can truly say, “Jesus is Lord,” except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

We know that when people are under the influence of alcohol, they no longer act according to their normal will. In the same way, when someone is under the influence of the Holy Spirit, something must happen. The Holy Spirit inspires positive action. The Holy Spirit sets hearts on fire. The Holy Spirit rekindles love for God.

That is what we celebrate today, not merely the reception of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit was already given to us at Baptism. What we celebrate is the rekindling of that Spirit within us.

Sadly, for some people, the Spirit has become weak, buried, or almost dead. Some arrive at church long after Mass has begun. Others sit in church distracted by their phones, scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, or typing messages during Mass. Some come physically, but their hearts are absent. They are energetic and excited at social gatherings, but tired and uninterested in the presence of God.

Something is wrong when the things of God no longer move us. If you truly love God, serving Him will not feel burdensome. The fruits of the Spirit, joy, kindness, peace, forgiveness, generosity, will naturally flow from your life. You will desire to serve God and contribute to His Church.

Some people are generous everywhere else but stingy when it comes to God. But those who are filled with the Spirit will ask: “Father, what can I do for the Church?”

The Gospel says: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Young people, I especially want to challenge you today. Many live as though God does not exist. The world controls their thoughts, choices, and desires. But I beg you, allow Jesus to take control of your life, and your life will never remain the same.

This world has nothing lasting to offer. It offers only temporary pleasure.

Yesterday, a man who once owned a beauty empire and was a billionaire was ordained a priest. He realized that wealth alone could not satisfy the human heart. He sold everything, gave to charity, entered the seminary, and found true fulfillment in Christ.

If you walk with Jesus, you will discover real joy and peace. There is so much sin and darkness in our society today, but those who belong to Christ are a new creation. The Spirit we received is not a spirit of fear or timidity. Even when we do not know how to pray, the Spirit Himself prays within us.

Do not allow the Spirit of God in you to die. When the Spirit of God is alive in you, your conscience remains alive. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. In the presence of God, there is fullness of joy.

The Psalmist says: “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

Unfortunately, some people now detest the things of God. When the Spirit grows cold within us, prayer becomes tiring, worship becomes boring, and church becomes a burden. But life is not made beautiful by the things we possess. Life becomes beautiful when we possess Jesus.

St. Paul said: “The life I now live is no longer my own; Christ lives in me.” Do you truly love God. When two people are in love, everyone can see it. They are willing to sacrifice for each other. In the same way, if you truly love God, your life will show it.

Today, we enjoy the blessings of Christianity because the Apostles gave their lives completely for Christ. Yet sometimes we act as though attending church or contributing to God’s work is doing God a favor.

We give our best energy, punctuality, and commitment to social events and political appointments. If you had an appointment with a politician at 8:30 a.m., you would arrive thirty minutes early. But when it comes to God, some arrive at 10:00 a.m. for an 8:30 Mass.

Today, let us pray sincerely, “Holy Spirit, rekindle in us the fire of God’s love. Remove every spirit of laziness, distraction, and indifference. Fill our hearts again with zeal for God, so that we may love, serve, and follow Jesus faithfully.

Amen.

Compiled By Elijah Ugani

24/05/2026

Responsorial Psalm

24/05/2026

Second Mass
Pentecost Sunday
Second Mass

23/05/2026

The Fire of Pentecost in a Deeply Divided World

Sermon by Rev. Fr. Sylverus Ulem
During Pentecost Vigil Mass

Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja

We receive the fire of Pentecost in a world that is deeply divided. Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of every Christian gathered here. May the Holy Spirit heal the hearts of all believers.

Many of us are no longer reflecting the face of God. We pray that the Holy Spirit renews us and makes us one in Christ.

Today, the Church celebrates Pentecost, Fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ and Ten days after His Ascension into heaven.

The feast of Pentecost marks the birthday of the Church. It is the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles like tongues of fire. Those who were once filled with fear were transformed into a united community of believers.

Today, our world is full of division. There is division in politics, between APC and PDP. Even within the same political parties, there are divisions. We live in a society where even people living under the same roof are divided.

Even in the Church, there are divisions. There is division between the rich and the poor. Sometimes, priests find it difficult to bury the poor, while the wealthy receive special attention. The poor are left to be buried by catechists.

Yet, when the Apostles preached at Pentecost, people from different tribes and nations understood them. This is a clear message that the Holy Spirit turns diversity into communion.

The Spirit of God unites us and forms us into one community of believers. The Spirit does not make everybody the same. Though the Spirit was given universally, it enabled different people to hear the same message in their own languages.

In the midst of diversity, the Spirit creates unity. The Spirit of God unites us through humility, understanding, and love. Where hatred divides, the Spirit reconciles. Where fear isolates, the Spirit gathers. That is why Pentecost is the opposite of Babel. At Babel, human pride created confusion and division.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit created unity and communion. But many of us still carry the spirit of Babel instead of the Spirit of Pentecost.

Some people make enemies out of others simply because they think differently or refuse to accept their opinions. Even within the same vocation, hatred arises through jealousy and unhealthy competition.

Today, we celebrate different gifts but one Spirit. Some have the gift of teaching. Some have the gift of healing. Some can sing beautifully. Some can pray powerfully. Some can speak in tongues. But all these gifts are given for one purpose, to build up the Body of Christ.

Unfortunately, some people want to be glorified because of their gifts. Before they sing, people must praise them. Before they pray, people must gather to watch them.

My dear people of God, whatever you are and whatever you may become, you are not greater than anyone else.

The first gift of the Risen Christ was peace: "Peace be with you.” Not revenge. Not condemnation.

The Spirit of God does not destroy people, rather, He destroys evil and unites what is good. Sometimes I hear people shouting, “Holy Ghost fire! Fire my enemies!” Who gave you the authority to command the Spirit of God to destroy others?

My dear people of God, we must be careful when we gather without proper spiritual direction and turn prayer into hatred.

I am not condemning prayers that call upon the fire of the Holy Spirit. But the true fire of the Spirit is meant to renew, not to destroy.

Some people shout “Holy Ghost fire” while secretly hoping to hear news of another person’s death. That is not the Spirit of Christ. Today, we need people who build bridges instead of wars.

The fire of Pentecost is not the fire that burns people, it is the fire that burns away hatred, bitterness, jealousy, and selfishness.

If you truly receive the Holy Spirit, you must become more compassionate, more peaceful, more human.

The greatest evidence of the Holy Spirit is not making people fall down during prayer, but transforming lives and making people stronger in goodness. The Holy Spirit is not merely noise or outward display. The true signs of the Spirit are transformation and renewal.

If you have received the Holy Spirit, your life must change. That woman you insulted, go and apologize to her. That village girl you brought into your house and mistreat, change the way you treat her. You who cheat people in business, repent and change. Those who shift boundary stones and steal land, return what does not belong to you. Women who refuse to give their husbands peace, be transformed. Husbands who refuse to provide for their families, be transformed. Children whose parents struggle to send them to school, yet choose cultism and internet fraud, be transformed.

May the fire of Pentecost descend upon this divided nation. May the fire of Pentecost descend upon our divided families. May the Holy Spirit heal our hearts and renew our world.

Amen.

Compiled By Elijah Ugani