CYON, Holy Spirit Catholic Church Ighwrekpokpor Main Centre

19/01/2021

A day with the Bishop 2005 @ Sacred Heart Cathedral Warri.

16/08/2017

PARISH BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT!
Annual CYON Warri diocesan symposium tagged "The Almighty has done great things for me holy is His name, Lk1:49" comes up on Sunday 27th August, 2017 at SS Peter and Paul Ughelli, beginning with Holy Mass by 11am. The symposium topic "Repositioning the Catholic youths for effective leadership" would be delivered by Miakpo Emiaso. Accreditation begins by 10am and the first 100 persons to be accredited shall be given free writing materials, file and program for free. The dress code that day is white top, black trouser and a red tie for boys while ladies are to put on white top, black skirt and a touch of red.
Williams Amafa
Chairman Planning Committee
08131647232
Elizabeth Alele
Secretary Planning Committee
07069190923

31/07/2017

PRAYER HEALS THE LAND

Jul 31, 2017 | 0 Comments

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:14
Duewel begins today’s reflection with this message: “Touch the world through prayer.” Yes dear child of God, you can be in that little village of yours, in that distant land, yet before God you are making waves more than the richest man in the world; you are more than the world’s most recognized leader! Why? Your prayer life has the capacity to make great impact of positive change more than what money, influence, position, prestige can make. It is a compulsory task, assignment, and role for all Christians to pray. It is in this regard that a Christian writer made this assertion about prayer: “For Christians, prayer should be like breathing. You do not have to think to breathe because the atmosphere exerts pressure on your lungs and essentially forces you to breathe. As believers, we have all entered the divine atmosphere to breathe the air of prayer.” “Prayer prevents the reign of evil. Prayer undo what Satan has done.” Every day, Satan and his agents converge on how to achieve his wicked agenda as stated in the gospel according to John. (John 10:10). Be careful, for Satan is at work. A youth, hitherto known to be good and humble suddenly becomes a drug addict, abusive and destructive, definitely is under the influence of Satan and his wicked angels. You will see a nation operating in the fear of God, proclaiming their loyalty and trust in God suddenly nose-dive into systems that oppose the ways of God. You see a training ground for holy men and women gradually turning into a den of immorality and all kinds of moral decadence. Dear child of God, you owe God the duty to pray.
Christian writer warns against the high level of “laziness” among believers today. Why? While they are busy sleeping away, Satan and his agents are busy taking hold of the day by making evil pronouncements, embargoes, covenants, incantations and projections. Ecclesiastes 10:5, 7 raises a lamentation, “There is an evil I have seen under the sun… I have seen servants on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants.” Serious exchanges are taken place in the spiritual realm, destinies are truncated; lives of holiness are polluted, there are satanic affliction of death and diseases against believers. Beloved in Christ, we need to pray. Remember evil reigns when our prayer life becomes redundant.
MASS: WHITE Ex. 32:15-24.30-34; Ps. 106:19-20.21-22.23(R.1b); Accl. James 1:18; Matt. 13:31-35 ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, P. (MEMORIAL)
Prayer Points
1. Ask God for mercy over laziness in prayers. (please take seriously)
2. Take “Warfare Prayer against spiritual attack” in Amen it is Done.
3. Take the “Prayer Against the Forces of Darkness” in DSD Section A
Exercise: Always take the prayer points for divine protection in Amen it is Done (page 91) at Midnight
Meditation: Ephesians 2:19

Good day, wishing you a great week

21/07/2017

THE FEAR THAT LEADS TO DANGER (2)

Jul 21, 2017 | 0 Comments

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:2-5
Yesterday the Holy Spirit led us to begin again to review the way we are being exposed to danger as a result of fear. Indeed, a Christian writer made us to know that, “Being free from fear doesn’t mean that we will never experience it or be confronted by it. It means that we are committed to not allowing it to rule our lives, and when necessary we will do what we need to do, even if we have to do it in fear.” Continuing on the different fears that lead to danger, let us look at the following factors:
The fear of losing one’s source of income: Many children of God are engaged in activities that are inimical to their souls because they want to maintain their jobs. They have made God secondary and their jobs first. The Lord is calling us today to stop every sinful activity that we embark in, in other to maintain our jobs. You do not need to lose your sanctity in other to get a salary. No wonder the Scripture queries in Mark 8:36, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul.” (KJV)
The fear of the future: One of the instruments the devil uses to hold us to ransom is to keep feeding us with fearful events that may take place in the future, thereby making us see the future with fear, hopelessness and anxiety. They worry about the future of their children, well-being, husband etc. Do not have anxiety over tomorrow; for any committed child of God, your future is secured for “the Lord will bring about the future you hope for……..” (Jeremiah 29:11)
The fear of suffering hardship: The fear of temporally suffering hardship of being in need has driven so many believers away from the way of God. Youths who are to dedicate their youthful age to God, now dedicate their lives to the devil in exchange for wealth. We must not be like Judas Iscariot, who for the fear of being poor, lost his life eternally. If you must suffer lack in order to remain for Christ, though it is difficult, please do, the Lord is worth dying for.
Generally, to get rid of fear from our lives, we must consciously grow our faith with the word of God. The amount of God’s word that you carry inside of you determines the extent to which you can handle fear. The Lord says to you today, “Take heed, and be quiet, do not fear or be fainthearted.” (Isaiah 7:4, NKJV) For if you allow fear to have it ways, you will always be in error.
MASS: GREEN/WHITE Ex. 11:10-12.14; Ps. 116:12-13.15.16bc.17-18(R.13); Accl. Jn. 10:27; Matt. 12:1-8 ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI, PD (OPT MEM)
Prayer Points:
1. Every form of fear used by the devil to torment my life, be destroyed in Jesus name.
2. Every covenant, network, evil link, doors, windows giving the devil the opportunity to torment my life be cancelled now in the name of Jesus.
Exercise: Everything that is causing fear in your life, bring it to Jesus today.
Meditation: 2 Timothy 1:7
Good morning. Hope you had a nice night rest? Wishing you a lovely day and a splendid weekend ahead.

11/07/2017

This is to inform you that The CYON Warri Diocesan General Meeting will be holding on Sunday 30th July 2017 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church Ozoro by 12:00 noon. Pls help pass the message around.Thank You
Youth O!

14/06/2017

THE ONLY ONE STANDING

Jun 14, 2017 | 0 Comments

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:22

An ex-governor was interviewed about a Catholic Bishop. He was asked, what can you say you have learnt from the Bishop? He said, “The Bishop has taught me to remain standing even if I am the only one standing in what is correct and right.” We are in a world, where it is now a common event to see that you might be the only one defending what is good before the Lord. You will find out in a group where you belong that you are likely the only one defending what is morally right. In the office, you are the only one not involved in a shady deal. In the business of buying and selling, you are the only one not selling with “magic cup”. Amongst your friends in the school, you are the only one not co-habiting. Jesus says to you today, “keep standing, because you are not standing for anybody, you are standing for Me.” No wonder, Mahatina Gandhi says, “When you have a good cause, never descend to personalities.” Elijah, in the defense of the worship of the true God against the worship of idol, stood alone for God. Elijah said, “…I am the only prophet of the Lord still left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal.” (1 Kings 18:22). Dear child of God, for it to have come to your mind that what is going on is evil and not acceptable is an indication that God wants you to stand firm and defend His statutes. God wants His own to always stand for Him. This means, standing for whatever is good and of good report. St. Justine Martyr says, “All truth, wherever it is found, belongs to us as Christians.” Noah was the only one who stood against the wickedness common in his time. In Genesis 6-9-10, the Scripture says, “…Noah had no faults and was the only good man of his time.” Noah was not discouraged, but rather refused to belong to the sinning majority. Daniel, was the only one who stood up in defense of Susanna against the false accusation of adultery levelled against her by the judges; he was the only man standing in his time in defense of injustice. In S***m and Gomorrah, Lots family were the only family not found guilty of sexual sins. Watch our world today, there are different forms of S***m and Gomorrah activities such that it takes the grace of God not to fall into error with the world. An advert inviting the public to attend a seminar titled, “Remaining pure in a sexually-chargedworld” used high-heeled shoes of white and red colours to figuratively express the topic. There were seven high-heeled shoes, out of the seven, only one was white. In the case of sexual immorality challenging the society today, you can be the “white high-heeled shoe.” Daniel became the only honest supervisor among the three of them chosen to supervise the hundred and twenty governors Darius appointed. “Then the other supervisors and the governors tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel administered the empire, but they couldn’t, because Daniel was reliable and did not do anything wrong or dishonest.” In matters of sensitive moral issues, the Catholic Church has taken a stand that is nearly proved wrong by others. Dear Daily Strength member, God is counting on you to stand for what is right irrespective of the wrong theories and philosophies devised to prove that you are unrealistic or wrong. In Matthew 7:13-14, the Scripture says, “Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.” It is because we have only one standing at any particular point in time in matters of what are right before God that leads to the few that will find the gate to life. Take the decision like Daniel to stand for God at all times.

MASS: GREEN 2 Cor 3:4-11; Ps 99:5.6.7.8.9 (R.9c); Accl. Ps 25:4b-5a; Mt 5:17-19

Prayer Points:
1. Lord, give me the grace not to be influenced by the evil happenings around me.
2. Pray for those who have been influenced into doing evil things, that God will help them to have a renewed mind to live uprightly.
3. Pray against the influence of immorality in places where ordained ministers and religious are being formed. (Pray seriously)
4. Father, like Daniel in Daniel 12:13 give me grace to remain faithful till the end.

Exercise: Make a commitment to the Lord that you will remain in what is right even if you are the only one standing.

Meditation: Philippians 1:27
Good morning...
Wishing you a marvellous midweek....

12/06/2017

DIVINE CONNECTION

Jun 12, 2017 | 0 Comments

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

So many people have argued that if you see a Catholic Priest, even when he is not putting on the priestly cassock, you can still identify him as a minister of God (one who emits God because he has spent time with God.) Another argument also exists that if you see couples who have lived out their married life in harmony and love, in peace and understanding, as they grow in age, they come to look like each other, to the extent that one mistakes them as related. The same thing happens between us and the Lord. Divine connection today as the Holy Spirit inspires is the kind of relationship we have with Jesus, nurtured daily such that it gets to a level in our relationship with Christ that when people see us they almost mistaken us for Jesus. When people hear you speak, you speak like Jesus. When people hear the kind of words of inspiration and motivation coming from you, they will marvel and say like the people from the hometown of Jesus, is not this carpenter Joseph’s son? Is it not you that used to push wheelbarrow in the market? Is it not that boy from that poor family that used to beg? When we pray, our prayers will make impact, not only in our lives, but in the world around us. A Christian brother was once wondering why the book written by Thomas Kempis: “My Imitation of Christ” is still very relevant to our spirituality even after many years that it was written. The answer that came to me is, “the book is a product of divine connection.” The communion you have with God, the relationship, the struggle and the spiritual exercises you engage in seeking His ways always have physical manifestations. It removes the garment of filthiness and makes us put on the garment of righteousness. Moses’ face radiated God’s glory because he constantly sought the face of the Lord. The Scripture says, “When Moses went down from Mount Sinai carrying the Ten Commandments, his face was shining because he had been speaking with the Lord; but he did not know it. Aaron and all the people looked at Moses and saw that his face was shining, and they were afraid to go near him……Whenever Moses went into the Tent of the Lord’s presence to speak to the Lord, he would take the veil off. When he came out, he would tell the people of Israel everything that he had been commanded to say, and they would see that his face was shining. Then he would put the veil back on until the next time he went to speak with the Lord.” (Exo. 34:29) Having encountered God as Christians, through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, through the deposits of the word of God into our lives, through different forms of spiritual exercises, we radiate the glory of God. Thomas Kempis gives us a clue from the lives of the Holy Fathers of the church. He wrote, “They spent all their time profitably: every hour seemed short which they spent with God …They stood in true humility, they lived in simple obedience, they walked in charity and patience; and therefore they daily advanced in spirit and obtained great favour with God.” When we spend more time with the Lord, all our lives’ output becomes divine. Dear child of God, let the world feel, encounter and taste God because you are a Christian. God is looking for ambassadors; you should be one. Emit God to the world in whatever you do. Can people see another Jesus in you? This is a product of divine connection; a product of divine commitment. All these are products of quality time spent with God in prayers and the word. May nothing stop the flow of divinity in you; for God became man, so that man may become like Him.

MASS: GREEN 2 Cor1:1-7; Ps 34:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9 (R.9a); Accl. Mt 5:12a; Mt 5:1-12

Prayer Points:

Dear Father, I sincerely thank You for allowing your Son Jesus to assume humanity so that we can put on divinity.Lord, let me never cease to seek Your face every day of my life in Jesus name.O Lord, purify every natural inclination in me that makes me to pay more attention to the desires of the flesh.Holy Spirit, come and dwell in me, so that I will manifest the life of God in every area of my life in Jesus name.Pray for those who have lost the zeal and love for divinity, that they will encounter the divine power of God.

Exercise: Visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament with this prayer intention, “Lord, make me like You”.

Meditation: John 3:30
Good morning, trust your weekend went well? Do have a lovely day and a great week ahead..

¡Participa en la primera fase de las Olimpiadas Matemáticas de Puerto Rico! Tienes hasta el 30 de abril para enviar tus respuestas. Si logras pasar a la segunda fase podrías llegar a representar a Puerto Rico en Olimpiadas internacionales de matemáticas.

07/06/2017

GO DOWN TO THE POTTER’S HOUSE

Jun 7, 2017 | 0 Comments

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18:2

Today, the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of our minds to the fact that God can do with us whatever He wills. Jeremiah was asked to go to a potter’s house where he watched a potter fashioning a vessel out of clay. Because the vessel was not suitable for what the potter intended, he had to remold it into a suitable vessel of his choice. This parable contains several important principles for God’s work in our lives. First, we must realize that God has the right to mould us as He pleases. Second, Lack of submission and commitment to the Maker’s plans for us will do us no good. Hear this, “…If I say that I am going to plant or build up any nation or kingdom, but then that nation disobeys me and does evil, I will not do what I said I would.” (Jr 18:9-10) Third, God remains free to change His intention for our lives. This means that if God had planned to mold us into vessels of goodness and blessings and honour and we choose to be sinful and unrepentantly disobedient, we make ourselves vessels destined for destruction. (Rom. 9:22) Conversely, if we were stubborn, heading for destruction, but then we repent, God will begin to shape us into vessels of honour and blessings. (2 Tim. 2:20-21) In our days, we are no longer referring to the people of Judah as those who refused to be formed. Instead of doing that, we refer to ourselves because, we are the today’s people of Judah. Whatever God told the people of Judah then, He is as well telling us, the people of the 21st century, with even greater grief because, our generation is more stubborn and sinful than the people of Judah. However, God is pleading for a change of heart.
The God we serve is a mighty and merciful God. He understands us more than we do to ourselves. He knows that we are imperfect and morally volatile. Hence, He opens His heart for us to tap from the abundance of His loving-kindness so that we may be sustained by His grace at this difficult moment. It is for this reason also, that He lavishes His mercy on us even when we have committed the worst of sins, and even when we do not recognize or appreciate this mercy. But, our appreciation of this mercy does not determine its release. It does not at all. Whether we are interested or not, God is naturally merciful and loving. The heart desire of God since the beginning of time is to affect our lives with the release of the abundance of His grace, mercy and power. Unfortunately, His pain in doing all these is in our attitude of not cooperating with Him, the Good God. The people He created have refused to listen to Him. At the Potter’s House, prophet Jeremiah saw how so submissive the clay was with the Potter. That was a symbolism representing God as the Potter and the people, the clay. God expects us to be submissive like the clay, but, realistically, that is not what is happening. The reverse is the case. It is not fair.
Beloved, the Holy Spirit teaches us today that our souls may be in danger of eternal death, if we refuse to submit completely to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all situations of life. Let us allow Him to moderate our affairs for we can do nothing without Him. (Jn. 15:5-6) Let’s conclude this reflection in the words of Pope St. Gregory 1: “Let our praise be with God, and from ourselves, for God hates those who praise themselves.”

MASS: GREEN Tobit 3:1-11a. 16-17a; Ps 25:2-3.4-5ab.6.7bc.8-9 (R.1); Accl. Jn 11:25a.26; Mk 12:18-27

Prayer Points:
1. Lord Jesus, like a clay is in the hand of the Potter, so I am in Your very hand. Do to me what You wish to. (Take seriously and 7 times)
2. I surrender my life to You today dear Heavenly Father. Lead me gently in the path of life so I don’t miss my steps. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Exercise: Sing and meditate on the hymn “Trust and Obey…”

Meditation: Job 33:6

Good morning, wishing you a great midweek....

04/05/2017

SLAVES RIDING ON HORSES
May 4, 2017 | 0 Comments
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 10:7
Welcome to today’s encounter with God’s word. Today the Holy Spirit draws our attention to one of those things the devil can do to us if we are not spiritually vigilant. Our lead passage says, “I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.” This is an error. As it were, the reverse of the situation presented should have been the case; princes are meant to be on horses while servants walk on foot. God who made the universe gave each its place according to time and seasons. Consequently, there is always a growth in human awareness and consciousness. The situation presented before us may not sound appealing in contemporary times but it was the case at the time Solomon was writing, that slaves do not mount on horses. This is the preserve of princes. What is presented, beyond an exchange of roles is also an exchange glory, an exchange of splendor, an exchange of dignity, an exchange of destinies and exchange of authority. Sometimes, the devil tricks believers into believing that it is more honorable to be worldly. Sometimes we are made to believe that worldliness is rosier than godliness. Sometimes we are tempted to give up so much for so little. We are tempted to let go of our pride, our authority, God’s grace in form of gifts for so little offer so much so that we give up God’s gifts to us to the heathens. Dear friend, if God bestows a blessing on you which you cannot manage, He takes it from you and bestows it on another. Some believers are so loose like the Prodigal Son that they cannot control their appetites. They eat and drink anywhere, talk any how anywhere, dress without any sense of decency and still hope to be custodians of God’s favors. Dear child of God, it does not work that way. We can only be true custodians of God’s blessings when we position and comport ourselves appropriately. Unless we are able to do so we may end up losing what is genuinely ours by right.
On another level, spiritual forces can also avert or divert destinies. The devil can place on hostage one who he projects may become promising. The devil can hamper destinies through manipulations. Indeed, there can be delay of destinies and even certain distortions and alterations. I have good news for you today; the will of God must prevail in the end. Friend, destinies have always been changed, can be changed and will continue to be changed. As you read and meditate on this reflection today, I pray that whatever is toiling with your destiny will be greeted with disappointment in Jesus name. Your destiny cannot be exchanged because you are in Christ.
MASS: WHITE Acts 8:26-40; Ps 66:8-9. 16-17.20; Accl.Jn 6:51; Jn 6:44-51
Prayer Points:
1. Take the song, “I will be what the Lord says I will be, God will work out His plans for my life in the name of Jesus. I will be what the Lord says I will be…”
2. Father, thank You for the consolation in Your word.
3. Father, let destiny exchangers working against me and my family be frustrated in Jesus name. Amen.
4. Place your hand on your chest and make this declaration: my destiny cannot be exchanged. I will fulfill God’s purpose for my life and become what He made me to be. My future is secured in Christ from evil forces and my life is in His mighty hands. Alleluia!
5. O God, let whatever power mortgaging Your glory in my family receive shame and disgrace in Jesus name. Amen!
Exercise: Pray the prayer of the “Rosary of Liberation” three times today.
Meditation: Esther 6:9

23/04/2017

IN HIS GREAT MERCY, DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
Apr 23, 2017 | 0 Comments
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-4
What is Divine Mercy Sun day and how did the feast come to be celebrated? A week after Christ rose from the dead, He appeared once again to His disciples, and this time Thomas was there. His doubt was vanquished, and he professed His belief in Christ. Nineteen centuries later, Christ appeared to a Polish nun, Sr. Maria FaustinaKowalska, in a series of visions that took place over almost eight years. Among those visions, Christ revealed the Divine Mercy Sunday. Celebrating the feast of Divine Mercy, as revealed by Christ Himself to St. Maria FaustinaKowalska, was extended to the entire Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000. Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the eighth day of the Octave of Easter, that is, the Sunday after Easter. On this day the floodgates of mercy are opened and many souls who truly prepared for it through its novena experience manifold mercy in various areas of life, especially in holiness.
We live by His mercy, our hope is anchored on His great mercy. Divine mercy brightens and comforts in all distresses, which enables us to approach God and get over all difficulties.
The mere institution of such a solemn feast is a powerful sign of the desire in the Heart of God to pour down His Mercy upon us.”Oh, what great graces I will grant to souls who say this Chaplet. Write down these words, my daughter. Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize my unfathomable mercy”. (Diary, 848)Pray with us thus “Lord, may I always honor and celebrate the wonderful Feast of Mercy. May my heart, and the hearts of all Your faithful children, be open to all that You wish to bestow upon us through this feast. Jesus, I trust in You.”
Dear friends in Christ, the Divine Mercy call is beyond a devotion, it is more importantly, a call to live mercifully like the Father, Luke 6:36 says “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. Bryan S. Thatcher wrote “while it is important and appropriate to venerate the image of the merciful Saviour and to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily, if these actions do not lead us to a deeper trust in God, a greater ability to forgive those who have hurt us, and to a stronger desire to be merciful to others, then the devotional aspects have done little to bring us closer to Jesus.” On the 21st September, 2016, Pope Francis addressing some pilgrims asked, “what does it means for the disciples to be merciful”. He said, mercy was given by Jesus in two verbs: “to forgive” and “to give.”Mercy is expressed “above all in forgiveness,” he said. “All Christians must forgive! Why? Because they have been forgiven.”
Let us conclude with these words of Jesus to St. Maria Faustina “I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first- by deed, the second- by word, the third- by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy.” (Diary 742) Follow these simple steps and let the Lord of Mercy take control of your life.
MASS: WHITE Acts 2:42-47; Ps 118:2-4.13-15ab.22-24 (R.1); 1 Pet 1:3-9′ Accl. Jn 20:29; Jn 20:19-31DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
Prayer Points:
1. Begin your prayer with this song “ You are merciful Jesus (3x) Jesus I trust in you”
2. Lord, help me that I may be drawn to Your merciful Heart so that I may be totally Yours. Jesus, I trust in You.
3. Lord Jesus, I come before You just as I am. I am sorry for all my sins. I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In Your name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give You my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite You into my life Jesus. I accept You as my Lord, God and Savior. Heal me, change me, and strengthen me in body, soul and spirit. Come Lord Jesus, cover me with Your Precious Blood and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I love You Lord Jesus. I Praise You Jesus. I Thank You Jesus. I shall follow You every day of my life. Amen.
4. Pray the Divine Mercy Rosary today.
Exercise: Build an altar in your house and put the picture of Divine Mercy blessed by a Catholic Priest on it if you do not have any yet.

04/02/2017

This is to remind every youth of our usual C.Y.O.N meeting tomorrow, immediately after first mass. FOR GOD AND FOR YOUTHS!

02/03/2016

“Marriage is a School where you get the Certificate before you start.A school where you will never graduate, A school without a break or a free period, A school where no one is allowed to dro…