Jacob BABALOLA

A Josephite’s Priest, Rev. Fr. Vitalis Ikechukwu, CSJ has reminded Catholic Faithful that there is power in the Eucharist. The priest, who was the homilist at the Eucharistic celebration to mark the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, otherwise known as Corpus Christi at St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan; stated that the readings for the celebration invited all to reflect on the Eucharist, the powerful weapon that the Catholic Church is having.

The Chief Celebrant of the day’s Mass was Rev. Fr. Justine Adeka, CSJ with the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun and Rev. Fr. Vitalis Ikechukwu, CSJ concelebrating.

Fr. Ikechukwu recalled that before Christ’s death, He gave two gifts to the Church, namely: The Holy Eucharist on the Holy Thursday and the gift of His Mother, Blessed Virgin Mary to the Church. These two gifts according to the priest are integral to our faith as Catholics.

The priest described the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment which needs to be received worthily; hence, he frowned at the attitude of some Catholic faithful that often abstain themselves from the sacrament of reconciliation for a very long time.

Fr. Ikechukwu, while making reference to the feeding of five thousand people in the day’s Gospel reading described the event as just the beginning of what to come, while the twelve baskets left-over is the symbolism of doing this for ever, without an end. He added that Christ in the New Testament redefined what was done in the Old Testament, using blood of animal by using His own blood to redeem all.

The homilist wondered why those born into Catholic faith do not appreciate what they have, while the Pentecostal on the other hand longed for it. “Those outside Catholic come into the Church through the Eucharist but those born in Catholic do not believe there is power in the Eucharist.” He said.

The priest going further described human to be of dualism: physical and spiritual. Hence, Christ fed people with both physical and spiritual, and that without the Eucharist, there can never be priest. Hence, the importance of the celebration of the Most Holy Body and Blood is to let us know what we have as a Church, which distinguishes Catholic Church from other Churches.

The priest admonished all to develop a strong faith in the Body and Blood of Christ and have a fixed faith in the belief.

For those young ones today who believe they are going to human being like themselves for the sacrament of reconciliation, the priest urged them to have a rethink as Priests are another Christ the moment they put on their stoles. “If a Pope, Bishop and Priest can go for confession, who are you not to?” he asked. He therefore recommended that people read a book titled “Priest as a Man” and further encouraged Catholic faithful not to allow people outside to condemn their faith by using what Catholic faithful have to nourish themselves (Pentecostals).

At the day’s Mass, the Congregation joined Rev. Sr. Mary Alexia, SJS in birthday thanksgiving. The parish Priest later appreciated the two Josephite’s priests that joined the parish for the celebration and also commended the parishioners and the liturgical functionaries for their active participation during the celebration.