SUMMER 2018 | VOLUME 34 Malawi—Where Happiness Prevails Visit to the Missions— Distributing Grain in Losajait, Kenya Renewed Zeal and Holiness: A Necessity to the Church and Mission Editor Fr. Dan Ifiok Udofia, MSP n his open letter to Cardinal Fernando Filoni on Mission Sunday of October 22, Assistant Editor I 2017, Pope Francis wrote inter alia, noting Anne Farrell Peterson (U.S.) the upcoming 100th anniversary of the ______________________ Apostolic Letter, Maximum Illud, with which Pope Benedict XV sought to give new impetus Founding Editor to the missionary task. “I hereby call for an Fr. James Sheerin, SPS Extraordinary Missionary Month to be 1980-1991 (d. 2009) celebrated in October 2019, with the aim of First Editor fostering an increased awareness of the missio Fr. Joseph Otoide, MSP ad gentes and taking up again with renewed 1991-1995 (d. 1995) fervor the missionary transformation of the Church’s life and pastoral ______________________ activity,” the Holy Father proclaimed. The Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria (MSP) eagerly anticipates Publication Information © THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY the month of October 2019 and a renewed awareness of the importance of OF ST. PAUL, 2018 missionary work. The Catholic Ambassador is a mission “As we all know, poverty does not take away one's happiness in the way magazine published quarterly that lack of contentment does. In their lack, they tend to be people full of life with the permission of the Ordinary of Ijebu-Ode Diocese by and joy. In just their smile, they preach a message, one that says: ‘what makes THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF one happy is not material possession but the knowledge of an awesome God ST. PAUL OF NIGERIA. who is alive and gives life.’” It is published in the That is the mission testimony shared in this edition by Fr. Kelvin Ugwu, United States twice per year. MSP, who is working in Malawi. This is a lesson to our world shrouded by ______________________ inordinate quest for consumerism and materialism. Correspondence Last year, 2017, the Missionary Society of St Paul of Nigeria celebrated 40 The Editor, The Catholic Ambassador years of Missionary activities. This magnificent celebration was orchestrated P.M.B. 2011 by different events in all our mission territories, including the celebration in Iperu-Remo 121003, Ogun State Ireland featured in this edition. The celebration came to its zenith during the Ph. 0802-350-3748 | 0703-791-4449 Silver Jubilee Priestly Anniversary of the 1992 Ordination class at Email: [email protected] Gwagwalada, Abuja, on October 23, 2017. It was truly a historical event that converged numerous people from all works of life from different parts of the Nigeria: FCT, Abuja country—a visible testimony of the inspiring and outstanding missionary The Missionary Society of St. Paul work of the MSP to humanity. As we count our blessings, we equally thank P.O. Box 23 God for the men and women who have stood faithfully by us and supported Gwagwalada 902101, Abuja us from the beginning until this moment. May God richly bless you Ph. 09-882-1402 | 09-882-1314 abundantly. After 40 years as a missionary congregation, it is pertinent we forge ahead United States with renewed ardor and passion for announcing the Gospel to all, and heed The Missionary Society of St. Paul to Pope Francis’ ardent wish: “May the approaching centenary of that letter Office of Mission Development serve as an incentive to combat the recurring temptation lurking beneath P.O. Box 300145 every form of ecclesial introversion, self-referential retreat into comfort Houston, TX 77230-0145 zones, pastoral pessimism and sterile nostalgia for the past.” So that we Ph. 713-747-1722 | Fax 713-741-0245 become men and women “distinguished by zeal and holiness,” increasingly Email: [email protected] necessary to the Church and to the mission. ______________________ by Fr. Dan Ifiok Udofia, MSP | [email protected] 1 The Catholic Ambassador Volume 34 Table of Contents EDITOR’S NOTE ...................................................................... 1 Renewed Zeal and Holiness MESSAGE OF THE SUPERIOR GENERAL ............................ 3 Christmas, A Feast of Joy, Love, and Peace Pages 4, 9-10: Walk 4 the Missions in Houston raised $18,000 to assist with education programs, schools, and student empowerment in MSP missions around the world. WALK 4 THE MISSIONS SUPPORTING SCHOOLS .............. 4 MALAWI: WHERE HAPPINESS PREVAILS ........................... 5 FOCUS ON THE BLESSINGS, NOT THE BURDENS ............. 7 Reflection of Fr. Kelvin Ugwu, MSP A TRIP TO CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH ........... 8 9TH ANNUAL WALK 4 THE MISSIONS .................................. 9 Photo Gallery Pages 11-13: Fr. Aloysius Nzekwe, MSP, visited missions in UP CLOSE IN KENYA AND NIGERIA ................................... 11 Katsina State, Nigeria (above) and Turkana County, Kenya Fr. Aloysius’s Visit to Losajait and Mai Kambu (below) to witness development funds in action. “THE MASS ISN’T A SHOW…” ........................................... 14 Pope Francis admonishes cell phone use during liturgy 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH ................................ 15 Wolf Point, Montana FR. EMANNUEL ESUKPA, MSP ........................................... 16 In Memoriam IRELAND MSP AT 40 ............................................................. 17 Summer 2018 The Missionary Society of St. Paul 2 CHRISTMAS, A FEAST OF JOY, LOVE & PEACE n Isaiah 9:2, the Prophet says: difficult times we are going through “The people who walked in in form of sickness, bereavement, I darkness have seen a great light; loss of job, or collapse of business; those who lived in a land of deep and it could be sin which we find darkness, on them light has shined.” difficult to get rid of. Let us pray for This above citation from Isaiah the grace and the courage to bring summarizes the message of Christ- these to the light of Christ so that he mas. Before Isaiah 9:2, we have Isaiah may touch and transform them. God 8:22 which is the last verse of chapter knows how to bring joy out of sad- 8 and it says: “They will look to the ness and light out of darkness. All earth but will see only distress and that is needed from us is our disposi- darkness, the gloom of anguish and tion and our readiness to cooperate they will be thrust into thick dark- with his grace. ness.” As noted above, Christmas is a There is a contrast between the feast of love. It is love which motivat- language of Isaiah 8:22 and Isaiah ed God to send his Son into the by Very Rev. Fr. Victor Onwukeme, MSP 9:1-2. This contrast reflects the state world and it is the same love which of the world before the coming of led Christ to die for us. The most Christ and after the advent of Christ. famous passage in the Gospel of The whole world was shrouded in John says — “For God so loved the darkness, groping in the dark and world that he gave his only Son, so searching assiduously for its Creator, that everyone who believes in him after having been expelled from the may not perish but may have eternal Garden of Eden. When the fullness life.” (John 3:16). of time had come, God sent his Son, As we celebrate this great feast of born of a woman… in order to re- Christ’s birth and incarnation, we are deem those under the law so that we invited to make a fundamental option might receive adoption (Gal 4:4). to love indiscriminately like Christ. Christ’s coming into the world Paul says: “Above all clothe yourself represents God’s historic intervention with love which binds everything in human history. This in-breaking of together in perfect harmony.” (Col God brought with it great joy to hu- 3:14). manity. Hence Pope Francis stated in It is in a bid to imitate the exam- his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii ple of Christ’s love that we exchange U.S. Editor’s note: This letter Gaudium, No.1 (The Joy of the Gos- gifts and visits at Christmas. At from Superior General, Very pel), there is joy in the heart of every- Christmas we go the extra mile to Rev. Fr. Victor Onwukeme, MSP, one who receives Christ. Christ show concern for our neighbors. As comes with the joy of redemption, we exchange gifts, visits, thoughts, was first published in the March the joy of salvation. and prayers, let us not focus only on 2018 Nigerian edition of The Along the same line, Paul says in those who will pay us back. Let us Catholic Ambassador. Although his letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice remember especially those from our U.S. publication month is in the Lord always, again I say rejoice whom we do not hope to receive, July, his Christmas message is a (Phil 4:4).” We are able to share in remembering the words of the Gos- valuable mid-year reminder to this joy if we allow the light of Christ pel which says: “If you do good to refocus on the love and peace to shine on the dark aspects of our those who do good to you, what right we share each year when we life. These dark aspects could be the have you to claim any credit?” (Matt celebrate the birth of Christ. 5:46; Luke 6:32). 3 The Catholic Ambassador Volume 34 Paul also says: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). Walk 4 The Missions Supporting Schools Christmas is also the feast of he Associate Missionaries of St. Paul (AMSP) held their ninth annual peace. No wonder Christ is described Walk 4 the Missions at Tom Bass Regional Park in Houston on as the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6).