By Olivia Obijiaku
The Parish Priest of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Fegge Onitsha, Rev Fr Sampson Ogbuebuna presided over the first Mass in the parish, on the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Thursday, 9th November, 2023, where he referenced the Bible in explaining the need to renovate Immaculate of Mary Church building even as he called on parishioners to renovate themselves as God’s temples which they are so that they may live up to expectation.
The priest explained who that every dedicated church needs to be renovated from time to time so they may continue to serve their purposes of existence also told the participants that they too are celebrated anytime a feast is celebrated in the Church because they are the movable temples of God.
“Once a church is dedicated living water gushes out from it.” He catechized. “The mission of this water in that river is to bring life, healing and other good things. This is the unavoidable importance of coming to pray and worship in a dedicated church. Our parish needs to be dedicated to live up to expectations. As we plan to renovate this church, we are to renovate ourselves because as human beings, we get old, weary and we can disappoint. By living up to expectations, you will be a temple giving living water like the water gushing out from the sanctuary. So, let us begin to form ourselves as this temple; revive ourselves as this temple; discard what needs to be discarded; and make it standard again.”
“Heaven and earth celebrate us because we are also the churches and the temples of God. As the movable temples of God that you are, you can move this temple to your homes, businesses, car, offices and anywhere you find yourself. This means that people can find and touch God through you, wherever you are. When you do what this dedicated church and immovable temple does, people can worship God through you because you are the dwelling of the Holy Spirit. In order to live up to expectation, you are to form yourself; form your habits and passions; catechize yourself; and form everything about you. If you do not form yourself, you will continue to disappoint and give bitter and sour water; and death instead of life.”
Fr Ogbuebuna offered to catechize them in line with the teachings of the Church so that they may be properly formed. “That is what we are doing here. Come and be taught.” He invited them.
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