ASABA/Nigeria: Catholics all over the world Sunday, April 14, 2019 celebrated Palm Sunday with Rev. Fr. John Konyeke saying that Christians should imbibe the spirit of serving rather than be served.
Rev. Fr. Konyeke in his homily delivered at the more than 2, 000 capacity St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Asaba where the Parishioners celebrated the Holy Mass for the first time to significantly, mark the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) stated that Jesus Christ came to the world to win souls, convert sinners and not to condemn.
According to the Catholic Priest, “Our Lord, Jesus Christ did not come to be served but to serve people and lead them to heaven; He did not come to condemn sinners but to forgive them of their sins, so, as Christians, we should live exemplary lives by doing the right things, correct people when they are wrong and make them to see reasons to live good Christian lives.”
“Forgive those who wrong you and don’t bear grudges; as we enter the Holy Week be stronger in your belief, we should pray against those things that are not of God in us and pray for those things that are of God to come out in us,” he said, observing, “today, in this Lenten season, on this significant Palm Sunday, we triumphantly entered our new Church to celebrate the Holy Mass; the joy of the people of God knew know bound during the triumphant entry and the joy of the Parishioners of John Bosco knew know bound today as they also, triumphantly entered their new church.”
Rev. Fr. Konyeke paid glowing tribute to the Priests who laid the foundation of the new Church and commended the Parishioners for their commitment which saw to the building of the new Church.
He also, thanked the Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese of the Catholic Church for speedily approving the building of the Church, observing, “when completed, St. John Bosco Catholic Church will have one of the tallest Church buildings in the Diocese and will become one of the pilgrimage centres and a landmark in Asaba.”
“We thank God for providing for His people the means to build a befitting place of worship for Him; we believe that He will complete the project that He has started to His glory,” Rev. Fr. Konyeke stated.
The Church service featured the blessing of palm leaves as the Parishioners defied the early morning rainfall to come out and receive God’s blessings.
The gospel reading was significantly handled at the Holy Mass by Rev. Fr. Anthony Azuwike, Rev. Fr. John Konyeke and Rev. Fr. Jude Iwediunor as they read different narratives of the passion of Christ, the masses and the Narrator respectively.
Due to the building of the new Church, all the Parishioners who used to attend three Masses in the morning, attended one Mass and filled the new Church to capacity.
