St. Michael Catholic Church, Ketu.

Did you miss the
check out some highlights of the just concluded Nine Lessons and Carol.
with loads of amazing tunes🎄🎄🥰

Highlights of the just concluded Nine lessons & Carols
on Sunday 16th, December 2023.🥰🥰
it was full of amazing moment as we had lots of rendition with sweet melody of the Xmas mood.🎄🎄🎄
Stay tuned for more highlight..........

Pictures Highlight of the just concluded Corpus Christi

What are you thankful for?

From all of us at st Michaels Parish
We say happy anniversary to our amiable Parish Priest.

You are invited to the Harvest of Amazing Grace Praise Night
Featuring: Mass, Worship,, Praises. Prayers, and many more
Come and be blessed!!!🥰🥰🥰

Harvest 2023!
Harvest of amazing grace...
Sunday 24th, Sept
Come an let us sow a seed in the house of the Lord.
Save the date.

What are you grateful for?

Every new month comes with new blessings!
What are you grateful for?
Drop a emoji if you are a September born😁
Happy new month🥰

And so we celebrated with our dear Parish Priest!🥰

Congratulations to our very own Very Rev. Fr. Jeffery Nwoke, SDV for celebrating his 10th years priestly ordination anniversary.😍😍
We pray for God's protections always. Amen

What a Priest he is for 10 Years! | Ordination Anniversary | Very Rev. Fr. Jeffery woke SDV celebrates his 10 years priestly ordination anniversary in grand style with the good people of St Pius Catholic Church, Ayobo....

Happy Birthday to our amiable Parish priest,
Very Rev. Fr. Marcellinus O. Teko😍😍😍
We wish you all the good things of life and may the good Lord continue to bless and keep you. Amen.
You're loved and cherished. Ad Multos Annos!🥰

Congratulation to our very own Rev. Sr. Anthonia Fuwa EHJ,
who just got her final profession of vow at St John Catholic Church, Igando.
We wish you a fruitful journey as a religious!...
The good people of St Michael Ketu are always behind you

Celebration of Rev Sis. Anthonia Fuwa EHJ for her final Profession of vow| Dramatic moments As an indigen of the parish and one of us, we are glad to celebrate with our own Rev. Sr. Anthonia Biodun Fuwa, who just got her final Profession of vows on ...

St Michael Parish!
We are looking for content creators who fit in the categories as seem i the flyer.
Send us a DM if your are interested.
Remember, working in the house of the Lord is more blessing.

The Charismatic Gifts

by Rev. William G. Most

The ordinary charismatic gifts, the invisible gifts that help us fulfill our state in life, are widely given. The extraordinary are given when and to whom the Spirit wills, as St. Paul tells us in 1 Cor 12.11. They are not routine today, though they were in the first generation Church, as we see from 1 Cor 12-14.

Some have claimed that these extraordinary graces are ordinary and were ordinary for the first centuries. But the Patristic texts cited for this view are few. Fairly clear are those of Tertullian (an early pentecostalist who eventually left the Church), St. Hilary, and St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Already by the fourth century, however, St. Augustine had to argue that the accounts of miracles in the early Church were not mere fables. In the East, St. John Chrysostom also noted that the age of the charismatic gifts as a regular occurence had long since ended. It is clear from the history of the early Church that as soon as Christians could point to the rapid spread of the Faith and the witness of martyrs in order to make converts, God began to give the charismatic gifts less frequently—they were always by their nature extraordinary, and long before the time of Augustine and Chrysostom, they were no longer necessary on a large scale.

Thus, it is not true that extraordinary charismatic gifts are simply actualizations--putting to work--of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that all Catholics have. Rember, the special charismatic things belong to one category, the seven Gifts to another . One cannot suppose graces from one side of this divide will actualize those from the other side.

Still further, the possession of extraordinary charismatic favors does not even prove those who have them are in the state of grace. We think of the frightening words of Our Lord Himself in Mt 7. 22-23: "Many will say to me on that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out devils, and have done many marvels in your name? And then I will admit to them: I never knew you: depart from me you workers of iniquity."

Vatican II, Lumen gentium 12 said of the extraordinary gifts: ". . . they are not to be rashly sought, nor should one presumptuously expect of them the fruits of the apostolic works; but the judgment as to whether or not they are genuine, and as to their ordered use pertains to those who are in charge in the Church . . . ." When these gifts are used with careful discernment of spirits and obedience, they are "fitting and useful for the needs of the Church" (Ibid.)

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit by Rev. William G. Most

We turn now to the Seven Gifts of the sanctifying category. They are: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord.

They each perfect certain basic virtues. Four of them perfect the intellectual virtues. Understanding gives an intuitive pe*******on into truth. Wisdom perfects charity, in order to judge divine things. Knowledge perfects the virtue of hope. The gift of counsel perfects prudence.

The other three gifts perfect virtues of the will and appetites. The gift of piety perfects justice in giving to others that which is their due. This is especially true of giving God what is His due. Fortitude perfects the virtue of fortitude, in facing dangers. Fear of the Lord perfects temperance in controlling disordered appetites.

To illustrate the difference between things done with the Gifts and those done with the ordinary virtues, we will take up the gift of counsel.

There are three kinds of guides a person may follow in making his decisions:

1) The whim of the moment. Aristotle in his Ethics 1. 5 says that to act that way is a life fit for cattle, who do just what they happen to feel like doing.

2) Reason, which in practice is always aided by actual graces, which God gives so generously. For example suppose I see three options open to me, all of which are moral. Ideally I would make at least mentally a list of the good points and of the bad points of each. The I would look over the whole board, and pick what gives the best effect for me. Or if I come to think I need penance for my sins, I would ask: How much have I sinned, so I can know how much penance? what kind of penance will fit with my health? with the obligations of my state in life? And after several steps, a decision is reached. This method is called discursive, since it moves from one step to another.

3) In the third and highest way a soul does not go from one step to another, in a discursive process, but the answer is, as it were, dropped fully made and complete into his mind by the Gifts. This was the case of Our Lady, for example at the annunciation. If she had been operating in the ordinary mode, she might well have reasoned: Now my people have been waiting for centuries for the Messiah (as soon as Gabriel said He would reign over the house of Jacob forever, even any ordinary Jew would have known that He was the messiah). Now he is here. I should share this news with others, especially the authorities in Jerusalem. And what about my husband Joseph? In a short time he will not be able to avoid dark thoughts. But the Gospel shows she did none of these things. God needed to send a special angel to tell Joseph. so the Gifts can lead souls to points not contrary to reason, but far more lofty than what reason would suggest.

Cf. the following from St. John of the Cross: (Ascent 3.2.10; cf. Living Flame 1.4; 1.9 and 2.34): "God alone moves the powers of these souls . . . to those deeds which are suitable, according to the will and plan of God, and they cannot be moved to others. . . . Such were the actions of the most glorious Virgin, our Lady, who, being elevated from the beginning [of her life] to this lofty state, had never the form of any creature impressed on her, nor was moved by such, but was always moved by the Holy Spirit."

But there is a danger: a soul could mistake its own desires for action of the Gifts, since the reasons are not clear to it. Two points must be kept in mind: 1) The full and apparent action of these gifts does not appear until one is well advanced in the spiritual life (hidden assistance by them can come earlier). 2) Ordinarily an inspiration via the Gifts leaves the soul not fully certain--a signal to consult a director or superior. Uncommonly they will give certitude, but only when a decision must be made on the spot, and there is no time to consult.

When a soul acts with usual actual graces God is the most important actor, yet the faculties of the human do churn out the result--hence it is easy to suppose the work is done basically by that soul. But under the action of the Gifts, the soul is more passive, and its own faculties contribute even less.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit in General by Rev. William G. Most

Grace is any gift from God to us. There are two great categories or groups of graces: sanctifying, and charismatic.

Sanctifying graces are those that are aimed at making the recipient holy. They include: actual grace, a grace He sends me at this moment, to lead me and to enable me to do a particular good thing here and now, and habitual grace (also called sanctifying) which actually does make the recipient holy. It gives the soul the radical ability to take in the face to face vision of God in the next life. Increase in sanctifying grace means an increase in that capacity--for since the vision is infinite, our capacity can never reach the limit of growth.

The other category is called charismatic. These graces are not aimed directly an making the recipient holy. They are for some other sort of benefit to the individual or the community. There are two kinds of charismatic graces: ordinary and extraordinary.

Where do the Gifts of the Holy Spirit fit in? There are two groups of them, one in the sanctifying, one in the charismatic category.

In the "sanctifying category" we find the seven gifts, which are given along with sanctifying (habitual) grace.

In the "charismatic" category we find both the ordinary gifts--e.g, the gift to be a good parent or a good teacher--and the extraordinary gifts, those which are or seem miraculous, such as the gifts of healing, tongues, or miracles.

Questions and Answers on the Holy Spirit

105. Who is the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit)?

The Holy Ghost is God and the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

(a) The Holy Ghost is also called the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Love.

106. From whom does the Holy Ghost proceed?

The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son.

(a) The Holy Ghost does not proceed from the Father and the Son by spiritual generation. Only the Son proceeds from the Father by generation. This is one of the mysterious truths that we know only from revelation.

107. Is the Holy Ghost equal to the Father and the Son?

The Holy Ghost is equal to the Father and the Son, because He is God.

(a) Because of the oneness of nature in the Blessed Trinity, the Father is entirely in the Son and in the Holy Ghost; the Son is entirely in the Father and in the Holy Ghost; and the Holy Ghost is entirely in the Father and in the Son. No one of the three divine Persons is outside the other, for none precedes the other in eternity, nor surpasses the other in power, nor exceeds the other in any way. This indwelling of one divine Person in the others is called circumincession.

108. What does the Holy Ghost do for the salvation of mankind?

The Holy Ghost dwells in the Church as the source of its life and sanctifies souls through the gift of grace.

(a) Although the sanctification of mankind, like all other outward works of God, is performed by all three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, it is attributed to the Holy Ghost, the third Person. The sanctification of mankind is attributed to the Holy Ghost because He is the love of the Father and the Son and because the sanctification of man by grace shows forth God's boundless love.

Question from Hélene on 12/20/2016:
Hello my question is are we allowed to confess our sins by writing them down and having the priest read them while we are sorry and then give us absolution.They aferwards shred them and put them as straw in the Christmas crib.I would greatly appreciate a clear answer on this one.Thank-you and Merry Christmas.Hélene. Québec.

Answer by EWTN, VP for Theology on 2/16/2017:
The answer is "no". It is called "auricular" confession for a reason. You accuse yourself orally and the priest who hears, absolves you in Christ's name. Only a mute person would be permitted to confess in that way. This adds a sentimental ceremony to the substantive purpose of the Sacrament, which has a form and liturgical norms that dictate how it is celebrated.

However, you may certainly make notes to prompt yourself as to what you intend to confess. That is advisable for a general confession after a long period of time, but not in substitution for confessing.

Source: Eternal Word Television Network

Gospel LK 6:12-19

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.

Alleluia SEE JN 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
that you may go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:1B-2, 8-9, 10-11

R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

Reading 1 COL 2:6-15

Brothers and sisters:
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
rooted in him and built upon him
and established in the faith as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy
according to the tradition of men,
according to the elemental powers of the world
and not according to Christ.

For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him,
who is the head of every principality and power.
In him you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not administered by hand,
by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
You were buried with him in baptism,
in which you were also raised with him
through faith in the power of God,
who raised him from the dead.
And even when you were dead in transgressions
and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he brought you to life along with him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions;
obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims,
which was opposed to us,
he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross;
despoiling the principalities and the powers,
he made a public spectacle of them,
leading them away in triumph by it.

Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 438

Homily by Rev Fr. Collins Nwokeocha on the 10th of September 2017;
Theme: BE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER.
Biblical Ref: Ez 33:7-9, Psalm - Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9, Rom 13:8-10, 2 Cor 5:19, Mt 18:15-20

To be your brother’s keeper you need to be vigilant in other to help them through life, and at the process of helping others, we should also be reminded that we are also humans.
God calling Ezekiel son of man in the first reading, he is reminding us that we are mere humans.
Being a watchman does not give us the right to control the lives of others. In trying to correct our brothers and sisters we should do it with all our hearts.
In our lives as Christians, there are certain things expected of us; how do we treat the people around us? If you love your brother you will not hurt him or her. We owe ourselves that debt of love, the gospel summarized it all by saying “if your brother or sister offends you, meet him or her one on one, and if the person refuses to change report him or her to the church and if he still refuses, treat him or her like the gentiles and tax collectors” do not just abandon them, rather show them so much love that will make them repent. The gospel also taught us how to let go, let go of everything and look up to God. The bible said we should pray for those who offends us, but it’s not easy to pray for those who did us wrong rather we ask for the grace of God to do so. It is important that we pray for the grace of god to remove every wound that has been made by our loved ones and most importantly, the responsorial psalm says “oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts” May God give us the grace to carry on, AMEN.

September 10, 2017

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Lectionary: 127

Reading 1- Ez 33:7-9
Responsorial Psalm - Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Reading 2 - Rom 13:8-10
Alleluia - 2 Cor 5:19
Gospel - Mt 18:15-20

(Psalm 122:1,7,8,9) In Praise of Jerusalem, I was glad when they said to me,“Let us go to the Lord's house.” May there be peace inside your walls
and safety in your palaces.” For the sake of my relatives and friends I say to Jerusalem, “Peace be with you!” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God I pray for your prosperity.

Amen!!!

A mother in heaven who grants her children their most wanted favors. A lady of constant assistance to intercede for us unceasingly.

Baptism Mass held on 2nd September 2017

Gospel
Lk 4:38-44
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God."
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, "To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent."
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 52:10, 11
R. (10) I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.

Reading 1
Col1:1-8
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother,
to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:
grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you,
for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and the love that you have for all the holy ones
because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.
Of this you have already heard
through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.
Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,
so also among you,
from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth,
as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave,
who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf
and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.
We begin today in the name of the Father + Son + and Holy Spirit + AMEN!!!

Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 433

: Like keys, prayer opens door to God, out of ego toward others, leads us from fear to courage, sadness to joy

🙏

Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

V/ Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
V/ Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
V/ Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
V/ Jesus, hear us. R/ Jesus, graciously hear us.

Response for following petitions: Have mercy on us God, the Father of Heaven . . .
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world . . .
God, the Holy Spirit . . .
Holy Trinity, One God . . .
Jesus, Son of the living God . . .
Jesus, Splendor of the Father . . .
Jesus, Brightness of eternal Light . . .
Jesus, King of Glory . . .
Jesus, Sun of Justice . . .
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary . . .
Jesus, Most Amiable . . .
Jesus, Most Admirable . . .
Jesus, the Mighty God . . .
Jesus, Father of the world to come . . .
Jesus, Angel of Great Counsel . . .
Jesus, Most Powerful . . .
Jesus, Most Patient . . .
Jesus, Most Obedient . . .
Jesus, Meek and humble of Heart . . .
Jesus, Lover of Chastity . . .
Jesus, our Lover . . .
Jesus, God of Peace . . .
Jesus, Author of Life . . .
Jesus, Model of Virtues . . .
Jesus, Zealous for souls . . .
Jesus, our God . . .
Jesus, our Refuge . . .
Jesus, Father of the Poor . . .
Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful . . .
Jesus, Good Shepherd . . .
Jesus, True Light . . .
Jesus, Eternal Wisdom . . .
Jesus, Infinite Goodness . . .
Jesus, our Way and our Life . . .
Jesus, Joy of the Angels . . .
Jesus, King of the Patriarchs . . .
Jesus, Master of the Apostles . . .
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists . . .
Jesus, Strength of Martyrs . . .
Jesus, Light of Confessors . . .
Jesus, Purity of Virgins . . .
Jesus, Crown of all Saints . . .
V/ Be merciful, R/ spare us, O Jesus!
V/ Be merciful, R/ graciously hear us, O Jesus!

Response for following petitions: “Deliver us, O Jesus.”

From all evil . . .
From all sin . . .
From your wrath . . .
From the snares of the devil . . .
From the spirit of fornication . . .
From everlasting death . . .
From the neglect of your inspirations . . .
Through the mystery of your holy Incarnation . . .
Through your Nativity . . .
Through your Infancy . . .
Through your Most Divine Life . . .
Through your Labors . . .
Through your Agony and Passion . . .
Through your Cross and Sufferings . .
Through your Death and Burial . . .
Through your Resurrection . . .
Through your Ascension . . .
Through your Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist . . .
Through your Joys . . .
Through your Glory . . .

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, R/ spare us, O Jesus!
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, R/ graciously hear us, O Jesus!
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, R/ have mercy on us,
O Jesus! Jesus hear us. R/ Jesus, graciously hear us. Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, you have said, “Ask and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you”; mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the grace of your most divine love, that we may love you with all our hearts, and in all our words and actions, and never cease to praise you. Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of your Holy Name, for you never fail to govern those whom you solidly establish in your love. You, who live and reign forever and ever.
R/ Amen.

Morning Prayer

My God, I thank you for protecting me through the night. I praise you and give you thanks for all the blessings you have bestowed on me. In union with Jesus, I consecrate to you all my thoughts, words, actions, joys, and sufferings of this day. Mary my mother, bless me this day and protect me from dangers. My Guardian Angel and all my patron saints, pray for me. Amen.

Night Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you have given your followers an example of gentleness and humility, a task that is easy, a burden that is light. Accept the prayers and work of this day, and give us the rest that will strengthen us to render more faithful service to you who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.