Month: October 2019
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The Unity of Marriage & Moral Responsibility in Marriage (Church’s teachings and challenges)
By Valentine Umoh Preamble[1] “So that the “I do” of the spouses may be a free and responsible act, and so that the marriage covenant may have solid and lasting human and Christian foundations, preparation for marriage is of prime importance.”[2] “It is imperative to give suitable and timely instruction to young people, above all…
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The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on! Legacy of Saint John Henry Newman
1. Lead, kindly Light: historical context[1] Lead, Kindly Light is a hymn with words written in 1833 by Saint John Henry Newman as a poem titled “the Pillar and the Cloud”. A poem biblically based on Exod 13: 21-22. John Henry Newman was 33 years old when he found himself on a boat from the…
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The Function of Music in Sacred Worship: The Role of Choristers
By Valentine Umoh Introduction[1] The experience of encounter with the holy, awe-provoking yet fascinatingly attractive, is known from the history of religions.[2] This experience invites engagement with a transcendent “Holy mystery” or “ground of being” who at once is utterly beyond all created personal beings and is very near (immanent) to them. In both…
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The Importance of the Sacraments for Christian life: special focus on the Holy Eucharist and Penance
By Valentine Umoh “A life which is not authentically sacramental, would not be genuinely Christian” Preamble[1] In 2011, as we were eagerly seated ready for our first lecture in Sacramental Theology, the Professor came into the lecture hall and wrote on the board thus: “A life which is not authentically sacramental would not be genuinely…
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The Challenges of Catholic Youths in the 21st Century[1]
By Valentine Umoh Introduction The Catholic Church has always not absconded her sublime duty of guiding and forming the youths and in all places because the youths play a vital role not only in the Church but also in the world. If society will be better than what we currently have, if the Church…
Fr. Valentine Umoh 