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Parish Catechists: Mr. Ambrose Onah 07034737219,xx Mr. Mmachukwu Anthony 08035057149xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAnnouncer: Mrs. Irene Ngozi Onukwugha 08034175402xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSunday Masses in the Cathedral – 6:30am, 8:00am (English), 9:30am xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sunday Masses in Ave Maria Chapel – 7:00am, 8:30am xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxConfessions: Saturday – 4:30pm (Ave Maria Chapel) and after every weekday mass. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSick Calls: Contact 0803 417 5402 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSunday Evening: Rosary/ Benediction/Vespers (In the Cathedral) 5:45pm.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Donate for the ongoing parish projects...

Maria Assumpta Cathedral Parish

Catholic Archiodese of Owerri, Imo State Nigeria

Meet Our Clergy

Most. Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji

Archbishop Owerri Archdiocese

Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Edward Ohajunwa

Cathedral Administrator

Rev.Fr. Christopher Nwakpu

Assistant Administrator

Administrator's Desk.

Dear Parishoners,

Welcome to our website https://assumptaowarch.blogspot.com. This website will serve as a virtual front door, welcoming both old and newcomers alike and providing a snapshot of our parish.

Also, we believe that our website will significantly impact our ability to connect with each other and spread important messages.

It will be offering an online platform to share our church's story, post updates on upcoming events and provide downloadable resources for spiritual growth.

Special Features of our website include the following:

Parish Contact Form

Announcements

Upcoming events

Weekly activities

Projects/Donations

Downloadable Sunday Reflections

Thank you and may God bless you.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Edward Ohajunwa
Cathedral Administrator

Parish Calendar.

VISIT TO THE SPIRITUAL YEAR
3rd Week of February
Parishioners / Sodalities are expected to bring items for the visit
ACCOUNT NO: 0004309755. Access Bank.

CATHEDRATICUM
March
ACCOUNT NO: 0004309755. Access Bank.

PASTORAL VISIT
3rd Week of August
ACCOUNT NO. 1228605938. Zenith Bank.

PROJECT SUNDAY
1st Sunday of every month
ACCOUNT NO: 0004309755. Access Bank. 1100077414 Chikum Microfinance Bank.

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
ACCOUNT NO. 1243179148 Access Bank

HARVEST AND BAZAAR
2nd Week of November
ACCOUNT NO. 1228605938. Zenith Bank.

Announcements

ANNOUNCEMENTS 31-8-25.

1. On Monday, 1st September, the Universal Church will observe the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This year’s celebration is marked by the introduction of a new Mass approved by the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. It stands as a powerful liturgical response to the ecological crisis we face in our world today. Parishioners are invited and urged to join our Archbishop Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji during the 12 noon Mass on Monday to celebrate this new Mass and mark this important day.

2. Our Senior Seminarian, Rev Mr Chisom Okenya on 6 weeks’ apostolic work experience concludes today Sunday, 31st August, 2025. We thank him for his time with us and wish him well in his formation. Let us support him with our generosity. May God bless you as you do so.

3. Rev Fr Simon Peter Ibeh and Rev Fr Reginald Ogbuneke who worked with us as interns will be visiting our Parish on Sunday, 14th September, 2025 for a Mass of Thanksgiving. We congratulate them in their ordination to the priesthood. Their visit affords us the opportunity to express our joy and support them in their priestly ministry.

4. Next Sunday, the 7th of September, 2025 is our Project Sunday, "Uka bia Nara Ngozi". May God bless you all, as you support the Church projects and payment of salaries.

5. The Family and Human Life annual collection could not hold last Sunday because of the Parish CYON Day celebration. Please, let us anticipate it in the coming weeks. We regret any inconveniences.

6.The CWO Devotional Mass will be combined with the CMO Devotional Mass on Saturday, 13th of September,2025, at Ave Maria Chapel at 7am. It is adjusted to accommodate the Archdiocesan Odenigbo Day celebration on the 6th of September.

7. Maria Assumpta Cathedral CYON, wish to thank our Parishioners for their generous support during their 2025 Youth week Celebration. May God continue to bless and reward you.

8. We are all invited to be part of the NEW FACE of the CATHEDRAL. Please, send your financial support to: Cathedral Maintenance Fund, CHIKUM MICROFINANCE BANK, Account number:1100443675.

We thank those who are already supporting generously. May God reward you abundantly.

9.Maria Assumpta Cathedral AItar Servers’ Association monthly general meeting holds today, Sunday,31st August,2025, immediately after the 9.30am Mass at Obiri Odenigbo. Both old and new members are expected to attend the meeting.

10. On a sad note, the Parish Pastoral Council regrets to announce the passing unto eternal glory of our Vice Chairman, Sir Austin Osuagwu, KSM. May his gentle soul rest in peace, Amen!

11.BANNS of MARRIAGE:

2nd Publication: Chukwuma Grant Njemanze ---Amawom, Owerri Municipal.

Amarachi Okoro ---Umuokpereke, Avuvu.

3rd Publication:

Onyenegecha Maxwell Tochukwu---Ibekuta Ibeku Okwuato, Aboh Mbaise, Imo State.

Orji Blessing Margaret ---Nkwubo Emene Enugu State.

13. Jubilee Reflection: Environmental Stewardship. This week we reflect on Adults caring for creation in African communities; Children: Respecting the environment and God's creation .

Projects

About us.

MARIA ASSUMPTA CATHEDRAL PARISH INFORMATION

Established: 15th August, 1976

No. of Stations: 4

Inauguration: 15th August, 1976

Dedication: 29th November, 1980

Pioneer Administrator: Msgr. Alphonsus Aghaizu

Present Administrator: Rev. Fr. Martin Edward Ohajunwa

Chairman, PPC: Barr. Richard Nwaulu

Chairman, PFC: Mrs. Ndidi Nwagbuo

President CMO: Dr. Alphonsus Ukozor

President CWO: Lady Rita Uwaforo

President CYON: Uboh Enyinnaya

President Mary League: Miss. Gift Onosuru

Pioneer Catechist: Mr. Odor

Present Catechists: Mr. Ambrose Onah Mr. Mmachukwu Anthony

Announcer: Mrs. Irene Onukwugha

Catechizer: Mr. Ambrose Onah

Sunday Masses: In the Cathedral – 6:30am, 8:00am (English), 9:30am

Ave Maria Chapel – 7:00am, 8:30am

Weekday Masses: Monday: 6am and 12noon

At Ave Maria Chapel: Tuesday: 6am, 12noon and 6pm Wednesday: 6am and 6pm Thursday: 6am, 12noon and 6pm Friday: 6am, 12noon and 6pm Saturday: 7pm.

Confessions: Saturday – 4:30pm (Ave Maria Chapel) And after every weekday mass.

Sunday Evening: Rosary/ Benediction/Vespers (In the Cathedral) 5:45pm.

Sick Calls: Contact 0803 417 5402

Sunday Reflection

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Readings: Sirach 3: 17-20, 28-29; Hebrews 12: 18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14: 1, 7-14

The Spirit of Giving and Receiving

There is nothing we have which we have not received. And there is hardly nothing we have received which we cannot give. What it takes is courage and a strong faith. We are all in need in one way or the other. So, we are all caught up in the web of giving and receiving. Besides, we think we depend more on what we receive than on what we give whereas, it is that we depend more on what we give than on what we receive.

The fear of giving stems from the anxiety of lack and the concern to save. No one wants to be in lack because of the shame to beg. Yet, each of us is in need and we know that even the rich also ask because of the inevitable drive to achieve. It would be a very dry world if we all ignore to give because we are afraid of lack and we are concerned about saving. Then, no one receives and it becomes a cycle of lack. But because we depend on what we receive, we have to develop the open attitude to give. Givers never lack, so the saying goes.

The invitation of God is in itself a giving in which we are all recipients. The invitation he has given is open to all, the rich and poor alike. We have all been invited to his sublime majesty, to the gathering of the heavenly myriads where everyone is a first born son. In other words, we are all important in the eyes of God and we all have a right of inheritance; and no one’s right makes the other poorer or less important. In this divine assembly, God is the judge who determines our merits away from the social status of our biased environment.

Therefore, the challenge of the invitation of God is how we receive and how we give. We have to give generously and we have to receive with humility. Both sides need the courage of a strong faith.

Taking a look at what transpired at the Pharisee’s house in today’s gospel, Jesus sees from another perspective the social ethos of the people. It was a presumption of status. The Pharisees have an attitude of self importance which suggests a gesture of arrogance. Jesus watched them and saw this and he criticizes it. No one should arrogate importance to himself. He has to wait to be given that and not to be assumed by oneself. When it is received, it makes it more honorable. Importance as something that is given should be received with humility. Our greatness is not often in our strength, but in our humility.

Hence, our sense of giving must go beyond the conventional generosity. The idea of charity takes a deeper meaning. It is the best side of generosity. Generosity can be a matter for friends and folks. It may also be done with some ulterior motives. But charity remains the true act of generosity that is expressed because there is no expectation of reciprocity. To invite friends and family is our generosity, but to invite the poor and the needy as Jesus suggests is simply charity. This is the almsgiving that atones for sins.

I recently learned from a friend that once there is illness in the family, she feeds the poor. That takes care of the illness which has worked severally. Thus, the charity pleads for God’s mercy upon the giver. The fact is that with generosity we can build relationships and mend bridges and we make people happier and loving. God who is the father of the orphan and the defender of the widow; and who provides for the needy use us as instruments to accomplish these things in them. There is no other way than through us that God takes care of those in need. So, if we are opportune to receive generously from God, we are challenged to extend the generosity to those in need. That is why even the poor can give from their little; and that is how the distribution of God’s wealth extends to everyone.

Whereas we realize that no matter all that we may claim to know and have achieved, and how important we may be, there is so much yet to be known and achieved and many more who may be more important than one. We should remain humble at all times. Since I also know that much depends on how much one is able to share with others and in that way make their lives better, and that there are many who need our help than one can imagine, we should be challenged not to ignore the little one can give to better a situation. This is our calling. It takes courage and strong faith.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, from whom all good comes, grant us the spirit of generosity and the charity that clears a multitude of sins. May we be open to share and be courageous to remain humble in all circumstances, Amen!

Excerpts from “Visible Pathways” by Rev Fr Dr Martin Edward Ohajunwa.