Special Father’s Day Mass By

His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Victor A. ChikweBishop of Ahiara Diocese, Imo State, Nigeria

Sunday, June 28, 2009Our Priests

Rev. Fr. Anthony Abiamiri - Rev. Fr. Nelson Ogwuegbu - Rev. Fr. Jude Okoye

Contacts: Frank Okechukwu (443) 850-6673 Clement Anyadike (410) 557-7053 Felix Opara (410) 325-2648 Ifeanyi Ngene (410) 248-3344Music Director: Chinwe Onuigbo (410) 944-3026 Mrs. Juliana Oranye 443-904-2839

Mission Statement: The NICC shall provide an environment for all Igbos in the Baltimore Metropolitan area to worship in their native language, Igbo, and to cultivate a lasting fraternal community whereby moral and Christian values are cherished. The organization shall also provide spiritual guidance to Igbo children and facilitate the assimilation of newly arrived Igbos into local parishes.

Community Worship: Last Sunday of every Month Place: St. Matthew’s Church, 5401 Loch Raven Blvd., Maryland 21239, Time: 1:30 P.M.

NICC Coordinating Committee Meeting: The committee meets on the Sunday preceding the Igbo mass from 5 p.m to 8p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church Rectory.

Uka nke Iri na ato N’oge na-adanyeghi n’emume.

A Reflection from Our PriestsI WILL PRAISE YOU LORD, FOR YOU HAVE RESCUED ME

Our gospel reading today is a very beautiful presentation of two miracles, namely restoration of life and healing of a woman who has suffered on account of illness. These two acts from our Lord demonstrated his generous, kind and compassionate nature.

We all are in need of healing and restoration in our lives. It therefore becomes very necessary that we continue to grow in our faith and trust in God. Just like the incident of last Sunday’s gospel where the apostles encountered a heavy storm in the process of crossing the sea with the Lord. The boat was filling up and they were greatly terrified and they cried out unto the Lord whose words restored calmness.

Our live here on earth is a journey and we are crossing the sea of life, our destination is the shore of eternal life. In this journey from time to time, we encounter storms in various forms- Physical, emotional, psychological etc; no matter what storm you are facing in your journey, remember to have Jesus in your boat to restore calmness.

Today is a very special and happy day in the Nigeria Igbo Catholic Community, we are honoring our fathers. As we give thanks to God for the gift of our fathers, let us pray that God will always renew their strength as they work hard each day to make us and our world better. On this day also our joy is multiplied by the fact that we are blessed with the presence of a bishop from our homeland – His Lordship Bishop Victor Adibe Chikwe.

We give thanks to his Lordship Bishop Victor Chikwe and pray God’s blessings on him and his diocese of Ahiara. We also encourage every one present today to support His Lordship in the many projects he is carrying out for the people of God in his diocese.

Our prayer for all today is that we always find reason in our lives to echo the words from our response to the psalm today:

I WILL PRAISE YOU LORD FOR YOU HAVE RESCUED ME

Ukwe Tupu Mbata: Lee Nnukwu Ukochukwu…….

Ukochuwku: Umunna m Ka Anyi Kwado Onwe Anyi Nke Oma Maka Emume Nke Yukaristia.

Onyenweanyi Mee Ebere ...Gloria: Otito Diri Chineke N’Elu Kacha Elu

1 st Reading : Ihe Ogugu E wetara n’ Akwukwo Amamihe Ch. 1 vs 13-15, 2 vs 23-24 Isi Okwu: O bu ekworo nke ekwensu butere onwu n’uwa

Aziza: Psalms (Abuoma) Ch. 30 vs 2, 4-6, 11-13

Onyenweanyi, aga m eto Gi, n’ihi na I zoputala m.

Ukwe: Jigide m, Onyenwe m Jesus.

2 nd Reading Ihe Ogugu e wetara n’Akwukwo Abuo nke Pol di aso degara ndi Korint Ch. 8 vs 7, 9, 13-15

Isi Okwu: Ebe unu nwere hie nne, nyere ndi ozo no na mkpa aka

Aleluya Aleluya, Aleluya! Onyenweanyi, okwu gi bu ezi okwu. Were ezi okwu Gi doo anyi nso, Aleluya!

Ukwe Tupu Ozioma: Chukwu Muo Nso, Onye Okike

Ozioma (Gospel): Ihe ogugu nke a si n’Ozioma di aso nke Mak dere - Ch. 5 vs 21-43 or Ch 5 vs 21-24, 35-43 - 23Isi Okwu: Nwa agbogho, asi m gi kulie.

OKWU CHUKWU (HOMILY) Ekwem N’Otu Chineke

Ekpere Maka Ndi Kwere Nu (Prayer for the Faithful):

Chorus: Chukwu afo Oma, Oseburuwa, Umu gi n’ayo enyem aka gi Ukwe Offertory: (see Onyinye choruses)

Ihe imere di nmaAja Di Nso, Aja Di Oke Onu…

Consecration: Jesu Kristi, Bia Ka-Iburu Achicha Na Mmaya

Nso, Nso, Nso

Nwaturu Chukwu

Communion (Oriri Nso): (a) Jesu, Onye Okike Nke Uwa…

Announcement

Ukwe Mmechi (Closing): Chorus:

MASS REQUESTS AND INTENTIONS

The Nigeria Igbo Catholic Community Coordinating Council – For the Fathers, Grand Fathers and Fathers -to-be, that the almighty God will continue to strengthen them, so that they can undertake the responsibility that has been bestowed on them to lead their families and the world.

The family of Mr Gabriel & Mrs Calister Ugwu – Is thanking God for his blessings and requesting for Gods protection and guidance through their stay in Nigeria.

The family of Mr. Prince K.C Emecheta – Thanksgiving and God’s protection on behalf of his wife Nkeiru who is relocating to Nigeria.

Mrs. Celestina Ikpamezie – Is asking for Gods guidance as she travels to Nigeria this summer and for continued protection of her family both here and in Nigeria.

The family of Chief Patrick & Lolo Chika Nwakuba – are requesting mass in memory of their sweet Mother, Grandmother and Mother-Inlaw late Madam Loveline Ekpewerechi Ukaeje who slept in the lord one year ago, on May 27, 2008.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• NICC welcomes all the individuals who are attending the NICC mass for the first time. Please see one of our contact persons for registration information and on how you can contribute to the NICC mission.

• The NICC 12th Year Anniversary T-shirts (embroidered) and Jerseys continues to be on sale at a discount price of $20 and $15 respectively. In addition the anniversary video continues to be on sale for $15 for a pack of 3 CD’s. Please see Dr. Patrick Nwakama to purchase yours.

• NICC is also reminding those with outstanding balance from the Thanksgiving and Bazaar, as well as, the past fundraising effort, to please endeavor to make payments or redeem their pledges. Installment payments are also accepted.

• Please visit our website (www.niccchurch.org) for daily news on our faith community. Pictures from our events including NICC 12th year Anniversary, 2008 Mothers’ Day Celebration, picnic, pilgrimage and thanksgiving/bazaar can now be viewed and printed from the website.

Offertory Collection for Sunday, May 30, 2009 - $807, Mass Requests $100NICC Men & NICC Youths Catechism Sunday July 12, 2009 (3:00 – 6 p.m. @ St Anthony’s).

NICC CWO Meeting – Sunday, July 19, 2009 (3:00 to 6:00 p.m. @ St Anthony’s )

NICC member Mr. Prince K.C. Emecheta is inviting members to his wife’s send off celebration on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at St. Anthony’s Hall, time 9:00 p.m.

“SOROM CHIA”

We say Happy Birthday to all NICC members born in June including

Aloysius Chinonye Ibe II, Olivia Nwankwo, Vanessa Nwankwo, Raymond Anuforo, Felix Opara, Veronica Opara, Ify Osefo, Nwamaka Korie, Kelechi Ugoeze Nwakuba, Nkemakolam Simon Nwaigwe Jnr, Gloria Iweh, Sandra Akuchi Iheanacho, Emmanuel Chinaka, Ihuoma Chinaka, Boniface Eke, Cally Onyeka, Ndukwe Adindu, Chukwuemeka Adindu, Peter Egwom Jnr, Peace Kelechi Aguguo, Izuchukwu Igwe, Okey Ezeanolue, Jordan Okuzu, Francis Nnoruom, Ogechi Okere, Chibuikem Okere, Kelechi Peace Aguguo, Cecelia Osuagwu, Nnamdi Iwu, Joy Onuoha, Murrine Ejiogu, Valentine Onukwugha, Nneka Ikejiofor, Oluchi Offorji, Ogechi Offorji, Chinaza Offor, Chinenye Offor, King David Okolo I, Chinonso Okehie, Adaeze Aginam, Rachael Asoluka, Dominica Ejelonu, Kenechi Obiora, Uchenna Onyekwere and others that we may have omitted.

Please mark your calendar for the following NICC 2009 ministry dates

2009 NICC Annual Family PicnicSaturday, July 25, 2009

Honeygo Blvd Recreational CenterWhitemarsh Maryland

Special Mass with Rev. Fr Emmanuel Edeh, CSSPSunday, July 26, 2009 (tentative)

St. Anthony’s of Padua at 1:15 p.m.

2009 NICC Annual PilgrimageSunday, August 9, 2009

National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes in Emmittsburg, MarylandMass at 12 noon in the main sanctuary.

Please contact Dr. Patrick Nwakama to sign up your family for this special event.

NICC Thanksgiving and Bazaar Celebration – Sunday, October 25, 2009