Nigeria: Islamists bomb churches for Christmas

St. Michael, Defend Us
Christ, Save us!
Santiago y Matamores!!!!!

From Rueters By Felix Onuah and Camillus Eboh

ABUJA | Sun Dec 25, 2011 11:17am EST

(Reuters) – Five bombs exploded on Christmas Day at churches in Nigeria, one killing at least 27 people, raising fears that Islamist militant group Boko Haram – which claimed responsibility – is trying to ignite sectarian civil war.

Boko Haram, which wants to impose Islamic sharia law across a country of 160 million split roughly between Christians and Muslims, has increased the sophistication of the explosives it uses this year and has increased the number of its attacks.

St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madala, an Abuja satellite town about 40 km (25 miles) from the centre of the capital, was packed when the bomb exploded just outside.

“We were in the church with my family when we heard the explosion. I just ran out,” Timothy Onyekwere told Reuters. “Now I don’t even know where my children or my wife are. I don’t know how many were killed but there were many dead.”

Boko Haram – which in the Hausa language spoken in northern Nigeria means “Western education is sinful” – is loosely modeled on the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.

The group’s low level insurgency used to be largely confined to northeastern Nigeria, but it has struck several parts of the north, centre and the capital Abuja this year.

The sect was blamed for dozens of bombings and shootings in the north, and has claimed responsibility for two bombings in Abuja this year, including Nigeria’s first suicide bombing on the U.N. headquarters in August that killed at least 23 people.

Rights groups say more than 250 people have been killed by Boko Haram since July 2010.

Hours after the first bomb, blasts were reported at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in the central, ethnically and religiously mixed town of Jos, and at a church in northern Yobe state at the town of Gadaka. Residents said many were wounded in Gadaka, but there were no further details.

CHAOS AND CARNAGE

A Reuters reporter on the scene of the explosion close to Abuja saw the church’s front roof had been destroyed in the blast, as had several houses near it. Five burnt out cars were still smoldering.

“The officials who counted told me they have picked 27 bodies so far,” Father Christopher Barde, Assistant Catholic Priest of the church, said.

There were scenes of chaos after the incident.

“Mass just ended and people were rushing out of the church and suddenly I heard a loud sound ‘gbam’. Cars were in flames and bodies littered everywhere,” Nnana Nwachukwu told Reuters.

“The blast occurred on the road by the church and not inside the church. I happen to also live close by the church. Help was very slow in coming to the injured.”

The later blast in Jos, a tinderbox of ethnic and sectarian tensions that sometimes sees deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians, was accompanied by a shooting spree by militants, who exchanged fire with local police, said Charles Ezeocha, special taskforce spokesman for Jos.

“We lost one policeman and we have made four arrests. I think we can use them to get more information and work on that,” he said.

Police found four other explosive devices in Jos, which they deactivated, he said.

Last Christmas Eve, a series of bomb blasts around Jos killed 32 people, and others people died in attacks on two churches in the northeast of Africa’s most populous nation.

Benedict XVI’s Urbi et Orbi Message for Christmas

Here is the Holy Father’s Urbi et Orbi message for Christmas:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and throughout the world!

Christ is born for us! Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to the men and women whom he loves. May all people hear an echo of the message of Bethlehem which the Catholic Church repeats in every continent, beyond the confines of every nation, language and culture. The Son of the Virgin Mary is born for everyone; he is the Saviour of all.

This is how Christ is invoked in an ancient liturgical antiphon [The final O Antiphon]: “O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver, hope and salvation of the peoples: come to save us, O Lord our God”. Veni ad salvandum nos! Come to save us! This is the cry raised by men and women in every age, who sense that by themselves they cannot prevail over difficulties and dangers. They need to put their hands in a greater and stronger hand, a hand which reaches out to them from on high. Dear brothers and sisters, this hand is Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary. He is the hand that God extends to humanity, to draw us out of the mire of sin and to set us firmly on rock, the secure rock of his Truth and his Love (cf. Ps 40:2).

This is the meaning of the Child’s name, the name which, by God’s will, Mary and Joseph gave him: he is named Jesus, which means “Saviour” (cf. Mt 1:21; Lk 1:31). He was sent by God the Father to save us above all from the evil deeply rooted in man and in history: the evil of separation from God, the prideful presumption of being self-sufficient, of trying to compete with God and to take his place, to decide what is good and evil, to be the master of life and death (cf. Gen 3:1-7). This is the great evil, the great sin, from which we human beings cannot save ourselves unless we rely on God’s help, unless we cry out to him: “Veni ad salvandum nos! – Come to save us!”

The very fact that we cry to heaven in this way already sets us aright; it makes us true to ourselves: we are in fact those who cried out to God and were saved (cf. Esth [LXX] 10:3ff.). God is the Saviour; we are those who are in peril. He is the physician; we are the infirm. To realize this is the first step towards salvation, towards emerging from the maze in which we have been locked by our pride. To lift our eyes to heaven, to stretch out our hands and call for help is our means of escape, provided that there is Someone who hears us and can come to our assistance.

Jesus Christ is the proof that God has heard our cry. And not only this! God’s love for us is so strong that he cannot remain aloof; he comes out of himself to enter into our midst and to share fully in our human condition (cf. Ex 3:7-12). The answer to our cry which God gave in Jesus infinitely transcends our expectations, achieving a solidarity which cannot be human alone, but divine. Only the God who is love, and the love which is God, could choose to save us in this way, which is certainly the lengthiest way, yet the way which respects the truth about him and about us: the way of reconciliation, dialogue and cooperation.

Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, on this Christmas 2011, let us then turn to the Child of Bethlehem, to the Son of the Virgin Mary, and say: “Come to save us!” Let us repeat these words in spiritual union with the many people who experience particularly difficult situations; let us speak out for those who have no voice.

Together let us ask God’s help for the peoples of the Horn of Africa, who suffer from hunger and food shortages, aggravated at times by a persistent state of insecurity. May the international community not fail to offer assistance to the many displaced persons coming from that region and whose dignity has been sorely tried.

May the Lord grant comfort to the peoples of South-East Asia, particularly Thailand and the Philippines, who are still enduring grave hardships as a result of the recent floods.

May the Lord come to the aid of our world torn by so many conflicts which even today stain the earth with blood. May the Prince of Peace grant peace and stability to that Land where he chose to come into the world, and encourage the resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. May he bring an end to the violence in Syria, where so much blood has already been shed. May he foster full reconciliation and stability in Iraq and Afghanistan. May he grant renewed vigour to all elements of society in the countries of North Africa and the Middle East as they strive to advance the common good.

May the birth of the Saviour support the prospects of dialogue and cooperation in Myanmar, in the pursuit of shared solutions. May the Nativity of the Redeemer ensure political stability to the countries of the Great Lakes Region of Africa, and assist the people of South Sudan in their commitment to safeguarding the rights of all citizens.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, let us turn our gaze anew to the grotto of Bethlehem. The Child whom we contemplate is our salvation! He has brought to the world a universal message of reconciliation and peace. Let us open our hearts to him; let us receive him into our lives. Once more let us say to him, with joy and confidence: “Veni ad salvandum nos!”

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas to everyone from Chief Knight!!!!

Feast of Our Lady Of Guadalupe

¿No estoy aquí, yo, que soy tu madre?
Am I not here, who am your Mother?
Are you not under my shadow and protection?
Am I not the fountain of your joy?

December 12th will be the feast-day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Aztec Indian Juan Diego in December of 1531 generated the conversion of Mexico, Central and South America to Catholicism. Indeed, the Blessed Virgin Mary entered the very life stream of Central America and became an inextricable part of Mexican life and a central figure to the history of Mexico itself.Her appearance in the center of the American continents has contributed to the Virgin of Guadalupe being given the title "Mother of the Americas." This is a very special day not just for Hispanics but for all of the Americas because she is the patron of all of the Americas. Having just celebrated the patronal feast of our country (US) with the feast of the Immaculate Conception we now have the extra benefit of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. How fortunate we are to share in the love of our heavenly mother. And as a result of her Yes, to God's plan of salvation we also will soon celebrate the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
O Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, who as Our Lady of Guadalupe didst aid in the conversion of Mexico from paganism in a most miraculous way, we now beseech thee to bring about in these our times the early conversion of our modern world, from its present neo-paganism to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of thy divine Son, Jesus Christ, starting in the Americas and extending throughout the entire world, so that soon there may be truly "one fold and one shepherd", with all governments recognizing the reign of thy Son, Jesus Christ the King. This we ask of the Eternal Father, through Jesus Christ His Son Our Lord and by thy powerful intercession - all for the salvation of souls, the triumph of the Church and peace in the world. Amen.

Also see Fr. Z's post on the miracle of St. Juan Diego
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, please pray for us.
St. Michael, Defend us!

Novena for Seminarian Philip Johnson

From Philip's Blog and the Diocese of Raleigh website
The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge has announced a novena to Our Holy Mother, patroness of the Diocese of Raleigh, on behalf of seminarian Philip Johnson. The novena will begin on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, and culminate on Thursday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is the second year Bishop Burbidge has called for a novena.

Philip has been receiving chemotherapy treatments for a brain tumor for several years. In a letter to Priests, Religious and the lay faithful of the Diocese, Bishop Burbidge notes the “growth of the brain tumor appears to have stabilized about the time of the conclusion of last year’s novena.” Let us continue to pray for Philip.


Novena Prayer

Father all-powerful and ever-living God,
you chose the Immaculate Virgin Mary,
the mother of your Son, to be the mother and help of all Christians.
As she endured her bitter agony
at the cross of her Son, she was consoled by you
with the hope of His resurrection.
Now, in heaven
she consoles with a mother’s love all who turn to her with faith,
until the day of the Lord dawns in glory.
~Pray the Memorare~
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.
~We pray~
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
we are filled with confidence that your prayers on our behalf
will be graciously heard before the throne of God.
Bring our seminarian, Philip Johnson, healing, peace, courage and strength
as he shares in the suffering of your Son.
O Glorious Mother of God,
in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception,
hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.
Amen.

Veterans Day Salute

General George S. Patton Jr once said "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived".

For those members of The United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves who have served, gone before us in many engagements and those who will fight for us in the battles to come; May God Bless and keep you!
For those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, I Pray:
Rest in Peace. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.



For my fallen Brother MP's of North Carolina Army National Guard (Det. 2 1132nd MP Co.) ASSIST, PROTECT, DEFEND!!!!
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!





Chief Knight,
NC Army National Guard Det 2. 1132nd MP Co./US Army ROTC(Campbell University)1999-2002, Private First Class/(MS3)
NC Army National Guard Det 2. 1132nd MP CO. 2007-2009, Sergeant(E-5)

Special Video link Here

Riots in the Holy City

From the Blaze
AP reports that heavy smoke billowed in downtown Rome as the small group broke away and wreaked havoc in streets close to the Colosseum and elsewhere in the city. Clad in black with their faces covered, protesters threw rocks, bottles and incendiary devices at banks and Rome police in riot gear according to AP. With clubs and hammers, they destroyed bank ATMs, set trash bins on fire and assaulted at least two news crews from Sky Italia. Protesters also stormed into a church, tore a crucifix off the wall and smashed a statue of the Virgin Mary. The European ‘occupy’-ers called themselves “the indigent.”
Riot police charged the protesters repeatedly, firing water cannons and tear gas. Around 70 people were injured, according to news reports, including one man who tried to stop the protesters from throwing bottles.In the city’s St. John in Lateran square, police vans came under attack, with protesters hurling rocks and cobblestones and smashing the vehicles. Fleeing the violence, peaceful protesters stormed up the steps outside the Basilica, one of the oldest in Rome. Rome’s mayor said Sunday that it could cost at least a euro1 million ($1.4 million) to recover from the havoc wreaked by rioters who smashed windows, tore up sidewalks and torched vehicles after breaking off from a peaceful protest. The estimate came as clean-up work continued in damaged neighborhoods, where many charred vehicles remained parked along the streets.

Wow! Meanwhile on the Catholic Squares of America many joined in the peacefull praying of the Rosary. As many as 200,000 Americans took to the streets on October 15 and “occupied” thousands of public squares nationwide to voice their concerns about the nation’s future. Such an outpouring of public sentiment should have been enough to attract the attention of any decent media.

Our Parish participated in this event on October 15th where we stood out on the front lawn facing US 421 in Dunn.



St. Michael,Defend us,
St. Louis IX, Pray for us,
Our Lady, Intercede for us.

In case you were wondering.....

In case you were wondering what's going on, well let me explain!

For those that have not been following things with the Knights of Columbus, especially our former council, there has been a lot of distasteful things to have occurred. I have explained most of it in the following links to our old blog. In short we have dissolved council 9001 in protest as mentioned in the posts linked above.

We are currently in the process of developing an Order of Chivalry as the new lay apostolate for the Catholic Gentlemen of the parish.

I have opened this blog under the patronage of Sts. Michael and Louis IX to continue to present items over the Internet for the benefit of the parish; whenever my profession allows me the time to!!!!

Please pray for us; that we may be guided by the Holy Spirit as we endeavor to protect Holy Mother Church as her feeble and loyal knights!

Comming soon: Hallowe'en

Soon it will be that time again where people will dress up in all kinds of costumes and go door to door begging for tricks or treats. Sadly the feasts of All Hallows Eve (All Saints Day) and All Souls Day have been over-shadowed to the secularized day of debauchery and foolishness.
On the contrary these two days must be set aside for prayer. We must pray for the souls of those who have died and for all the saints in heaven. That is the sole purpose of of these feasts. We as Catholic's can not fall prey to secularism and it's bastardization of our Holy Days!!!!

Watch this episode of the Shadow Priest where Father explains the meaning of these great feasts. And if you are not already a member sign up today at Real Catholic TV. You can also sign up for premium membership for $10.00 a month and gain access to even more great shows like this one featured here.



This program is from RealCatholicTV.com

Pray for Father Michael Rodriguez of El Paso, TX

Please Pray for Fr. Rodriguez of El Paso Texas! Watch the report from the Vortex below. Also Pray for the Bishop of El Paso, that he will stand up for what is right and stop hiding behind the government and liberal catholicism (I know it's not capitalized here; thats the point) and shepherd his people in true Catholicism (see the difference!). His Excellency must obey the Holy Father and encourage more resources geared towards the Traditional Latin Mass.

But it is ironic how this single priest is being targeted and he just so happens to also celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass. He is not wrong; Church teaching, the Holy Bible speaks out against homosexuality. Homosexuality is wrong; God said so, end of discussion (there should be no discussion)!! Ahh, the oldest trick in satan's book: strike down the shepherd and watch the flock scatter!

With all due respect his Exellency needs to decide if he wants to be a Catholic Bishop or not. And I'm not talking about mamby-pamby, kumbaya, holding hands at the Our Father, Jam Session, Dance with the host, protestant amalgumation, "spirit of VaticanII", livery fecal matter imitation of what is Catholicism. Im talking Traditional Catholicism which emphasizes the Traditional Catholic values and teachings of Holy Mother Church that we should follow and protect and defend with our very lives, the duty of Men to lead and be fathers in the example of St. Joseph. If not, then there is a protestant building of heretical opposition and learning (often erroneously called a church) somewhere up the road (awaiting with open arms and understanding minds and that clankety, guitar, drum and piano funkrhythmbluespophiphopjazz creation they call gospel music) and he can join Martin Luther's brigade in their trip on to Hell; maybe even become the kindle under the pot of heretical fire that is protestantism (which fries Luther's posterior hourly)!! After-all God don't like lukewarm; even the protestants use that argument to justify their rebellion, even still the devil knows scripture too. Just like Jesus, thwarted lucifer's attempt at persuading Christ to put the glory due to God alone elsewhere; so too must we stand against the father of lies and command him back to his prision of fire. For it is the truths of the Church, through the power of the sacrifice of Christ, that conquers that lie. 2000 years of wisdom versus 500. That should be a no-brainer! Yet millions fall for that warm fuzzy feeling of acceptance that is protestantism. Jesus said in reference to the Eucharist those who do not eat of My flesh shall not abide in me. He means what he says. Any dissident faction of heresy and liberalism do not eat of His flesh because they can't; protestants are just as worse because of their lack of realization of who the Eucharist is (Jesus). We must pray unceasingly: especially for our tepid and falling priests and our seperated bretheren.

St. Michael guard the Priests of Christ and our Holy Mother the Church; do thou, O mighty General of the Army of Heaven strike ever so forcefully at the head of the rebellion and with Our Lady crush satan and his evil minions who plot to weaken the people of God and Christ's bride on earth: Holy Mother Church. Together with you we shall always protect the timeless treasure of Heaven; the Traditional Latin Mass!

Time has measured it's effectiveness. The proof is in the Eucharist!!!!!!!

Preacher say what??????!!!!

This has got to be the most hair-brain comment by a protestant preacher, and yet it is so intelligeble that they miss the whole logical conclusion! Like usual! LOL!


Visor lift to Vortex!

pt. 4 Not all Evil is the same

Sapientiae Christianae pt3 Taxation Immorailty

Sapientiae Christianae pt2 Church vs. State

Sapientiae Christianae

Here is part one of a couple of excellent pieces by Michael Voris on the Vortex about Christian Duty to defy laws that are contrary to the faith.

Part 1

Read the Document here

Popes Visit to Germany

So how did the Holy Father's visit in Germany go?

See Highlights from Father Z!

Bishop Burbidge Announces Plans for New Cathedral

The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge announced Wednesday, September 7, 2011, the planned construction of a new Cathedral Campus for the Diocese of Raleigh. In making the official announcement, Bishop Burbidge said the proposed 2,000-seat Cathedral will be dedicated under the title, Holy Name of Jesus.

The proposed Cathedral Campus will be located on a 39-acre tract of land adjacent to Western Boulevard and Centennial Parkway that has historical significance for the Catholic Church in North Carolina. The property is what remains of 400 acres purchased in 1897 by Father Thomas F. Price, the “Tar Heel Apostle” and first native North Carolinian to be ordained a Catholic priest. In 1899, Father Price established an orphanage on the site known as the “Nazareth Community.” The site currently houses the Catholic Center administration building and a smaller office building.

In his announcement, Bishop Burbidge explained that the name of the new Cathedral also has historical roots for the property. “It commemorates the name of the chapel established by Father Price at Nazareth and which was known under this same dedication to the holy name of Our Lord.” Bishop Burbidge said. “It is fitting that the name of our new Cathedral is the Holy Name of Jesus.”

The need for a new Cathedral is prompted, in large part, by the continuing vibrant growth of the Catholic population throughout the Diocese, which covers the 54 eastern counties of the state. In the 10-year period between 2000 and 2010, the Catholic population in the 54-county Diocese has increased approximately 42 percent from 152,493 to 217,125 registered Catholics, with an estimated 200,000 plus unregistered Catholics, mostly of Hispanic origin. With a seating capacity of 320, Sacred Heart Cathedral, as the “Mother Church” of the Diocese, is unable to accommodate most of the Diocesan liturgical celebrations.

A Visor Lift to H.E. Bishop Burbidge. This is such a traditional design for a Cathedral. It takes a lot of courage to stand up for tradition in the face of all to popular liberalism. Out of all the choices he went with the best logical one. We applaud you, Bishop Burbidge and Thank You! Three Cheers for His Excellency!!! As Fr. Z would say: "brick by brick"!

Initial renderings of the Cathedral Campus can be viewed on a website now under development for the project: www.holynamecathedralnc.org.