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EASTER REFLECTION – EASTER MONDAY

EASTER MONDAY 2023

blankToday is a Christan holiday, that celebrates the death and resurrection of Our Lord and  Saviour, Jesus Christ. On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified and laid to rest in a tomb and he had risen to life on Easter Sunday.

So today, we celebrate this resurrection with complete cheer.

 

For Christ came to earth to ease our fear and grant unto us faith to believe without doubting our gift of selflessness and service in promoting hope and salvation, that, that is the essence of Easter.

 

May we be promoters of God’s word and so spread around the whole world the good tidings of Christ resurrection.

As Vincentians, do not abandon yourselves to despair, but always remember that we are Easter people and our song is Hallelujahhhhhhh!

I wish one and all a lovely Easter, warm sunshine and the beauty of spring all round you.

 

HAVE A HAPPY EASTER MONDAY!

 

~Margret Ogwa Abah

National Financial Secretary

Vincentian Youths of Nigeria

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EASTER REFLECTION 2023

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DESK OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COORDINATOR – EASTER SUNDAY

Dear friends,

As we wrap up this season of Lent and celebrate the feast of Easter, it may be good to reflect on our own attitudes. Do we feel justified in wanting to punish hatred with more violence? What are our thoughts about the death penalty (which is what Jesus died under)? Do we ever pray for the conversion of our enemies, even cruel dictators and terrorists? Sometimes it can be easier to forgive people “out there,” rather than those who have hurt us personally.

We must be willing to go deeper and discover the roots of evil and then use love to conquer it. On the feast of Easter we celebrate and proclaim that we believe, as in the case of Jesus, God can and does bring good out of suffering and that His life conquered sin and evil.

Just imagine what our lives would be like if every Christian in the world would really live the commandment of love. There would be much less war, hatred and violence. People would ask for and offer forgiveness. No one would be hungry because people would share with one another. The only news to report would be good news.

As Christians who believe in the Resurrection, we must strive to be models of love and hope. Our good works during Lent must continue throughout the rest of the year. We have a mission to make Christ known by our love. We must express our belief that, even in this gloomy, dark time, God will not abandon us — just like He did not abandon His Son, Jesus.

Each of us is called to go out to all the people in our own little world and proclaim this good news.

And if current events sometimes make it hard for you to believe that God is still present in all of this, ask Him to deepen your faith and to help you to remember when He brought you out of difficulties in your life. Easter tells us that God never leaves us in our pain and often brings good out of evil.

Happy Easter celebration in love and abundance of grace.

~Chimezie Bright Victor Nwaelele

National Youth Coordinator

Vincentian Youths of Nigeria

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THE TRIDUUM – HOLY SATURDAY

HOLY SATURDAY

blankToday when victory emanates from silence and hope replaces fear. A day when believers as of old were scattered in pain and united in the promise of one who assures that his resurrection is nigh upon us.

On this day, believers & vincentian youths alike in anticipation of the victory on the cross, knows that God is everywhere, Even in fear comes faith that after the darkest points of our life, the light lurks within. We rejoice in that the sting of death couldn’t hold Christ, therefore, no pain, trials or tribulations can forestall the blessings of God in our lives.

Coincidentally, across most Metropolitan councils, Vincentian youths will as usual take the lead and bring to bare the new found hope instead of despair in the lives of our masters through charity works. We as vessels through which humanity will see the risen Lord in the face of their predicament, aptly defines a shared common faith that though weeping may tarry through the night, But Joy cometh in the morning.

Warm wishes on holy Saturday to fellow vincentian youths and all Christians round the globe.

Indeed charity encompasses all.

 

~Peterclaver Udechukwu

National Project Officer

Vincentian Youths of Nigeria.

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THE TRIDUUM – GOOD FRIDAY

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Good Friday is one of the Triduum.

It is a Friday before Easter that the Holy mother church commemorate the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, though a day saddened with grief and pains yet called “Good”. it is a day that heralded Christ mission on Earth in which he paid for our guilts (sins) and re-establish us with our father like it was in the beginning of days.

Today the Holy mother church venerates the cross universally, because the cross is the principal symbol of our Christian Faith and through which salvation of humanity was won.

The cross has remained a symbol and a relic to Christians for protection which wades off demonic influence.

 

The cross also reminds us of the victory Jesus Christ won for us through sacrifice and forgiveness and wants us to replicate same in our daily lives.

 

We make the sign of the cross as Catholics because we recognise this victory in the cross by invoking the HOLY TRINITY in our prayers.

As vincentians be proud to make the sign of the cross in your daily prayers and always.

 

Happy Good Friday!

 

~ Elizabeth Sunday

National Secretary

Vincentian Youths of Nigeria

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2021 National Literary (Writing) Contest — Guidelines

Writing Contest Guidelines

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TOPIC

THE IMPACT OF THE PRESENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF THE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AFTER 60 YEARS IN NIGERIA.

 

Entries must be submitted by 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 7th, 2021.

Please carefully read and follow the submission guidelines below:

  • To be eligible, you must be a confirmed registered and active (YOUTH) member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Nigeria.
  • By entering the contest, you confirm that the essay submission is your own original creation, and not entered for any other contest or similar event, not even in part. Nor will texts previously published in print or on any platform or communication media be valid.
  • A written essay is the only literary form accepted (no poems, plays, songs, etc.).
  • Only one essay may be submitted by each contestant.
  • Each essay should reflect the contestant’s own interpretation and original thinking.
  • Each essay should be given an original title.
  • Fill your Participant’s Personal Verification Details on the last page of the work, and again on the body of the email.

Essay Specifications:

  • Entries are to be written in English language
  • The essay must not exceed 20 (A4-size) pages written on one side, including the cover and closing pages, double-spaced.
  • Use 12-point font (preferably Times New Roman or Arial).
  • Use 1-inch margins all around.
  • Do not justify the right margin.
  • Pages should be sequentially numbered.
  • Essay is to be submitted on both WORD and PDF versions.
  • Essay may include all types of images and / or graphic documents which help to explain the topic of the work submitted.

Essays will be judged on the following criteria:

  1. Creativity – Does the essay reflect a creative and original perspective on the book?
  2. Organization – Does the argument follow a logical and easily understood progression?
  3. Clarity – Did the author use concise language?
  4. Unity/Development of thought – Does the essay reflect a thorough comprehension of the subject and our Vincentian Apostolate?
  5. Grammar/Mechanics – Did the contestant use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation?

Judging of Submissions:

  • The essays will be independently judged by a committee of 7 professional judges, and collected by a secret planning team.
  • Finalists will be announced and invited to the National Youth Convention where the Winners will be announced.
  • The winners will receive their awards upon announcement during the Convention, August 26th – 29th, 2021.

Submitting Your Essay:

Entries must be received electronically on/before 10 p.m. on Saturday: August 7th, 2021 at the following email: youthaffairs@ssvp.org.ng and copy adrianpastol@gmail.com

When submitting, please attach an electronic (Both WORD and PDF) version of your essay to the email.

Participant’s Personal Verification Details:

Include the following information in the body of your email message:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Conference
  • Name of Central Council
  • Name of Metropolitan Council
  • Name of Conference President (Adult)
  • Phone number of Conference President

 

Monetary prizes for the Literary Competition winners:

a.- The writers of the three best entries will be awarded monetary prizes:

First prize:                100,000 naira

Second prize:           50,000 naira

Third prize:               30,000 naira

b.- Note that 30% of the prize award will go to the Conference to which the writer of the winning document belongs. The money given to the Conference shall be used only for the work, activity or a project on behalf of those in need, carried out by this Conference, represented by its President.

c.- Other

 

Best of Luck.

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REFLECTIONS ON FEAST DAY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL

SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL, CORPUS CHRISTI CATHEDRAL CONFERENCE AIMS AT STEPPING UP FROM FEEDING THE POOR TO EMPOWERMENT.

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A feast day in the Catholic Church is primarily celebrated on the anniversary of a Saint’s death. St Vincent died on the 27th of September, 1660. This is an important annual celebration in the liturgical year and a chance for all active Vincentians and indeed benefactors to reflect on how his legacy lives on today through our good works.

St Vincent urged his followers to bring God’s justice and love to people who are most vulnerable and unable to live a full life.

He walked the streets to seek out and help people experiencing extreme hardship. This is the Spirit that pervades the work of the Society today.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in France in 1833 by a group of students led by Frederic Ozanam. Ozanam as a student was surprised to find that the professors in the course of their lectures took every opportunity to attack Christianity and Catholicism in particular. The attack bothered principally on the sore point that in the midst of gospel preaching, there was no practical show of love to the poor and oppressed. His search for a solution led him to the poor. “it is not enough to believe or even to defend the faith, not enough to adore the God of the Gospel, one must follow Christ in the service of the poor”.

St Vincent was chosen as the Patron Saint of the Society due to his extraordinary personal example of tender and practical love for the poor and for inspiring others to do works of mercy.

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Our theme for this year’s feast “Charity Beyond Aid” is borne out of our realization and acceptance of the fact that there is a need for a paradigm shift in the way we render service to our masters. It identifies with the broad-based and interdependent sustainable development goals set by the United Nations General Assembly since 2015.

Let us recall that while Goal 1 is “No poverty”, Goal 2 is “Zero Hunger”.

Statistics show that 1 in 10 people live below the extreme poverty threshold. If our country has been declared the poverty capital of the world, I fear to guess what our ratio will be.

Goal 2 on Zero Hunger says “end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Agriculture has been identified as the single largest employer in the world, providing a livelihood for over 50% in Africa. Experts have recognized that one of the effective ways of ending hunger is by improving agricultural productivity and incomes of small scale food producers especially women and indigenous peoples.

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The terrible condition of extreme poverty in 1833 France that challenged FerdrickOzanam and his friends into founding our society seem to be very much with us today. However, we realize that we cannot employ the same methods used in service to the poor in the 17th century forever. As society changes, even the mode of effective service to the poor must change. We must aim at greater impact by moving from feeding the poor to empowering them as much as possible. Yet you cannot empower others if you are not empowered yourself. Our conference has thus taken a bold step towards empowerment by aiming at engaging in agriculture and such other business ventures as will sustain our service to the poor and facilitate their empowerment.

St Vincent De Paul invites you on the occasion of our feast day to donate generously towards the empowerment of the powerless. Remember the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ “whatsoever you do to the least of these my brethren, that you do unto me”.blank

We invite you to rejoice with us on this special feast day, that is being celebrated on Sunday, the 29th of September, 2019.

 

SOURCE: Anthony Ezenwokos Blog

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NIGERIA takes the 1st and 2nd prize for 3rd International Literary contest: Paul Lamache.

FANTASTIC NEWS FROM CGI

On the feast day of Blessed Frederic Ozanam, the CGI announced the results of the international competition for the year dedicated to Paul Lamache.

The International President General, Renato Lima de Oliveira, on behalf of the International General Council announced the results of the third International Literary Contest.

And to our pride, we have NIGERIA all over it.

1st Prize: blankNjoku Collins
(Port Harcourt, NIGERIA)
PRIZE: 1,000€

2nd Prize ex aequo:


Elza Alemão
(Curvelo, BRAZIL) and
Patricia Onuoha
(Okigwe, NIGERIA),
PRICE: 750€

3rd Prize:
Dominic Pinto
(Bombay, INDIA),
PRICE: 500€

Special Honorable Mention:
Philippe Menet
(Paris, France)

Honorable Mention:

Ogbu Obina
(Aba, NIGERIA)

Luciana Moreira
(Limeira, BRAZIL)

Kyrian Njoku
(Port Harcourt, NIGERIA)

The SSVP International General Council will also award an equivalent amount to the Conference to which the author of the work belongs. The money given to the Conference will be allocated in full for social work, an activity or project carried out by the Conference, represented by its President.

Kudos to the winners.

The Vincentian Youths of Nigeria appreciates and celebrates with her winners, you make us proud.

 

 

Bro. Pastol Nnochiri
National Coordinator,
Youth, Teenagers & Children.

“In all things, let us dedicate ourselves to ensuring that everything we do is for the greater glory of God”.

Paul Lamache

The CGI announces the results of the international competition for the year dedicated to Paul Lamache

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