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CHURCH LAW AND THE THEOLOGY OF ONLINE (VIRTUAL) MASSES Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos|March 6, 2026 The Sacrifice of the Holy Mass stands at the heart of the Church’s life. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council in Sacrosanctum Concilium describe the Eucharistic liturgy as “the summit toward which the entire activity of the Church is directed” and “the font from which all her power flows.” The Council’s teaching does not offer a mere devotional affirmation; it articulates a juridical and theological principle that has shaped subsequent canonical and pastoral norms. The Eucharist is not a symbolic recollection but the…

The March Edition of Veritas Newspaper has been successfully printed and is now available in all parishes under the Archdiocese of Benin City. Kindly visit your parish to obtain a copy and stay informed.

CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF BENIN CITY ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE APPROVE UNIFORM MASS STIPENDS AND STOLE FEES, REAFFIRM THAT SACRAMENTS ARE NEVER FOR SALE Benin City, Nigeria|March 1, 2026–Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos The Bishops of the Benin City Ecclesiastical Province have approved uniform guidelines for Mass stipends and stole fees across the Province, in a move aimed at strengthening pastoral consistency, financial transparency, and doctrinal clarity. The Province comprises Benin City Archdiocese as the Metropolitan See, together with the Dioceses of Bomadi, Auchi, Warri, Issele-Uku and Uromi. The decision was reached at a recent meeting of the bishops of the Province and…

LEADERSHIP FOR THE COMMON GOOD A Communiqué issued at the end of the First Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the CSN Resource Centre, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja, 19 – 26 February 2026 1. PREAMBLE We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, held our First Plenary Meeting for the year at the CSN Resource Centre, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja, from 19 to 26 February 2026. Having prayerfully deliberated on issues affecting the Church and the Nigerian State, we issue this Communiqué: 2. LENT: A SPECIAL SEASON OF PRAYER, FASTING, ALMSGIVING AND REPENTANCE…

Dear Msgr. Very Revd. & Revd Frs., Grace and peace of Christ be with you. On behalf of the Priests and the entire parish community of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Aruogba, Benin City, I warmly and fraternally invite you to the solemn dedication of our newly completed church building, scheduled to hold: Date: Saturday, 25th April 2026,       Time: 10am prompt The Holy Mass and Rite of Dedication will be presided over by His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop of Benin City. While this dedication marks a significant milestone in the life of our parish and a…

LEFT THE CHURCH AND ABANDONED GOD Fr George Adimike There is no gainsaying that steadily, the faithful are confronted with issues and realities that make them consider abandoning their Church. Though a sad reminder that things bear the imprints of imperfections and flaws on this side of eternity, it is not sufficient warrant to leave the Church. This holy Church of God is still peopled with sinful men and women who either are complacent in their evil ways or earnestly yearn for salvation. Yet, irrespective of claims to the contrary, leaving the Church approximates to abandoning God’s project, which entails…

SOME OF THE ILLS OF VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos|Feb 13, 2026 Over the years, what many call Valentine’s Day has quietly shifted from a remembrance of Saint Valentine to a global social event driven more by emotion and commerce than by reflection. There is nothing wrong with celebrating love. Love is noble. Love is sacred. Love is necessary. Yet the modern way this day is observed has created certain unhealthy patterns that deserve honest examination. One of the most visible problems is pressure. Couples, especially young ones, often feel compelled to prove their love publicly. Social…

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF UROMI DECLARES A DAY FOR LATE VERY REV. FR. PROF. COSMAS ALUEDE OJEMEN Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos|Jan 28, 2026 Amidst the intensified preparations for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of her canonical erection, the Catholic Diocese of Uromi has formally announced Friday, January 30, 2026, as a Day of Remembrance marking one year since the passing of her illustrious son, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Cosmas Aluede Ojemen, priest, canon lawyer, jurist, scholar, administrator, and pastor of enduring repute. Born on September 26, 1953, in Illah, Delta State, to Mr. Michael Udogbidin Ojemen and Mrs. Regina…

NOVEMBER 2025 —BEATS ACROSS CATHOLIC WORLD Port Harcourt, Nigeria|Dec. 1, 2025|Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos November closed as an intense, consequential month for Catholics worldwide and for the Church in Nigeria. It combined high-level ecumenical encounters, juridical and pastoral clarifications from the Holy See, gestures of cultural restitution, and a string of solemn local events: funerals of prelates, anniversaries, book launches and heated public debate about the Church’s response to violence in parts of Africa. Pope Leo XIV travelled to Turkey (28–30 November) to join Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders at Iznik (ancient Nicaea) for commemorations marking…

Pope Leo XIV Condemns Mass Kidnappings in Nigeria and Cameroon, Demands Immediate Release of Hostages PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA— 23 November 2025 | Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos Pope Leo XIV has issued a firm and emotionally charged condemnation of the recent kidnappings of priests, students, and lay faithful in Nigeria and Cameroon, describing the unfolding situation as a “great pain” for the entire Church and a wound that affects the conscience of the world. Addressing tens of thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square during his Angelus, the Pope spoke with clarity and urgency, drawing international attention to the alarming rise…