Fr Ogundipe Sdv

 The Dangers of Living Fraternal Life Outside the Community: Reclaiming Authentic Religious Communion Rev. Fr. Lawrence Ogundipe, SDV Naples, Italy  27th July 2026 Abstract During a conference I once anchored for a religious Congregation, I observed that after every conference one of the sisters would immediately step aside to make a phone call. This became a pattern throughout the conference, and my curiosity led me to ask her, "Why do you always make a call after each session?" She replied, "I am calling my friend." I gently responded, "But your sisters are here with you. Why not share with them?" She paused for a moment and then answered with painful honesty: "Yes, they are my sisters in the community, but they do not trust me. I feel judged whenever I speak. My friend is outside this community, and with her I can be myself without fear." Her words revealed a deeper wound that goes beyond physical presence in a religious house. A religious may...

 On the Efficacy of Holy Communion Fr Lawrence Ogundipe, SDV  The question of whether Holy Communion is only effective while it remains in the mouth and loses its efficacy once it reaches the stomach touches on an important aspect of Catholic Eucharistic theology. The Catholic Church teaches that after the consecration, the bread and wine become truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. This Real Presence remains as long as the Eucharistic species (the appearances of bread and wine) continue to exist. Consequently, Christ is sacramentally present not only in the mouth but also while the consecrated Host remains intact within the communicant. However, the grace and efficacy of Holy Communion should not be understood merely in a physical or biological sense. The Eucharist is not a medicine whose effect is limited to the place where it is physically located. Rather, it is a sacrament instituted by Christ to unite the believer with Him and with His Church. When a ...

Fr Lawrence Ogundipe SDV  Our theme tonight "Mary the Comforter of the Afflicted" comes to us as a word of hope in our country passing through a difficult moment. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is at work. Our theme speaks directly to the wounds of our people, the anxieties of families, the tears of mothers, the frustration of young people, the fears of workers, and the silent burdens carried by many in our nation. Nigeria today faces many afflictions. Economic hardship has deepened poverty. Insecurity has displaced families. Corruption has weakened trust. Unemployment has discouraged the youth. Many homes are struggling to survive. Even in Ibadan, a city rich in history, faith, culture, and resilience, many people wake each day carrying hidden pains. Yet the Church in The Archdiocese of Ibadan invites us to lift our eyes to Mary our comforter. She is not distant from our sufferings. She is not untouched by our pains. She is a mother who knows sorrow, uncertainty, waiting, sacrific...

 The Archdiocese of Ibadan: A Diocese with a Galaxy of Vocations Fr Lawrence Ogundipe, SDV  The Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan stands today as one of the most vibrant ecclesiastical territories in Nigeria and indeed in Africa. From its humble missionary beginnings to its present status as a Metropolitan Archdiocese, Ibadan has become a fertile ground for priestly and religious vocations. The Archdiocese shines like a galaxy filled with seminarians, priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, formation houses, apostolic institutes, and missionary congregations devoted to the service of God and humanity. Historically, the Catholic faith in Ibadan dates back to the arrival of the early missionaries of the Society of African Missions, especially Rev. Fr. Theodore Holley and Jean-Baptist Chausse. The first Mass in the area was celebrated at Oke-Are in 1884. The territory later became an Apostolic Prefecture in 1952, a Diocese in 1958, and eventually a Metropolitan Archdiocese i...

 The Liturgical Theology of Gaudete and Laetare Sundays: A Comparative Reflection Fr Lawrence Ogundipe, SDV  Within the rhythm of the Roman liturgical year the Church carefully balances penitence with hope. Two Sundays in particular stand out as luminous moments of joy within seasons that are otherwise marked by restraint and spiritual discipline. The Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Lent interrupt the penitential character of their respective seasons with a distinctive call to rejoice. These Sundays are traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday. Though both proclaim joy within a context of spiritual preparation, they emerge from different theological foundations and communicate different ecclesial meanings. Their liturgical language, biblical roots, and pastoral implications reveal two distinct theological movements within the Church’s spiritual pedagogy. The name Gaudete comes from the Latin introit of the Mass of the Third Sunday of Advent. The...

 Do not receive the Ash on your forehead until you read this to understand what the Church teaches about Ash Wednesday  Fr Lawrence Ogundipe, SDV On a quiet Ash Wednesday afternoon, two children lingered in the church compound, still marked with the dark sign of the cross on their foreheads. They played and laughed, innocent and carefree, as children always do, unaware of the weight of the sacred moment they had just shared. In the middle of their play, one child, without much thought, brushed his hand across his friend’s forehead and wiped away the ashes. Suddenly, the other child froze. His face fell, not in anger, but in genuine distress. With the seriousness only a child can summon, he cried out, “You have wiped away my Lent!” Before his friend could even apologize, the boy turned and ran back into the church. He made his way straight to the priest, his small heart convinced of a great loss. With all sincerity, he asked to receive what he called “another Lent,” believing t...

Fr Lawrence Ogundipe SDV Every Good Friday across Nigeria, our parishes and communities gather to witness the Passion Play. It is one of the most powerful moments in our Lenten journey. Drums fall silent. The church grows still. The faithful come with hearts ready to remember the passion of Christ. But we must gently remind ourselves, especially our vibrant and gifted youth, that the Passion Play is not a stage for comedy. It is not a place for exaggeration or careless acting. It is the sacred retelling of the suffering, death, and saving love of Christ. When the Passion Play is done prayerfully and reverently, it becomes more than acting. It becomes preaching without a pulpit. Many people who may not listen to a long sermon will watch the Passion and be deeply moved. Some will remember their sins. Some will feel the call to confession. Some will quietly decide to return to God. This is the spiritual power of the Passion Play. My dear young people, you are blessed with energy, creativi...

  Fr Lawrence Ogundipe SDV Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the last day of Ordinary Time before the Church enters the season of Lent. The word shrove comes from the old English word shrive, which means to confess one’s sins and receive absolution. Traditionally, it was a day when Christians prepared their hearts for Lent through repentance, confession, and spiritual renewal. In many places it is also known as Pancake Tuesday or Mardi Gras. The festive element developed because people used up rich foods like eggs, butter, and sugar before the fasting discipline of Lent began. But beneath the customs, the deeper meaning is spiritual preparation. The Spiritual Meaning Shrove Tuesday invites the faithful to pause and examine their lives before entering the penitential season of Lent. It is like standing at the door of the desert. The Church gently asks each believer Are you ready to return to the Lord Are you ready to begin again It is a day that reminds us that Lent is...

 THE PRIEST IS A HUMAN NOT A SPIRIT Fr Ogiator CDA Introduction My dear brothers, we gather not as angels disguised in cassocks but as men who have been looked upon by mercy. Before the altar and before the people, the priest stands as one who has been chosen, called and consecrated. Yet he remains profoundly human. This recollection invites us to return to a simple and liberating truth. The Catholic priest is not a spirit pretending to be human. He is a human person raised, healed and strengthened by the grace of God. Forgetting this truth wounds the priest and quietly harms the people entrusted to him. The Danger of Pretending to Be a Spirit There is a subtle temptation in priestly life to appear permanently strong, permanently prayerful, permanently in control. This temptation is often rewarded by applause and silence. But it slowly hollows the priest from within. Assuming to be a spirit leads to emotional repression, spiritual pride and moral vulnerability. The Directory for th...