Padre Pio Resource Centre For Peace Advocacy and Human Development

18/04/2025

APPRECIATING THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

12/09/2024

APPRECIATIONS

On behalf of my Brother-Priests, I want to thank you in a very special way for your good wishes on the 20th anniversary of our priestly ordination. I pray God to bless you and give you many reasons to celebrate.
May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

11/09/2024

I thank the Almighty God today as I celebrate the 20th Anniversary (11/9/04 - 11/9/24) of my Priestly Ordination. I pray for more strength to carry on and work faithfully in the Vineyard of the Lord.

To God be the glory!

14/06/2024

CMO: THE PILLARS OF THE CHURCH

(Rev. Fr. CSP. (Dr.) Pius Onyero Onwuegbuzie, Ficrpc)

Introduction:

When we mention CMO as the Pillars of the Church, what comes to mind is the word “support”. This is because without the great support of the Catholic Men Organization of Nigeria (CMO) in any Church, that Church will not effectively move forward. The CMO is a strong arm/statutory group of the Church that should not be disregarded in any way. In this presentation, we shall look at the definition of terms, after which we consider the major functions of the CMO as the Pillars of the Church. We shall also look at the various ways the CMO can support the Church. Seeing the CMO as pillars of the Church in a metaphorical way, we shall consider the factors that can weaken every pillar and the factors that can strengthen it, respectively and also drawing their respective spiritual implications. Our conclusion will lead to the fact that those who do their works well according to their status in the Church will have their legacies live forever and God will bless them abundantly.

Definition of terms:

CMO:
The CMO (Catholic Men Organization) is an organization of baptized Catholic Men who are married (especially those wedded in the Church). The individuals in the organization automatically become members by virtue of their marital status, hence it is called a statutory group. Catholic men who are married but not yet wedded in the Church can also be members of the CMO (though in a weak sense), with the aim of the organization encouraging them to wed in the Church and enjoy full communion with the Church.

Pillar:
A pillar is a tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal used as a support for a building or an ornament or monument.

Ornament:
Ornament is a thing used or serving to make something look more attractive
Monument:
A monument is a statue, building, or other structure erected to commemorate a notable person or event.

Therefore, the three major functions of a pillar from the above definitions are: to support; to beautify; and, to give a lasting impression.

The major functions of the CMO as the pillars of the Church:

- To support the Church.
- To beautify the Church (renovations and subsequent developments).
- To give lasting impressions (legacies).

How to support the Church as the pillar of the Church:

a. Listen actively: One of the most important ways to support someone is to listen to them without judgment. Therefore, you must listen to the Church and understand the doctrines of the Church.

b. Offer emotional support: Provide comfort and reassurance to the Church and the parishioners, especially at difficult moments.

c. Be empathetic: Always put yourself in the shoes of the Church and the less privileged. This will enable you to understand their perspectives.

d. Encourage and motivate: Offer words of encouragement and motivation to the priest and the parishioners, in order to boost their morale.

e. Be involved in problem-solving: Offer to help in brainstorming solutions to the problems and challenges of the Church. For instance, be part of the Church’s Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Parish Pastoral Council, Laity Council, etc.

f. Encourage faith formation among men: This is achieved through prayer and worship.

g. Be patient and consistent: Being a pillar of support is an ongoing commitment. Be patient with the progress and setbacks, and consistently check in on them to show that you care.

h. Educate yourself: Proper, consistent and continuous education is very necessary for growth and development. This will enable you to understand the contemporary positions of the Church and to provide more informed support.

Factors that can weaken a pillar:

a. Disobedience to the Master/Supervisor: The building authority has building regulations and specifications, for safety reasons. Failure to comply with the regulations and specifications would cause serious damage to the building.

Implication: Disobedience to God’s word can weaken the spiritual pillar.

b. Poor foundation: When the foundation is hurriedly or shabbily dug, the pillar will not stand firmly and the consequence will be an eventual collapse of the building.

Implication: Not being deeply rooted in the Lord and in the teachings of the Church will cause the collapse of the spiritual pillar.
- What is the source of your motivation (football, drink, excursion, or the word of God and the fellowship of God’s people)?

c. Misplacement of priority (technological misplacement): When pillars are not rightly placed, there is the tendency that the house will fall. Therefore, the right rods for the pillars must be used at various points, and in their proper specifications.

Implication: Be able to understand the sense of hierarchy and priority in matters of faith and morals (e.g. Holy Mass, prayer meeting, fellowship, sports, etc.).

d. Imitation: You want to build a bungalow and you have got all the materials for it, including the rods for the pillars. Because your neighbour is embarking on a storey building, you automatically convert your bungalow to a storey building without proper specifications.

Implication: Lack of sense of prudent judgment.

Factors that can strengthen a pillar

1. Obedience to the Master/Supervisor:
Implication: Obeying the commandments of God.

2. Solid foundation:
Implication: Be deeply rooted in the Lord and in the teachings of the Church.

3. High sense of technology (placing the right pillars at the right place):
Implication: Having the sense of prudent judgment, in matters of faith and morals.

4. Sincerity: Do not erect a pillar that is internally empty but externally decorated with paints of iron colour.
Implication: Avoid the life of pretence and insincerity.

Conclusion
If you do your work well as the pillars of the Church, the Church will appreciate you and your legacies will be forever. At the end, God will reward you with eternal salvation in heaven.

30/05/2024

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Padrepio Centre Centre for Peace Advocacy and Human Development Learn More Contact Us ABOUT The Padre Pio Resource Centre for Peace Advocacy and Human Development is a Nigerian-based non-governmental organization which aims at eradicating the scourge of poverty and conflicts in society, through educ...

30/05/2024

PEACEBUILDING THROUGH INTERVENTION

Intervention refers to the actions taken to effect change in knowledge and behavior, through the implementation of guidelines, training, and practice. It is an amazing asset for changing conflict into cooperation, offering parties an organized and steady interaction for settling their conflicts and building more grounded relationship. By making a protected and nonpartisan space for correspondence, working with understanding and compassion, engaging gatherings to track down their own answers, and safeguarding connections, intervention assists parties with moving past struggle towards coordinated effort and shared accomplishment. As we keep on embracing intervention as a favored strategy for settling conflicts, we enable ourselves to make an additional amicable, peaceful and cooperative world.

For Seminars, workshops and training on Peace Education, Conflict Management, Security Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, and Strategic Leadership, please contact us through 08034924277

02/05/2024

HUMANITY'S NEED FOR PEACE EDUCATION

(Culled from "The Necessity of Peace and Peace Education for Effective Social Cooperation" by Rev. Fr. Dr. Pius Onyero Onwuegbuzie, Ficrpc, Mspsp, Aicmc.)

Peace Education is the process of acquiring values, knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviours to live in harmony with oneself, others, and the natural environment. It is a process of peacebuilding that teaches people to settle differences nonviolently. Peace education promotes the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will help people either to prevent the occurrence of conflict, resolve conflicts peacefully, or create social conditions conducive to peace. The primary goal is to produce human beings capable of relating to others without resorting to violent conflict resolution strategies.

Peace education ultimately creates a better and safer world for all. Proponents of peace education believe that human beings are capable of managing conflict in a non-violent manner. Therefore, peace education aims to arm society with strategies for creating alternatives to violence and educate citizens on the consequences of violence. Unlike the concept of conflict resolution which can be considered to be retroactive, peace education has more proactive approach. Its aim is to prevent a conflict in advance or rather to educate individuals and society for a peaceful coexistence on the basis of nonviolence, tolerance, equality, respect for differences, and social justice.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PEACE EDUCATION

1. To reaffirm the dignity and worth of the individuals, irrespective of gender, race, religion or any other stratification.

2. To establish conditions where inequality, injustice and discrimination are eliminated and international law can be maintained.

3. To promote social freedom, social progress and better standard of living.

4. As a skill-building, it empowers the citizens to find creative and no destructive ways to settle conflicts and live in harmony with themselves, others and the world.

5. Peace education empowers the individuals to choose the part of peace rather than the part of violence.

6. Peace education promotes a critical understanding of the causes of conflict, violence, and peacelessness in the world across the full diversity of issues and problems and from macro to micro levels of life.

Thank you!

[For seminars, workshops, and training on Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution, please contact us:
Website: https://padrepiocentre.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +2349032390836, +2348034924277]

Padrepio Centre Centre for Peace Advocacy and Human Development Learn More Contact Us ABOUT The Padre Pio Resource Centre for Peace Advocacy and Human Development is a Nigerian-based non-governmental organization which aims at eradicating the scourge of poverty and conflicts in society, through educ...

29/04/2024

MANAGING DIFFICULT PERSONALITIES IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Clashes emerge from contrasts of assessments, viewpoints, or interests, and can be hectic to manage. While compromise or conflict resolution is significant in any setting, it turns out to be especially imperative in the work environment, where conflicts can prompt diminished efficiency, low assurance, and high turnover rates. Perhaps of the main test in settling clashes in the work environment is managing troublesome characters or difficult personalities. In any case, with the right techniques, it is feasible to oversee clashes successfully and accomplish positive results.

Practice undivided attention:

This is called active listening. The most important phase in managing troublesome characters is to pay undivided attention. Undivided attention includes focusing on what the other individual is talking about without intruding on or judging. It likewise implies explaining any misconceptions and summing up what you have heard to guarantee that you have seen accurately. At the point when you listen effectively, you show the other individual that you esteem their perspectives, which can assist with diminishing their protectiveness.

Try not to escalate the issue:

It's fundamental to try not to heighten the contention further, particularly while managing troublesome characters. Abstain from getting protective or going after the other individual. All things considered, take a couple of full breaths and attempt to remain cool-headed. At the point when you respond serenely, you convey a message to the next individual that you will determine the contention amicably.

Recognize the hidden issues:

Much of the time, troublesome characters emerge from fundamental issues like pressure, dread, or instability. It's fundamental to distinguish these issues to assist you with understanding the other individual's conduct better. At the point when you comprehend their hidden issues, you can answer all the more sympathetically and help to diffuse the circumstance.

Recognize their point of view:

Even though you do not agree with their point of view, recognizing their perspective is fundamental. Recognizing their viewpoint doesn't imply that you concur with them, yet it shows that you regard their perspective. At the point when you recognize their viewpoint, they are bound to pay attention to your viewpoint consequently.

Settle on some mutual interest:

Figuring out some shared interest is a viable procedure for settling clashes with troublesome characters. Search for areas of arrangement and spotlight on them. At the point when you settle on some shared interest, it makes a feeling of solidarity and assists with building trust among you and the other individual.

Use "I" statements:

While speaking with troublesome characters, it's crucial to use "I" articulations rather than "you" explanations. "I" articulations help to zero in on your sentiments and points of view as opposed to accusing the other individual. For instance, rather than saying, "You never listen to me," say, "I feel disappointed and frustrated when I don't feel appreciated or heard."

Look for outside help:

Some of the time, settling clashes with troublesome characters can be testing, and looking for outside help might be essential. Think about getting an impartial outsider, like a middle person or a conflict resolution expert. An unbiased outsider can assist with working with correspondence and resolve clashes all the more really.

In conclusion therefore, managing troublesome characters is a fundamental aspect of conflict resolution in the working environment. By rehearsing undivided attention, keeping away from heightening, recognizing hidden issues, recognizing viewpoints, settling on something worth agreeing on, utilizing "I" proclamations, and looking for outside help when essential, it is feasible to determine clashes actually and accomplish positive results. Recall that conflicts are a characteristic piece of any working environment, and overseeing them really can assist with building more grounded connections and further develop efficiency.

- Rev. Fr. Dr. Pius Onyero Onwuegbuzie.

22/04/2024

Somebody said:
"You should know the reason people refused to help someone before you help the person".
- What's your view on this?

29/03/2024

He paid our debts and set us free on a Good Friday!

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you!

23/03/2024

To God be the glory.