Perhaps by now you’ve heard the story of Father Isaac Achi. Perhaps you haven’t. It doesn’t seem to have been widely reported in the secular media. Father Achi was the pastor of Saints Peter & Paul Parish in the Kafin Koro area of central Nigeria. He was killed by terrorists on January 15. The bandits broke into the rectory and rounded up Fr. Achi and his parochial vicar, Father Collins Omeh. The priests had sufficient time to pray together and hear each other’s confession – and when it seemed opportune, Father Achi urged Father Omeh to attempt to escape. That’s when the gunfire started. Father Omeh was shot in the shoulder, but he did manage to escape; at the time of this writing, he is still hospitalized in critical condition. Father Achi was not as lucky. He was shot in the chest; the wound would prove fatal. Adding insult to injury, the terrorists then set the rectory on fire.
This was not Father Achi’s first run-in with terrorists. It is reported that in 2013, he was kidnapped by a militant group while he was serving at another parish, but he was quickly released. In 2011, his parish in suburban Abuja – the Nigerian capital – was attacked on Christmas Day. 25 parishioners were killed as terrorists drove a car packed with explosives onto parish property.
It's not pleasant reading, I know. And I wish this was some sort of isolated incident; that it were the exception and not the norm. But these types of attacks are becoming more and more frequent in Nigeria – and indeed, in many other places around the globe. But what do we do? Father Achi himself gave the answer while preaching at a memorial service following the 2011 attack. “Christians [must] remain prayerful…the power of prayer and love can overcome all situations.”
This Wednesday, the Church celebrates the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul – who went from being someone who was "breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1) to being “appointed preacher and apostle…teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1 Tim 2:7). If prayer and love could change Paul’s heart in such a way, then what could prayer and love do for Nigeria? What could they do in Monroeville? In Penn Hills? In Pitcairn?
Why don’t we find out?
Tax Statements – It’s getting to be that time of year again. If you need a statement of your giving to the parish for tax purposes, please contact the parish office or complete the form on the website located under "Give".
Catholic Schools Week – Next week is Catholic Schools Week, when we celebrate the accomplishments that Catholic schools have made and continue to make in our community. Our celebration of CSW begins at the 11:00 AM Mass next Sunday. Following Mass, there will be an open house at the school; see page 12 for more information.
Knight at the Races – The Knights of Columbus annual Knight at the Races is this Friday, January 29. If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, time is of the essence. See the bulletin for more information.
Oremus pro invicem!
