Ho Diocesan Students Grotto Cancelled

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bishop of Ho Catholic Diocese, Most Rev.  Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD has called off this year's Students Grotto, scheduled for next weekend at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Kpando Agbenorxoe.

He made the announcement at a meeting on Saturday at the Bishop Konnings Centre in Ho with leadership of the church from the various parishes and institutions in the diocese.

He has therefore directed all school chaplains to communicate the new development to their students.

The cancellation of the student’s grotto pilgrimage, forms part of precautionary measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has been confirmed in the country.

The Bishop further entreated all faithful to practice good personal hygiene, adhere to other safety measures announced by health authorities and also pray against further spread of the pandemic.

Source: DEPSOCOM-Ho

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT: A TIME TO WATCH OUT FOR SATAN'S ATTACKS

READINGS AT MASS

Gen. 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Psalm 51

Rom. 5:12-19

Mt. 4:1-11

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

On this First Sunday of Lent, a season of reflection and amendment, we have been called to examine the tactics of the devil. The First Reading is a story of Satan's first encounter with the God's children. The scene opens with a description of how God fashioned human creatures and blew the life of the divine spirit into them. Rather than let them live in happiness, Satan showed up to debate with Eve and that was it. Note here that the Serpent approached the woman when she was alone apart from the man (Adam). It teaches us this lesson: in their loneliness and apart from each other, marriage couples open themselves up to the clever tactics of the devil.

In the Gospel text, we again notice that Satan turns up to mousetrap our Lord Jesus Christ near the end of his forty days in the desert. At this point, Jesus was tired and extremely hungry. He was at his physical and emotional weakest. And at this point of weakness, Satan attacked.

Beloved in Christ, the devil strikes best at our weakest. It is when you are in the "desert", tired and hungry with nothing to eat that he comes. When you are dry (financially), he comes with a fat brown envelope. When you are extremely hungry, he comes with stones looking like bread. When you are lonely, vulnerable and confused, he comes with a sweet 'apple of death'.

Watch 'what you eat' (what you accept) when you are extremely 'hungry' (when you are in a dire need). Watch the powers you bow to and the boots you lick in your quest to reach your ambition.

PRAYER

Lord, keep us focused on your will through intense prayer and fasting such that when the evil one attacks we will be able to cut through his lies. Amen!

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, March 1, 2020.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.