Religion

pope francis appoints Sister Simona Brambilla as first woman prefect in Vatican

Published

3 months ago

January 6, 2025

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Pope Francis announced that a 59-year-old Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, would serve as prefect for one of the most important offices in the Vatican.

Sister Brambilla will oversee every religious order — from the Jesuits and Franciscans to smaller newer movements — in an office known as the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Pope Francis reformed the Holy See’s founding constitution, allowing laypeople, including women, to head a dicastery and become prefects. He also asserted that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic toward members of the LGBTQ+ community.

However, the pontiff has also upheld the ban on female priests and dampened hopes of women being ordained as deacons.

Although women have been named number two in certain Vatican offices, Sister Brambilla’s appointment marks the first time that a woman serves as prefect of a dicastery or congregation within the Holy See Curia, the central governing organ of the Catholic Church.

Given that a prefect must be able to celebrate Mass and perform sacramental functions — which can only be done by men — Pope Francis simultaneously named Salesian Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as a co-leader, or “pro-prefect” of Sister Brambilla’s religious order.

A member of the Consolata Missionaries religious order, Sister Brambilla will succeed the retiring Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, who is 77 years old.

A nurse, Sister Brambilla worked as a missionary in Mozambique and led her Consolata order as superior from 2011 to 2023, when Pope Francis made her secretary of the religious orders department.

An evolving position for women in the Catholic women

Catholic women do much of the church’s work in schools and hospitals, as well as working to pass down faith to future generations. However, many complain of second-class status in an institution that reserves the priesthood for men.

During Pope Francis’ papacy, the number of women in leadership positions rose from 19.3% in 2013 to 23.4% today, according to statistics reported by Vatican News. In the Curia alone, the percentage of women is 26%.

Among other women holding leadership positions is Sister Raffaella Petrini, the first-ever female secretary general of the Vatican City, responsible for the territory’s health care system, police force and Vatican museums.

Sister Alessandra Smerilli from the development office is another woman serving as an undersecretary, while several other women have been appointed to similar positions, such as French nun Sister Nathalie Becquart in the Synod of Bishops’ Office.

Religion

God has told me that RCCG council meetings will soon be held on the moon – Pastor E.A Adeboye

Published

18 hours ago

April 5, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has declared that a time will come when the church’s Governing Council will hold its meetings on the moon. The prominent cleric made the statement during a recent church programme, attributing the revelation to a divine message from God.

Adeboye, who is widely respected for his spiritual leadership within and beyond Nigeria, acknowledged the extraordinary nature of the prophecy but emphasized his unwavering belief in God’s ability to bring it to pass.

“I know with God all things are possible,” he said during the service. “He told me a time will come when the RCCG Governing Council will hold its meetings on the moon. It may not make sense, but that’s God. You don’t have to believe it—but it will come to pass.”

The statement has since drawn varied reactions among followers and observers, with some viewing it as a testament to faith and others questioning the feasibility of such a scenario.

Religion

Renowned Bauchi cleric, Abdulaziz Dutsen Tanshi is dead

Published

2 days ago

April 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Prominent Islamic cleric and Chief Imam of Dutsen Tanshi Jumaat Mosque, Dr. Idris Abdulaziz, has passed away after a lengthy battle with an undisclosed illness.

He died on Thursday night, leaving the Bauchi community and beyond in mourning over the loss of a respected religious leader.

Funeral prayers for Dr. Abdulaziz will be held in Bauchi at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.

Dr. Abdulaziz, known for his passionate advocacy for justice and dedication to his faith, had been entangled in a legal dispute with Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, since 2022. He was facing trial for alleged defamation and was at one point declared wanted by the Bauchi State Police Command for alleged contempt of court.

Despite these controversies, Dr. Abdulaziz remained a revered figure, drawing admiration for his sermons and commitment to societal issues.

News of his death has triggered an outpouring of grief and tributes from followers and sympathizers across social media platforms, with many describing him as a courageous and unwavering voice in the community.

Though details surrounding his illness and death remain undisclosed, his passing has undeniably left a significant void in the religious landscape of Bauchi State.

Religion

Those who say ‘Holy Ghost fire’ prayers are antichrist [Video] – Fada Oluoma

Published

1 week ago

March 27, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev Fr Chinenye Oluoma, has tagged those who say ‘Holy Ghost fire’ prayers against their enemies as antichrist.

Oluoma said that such persons do not have the spirit of Christ but rather the spirit of the antichrist.

The cleric stated this in a video posted on his verified Facebook page on Thursday.

According to him, there was never a time ‘holy ghost fire’ was used for deliverance, noting that what is used for deliverance is ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’.

He added, “Those who are anointed get transformed. And what matters under your anointing is the Spirit of God that possesses you.

“So let me tell you now, anybody who prays ‘Holy Ghost fire’ against his or her enemies, that person does not have the Spirit of God, or that person has expelled the Spirit of God for himself or herself.

“If you pray ‘Holy Ghost fire’ against your enemies, you do not have the Spirit of Christ. What you have is the spirit of the antichrist. In fact, you are one of the antichrists.

“If you pray: “Every enemy who said, I will not make it this year, I say holy ghost fire,” you are an antichrist.

“People don’t like this message. “Holy Ghost fire” prayers against your enemies, whether they are in the village or they are in town, whether they are your uncles – your uncle that denied you something, or that stole your mother’s land or whatever – if you are among those who invoke holy ghost fire to destroy your enemies. You don’t have the spirit of Christ. What you have is antichrist spirit. Many Christians are antichrists and they don’t know.”

“So I’m now I’m giving you one of the characteristics of the antichrist – those who say ‘Holy Ghost fire’ prayers.

“Even in deliverance – those who do deliverance – there was never a time holy ghost fire was used for deliverance. What is used for deliverance is ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’.

“How we came to make holy ghost fire part of prayer is still a case study. The Bible said, whatever you ask the Father in my name, then your generation of Christians now have made holy ghost fire a prayer condiment.

“Not even in deliverance, when you are facing real person who is possessed, it is in the name of Jesus Christ that evil spirits are cast out. It’s not with holy ghost fire, but in your clime you people use holy ghost fire more for your enemies.
If you are in a place where they’re saying that kind of prayer begin to enlighten them.”

https://www.facebook.com/fadaoluoma/videos/1579624129415110/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v