INSIDE OLD CATHOLIC

 By Bishop Gabriel Obiano, D.D. The life of the Church is built on mysteries—what we call Sacraments. They are not man-made rituals but divine encounters where Christ Himself touches us through visible signs and invisible grace. Each sacrament is a channel of God’s love, instituted by Christ and entrusted to His Church, that we might share in His life.  Sacraments is what we can't deny as a Church.  The word sacrament comes from the Latin sacramentum, meaning a sacred pledge or oath. In the early Church, it was often used to describe the mystery of God’s saving work in Christ. St. Augustine once called the sacraments “visible signs of invisible grace.” In them, heaven bends down to meet earth. 1. Baptism – Our New Birth in Christ Baptism is the door to all the sacraments. It's the first step we take before taking the next step. It is where we are washed from sin, born anew, and sealed with the identity of Christ. In baptism, we die with Him and rise to new life (Romans 6:...

  By Dr. h.c. Miracle Gabriel-Ooc When you hear of St. Timothy, what comes to mind? Many remember him as the young companion of the Apostle Paul, but far fewer realize the profound role he played in shaping the life of the early Catholic Church. "Timothy of Ephesus reminds us that God does not measure readiness by age but by faithfulness," said Bishop Obiano.  A Young Bishop in Ephesus St. Timothy was a native of Lystra (Acts 16:1), born to a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice, who along with his grandmother Lois, nurtured him in the Scriptures from childhood (2 Timothy 1:5). When Paul encountered Timothy, he saw a man with deep faith and spiritual promise, though still very young. Paul took him as a companion on his missionary journeys, and Timothy became not just a co-worker but a spiritual son. St. Timothy of Ephesus likely presided over the church where St. John the Apostle later lived with the Virgin Mary. It is recorded that Paul appointed Timothy as the first Bis...