African Catholic Voices African Catholic Voices

Dr Jude Dumfeh, an award winning internal medicine and pediatric physician and his wife, Evelyn Dumfeh share with us the challenges they faced when their daughter was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Their family experience is a testimony of love that triumphs all things; sacrifice in the midst of pain; and hope and faith in God's goodness and healing that is brought about through prayers and the intervention of modern medicine. They have a word of advice to all families facing the challenges of supporting a family member who is suffering from sickle cell disease. They help us understand the complexities and complications of this disease, especially in many African countries with limited access to medical intervention like bone marrow transplant and other therapies. 

In this Easter homily, Bishop Gerard Musa of Katsina Diocese delivers a touching message about the incredible transformative power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He eloquently explains that for believers, death is not the ultimate end but instead a transformation to a new life. 
The bishop emphasizes that faith in Jesus means that death is not a permanent separation from loved ones, but rather a transition to the eternal presence of God. Bishop Musa's message serves as a reminder of the hope and joy that arise from the resurrection, and the promise of everlasting life for those who have faith. Indeed, in death, life is transformed

As Pope Francis celebrates his eleventh year on the Chair of Peter, some Catholics might disagree on his legacy; but all agree that his papacy has been consequential. In this episode, we look at some of the central teachings of Pope Francis and especially the current Synod on Synodality, and his call for missionary conversion and for a Church with  an open doors that goes out to those at the existential peripheries of life. We note that since the retirement of Cardinal Sarah in 2021, and the end to  Cardinal Turkson's tenure at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (2022), there is no African Cardinal heading any Roman dicastery. It is important at this decisive point in the papacy that Africa's voices, contributions, and representation be prioritized and respected  given that what goes on in the Church in Africa is going to determine the identity and shape of Catholicism into the future.   

Christians are called to give alms to the poor and reach out to all those who need our help. In this episode, we talk about doing charity and working for justice and the best way to do almsgiving so as to find favor with God. We also critically analyze the challenging social conditions in many African countries and discuss what is causing so much poverty, suffering, and misery in the continent and how to change this unacceptable social conditions through charity and social justice. 

In this episode, we talk on the importance of prayer in the lives of African Christians. During this Lent, we are invited to deepen our prayer life. The episode delves into different kinds of prayers and raises the questions: How can we pray better? Does God answer all our prayers? Must we pray always until something happens? Is there something like an unanswered prayer?

The Gospel presents to us the story of a woman who was searching for God. She was a woman who had no name. In the NT, those who have no name are usually people who have no status in society. She was also a Samaritan. The Samaritans were regarded as inferior spiritually by the Israelites because they were unfaithful to God’s covenant and worshipped idols. They were outcasts. Jesus however breaks the prejudices of his people: by talking to a Samaritan woman, asking her for water and even spending some time with her in the richest and longest dialogue in the New Testament. Before God, we are all equal. In Jesus no one is lost in the crowd. In Jesus it is no longer a man’s world but a world fit for all; where God’s children, male or female, White or Black, rich or poor have equal dignity and respect before God. 
In this dialogue Jesus elevates the status of women by making them hearers of his word and sharers in his missionary work. Jesus shows that he can go to any extent to bring all humanity into the cycle of God’s love. He came to confront and heal the ancient divisions which have kept people apart. He welcomes all: the rejects of society, the sinners as well as saints, the faithful and unfaithful children of God. He however always invites people to leave their past and seek the highway that leads to truth, life and salvation that is in him. He came that all of us will have life and light; that all of us will have self-esteem and pursue our ordered ends free from social restrictions and settled prejudices. He came to offer everyone the water of life.