The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ was happily celebrated in St. Lucy’s Catholic Parish, Akabo, Ahiara, on Sunday, June 7, 2026, as 34 young Catholics received their First Holy Communion.
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Imo Chima Modestus, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration, welcomed all the parishioners, especially the First Holy Communicants, and urged all to reflect seriously on the importance and relevance of the celebration of the day.
During the homily, the homilist, Rev. Nkwachukwu Nzenwa, PhD, started with a little history of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, as instituted by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. According to the homilist, the Eucharist and the priesthood were instituted together, during the Last Supper, as great pillars for the continuous life of the Church. Hence, the Eucharist gives the greatest value, relevance, and meaning to the Sacred Priesthood, for without the Eucharist, there will be no need for the Ministerial Priesthood.
Citing the Sequence of the Solemnity, the homilist reminded the congregation that Christ remains entire under each species (whether consecrated bread or wine). Nor is Christ diminished by being received. Hence, the communicants receive the complete Christ – uncut, unbroken, and undivided.
Rev. Nzenwa berated the different desecrations and abuses against the Eucharistic Jesus. He noted the unfortunate desecration and theft of the Eucharistic Jesus exposed for veneration and adoration, and the desecration of different tabernacles. He strongly condemned the different acts of irreverence against Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, especially the reception of Holy Communion in an unworthy state. Citing the sequence, the homilist reminded the people that though the good and wicked alike receive Christ during Communion, they do so with the unlike destiny of life or death; to the wicked, it is death, but life to the good.
He went ahead to encourage the reception of the Holy Eucharist always and under the state of grace. He also promoted spending quality time in adoration before the Eucharistic Jesus. Using different Eucharistic miracles, the homilist reminded the congregation of the many implications, powers, and benefits from true devotion to the Eucharistic Jesus.
Turning to the First Communicants, the homilist urged them to remain great ambassadors of the Church and the Eucharist. He admonished them to remain steadfast in faith, no matter how strongly they are pushed by trials and temptations. He reminded them of the need to be good examples in their respective families, the church, the community, and especially in the midst of their peers and never to conform to the dictates and vanities of the world.
Finally, the homilist enjoined the people to, once again, reflect on their relationship with the Eucharistic Jesus. He prayed that the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ would continue to strengthen the Pilgrim Church and her members as they journey towards the Church Triumphant.
