Rev. Fr. Francis T. OMOLADE

 

Morning of Saturday 30th August was the long awaited day for parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Church, Yawiri Akobo, Ibadan as they went on pilgrimage to one of the designated Pilgrimage Centres of the Jubilee Year of Hope in the Archdiocese of Ibadan: St. Thomas Catholic Church, Agbowo, Ibadan.

The Pilgrims converged in the premises of the parish in preparation for departure to the venue of the pilgrimage. The Pilgrims led by the parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Francis Taiwo Omolade departed the parish for St. Thomas Catholic Church Agbowo at 9:02am and arrived there at about 9: 35am.  On their arrival at Agbowo, instructions concerning the pilgrimage with its various activities were given by the Parish Priest, encouraging the pilgrims to make the best use of the day so that their pilgrimage will not be a waste of time and fruitless effort. While this was going on, the day’s facilitator in person of Rev. Fr. Johan Miltenburg, M.Afr.  arrived to welcome the pilgrims to St. Thomas Agbowo for the pilgrimage.

In the meantime, as there was still some minutes before the start of the activity, Fr. Miltenburg gave a brief history of the Mission of Africa Community at Agbowo. He pointed out that there are two Communities at Agbowo namely: St. Clement Formation House where he belongs, and the Parish of St. Thomas Agbowo being headed by Fr. Aime Lalsaga Bienvenu M.Afr. who at the time of the pilgrimage was on his annual leave.  Thus the Parish is been pastorally catered for by the Regional Superior in the person of Rev. Fr. Jullian Kasiya M.Afr. Fr. Julian then arrived to officially welcome the pilgrims to the parish for the pilgrimage. He made it clear that Holy Family Parish, Yawiri was the first to come to the Centre for their Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope.

The day’s programme followed the already drawn activities with the facilitator which included Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the recitation of the Holy Rosary. This was followed by the spiritual talk delivered by the facilitator by Rev. Fr. Johan Miltenburg, M.Afr. titled: “Entering into the mystery of Hope in a similar way as St. Thomas.”  He used various scriptural episodes to illustrate his thoughts. He said that St. Thomas doubting the Resurrection of Jesus when he was told had entered into the Divine Virtue of Hope. 

According to him, St. Thomas started his pilgrimage like many of us. He wanted to see. He wanted a proof. Our civilization, our culture, the people of our generation is proof-bound. IF I CANNOT SEE THE MARKS OF THE WOUND IN HIS HAND AND RIGHT SIDE, I will not believe. He opined that Saint Thomas was right in a certain way. Likened this to the Old and New Testament experience. Fr. Miltenburg M.Afr. asserted that if the Old Testament is the time of listening to the word of God in the call and vocation of the archfathers, in the Ten commandments and in the appeals and promises of the prophets from of old, the New Testament is the Time of sighting, clear vision of what had been foretold.   The quest of St. Thomas to see and touch Jesus led him to the expression of his faith in the Lord and consequently the worship of Christ as My lord and My God.

Alluding to the development of Christian Hope in our modern day, the facilitator created awareness on the importance of the study of the catechism of the Catholic Church the way it ought to be studied so that people’s faith may be enlivened to aid their practical hope in the pilgrimage of life. Another aspect he mentioned was the study of the Psalms for the purpose of prayer as it was prayed in the early Church. He cited his experience while working in Burkina Faso in 1970/80ies where adult and adolescents preparing for the reception of Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and confirmation were made to learn by heart five (5) and Seven (7) psalms respectively to receive Holy Communion and confirmation.  In all twelve (12) psalms would have been learnt by the candidate for First Holy Communion and Confirmation.  He then enjoined pilgrims to study the catechism of the Church and use the psalms to pray always.

A major part of any pilgrimage was not left out to give the pilgrims the opportunity to reconcile them back to God and their neighbour with Penitential Service and individual confession. With three priests on ground to attend to the pilgrims for their spiritual return.  After the penitential service and confession, there was the celebration of the Holy Mass that had the acting Parish Priest, Fr. Julian Kasiya M.Afr. as the Chief Celebrant and Frs. Miltenburg M.Afr. and Fr. Francis Omolade were concelebrants.  In his homily which was based on the readings of the day (1 Thess. 4:9-11; Matt. 25:14- 30) with focus on the Gospel story of the talent. According to Fr. Miltenburg, God gifted different people with different talents and according to their ability. Thus no one should think of being like another person. Every individual should rather ask the question: How am I to use my talents for the benefit of others here and now and to my advantage at the end of time when each shall give account of him/herself and whatever gifts they have been endowed with. He therefore called on all pilgrims to use their God’s given gifts for the glory of God, the benefit of their neighbor and salvation of their own soul.

On behalf of the Parish, Catechist Sir Patrick Jimoh gave vote of thanks to the facilitator, Rev. Fr. Johan Miltenburg, M.Afr for accepting to facilitate the day’s activities. He equally appreciated the acting Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Julian Kasiya, M.Afr. for welcoming all to the parish and making himself available to assist in hearing peoples’ confession and celebrating the sacrifice of the Mass for us.

The pilgrimage came to an end after the 3 O’clock prayer of Divine Mercy by all pilgrims.  Pilgrims departed for the Parish after the blessing given by the Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish, Rev. Fr. Francis Taiwo Omolade at about 3:30pm.  The day was indeed enriching and spirit filled that some of the pilgrims were echoing: It is good for us to be here, our time had not been wasted.

Meanwhile, during all the Masses on Sunday 31st 2025, the Parish Priest berated many of the parishioners who did not participated in the jubilee pilgrimage the previous day. He then challenged them to always make God and spiritual exercises their priority. He also enjoined them to be ready and willing to make sacrifice to attend spiritual programme whenever it is organized for their own spiritual development.  He also pointed out that Christian life is a life of sacrifice. A day sacrifice for God and his service is never a waste but a savings for the future and our salvation. In conclusion, he appealed to them to always make themselves available for parish activities in the future. He prayed for spirit of commitment and dedication upon all parishioners present.