Omofoma Victor O. (Great SOV)

An inspiring reflection on the Homily of Rev. Fr. Anthony Kolawole Fasakin at the 2025 Annual Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese Parents and Youth Forum.

In a world often plagued by cynicism and despair, the annual Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese Parents and Youth Forum served as a much-needed beacon of hope, unity, and spiritual renewal. Coinciding with our nation's Independence Day celebration, the event was anchored by a powerful and deeply moving homily from Rev. Fr. Anthony Kolawole Fasakin, who masterfully wove together the themes of national renewal, the Holy Family, and our enduring role as the Church.

His central message was clear: While the future may appear bleak, "hope never disappoints," and the key to unlocking a better future for our nation and our homes lies in the willingness of every individual to play their part and embrace a sacrificial love.

 

Hope is a Work in Progress

Fr. Fasakin began by addressing the pervasive sense of hopelessness, reminding the faithful that our current trials do not negate the prophetic fulfillment of Christ's coming. Referencing the first reading from the Prophet Isaiah, he affirmed that Christ, the "shoot from the stump of Jesse," has secured our redemption.

However, he echoed the wisdom of Pope Benedict XVI, declaring that the Church is "never a finished project; it is always a work in progress." Just as the Church is a construction site where the faith of every believer forms a brick, so too are our families and our nation construction sites. Our hope, therefore, is not passive; it is an active engagement—an individual commitment to be the solution rather than merely lamenting the problems.

The Family: Icon of the Holy Trinity and Battleground

The homily powerfully asserted that the problems of our nation ultimately "boil down to those that make up the nation," which begins with the family. Citing St. John Paul II's Familiaris Consortio, Fr. Fasakin declared the family to be "at the center of the battle between good and evil, between life and death." It is a decisive battleground where the enemy seeks to break down civilization by fracturing the home.

The family, in its composition of mother, father, and children, is presented as an Icon of the Holy Trinity—an unbreakable three-strand bond. Just as a three-strand braid is stronger than a two-strand one, this unity is fundamental. The unity needed to fulfill our hope, Fr. Fasakin stressed, is achieved "only through Christ," who is the leader and the unifying "umbrella" for all.

 

Seeing, Not Just Looking: The Call to Sacrificial Love

At the core of the family's strength and its purpose is love, which Fr. Fasakin defined as "always self-giving." This love is sacrificial, modeled by the Holy Family who fled to Egypt, uniting their suffering with ours. It is the kind of love that asks, "How much am I willing to sacrifice for this person or these persons?"

He challenged the faithful to move beyond simply looking at one another, which treats a person as an object to be used. Instead, we must truly see the other, treating them as a subject—a person to be valued. Similarly, we must listen—seeking to truly understand one another's perspective, not just hear like listening to a passive radio.

 

The Personal Revolution: Be the Example

The most profound and challenging call of the homily was the urgent plea for a personal revolution of values. Fr. Fasakin reminded parents that every action is a lesson—a truth highlighted by simple yet impactful examples:

• Telling a child to lie to a visitor instills a legacy of deceit.
• Throwing rubbish out of a car window teaches disrespect for the environment.
• Lying on a phone call in the child's presence models insincerity.

Children come tabula rasa (as a blank slate), and the lessons we write on them, for good or ill, stay with them till they become adults. The solution to the nation's problems must, therefore, begin with us.

To the youth, he offered the wisdom of the Fourth Commandment: "Honour your father and mother." As long as a parent is not asking a child to sin, the child is obliged to obey, trusting in the parents' experience and wisdom. To the parents, he urged them to truly listen to their children, focusing on imparting values rather than simply issuing endless instructions.

 

The Power of Devotion

Concluding his spirit-lifted address, Fr. Fasakin offered a concrete and powerful path forward: prayer. As the nation entered the month of October, the month of the Rosary, he called for a deep devotion.

"If only every member of a Parish, every member of a family can remain devoted for 30 days to say the Rosary devotedly, sincerely, I promise you there would be a significant change at the end."

By dedicating ourselves to this spiritual discipline, Fr. Fasakin promised, we would harness the intercession of Mary, our mother, and see a true, profound, and lasting change in our lives, our families, and our nation.

The Homily's message is an enduring challenge: Stop complaining, start sacrificing, and commit to being the virtuous brick that builds a nation of hope.