Vincent OBANIYI

 

The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, has called on all Catholics to embrace their divine calling as missionaries and to take an active role in spreading the Gospel through prayer, generosity, and witness. The Bishop made this call during his homily at the Mass for World Mission Sunday held at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, Oyo, which was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Julius Olayinka, the Cathedral Administrator.

 

Preaching on the theme We Are All Missionaries, Bishop Badejo reminded the congregation that every Christian is both a product and a participant in the Church’s missionary work. He emphasized that the call to evangelize is not reserved for priests and religious alone but is a sacred responsibility shared by all the baptized.

 

He said all Christians belong to God, who has made them followers of Christ, and that they are Christians today because someone told them about Jesus Christ and shared the Gospel of love and peace.

 

The Bishop explained that World Mission Sunday is a time to thank God for the men and women who dedicate their lives to missionary service and to remind all believers to support the mission of the Church through prayer, financial contributions, and daily witnesing. He noted that the Holy Father and the Church encourage everyone — children, youths, men, and women — to take part in the spread of the Gospel through both spiritual and material support.

 

Bishop Badejo outlined four essential ways through which the faithful can live out their missionary vocation — by praying, preaching, giving, and going. He said prayer remains the foundation of all missionary activity and encouraged Catholics to remember missionaries and those who have not yet encountered Christ in their daily prayers. He also urged the faithful to speak boldly about Christ through their words, actions, and examples, both in their communities and on digital platforms.

 

The Bishop stressed that generosity plays a vital role in missionary work, adding that no one is too poor to contribute to the Church’s mission. He said that every offering, no matter how small, can bring hope to someone in need. While some are called to physically go to mission territories, others, he noted, can “go” spiritually by supporting and encouraging those who do.

 

Reflecting on the challenges of the modern world, Bishop Badejo described Christians as missionaries of hope in a time overshadowed by fear, violence, and despair. He said God calls all believers to bring light, comfort, and peace to those struggling with uncertainty and suffering.

 

He commended the Universal Church for its continued support of missionary efforts, especially in regions where Christians face persecution or lack access to pastoral care. He reminded the faithful that their prayers and contributions sustain missionaries who serve in difficult and remote areas.

 

Citing St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, the Bishop underscored the importance of proclaiming the Gospel, noting that people cannot believe in Christ without hearing the message, and that preachers must be sent to make that possible.

 

He concluded by encouraging the faithful to perform every act of service — whether through prayer, preaching, giving, or helping others — with love and sincerity. He said that whatever is done for the mission should be done in the spirit of charity, as Christ assures that those who serve others in His name will surely receive their reward.

 

CATHOLIC FAITHFUL IN OYO DIOCESE SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT MISSION SUNDAY

 

Catholics around the world joined in celebrating this year’s World Mission Sunday, a day dedicated to prayer, reflection, and renewed commitment to spreading the Gospel. Across parishes, the faithful were reminded that evangelization is the duty of every baptized person, not just missionaries abroad.

 

Speaking on the significance of the celebration, Bridget Adepoju described it as an opportunity to express gratitude and renewal of purpose. She said the day allows the faithful “to thank God for making us missionaries and to recommit and rededicate ourselves to the mission of Christ entrusted to the Church.” She emphasized that every Catholic, regardless of position, has a role to play in the Church’s missionary work. According to her, “by giving to the mission, by praying for the mission, and by witnessing to the mission through a good and exemplary life,” the faithful fulfill their calling as missionaries of Christ.

 

Her message aligns with this year’s theme, which invites all Christians to rekindle their missionary spirit and become instruments of God’s love and peace.

 

Also sharing his reflections, John Godwin noted that World Mission Sunday, celebrated every penultimate Sunday of October, remains a vital moment of solidarity and recommitment within the global Church. He explained that the day serves two key purposes: renewing missionary commitment through prayer and sacrifice, and supporting missionary work worldwide, particularly in areas where the Church is still growing or faces challenges.

 

Godwin outlined simple ways Catholics can live out their missionary calling daily—through prayer, reflection, volunteering, supporting missionary societies, and authentic Christian living. “By living out their faith authentically and witnessing to others,” he said, “Catholics can be missionaries of hope in their daily lives.”

 

In his own reflection, Adekola Victor cited the Gospel of Matthew 28:19, which commands believers to “go and make disciples of all nations,” and the Letter of James 2:17, which reminds Christians that faith without action is dead. He encouraged everyone to express their missionary identity through daily acts of love, kindness, and service. He said Catholics become true missionaries when they live their faith through compassion and charity, not leaving the work solely to priests and catechists.

 

He also urged families to teach their children about Christ, witness in workplaces and schools, and use social media positively to share messages of hope and faith. Service in Church groups such as the choir, media, lectors and prayer teams, he added, are equally missionary works that help build up the Church. “By doing all these, we make life better in our own little way, making the nation a peaceful place to live in and winning souls for Christ,” Victor said.