Francis 'Jide MAKINWA

On Mission Sunday, Rev. Sr. Christiana Abolaji Ogundele SSL arrived with her religious congregation; Sisters of Saint Louis (SSL) with her family members at St. Benedict Catholic Cathedral, Osogbo, Osun State in appreciation to God in her life and to celebrate her silver jubilee of taking her perpetual vow to serve the Lord.

  Coincidentally, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, who was the Chief Celebrant at the thanksgiving Mass was in Osogbo Diocese for the same reason; to appreciate God's faithfulness.

  In his homily during the Mass, Bishop Adesina said through the Mission Sunday, the Church is reminding us of our responsibility as baptised Catholic faithful as  missionaries.  Whatever our position is in the house, at work and everywhere, we are missionaries; to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, our saviour. The occasion of Mission Sunday is also used to pray for our children, brothers and sisters throughout the world, who have taken priesthood and religious lives as their vocation, that God would continue to uphold them as true missionaries that would proclaim the gospel of Christ to others.

  The Prelate said we are missionaries of hope; each one of us, either by our baptism or Priestly or religious lives.

  He expressed his delight that God gave him the privilege to come to Osogbo Diocese, his home Diocese from where he was sent to Ijebu-Ode Diocese in Ogun State as a missionary. In fact, St. Benedict Cathedral was the first Church where he worked as a priest 36 years ago. He thanked God for the opportunity to serve him and to return to the Church as a missionary from outside Osogbo to celebrate the Mission Sunday with the parishioners.

  He said further that Sr. Christiana Ogundele, SSL like other SSL Sisters has been a missionary outside Osogbo Diocese. The occasion of her jubilee celebration made her return to St. Benedict Cathedral parish where she grew up for the thanksgiving. He recalled that Sr. Ogundele joined the then youth organization; John Bosco Society as a young girl and it was likely through the Society that God ministered to her to join the religious Sisters of St. Louis of Nigeria Province. She made her first profession in the year 2000.

  Bishop Adesina expressed the mandate of Jesus Christ to the Church in Matthew 28:18; "Go and make disciples of all nations..." It could be deduced from the message that every baptised Christian is a missionary, operating within the family, the society, the Church and in the world. We could exercise this as Priest, Religious, parent and teacher in the school, Church and society, he said.

  As faithful Christians, we are all bound to pray for missionaries every day and support the work of evangelization.

  He said as we celebrate the jubilee year of hope this year, the Pope invites us to be missionaries of hope. Our hope must be based on Jesus Christ; the solid rock, on the Word of God, on faith, love, justice and equity.

  Finally, the Prelate urged all missionaries to be faithful to deliver the message and preach the word of God; of hope, repentance and peace. The Lord in his mercy would allow what you deliver to people yield fruits as he, the Lord, wants it, he said.

 The Bishop of Osogbo Diocese; Most Rev. John Oyejola, who later joined the Mass at the tail end, welcomed Bishop Adesina to Osogbo Diocese. He congratulated the jubilarian; Sr. Ogundele with her entourage. He thanked everyone for their support and encouragement to the priests, religious and the work of evangelization.