Amb. Edith ISIDAHOMEN

 

From the night of Friday, December 5, 2025, leading into Saturday, December 6, 2025, hundreds of Catholic faithful from across the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, along with pilgrims from neighbouring Dioceses gathered at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Marian Grotto, Eleta for the 2025 Advent Pilgrimage.

 

The powerful and deeply moving Advent Pilgrimage under the theme, “They saw the Child with Mary his Mother and Knelt Down and Worshipped Him” (Gospel of Matthew 2:11), was a lasting expression of Marian devotion, worship, and communal faith, preparing hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas. It was also proclaimed by the Archdiocese as a time of spiritual renewal and preparation for Christmas, featuring a rich tapestry of prayers, worship, and pastoral care.

 

The evening’s program opened with moments of confession followed by a solemn Rosary procession, as pilgrims, young and old gathered in prayerful mood, invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary which involved a candle-light procession, creating an atmosphere of contemplation and reverence under the night sky that set a reverent tone for the night, drawing pilgrims into an atmosphere of silence, meditation and hope.

 

Later, the pilgrimage featured a drama presentation by the Catholic Artistes and Entertainers Association of Nigeria (CAEAN). The drama, rooted in the Gospel theme of the birth of Jesus, served to remind pilgrims of the mystery of the Birth and the call to worship the newborn King. The combination of traditional devotion and artistic expression helped deepen the spiritual ambience of the grotto.

 

The drama was followed by a series of spiritual and pastoral services that included words of reflection on the theme "They saw the Child with Mary his mother and knelt down and worshipped him” Matt 2:11, delivered by Very Rev. Fr Patrick Odediran followed by a powerful prayer session led by Fr. Stephen Nwabuike, and a time of Divine Mercy devotion.

Also, there was a moving burning of intentions, where pilgrims entrusted their petitions for personal healing, family, community, and the nation into God’s hands, symbolically releasing them by fire. Such rituals of offering and surrendering have become hallmarks of Marian-Centre pilgrimages in Nigeria.

 

At the heart of the pilgrimage was the celebration of the Holy Mass celebrated by the Vicar General of Ibadan Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Gregory Oyelami, on behalf of the Archbishop, who was unavoidably absent; during which pilgrims renewed their faith in the coming of Christ and made spiritual resolutions for Christmas.

 

Very Rev. Fr. Paul Asawale in his homily at the Mass emphasized the need for renewed hope, personal conversion, and recommitment to Christian life in a troubled world.

The homily was characterized by lively worship where he led the Congregation into vibrant singing and praises, inviting pilgrims to worship God joyfully and wholeheartedly which was a fitting echo of the pilgrimage’s theme of adoration before the Christ-child.

 

The songs, the prayers, the shared faith, all fused into a powerful act of communal worship and devotion. Their words resonated deeply in the stillness of the grotto, inviting many to embrace the Advent call to repentance, love, and renewed trust in God.

 

For many pilgrims, the 2025 Advent Pilgrimage was more than just a one-night event — it was a moment of communal solidarity, deep devotion, and spiritual revival. The blending of traditional Catholic devotions (Rosary, Divine Mercy, Eucharistic worship) with contemporary expressions (drama by CAEAN) made the experience accessible, meaningful, and deeply engaging.

 

As dawn broke on Saturday, 6th December, many departed the grotto with hearts renewed, their intentions entrusted, hope rekindled, their faith renewed, and their resolve strengthened to live as disciples of Christ the King, filled with love, hope, and worship, ready to carry the spirit of Advent into their homes, parishes, and daily lives.

 

Events like this mirror the growing trend across Nigeria during the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, as Dioceses and Marian shrines become Centres of hope, mercy, conversion and renewal.