Jacob BABALOLA (Staff Writer)

Divine Mercy Sunday was a special day for Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Monatan, Ibadan as the Chief Shepherd of Ibadan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin celebrated with the parish on Sunday 12th April, 2026 (Divine Mercy Sunday), confirming a total of seventy six candidates and blessing the parish hall.

 The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Joachim Akee welcomed the Archbishop on behalf of the entire parishioners.

In his homily, Archbishop Abegunrin congratulated the newly confirmed (made up of candidates from Divine Mercy, Monatan and St. Brendan, Ikumapayi) that they have to strive to know more about the Church by reading about the faith and not only relying on the Sunday homily.

His Grace charged them to be active members of the Church by giving their life to Jesus and doing something for God in the Church. On the special day of Divine Mercy Sunday, His Grace admonished all to learn from the feast by being merciful to their neighbours, avoid keeping malice, freeing others from sins as he stated that as they forgive, they are also teaching, since forgiving is blessing.

The Prelate described Christ’s disciples as the recipients and dispensers of gift and so enjoined all too to emulate some parishes in the Archdiocese that usually distribute food items to the needy and poor from their parish’s food bank.

Other highlights of the celebration were the performance of the rites of confirmation, renewal of commitment by Divine Mercy Devotees, thanksgiving by the newly confirmed and Devotees of Divine Mercy, blessing of the parish hall and snapping of photographs.

The Archbishop encouraged the parishioners to make proper use of the facility and also to strive and improve on the state of the hall.