The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN), St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan held 3-day of prayer, praise and worship from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th January, 2025. The program with the theme: “Divine Encounter & Restoration” was aimed at starting the New Year 2025 with the Lord.

To kick-start the program was an Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. Frs: Nathaniel Okonta, CSJ and Justine Adeka, CSJ. In a brief reflection, the Chief Celebrant, Fr. Okonta explained that Jesus in the day’s Gospel reading (Mark 6: 45-52) went to the mountain to pray to show that prayer is very important, it is the key. Hence, Christ started and ended with prayer any activity of His. That prayer goes beyond asking but a conversation, not just for asking but also for hearing from God.

Also, like Christ told His disciples not to be afraid, Christians were encouraged to call on Him whenever in trouble, for He stands at the door, if they open, he will come in.

The Mass was followed by praise and worship and then a talk on the topic: “Starting the year with gratitude & a thankful spirit.” Fr. Okonta stated that gratitude is a virtue, essential Christian and Catholic virtue that expresses sincere thanks for all the blessings enjoyed from God. He added that gratitude is not something one feels but something one deliberately does. It is therefore important to start the New Year with gratitude because many loved to see 2025 but could not, many are in the hospitals, many involved in accident etc. Gratitude should be an act lived out every day rather than complaining in the Church.

Fr. Okonta admonished the parishioners that thankfulness should not depend on their position or circumstances and then gave ways of expressing gratitude thus: Reflecting on the past year and setting aside a time of prayer and fasting. He also listed how to cultivate heart of gratitude thus: Practicing daily prayer, reflecting on the words of God, recognizing the goodness of others and rendering service to others.

The priest also gave benefits of gratitude as follow: It functions in every aspect of Christians’ lives, boost mental health, gives inner peace, improves relationship with others and God and also nurtures our spiritual life.

The first day activities were concluded with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer and Benediction.

Second day was anchored by Rev. Fr. Justine Adeka, CSJ; who enlightened the parishioners on the Jubilee Year of Hope which runs from 24th December 2024 to 6th January 2026. According to the priest, Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25years to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimage and to repent of their sins.

Going further, Fr. Adeka stated that Jubilee Year is a privileged moment for all in the Church and that Jubilee Year 2025 is centered on the theme: “Pilgrimage of Hope” that is, having trust and faith in God.

All Catholics faithful are urged to deepen their faith as inspired by the Blessed Virgin Mary by being attentive to the needs of those around them, live the year in prayer and sharing the Jubilee Year to others as well; since it is a gift that helps us reach heaven by making available all the easy means of enjoying plenary indulgence to heaven.

Jubilee year, Fr. Adeka added is a year of personal and community conversion and as a requirement, Catholic faithful who will not be able to make pilgrimage to Rome are expected to do so by visiting the designated centres within and outside the Archdiocese as announced by the Archbishop during the inauguration Mass of the Jubilee Year.

The talk was followed by Holy Mass and adoration, where Fr. Adeka further urged all to practice love by being ready to sacrifice for their brothers and sisters like Christ did for all.

On the third day, which was a night vigil, there were praise and worship, deliverance, confession, blessing of Sacramentals, lighting of candle, strolling rosary, burning of intentions and holy Mass to round it up.

The talk, “Divine Encounter and Restoration” was delivered by Rev. Fr. Peter Ajeigbe, Parish Priest of St. Anne, Sasa, Ibadan. The priest explained that divine encounter means following Christ by following with some steps and this leads to restoration; that is, adding or putting what is right in its place and this in turn leads to transformation.

To be transformed, however, there must be total surrender and commitment. Fr. Ajeigbe added that though fear is part of human nature, any one that encounters Christ will no longer be in fear, neither will fear rule such a person.

The parish priest, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun appreciated all the priests and parishioners that actively took part in the 3-day program and prayed that the good Lord accepts the parish’s prayer, praise and worship and accompany all throughout the journey and undertakings in the New Year 2025. A thanksgiving later held on Sunday

Meanwhile, in a bid to improve on the liturgical celebrations in the Church, the parish priest of St. Anne’s parish, Ogbere, Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun had earlier held first meeting of the year with all the functionaries in the parish after the first Sunday of the year Mass, 5th January, 2025. In attendance at the meeting were the Seminarians of Josephite Community, Lectors, Church Wardens, Altar Servers, HCA Choir and the parish Adult Choir.

Fr. Balogun, who was surprised at the large turn-out made it clear that each person joins one functioning group or the other either because of his/her talent or to go and learn and that if each carries out his/her work joyfully, the Church will grow, since functionaries in the Church are same all over in the Church.

The parish priest encouraged that the functionaries have rosters and hold practices to enhance their performance. “You should be missed when not around or you are useless. Without you, Church will still move on, but better with you.”

Fr. Balogun also made it clear to the functionaries that nobody is begging them to work, or else, it carries no blessing. “If when you carry out your functions and nobody appreciates you, the blessing of God is more. The blessing may come upon you or your children. You can meet your glory anywhere.”

Still on how to get better, the parish priest disclosed that members could get idea from other parishes but must notify the parish priest of such idea, since they are functionaries to help the priest and that there is nothing they do that the priest cannot do.

Fr. Balogun, therefore, directed that each group meet, put ideas together on how to move forward and submit same to the parish priest, adding that any idea makes no sense without the parish priest’s involvement. “The moment pride sets in, you lose it.” He said.

The parish priest used the occasion to also advise parents to give their children work to do at home, for such is not punishment but a way of building them up for the future.

Prof. Francis Ibimiluyi appreciated the parish priest on behalf of all the functionaries in the parish for such meeting which is aimed at enhancing improvement on the various functionaries and also for the refreshment that was provided for the functionaries by the parish priest.