The parish priest of St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun has said a baptized Catholic remains Catholic forever; but was quick to add that such a baptized Catholic can either be a good or bad Catholic, depending on how he/she practices the faith.

Fr. Balogun stated this during his homily in the parish on Sunday 2nd February, 2025, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. He said that Christ, who is the Light is brought to all at the celebration as a sign of fulfilment of tradition and culture of the Church. He was named, baptized and presented in the temple to teach Christians that they also need to respect tradition and culture of the Church.

The parish priest added that children carrying candles in the procession represented the entire congregation as each one of them should represent that Light, Christ, who is our Light and God in every situation of our lives. Hence, Christians need to appreciate Christ when all is well with them and also know how to call on Him at an unpleasant moment.

The homilist admonished the parishioners to know in details, the meaning of what the Church celebrates and use their knowledge to help the youth to stay in the faith. “If Christ is not personal to you at baptism and at Eucharist, then, you don’t know what you’re doing.” He stated. The greatest gift that can be given to a new baby, according to the priest is baptism, for God is Love, God is everywhere and therefore should be celebrated at all time by allowing our own light to continue to burn.

Fr. Balogun, who concelebrated the Mass with Rev. Fr. Vitalis Ikechukwu also commended Salome Ole and Jerome Faleyimu, who not only represented the parish in “Rev. Fr. John O’Hea Pass on the Faith Parish Quiz Competition” but also emerged the winners from among eight other parishes. He appreciated in a special way their Animators and Josephite’s Seminarians, who had been tutoring the children and equally announced cash gifts to those involved in such brilliant performance.

Some of the parishioners also had birthday thanksgivings at the day’s Mass. They included Master Sunday John, Prof. Francis Ibimiluyi and Mr Felix Oretu.