The parish priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ilupeju; Rev. Fr. Joseph Akinbinu on Wednesday 24th July, 2024 celebrated his 20th priestly ordination anniversary with a Thanksgiving Mass that had in attendance His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, Most Rev. Dr. Felix Alaba Job, priests and religious from within and outside the Archdiocese in attendance.

In his homily, Fr. Clement Emerue praised the efforts of the celebrant in the Lord’s vineyard for the past 20 years. His homily reads in part "A bold, courageous, hardworking instrument in the hand of the Lord, what can we say unto the Lord for your gift as a Priest and a brother, nothing but to thank the Lord".

Thanksgiving, in form of the celebration of the Mass according to the homilist is the greatest gift we can offer to God for his many gifts in our lives. 

The Director of Religious Education did not fail to identify the eminence of the gift of the Priesthood as one not made by any human hands but by Christ himself.

"The priesthood in which our brother and the rest of us on the sanctuary have found ourselves is not an afterthought or an invention of the Church, rather the explicit will of Christ, Because of this the Church teaches that Holy orders do not take its origin from the community as though it were the community that called or delegated the Priest, No! The sacramental Priesthood is rather truly a gift for the community that comes from Jesus Christ Himself from the very fullness of his own Priesthood."

He took the celebrant on a journey back to his ordination day, recounting some of the words spoken to him by the ordaining Bishop, all of which are calls to live a life becoming of the state to which He has been called. “Know what you are doing and imitate the mysteries over which you preside? Do not be a priest by definition but in acts/deeds."

The celebrant welcomed everyone to the Church. He called all to be a part of the Church project, most especially the Church building which is presently under construction. He recognized the frantic efforts of the parishioners so far but noted that this was just a drop in the ocean.

He called everyone to commit whatever donation or gift they have for his ordination anniversary to the re-roofing of the Church building. He prayed for God's blessings on all as they contributed to this course. 

He did not fail to render his sentiment of thanks and appreciation to the Archbishop, Gabriel Abegunrin; Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, Alaba Job, and all priests, religious and faithful who came despite tight schedule to honour him on his 20th anniversary. 

He also recognized and thanked some of his classmates who were present at the occasion, Fr. Aina Lawrence (Ondo Diocese), Fr. Ibe Hyancinth (Lagos Archdiocese), Fr. Umana Anthony (Abeokuta Diocese) and Fr. Omojola Louis (Ekiti). He equally appreciated the functionaries at the Mass. 

His Grace, Most. Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin congratulated the celebrant on the occasion of his 20th priestly anniversary. He equally congratulated Baba Alaba Job for witnessing his son's anniversary. His Grace lent his voice to an appeal to the people by the celebrant to support the Church' project. He called on the choir to make liturgical music cool as it is not a stage play. 

The celebration continued after the Mass as guests were treated to a befitting reception.