Jacob BABALOLA (Staff Writer)

   The opening Mass of 2026 Laity Week has been held with a call by the Archdiocesan Laity Chaplain, Very Rev. Fr. Paul Asawale for Christians to be true salt and light if truly they are salt and light of the world.

Representing the Archbishop, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, who was away in Rome with other Bishops, Fr. Paul Asawale stated that blindness brings envy, hatred as indicated in the Gospel reading of the fourth Sunday of lent, where the Sadducees and Pharisees were envious of Christ, for making a blind man to see on a Sabbath day.

      The Chaplain wondered why man does not see as God sees; even Samuel the prophet in the day’s first reading could not see as God sees. According to Fr. Asawale, when man is in power, he does not see again and that is why our leaders in Nigeria do not see things the way ordinary Nigerians would see it.

      The priest therefore admonished that as Christians, whatever we want to do, we should see Christ for Christ is the light of the world and has passed that light into us all.

   Fr. Asawale highlighted the lessons from the day’s readings that- Nothing is too late, nothing is impossible for Him to do and that whatever we are experiencing is for a purpose as could be seen in the gospel. The Chaplain enjoined all to help one another as laity and as priest in order not to remain blind forever.

    On the up-coming General Elections in 2027, Fr. Asawale admonished all never to bring anybody down for coming to power ought to be for service and not for embezzlement.

     The Mass was concelebrated by the parish priest of St Joseph Oke-Ado, the Host Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Benedict Ugwoegbu and Rev. Ejim Micheal from Benin Archdiocese.

    The Archdiocesan Laity President, Mr Felix Olujimi delivered a speech to welcome all into the laity week and also enjoined all to participate actively. Mr Olujimi appreciated the Archbishop, the Chaplain, the Parish Priest of St Joseph, Oke-Ado, Laity Executives at Parish, Deanery and Archdiocesan levels and all the lay organizations in the Church.  He added that Laity Week is a reminder that the faithful are not spectators in the Church.

   Trophies and Cash prizes were also presented to the winners of the Pre-Laity Week Quiz Competition that started on 18th January at parish level, 8th February at Deanery level and 28th February at the Archdiocesan level. The first, second and third prizes of One Hundred thousand, Eighty thousand and Sixty thousand Naira for Oke-Ado, Mokola and Oluyole Deaneries were presented to them by Rev. Fr. Benedict Ugwoegbu, Very Rev. Fr. Paul Asawale and Mr Felix Olujimi respectively amidst cheering from the congregation.

       There were thanksgiving on deanery basis, followed by the lay organizations in the Church, even as the program for the whole week celebration were read out to all with an admonition that all participate actively..

   The Laity Secretary, Mr Dominic gave a vote of thanks, likewise the Parish Parish of St. Joseph Catholic Church appreciated everyone for coming to have the celebration in the parish.

        Group Photograph’s were taken after the Mass, followed by refreshment.