Cletus Oluwaseun AJETORO

The Catholic Community of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Fiditi, enjoyed an episcopal atmosphere with the Pastoral visit of the Diocesan Local Ordinary; Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, on the 25th of May 2025 being the 6th Sunday of Eastertide.

 

The special visit enabled the parishioners to experience yet another Holy Mass being celebrated by the Bishop himself in the parish, which serves as a reminder beckon to everyone in the Church to wake up to the task of living their faith.

 

In his homily during the Mass, the Bishop challenged the parents; reminding them of their duty in raising their children holistically with care and love, not allowing any moment to go by without proper upbringing of their wards as no one is too small to be a witness to the Gospel in the world today. Citing the Patron Saint of the Youth, St. Charles Lwanga (whose novena starts today) who served as a youth Catechist before his martyrdom which eventually elevated him to sainthood.

He further emphasized the importance of a beautiful coincidence of the Communications Week   2025 beginning at the same time with the Novena to St. Charles Lwanga, as a call to communicate peace wherever we found ourselves, "Let your words and actions be for peace always... in the neighbourhood, at place of work etcetera, because we are all communicators in various capacities". He continued to encourage the people of God to make sacrifice and respond to call for extensive and effective grassroots Evangelization, "None of God's Word will go back to God until it fulfils everything it was sent to do; but we also should allow the Word to have impact in our lives and in the life of others through us".

 

The Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Falade, on behalf of all the parishioners welcomed the Bishop to the parish and thanked him for his fatherly care always and promised that the Church, although old in existence, will continue to grow both spiritually and pastorally. He also noted that the general pastoral corrections shall be effected through Christ who strengthen us.

 

After the Holy Mass, there was a group photograph after which he proceeded to pay courtesy visit to some aged parishioners, the SSMA Sisters' Convent and the Out-Station; St. Michael, Jafuu, Fiditi where he promised the flooring of the Church with immediate effect.

 

Indeed, To God be the Glory, as everyone exclaimed with joy to have the Bishop around.