The parish priest of St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun has said that the road to the narrow door is full of tribulations but that whoever strives and passes through will be saved. The priest said this while giving his homily in the parish on Sunday 24th August 2025.

The cleric, who noted that nothing is permanent in life assured the congregation that God is aware of their present situations and their future too; hence, the key word is perseverance in order to get to their final destinations.

Fr. Balogun likened life’s journey; in which nothing good comes easy, to the situation of a farmer, who needs to endure from sowing to harvest time. He added that Christians are heading towards Jerusalem, the heavenly kingdom and that the more they embrace God, the more they are going to encounter trials. “Jesus tells us in Lk.13:22-30, that a great effort is required to come under the reign of God... He asks us to make an effort to enter through the narrow gate. How rooted are you in faith, so as to bear the little daily crosses, and to take steps towards the salvation of your soul?

God may not give us an easy journey to the Promised Land, but he will give us a safe one." Going further he said: “The world is getting divided but as an individual, try your best to unite the world. We all have our plans, but God has His plans for us too, and His plans are the best. God wants consistency and not on and off relationship.”

Fr. Balogun pointed out that it is not the beginning that matters but the final destination. “God expects us to do His will (the laws) and not just knowing the laws. The Lord will take you there only if you persevere as he added that Christianity is just a way to worship God but to reach the eternal life is in individual’s hands. “Baptism is just the beginning of your Christian journey of faith. We all have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Consistency in hard work through grace is the only pathway to greatness in God. The gate is opened, but narrow is the way.

NOTE: In this spiritual journey, good roots are not enough; having the right address is not enough; sitting idle on the right path is not enough; borrowed fidelity does not impress Jesus, but doing his will by loving others is the secret to eternal life.”

The parish priest also commended the parish’s CWO President, Mrs. M. Adewuyi for emerging the ‘2025 Queen of AICWO’ in the recently concluded AICWO 2025 Seminar/Jubilee of Women held at the Capuchin Franciscan Friary, Olomi Olunde, Ibadan between Friday August 15th and Sunday August 17th, 2025, where series of competitions took place amongst the women in the Archdiocese.

Fr. Balogun therefore charged other societies in the parish to strive to identify with the Archdiocesan body of their respective societies.