Francis 'Jide MAKINWA

 

On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo ended the Jubilee Year of Hope with events at St. Benedict Catholic Cathedral, Osogbo.

  It could be recalled that His Holiness, Pope Francis of blessed memory, opened the Year of Hope on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, inaugurating the theme, 'Pilgrims of Hope.' The Jubilee will be concluded with the closing of the Holy Door on January 6, 2026, the Feast of Epiphany.

  The Vicar General of Osogbo Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Ajayi, explained that each Catholic Diocese in Nigeria is expected to mark the end of the jubilee with a befitting program. Later in the year, all Catholic Dioceses in Nigeria will conclude the Jubilee in Elele before the grand finale in Rome on January 6, 2026, he said.

 The events at the Cathedral in Osogbo featured the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, a Penitential service and confession, a talk by Fr. Aladejana with an interactive session, and the Holy Mass.

  In the message of the Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Rev. John Oyejola, during the Holy Mass at the end of the program, he said that every Jubilee is a special time of grace, renewal, and forgiveness. The Jubilee Year of Hope is even more special because of its timing for us and because of the significance of hope to humanity and to all people of faith. The relationship between faith and hope is profound, and they both provide a powerful combination that helps us navigate the challenges of life, he said.  

The Prelate said that God's promise of unwavering presence and support becomes our beacon of hope, and as people of faith, we find courage in the knowledge that we are never abandoned. He therefore encouraged the faithful never to give up hope but to work in faith, offering words of comfort and hope to ourselves and those around us. 'Hope and action are partners in faith. As we keep our faith and trust in God, let us continue to make effort to improve our circumstances through hard work, honesty, determination and the fear of God', he said.

  Bishop Oyejola explained further that faith, hope and trust in God must go hand in hand with tangible actions (James 2:17). Your hope in God's words should inspire you to work hard to bring about positive changes you expect because we know that our efforts are part of God's plan. God is working in and through your efforts, he said. The Bishop appreciated everyone for their efforts to grace the occasion.

  Earlier, during the event, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aladejana, the Director of the Regional Pastoral Institute, Ede, Osun State, delivered a speech on the theme: "Hope in action: Call to bring Christ's compassion to a hopeless world". He said the events and happenings around us make us feel that there is no hope for the world, however, we Christians have the mission to make the world a better place in a hopeless situation.

  The Christian understanding of hope is rooted in a confident expectation and trust in God and His promises; a firm assurance that what God has promised would eventually come to pass. Also, God works in us through the Word and the Spirit as we place our hopes in the finished work of Christ. In addition, hope motivates believers as expressed in 1Corinthians 15:19 which states that without hope, Christians would be most pitied.

  The priest said the year of hope is a call to Christians to have a rethink and brace up to the challenge of making the world a better place. We might do it by engaging with individuals, listening to their narratives attentively and demonstrating empathy for their struggles, prioritizing speaking words of encouragement. We should make effort to promote positive social interactions.

  The priest urged Christians to strive to forgive and reconcile with those who have wronged us and promote social inclusion and equity, following Jesus' example of reaching out to the marginalized. He also recommended that the faithful must be generous and extend a helping hand to the less privileged in the society.

  Finally, Fr. Aladejana encouraged Christians to love unconditionally and strive to be agents of peace and reconciliation as Jesus charged in Matthew 5:9; "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

  'In today's turbulent world, embodying the compassion and kindness of Jesus is more crucial than ever. We Christians are called to reflect His unwavering love and grace in our interactions with others so as to participate in God's redemptive work in the world', he concluded.

 

  The occasion was attended by about fifty priests, Seminarians, Religious Sisters and the Catholic faithful representatives from all the parishes in Osogbo Diocese.