Vincent OBANIYI (SCC, Oyo Diocese)

 

The Church auditorium of Saint Bernadine Catholic Church, Owode, Oyo, was filled with joy and thanksgiving as the Catholic Diocese of Oyo celebrated its 29th Diocesan Harvest with the theme “Harvest of Hope in God’s Goodness.” The Holy Mass was presided over by the Bishop of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, and concelebrated by the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Boniface Wuraola, Rev. Fr. Michael Falade, and several priests from Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti, and Osogbo Dioceses.

 

In his homily, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Olabode began by reminding the faithful of God’s faithfulness through the hymn “Oni lojo pe.” He warmly greeted Bishop Badejo, the Bishop Emeritus, the Vicar General, priests, religious, and special guests, including Sir and Hon. Justice Michael Oguntoyinbo, Lady Calista Kayode Alabi, Prof. Olusayan, Prof. Elizabeth Ojo, Lady Beatrice Akinwunmi, Mrs. Lucia Kikelomo Egunjobi, Rev. Fr. Joachim Ake, and all present. He further acknowledged the Almighty God as the ultimate guest of honor.

 

To emphasize the Jubilee of Hope celebration, he led the congregation in the hymn “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ.” He expressed gratitude to God for the Diocese and for granting the faithful another reason to celebrate the harvest.

 

Fr. Olabode explained that the theme of this year’s harvest, ‘Hope in God’s Goodness’, is rooted in the truth that hope in God never disappoints. He noted that hope can sometimes feel elusive, especially when people focus on life’s difficult circumstances. He challenged those who lose hope to ask themselves why, pointing out that many forget God’s goodness or believe they have been forsaken.

 

He emphasized that faith compels Christians to seek out evidence of God’s goodness, which in turn sustains hope. “If we truly believe God is good, then we must hold our hope steadfast in Him,” he said. “Even in trials, we must be able to say, ‘I am waiting on the Lord.’”

 

Highlighting signs of God’s blessings in the Diocese, Fr. Olabode thanked God for safe journeys granted to the Bishop and priests, for the ordination of new deacons and priests, for ongoing projects across the Diocese, and for the life of the faithful. He described these as testimonies of God’s goodness and urged the congregation to remain patient, persistent, and enduring in hope, for in this lies the path to God’s blessings.

 

He concluded with a prayer: “May God give us the grace to always have hope in Him.”

 

The Harvest Chairman, Dr. Gbenga Adegbola, also expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to witness the celebration. He lamented the state of the nation but maintained that the harvest remained a moment of joy and thanksgiving. He later supported the harvest with his donation.

 

In his closing remarks, Bishop Badejo thanked God for the grace of the celebration and commended the youth for their active participation and generous contributions. He noted that their presence and energy brought life to the celebration, and encouraged them to continue to see the Church as their home and a place where their voices matter. He stressed that the Diocese remains committed to giving young people a prominent role, affirming that they are not just the leaders of tomorrow but vital contributors to the mission of the Church today.

 

The Bishop further appreciated the priests, religious, and lay faithful for their collective efforts in sustaining the Diocese, reminding them that every act of service and generosity helps to build the Church. He prayed that the joy of the harvest would inspire renewed faith, unity, and commitment among all members of the Diocesan family.

 

The celebration ended with the lively sales of bazaar items, marking a joyful close to the 29th Diocesan Harvest.