Michael OKEOLA

Clergy and lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo converged at St. Paul Pastoral Centre, Awe, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for the Open Day of the Diocesan Pastoral Programme, a forum dedicated to deepening faith formation through ongoing catechesis within the Diocese.

The Open Day brought together priests, religious, and lay representatives in a spirit of collaboration to reflect on the state of faith formation and the shared responsibility of nurturing a vibrant Catholic life rooted in sound teaching. Discussions during the session emphasized that catechesis remains the foundation of authentic Christian living and cannot be separated from the sacramental and pastoral life of the Church.

 

A keynote paper was presented by Mrs. Hannah Shittu, who examined catechesis from the perspective of the Church’s past, present, and future. She cautioned that sacramental practice without solid instruction weakens the faith of the faithful, stressing that a faith which is not taught is easily lost. She urged renewed attention to systematic and continuous catechetical formation at all levels of Church life.

 

Contributing to the discourse, Rev. Sr. Mary-Assumpta Olufunmilayo Taiwo, the Diocesan Directress of Religious Education, emphasized that catechesis must serve as the solid foundation linking every activity of the Church. She called for the establishment of functional parish catechetical committees and encouraged the presence of mature mentors to accompany young families, children, and converts in their journey of faith.

 

The Vicar General of the Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Boniface Wuraola, further highlighted the central role of the family in faith formation, describing the family as the Domestic Church. He noted that when the foundation of faith is weak at home, the entire parish community is affected, and he encouraged parents to reclaim their God-given responsibility as the first catechists of their children.

 

Addressing participants, the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, underscored the urgent need to deepen catechetical formation, especially among young people. He drew attention to the YOUCAT, the Youth Catechism, and DOCAT, clarifying that while YOUCAT helps young people understand the teachings of the Church, DOCAT emphasizes doing and practicing the catechism by translating faith into concrete actions in daily life. The Bishop called for catechesis that speaks the language of today’s youth and makes effective use of digital platforms to help them understand, live, and defend their faith in the modern world.

 

The Open Day concluded with a shared resolve among clergy and laity to strengthen ongoing catechesis across parishes in the Diocese, recognizing it as essential to forming committed Catholics, responsible citizens, and credible witnesses of the Gospel.