Jacob BABALOLA (Staff Writer)

“Good morning my brothers and sisters in Christ. Today is the 21st Sunday in ordinary time, year A. the Church invites us in the readings of today to reflect on leadership or authority; that authority is not absolute, it is entrusted. So, let us pray for all those who exercise authority at different levels of our society; for parent, for Church leaders, for leaders in different places, for civil authority. We pray that the Lord will inspire them to live according to the heart of Jesus; Jesus wants authority to be service.”

Above quotation was the opening remarks of Rev. Fr. Justine Adeka, CSJ during the Mass at St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan, Oyo State on Sunday 23rd August 2026.

The priest who analyzed that a parent has authority over a child, teacher has authority over a student, priest has authority over the congregation, supervisor has authority over workers, politician has authority over those he leads but that the owner of the authority is Cod, invited all to examine how each exercises authority entrusted to him/her.

Fr. Adeka stated that a leader is not someone who makes everyone to be afraid but to flourish, and that if we are under authority, we are called to respect legitimate authority. Hence, the message is to use our position to lift people up and not to crash them by using our authority to serve, because one day all the titles or authority we received will disappear and we would have to account for how we have exercised the authority.

The Chief Celebrant of the day’s Mass pointed out that Christians are called to be trustworthy people, humble servants and have personal relationship with Jesus and therefore prayed that God zeals all with holy spirit to be humble servants like Christ.

The parish priest, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun appreciated Fr. Adeka for coming to celebrate the day’s Mass after almost a year as well as other priests and seminarians in the Josephite Community for holding forth for him throughout his leave period.

Rev. Fr. Justine Adeka, CSJ who was transferred from Ibadan in November 2025 to Sierra Leone as Novice Master was on a short visit to Ibadan. He equally appreciated Fr. Balogun for his hospitality and the entire parishioners for celebrating 8 Josephite Brothers that finished their Philosophy study recently in Ibadan.