The Consecrated people in the Catholic Diocese of Oyo all gathered together in St. Peter Catholic Church, Sabo, Oyo to celebrate the World Day of Consecrated Life. The Chief Celebrant at the Holy Mass was the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo while the Vicar for Religious in Oyo Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Eke, CMF and the Parish Priest of St. Peter Catholic Church, Sabo, Oyo, Rev. Fr. Anthony Olanrewaju concelebrated the Holy Mass which was preceded with candle light procession within the neighbourhood into the Church.

In his homily, the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo congratulated the Consecrated people for the opportunity to be alive and to be able to celebrate this beautiful day. He prayed for the souls of the departed ones especially those who have worked in Oyo Diocese but are no more, especially those who died recently; Sr. Victoria Dada, SSMA and Sr. Francis Mary Adigun, OSF.

Bishop Badejo appreciated the Consecrated people for their fiat to God and for their selfless services to God in His Church and in the society. He highlighted the fact that the Consecrated people perform a great deal of activities within the Church and in the society and many of these activities are silently done while some are made public. He emphasized the fact the Consecrated people are a sign of Faith, Hope and Love in a darkened world. He therefore encouraged the lay faithful to support and be charitable to Consecrated people because they need encouragement more than ever before and that they should be supported with prayers and material needs since they did not fall down from the sky but each one of them has a biological family. He further encouraged all Consecrated people to shun every attitude of exaggerated sense of importance and be closer to God and His people through their lives of authentic witnessing in and out of season.

 After the homily, the Consecrated people renewed their consecration to God. The Vicar for Religious in Oyo Diocese, Rev. Fr. Michael Eke CMF in his remarks congratulated them and encouraged them to continue to be the voice of the voiceless and that they should not forget that God is still at work and so should hold on tenaciously to God the Source of life.

The President of the Female Religious in the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Rev. Sr. Mary-Assumpta Oluwafunmilayo Taiwo, SSMA who is also the National Sister Adviser for Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria appreciated the parish priest and the lay faithful of St. Peter Catholic Church, Sabo, Oyo for hosting this year’s World Day of Consecrated Life. She encouraged families to support vocation to priesthood and Religious Life because the work is much but the labourers are few.

She called on parents to be mindful of the type of training given to the young ones right from the cradle stage because they are the future of tomorrow. She reminded them of the fact that not everything which glitters is gold, therefore proper home training is necessary for vocation into the Priesthood, Religious life and Marital life. The society rests on the family and the family has a lot to offer to the Church and the larger society. Hence, this should not be washed down the drain in the name of sophistication and search for material wealth at all cost.

After the celebration of the Holy Mass, the Consecrated people and everyone present were given a sumptuous meal by the parish with beautiful cultural displays by the Holy Childhood Association, Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria, Sabo and by the Novices of the Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Conception.