Having set the tone for 2025 Cathedraticum by Mokola Deanery on Monday 24th March, 2025; it was the turn of Oke-Offa Deanery on Thursday, 27th March, 2025. The venue was St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Chief Celebrant was the Archbishop Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, represented by the Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr. Gregory Oyelami.

Welcoming the Archbishop who was unavoidably absent, the Vicar General, Monsignori, Deans of other Deaneries, Priests, Religious and the lay faithful to the celebration, the Dean of Oke-Offa Deanery, Very Rev. Msgr. Joseph Idowu thanked God for the day and for the unique opportunity. He added that the Archbishop was unavoidably absent due to clash of programmes.

Archbishop’s representative, who is also the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Ibadan, Very Rev. Fr. Gregory Oyelami described the day’s Cathedraticum as unique, being the first as Oke-Offa Deanery and also coming up during the Jubilee year of Hope, “to show our unity and love for His Grace, who is going to serve the poor and the needy on our behalf.”

The homilist at the Mass, Rev. Fr. Norbert Opara C.Ss.R. also expressed his joy at the day’s celebration which he said was to celebrate the mercy, kindness, generosity and most especially our oneness and communion with the Church. “The lay faithful at this gathering gathered around our Chief Shepherd to symbolize our oneness with him and Christ. This union, reminds us of our identity and communion, which must be cherished.”

The homilist who noted that the majority of Christians are Christians in titles but with no personal encounter with Christ. He then admonished thus: “You cannot have encounter with Him (Christ) and still hold on to your principles. No. the price of having God in you is death to yourself or anything that makes you live apart from God. Hence, John says, ‘You must increase while I decrease.’

Warning the lay faithful against hardening their hearts like the people of Israel in the day’s first reading, who saw no need for the words of God, the priest said such behavior is a total loss. He therefore admonished all with words of Christ in the Gospel that “Whoever is not with me is against me” by saying there is no standing on the fence. It is either you’re with Christ or against Him.”

He added that the commitment of our Chief Shepherd is pasturing the flock should make us renew our commitment to also support him.

Fr. Opara also enjoined all present to pay attention to Christ’s words that say, ‘Christians are the salt and light of the world,’ by allowing themselves to shine. He then prayed that God grant all the grace not to continue to be stiff-necked but to continue to preach and live out the words of God.

The Cathedraticum thanksgiving was directed by the Deanery Secretary, Rev. Fr. Paul Akintayo. The Dean of Oke-Offa Deanery enjoined individuals to still add to whatever the parishes might have prepared for the Thanksgiving. The Dean of Igboora Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Alabi gave the prayer of thanksgiving while parishes, institutions, and laity organizations came forward with dancing, one after the other, for the thanksgiving. Fr. Akintayo appreciated all at the end of the Thanksgiving.

The Dean of Oke-Offa Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Idowu gave a vote of thanks, which was also supported by the Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr. Gregory Oyelami; who thanked all on behalf of the Archbishop. He appreciated the choir which he described as ‘so few but mighty’, students of College of Nursing and Sciences; Bishop Finn Memorial Students and Presidents of lay organizations present.

The Vicar General also requested all to say one Hail Mary for our Bishops as they are all full of engagements, especially as they all converged in Ilorin for the burial of Bishop Emeritus of Ilorin Diocese, Most Rev. Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, OP.

There was group photograph taking and refreshment thereafter.