For the Catholic faithful of Ife Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Saturday 12th of April, 2025 was not just like any other day, as it witnessed the turn-out of faithful within and around the deanery to welcome and celebrate togetherness, love for one another as well as renew their allegiance to His Lordship, Most Rev. (Dr). John Akin Oyejola, the Prelate of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo. Indeed, it was the gathering of the faithful at St. Paul Catholic Church, Mokuro, Ile-Ife to celebrate the 2025 Cathedraticum.

Welcoming the Bishop and addressing the faithful, the Dean of the Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. (Dr). Peter Adeyemi (Dean and Diocesan Director of Communication), expressed his joy at the enthusiasm shown by the faithful. He thanked God that the Deanery is witnessing another Cathedraticum. He described the celebrations of Cathedraticum as a period of togetherness, thanksgiving to God for the gift of the Diocese as well as to pledge allegiance to the Bishop.

Recounting the achievements of the Diocese under the leadership of His Lordship, Most Rev. (Dr). John Akin Oyejola, the Prelate of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo and by extension the Diocese, Fr. Peter Adeyemi (who is also the Parish Priest of Ss. Peter and Paul Pro-Cathedral, Ile-Ile), said it is only with the grace of God and the goodwill of the people, that such successes can be celebrated.

Fr. Adeyemi particularly congratulated His Lordship for his great strides in the Diocese, since he was made the Chief Shephard. Fr. Adeyemi praised the doggedness of the Bishop even in the face of the challenges and hardship being experienced nationwide. In the view of Fr. Peter Adeyemi, these achievements are noticeable in the various projects visible and distributed/scattered around every corner of the Diocese. Enumerating some of these achievements, the clergyman, pointed out that recently the Bishop has been able to establish a new Church at the Navy Barracks, Ifewara as well as purchase large spans of land at Oke-Ogbo. He also noted that under the watch and support of the Bishop, the Pastoral Centre Ede has received new face lift, while Ona-Kajola in Osogbo also has a new Church. Fr Adeyemi encouraged the Bishop to continue in this light and that with the people’s support (especially the Catholic faithful of Ile-Ife), more will be achieved.

The Dean also used the opportunity to make special requests from the Bishop on behalf of the Catholic Faithful of Ile-Ife. He particularly requested that the only Catholic Secondary School in Ile-Ife, St. Mulumba Catholic College be upgraded to meet the standard of other Catholic Schools around the Diocese, with specific reference to St. Kizito, Ikirun, St. Anthony Catholic College, Ilesa and St. Gabriel Catholic College, Oke-Bale, Osogbo. 

Relatedly, the Deanery through the Dean, also requested for the building of Convents for Reverend Sisters, as Ife Deanery currently has just one Convent located within the premises of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Lagere.

In his response, the Prelate of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most. Rev. (Dr). John Akin Oyejola, thanked the faithful for their love and support, acknowledging the fact that in terms of support, Ife Deanery has always maintained first position. He thanked the faithful for their constant support to the priests and developmental efforts.

Reacting to the request, the Prelate made it clear that he had earlier instructed the Dean to make available land and that once this is done, he is ever ready to support the issue of more Convents as requested by the Deanery.

In his words, “Fr. Adeyemi can testify to the fact that I have asked him to get the land ready (not just a plot or two), I will take it up from there. Let us get land around the Opa area for development, not just for convents, but also for schools and new parishes”. As for the support and development of St. Mulumba Catholic College, Ile- Ife, the Bishop argued that, this has been affected by the low numbers of Catholic students in the school. He challenged Catholic parents to make available their children and wards and see if the development requested for will not follow immediately.

Bishop Oyejola particularly challenged the faithful to take seriously their spiritual lives as that is what is important to him and God. He decried the low participation of couples in the Marriage and Family Life Programme as well as the low attendance at Deepening the Faith Programs. The Bishop thanked the parishioners of St. Paul Mokuro for hosting the Cathedraticum, promising to visit the parish within the next two weeks for the official opening of the Parish House.