Daniel UGWO

Three months, or rather 14 weeks and 6 days after his first visit, Parishioners of SS Peter & Paul Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Lagere, Ile-Ife were enthusiastic to receive him a second time. Recall that Reverend Father Christopher Uwadiale (C.Ss.R) first visited the Parish March 2, 2025 after his relocation to Osogbo Diocese as the Director of Oke-Maria Pilgrimage Centre, Otan-Ayegbaju, Osun State. This time, his visit was not about a week retreat on ‘Our Mother of Perpetual Help,’ it was rather a week general revival towards the celebration of the Solemnity of SS Peter & Paul, Patron Saints of the Parish.

The seven days programme from Sunday 22 June, was the second time in many years where Parishioners attended retreat for a week, in mass number as though a Sunday Mass. Massive attendance may be connected to grace and his contents and testimonies from those who attended his first presence in March. According to many, his style of elevating the spirit and his knowledge on the corners and analysis of events of the scriptures are extraordinary.

The Redemptorist neither jots his messages nor write Bible verses on paper for references. Not a single participant was ready to depart the program each day despite ending at night; there was never a dull moment till the end. At his first appearance this time, he encouraged faithful to be punctual and active at Mass; stressing that, while many may blame lack of material things of the world, such as flashy dress as reason to absent themselves from Mass, there is no need for beautiful things because the Church and the Mass is a place to be broken and crucified with Christ. The Redemptorist considers such action as a sign of weakness of the Church which denies them of Miracles that should ordinarily take place at every Mass. According to him, the Pentecostals feed on Catholic members who do not know what they are doing. Speaking on ‘Prayer,’ he considered Saints Peter & Paul as men of prayer. The Priest educated that prayer is essential because it brings about repentance, transformation and Miracle. 

On ‘Word of God’ Tuesday, he affirmed that Peter & Paul were conversant with the Word of God and that is why they could make use of it effectively, remarking that no one gives what he/she does not have. Power, becoming the word, and deriving efficacy of the spoken word are three things that does happen while studying the Word of God, according to him.

On ‘’Faith” Wednesday, Fr Uwadiale educated that as one grows old, so should the faith. Again, he reiterated that faith leads Christians to pray. A weak faith in his opinion lies in a troubled Christian because faith and doubt are two parallel line that should never meet. He prefers prayer for minutes but having faith for hours.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Fr Christopher stressed the necessity to ‘’wait” since that is how the world is structured, because a time of waiting leads to a time of manifestation; else, God could have created everything within a blink of an eye. The Man of God admonished Christians to have a heart of Jesus since Christ gave all to take up on himself the burden of sins of human. While he encouraged Christians to wait on the Lord, he reminded them that patience is a virtue while impatience is a vice. 

He however encouraged them again to look up to the exemplary lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul who fought the battle to the end leading to the crown of glory - but not without many dreadful challenges.

The Parish Priest, Very Reverend Father Peter Adeyemi appreciated the grace of God on the priest. He acknowledged that crowd of such nature were never recorded at a revival since his administration at the Parish. He prays for more anointing on him as he appreciated all participants. Before the end of the programme, there were already concrete testimonies.