09/08/2026
“THERE IS A PLACE FOR EVERYONE IN GOD’S WORK” — BISHOP BADEJO TELLS FAITHFUL AT CATECHISTS’ COMMISSIONING MASS
- Michael Okeola
The Catholic Diocese of Oyo on Sunday, August 9, 2026, witnessed the commissioning of a new set of catechists during a solemn Eucharistic celebration held at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Cathedral, Oyo, marking the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Catechists’ Retreat organized by the Directorate of Religious Education of the Diocese.
The celebration brought together catechists, priests, religious men and women, prayer leaders, members of various lay organizations, youths, and faithful from across the Diocese for a thanksgiving and commissioning Mass that emphasized the importance of service, commitment, vocation, and active participation in the mission of the Church.
The Holy Mass was presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, with the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Julius Olayinka, also present. The celebration was attended by Rev. Sr. Mary Assumpta Taiwo, SSMA, Director of Religious Education, as well as religious from the University Sisters of the Assumption and the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel.
The commissioning Mass served as the high point of the Annual Catechists’ Retreat, which was held under the theme, “As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
In his homily and address, Bishop Badejo congratulated the newly commissioned catechists and encouraged them to see their ministry not merely as an assignment but as a call to serve God and His people.
The Bishop used the occasion to broaden the understanding of vocation and Christian service, emphasizing that the work of God belongs to everyone and that there are different ways through which the faithful can contribute to the growth of the Church.
The Bishop also used the occasion to commend the Catholic Men Organization (CMO) for their commitment and willingness to serve the Church. Referring to the recently held diocesan CMO meeting in Ijio, he noted that 99 men were present at the meeting, describing their attendance as a significant demonstration of sacrifice, commitment, and effective coordination.
Bishop Badejo emphasized that the gathering of such a large number of men, particularly considering the distance involved, was not something to be taken for granted. He commended the men for making the necessary sacrifices to attend and for demonstrating that the work of God requires commitment and the willingness to give one's time and energy.
The Bishop also connected the commitment of the CMO members to their subsequent service within the Church, including their efforts to clean and maintain the church environment. He described their willingness to take up such responsibilities as an expression of their dedication to the Church and an example of how different members can contribute to the life of the Christian community.
He equally congratulated the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) for their role in encouraging and inspiring the CMO members to take action. He acknowledged the support and encouragement provided by the women, particularly in mobilizing and motivating the men towards greater commitment to the work of the Church.
The Bishop stressed that such collaboration between the CMO and CWO demonstrates what can happen when different groups within the Church work together with a common purpose. He encouraged other members of the Diocese to learn from this example and to recognize that the growth of the Church requires the contribution and cooperation of everyone.
He therefore urged the faithful not to wait until they are formally assigned responsibilities before offering themselves for service, but to identify areas where their gifts, time, and strength can be useful and willingly make themselves available.
For Bishop Badejo, such acts of service are not insignificant before God. He reminded the faithful that “what you do for God is never lost,” stressing that God sees even those acts of service that may not receive public recognition.
The Bishop challenged the faithful to consider what they could do for the Church and for God with the time and abilities available to them.
He encouraged the young people in particular not to limit the idea of vocation to becoming priests or religious. According to him, vocation is fundamentally about responding to God's call to serve, and such service can take different forms.
He therefore challenged the youths to consider becoming catechists, prayer leaders, church wardens, altar decorators, church cleaners, musicians, or volunteers in other areas of Church life.
“If you are the one coming to decorate the altar on Sunday, that is a vocation too. That is a calling,” the Bishop said.
He similarly pointed out that someone who dedicates time to cleaning the sanctuary every Saturday or caring for the Blessed Sacrament tabernacle is also responding to a genuine call to service.
He emphasized that God does not overlook any act of service offered sincerely.
“Can God miss anything? Is there anything we do that God does not see?” he asked rhetorically, reminding the faithful that God sees both the visible and hidden sacrifices made in His service.
Bishop Badejo encouraged the faithful to dedicate part of their time to God, assuring them that their commitment would never be without fruit.
“Spend some of your time for God, your problems will be resolved more easily,” he said, stressing that God is capable of making a way where human beings see difficulties.
Turning his attention specifically to the newly commissioned catechists, the Bishop urged them to approach their ministry with dedication, humility, prayer, love, and commitment.
He reminded them that their responsibility goes beyond teaching religious knowledge. As catechists, they are called to become witnesses of the faith and examples to those entrusted to their care.
The Bishop charged them to live lives that would make their teaching credible, stressing that the people they teach should be able to see the Gospel reflected in their conduct.
This message echoed the reflection he gave during the second day of the retreat on 1 Timothy 4:12, where he urged catechists to be models to believers in their way of life, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
At the commissioning Mass, he further encouraged them to remain committed to the work they had accepted and to allow God to use their lives as instruments of evangelization.
He expressed confidence that their service would inspire others and encourage more members of the faithful to discover their own place in the work of God.
The Bishop also reminded them that their ministry is part of the larger mission of the Church and that their service can have an impact far beyond the immediate people they teach.
Bishop Badejo used the celebration to emphasize the importance of collaboration among the various groups and ministries within the Church.
He noted that the Church functions effectively when different people make use of their different gifts for the common good.
“Those who can follow behind are present in this house of God,” he said, emphasizing that God works through different people and different forms of service.
He explained that what a priest may not be able to do, another person may be called to accomplish, just as what a religious sister may not be able to do can be achieved through another member of the Church.
He therefore urged the faithful not to underestimate their individual contributions.
The Bishop also highlighted the contribution of Catholic youths involved in music education in Oyo.
He revealed that three Catholic youths were currently involved in teaching students music in Oyo and recalled how some of the youths had also spent time teaching music in a grammar school in the town.
He described their efforts as an example of young people using their talents to serve God and contribute to society.
Bishop Badejo specifically acknowledged the work of the St. Cecilia Music Training Centre (SCMTC), Oyo, a community music school belonging to the Catholic Diocese of Oyo.
He noted that students from different locations, including Ilorin, Ibadan, Osogbo, Abeokuta, and Akure, are being trained in music through the initiative.
The Bishop encouraged the youths involved in the project to continue their work, stressing that the knowledge and skills they impart to younger people can remain with them for life and ultimately glorify God.
He also challenged other young people to ask themselves what they can contribute to the Church and society.
He encouraged them to live lives that would give them something meaningful to look back on in the future.
“What can you also do?” he asked, challenging the faithful to discover their own gifts and use them meaningfully.
He assured the congregation that God would continue to provide for them as they dedicate themselves to His work.
In her vote of thanks, Rev. Sr. Mary Assumpta Taiwo, SSMA, Director of Religious Education, expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of the catechists’ formation and commissioning programme.
She expressed particular appreciation to Bishop Badejo for his constant support, guidance, encouragement, and fatherly leadership of the Diocese.
She acknowledged that the activities of the Directorate of Religious Education could not be effectively carried out without the Bishop's support and approval.
Describing herself as a servant, Sr. Assumpta thanked the Bishop for always being available to support and encourage the catechetical ministry.
She also expressed appreciation to the catechists for making themselves available for the programme and for willingly dedicating their time to the service of God.
Addressing the catechists and prayer leaders, she encouraged them to continue dedicating their time to God's work, reminding them that there are many different ways of serving the Lord.
She encouraged the faithful to guide young people towards God and to help them discover their own paths of service.
“In whatever manner you choose to serve the Lord, do it with all your heart,” she said.
Sr. Assumpta also announced that the Diocese of Oyo would be organizing training for catechists and encouraged interested persons to apply for the programme as part of their continued formation.
She prayed for the newly commissioned catechists, asking God to strengthen them, guide them, and grant them the grace to remain faithful to the responsibility entrusted to them.
She recalled the biblical reminder that many are called but few are chosen, praying that the newly commissioned catechists would remain faithful to their calling and serve God with sincerity and dedication.
Sr. Assumpta also expressed appreciation to the religious sisters who supported the programme, particularly those who participated in the training and served as lecturers. She equally thanked the priests, lecturers, catechists, prayer leaders, and all those who contributed in one way or another to the success of the programme.
The commissioning Mass ended as a powerful reminder that the mission of the Church belongs to every baptized Christian.
From the catechists who teach the faith, to prayer leaders who strengthen the community through prayer; from CMO members who dedicate their strength to the life and work of the Church, to CWO members who encourage and support them; from young people teaching music to those quietly serving behind the scenes, Bishop Badejo's message was clear: there is a place for everyone in the work of God.
The celebration therefore went beyond the commissioning of a new group of catechists. It became a renewed invitation to the entire Catholic community to discover their gifts, offer their time, and respond generously to God's call to service.
As the Diocese welcomed the newly commissioned catechists into their ministry, the faithful were reminded that Christian service is not measured only by the visibility of the task but by the love, dedication, sacrifice, and sincerity with which it is performed.
The celebration concluded with thanksgiving to God and renewed prayers that the newly commissioned catechists would remain faithful to their mission, becoming credible witnesses of the Gospel and instruments of evangelization in their communities.
The message of the day remained a challenge to every member of the Diocese: find your place in God's work, serve with joy and dedication, and remember that whatever is done sincerely for God is never lost.
