It was joy and jubilation as Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Isheri-Olofin at St. Maria Faustina, Arepo Deanery, was dedicated by the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo, on Saturday December 16^th, 2023.

The ceremony was well attended by priests, parishioners and well-wishers, who came out in large numbers to worship and thank God on the occasion of the Church dedication.

In his homily, Bishop Odetoyinbo encouraged parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Isheri-Olofin to rededicate their lives to God and the Church.  "Your attitude must change spiritually. Christ must dwell in this Church. The glory of God must be seen in this Church. Christ wants to dwell in us. Therefore, you must open your hearts and give him space in your lives, families, businesses. Put Him first in anything you do”. He added.

While describing Church as the body of Christ, the Bishop noted that dedication of Catholic Church is an important and significant spiritual rite. He commended the parishioners for the oneness and cooperation that exist among them, which he said has translated to the building of a beautiful place of worship for God where glory, adoration and reverence, must be given to God. During the dedication, the relic of St. Paul IV was placed beneath the altar.

The Bishop noted, the dedicated Church shall be solely for Catholic liturgical worship. He said that dedication presents four cardinal principles which must be observed. These are godliness, cleanliness, sanity and sanctity. He warned against all forms of desecration of the Church such as pressing of phones; chewing of gums; noise making; quarrelling and fighting.

Bishop Odetoyinbo reminded the Catholic faithful that since the Lord Jesus Christ is always present in the Church, sanity and holiness must be preserved. He stressed, “this is the house of God. This is where the glory of God resides. It is not a house of confusion or sin. It is a house where we come to commune with Jesus Christ our Lord”. He told them that every December 16 is now a Feast Day at the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Isheri-Olofin, which must be celebrated.

Bishop Odetoyinbo reminded all Priests in the Diocese that January 23^rd, which is the dedication day of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Cathedral, Itesi, Abeokuta is a Feast Day in the Diocese, that must also be celebrated in all the Parishes of the Diocese.