The joy of the Parish Priest of St. Paul Catholic Church, Ibafo, Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Yemi Akinlotan and entire lay faithful of the Parish knew no bound on July 2nd, 2023, when the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo administered the Sacrament of Confirmation on 33 parishioners as he blessed and commissioned the newly built Priests’ house for the Parish.
In his homily, Bishop Odetoyinbo admonished the faithful on the importance of total self-giving and generosity to the God.
He commended the parishioners for their support and cooperation with the Parish Priest, saying that this has gone a long way in the evangelization drive of the Parish.
While assuring them that givers never lack, especially when contributing to the course of God, Bishop Odetoyinbo noted that there is reward for everything one does in life.
There were many testimonies on those who gave to God wholeheartedly and they were handsomely rewarded by God. Abraham gave his son; Isaac to God. He was rewarded. Blessed Mother Mary gave her life to God and she bore our Lord Jesus Christ. All the apostles dedicated their lives to evangelization.
"When you give from the abundance of your wealth, there is reward for it, because God knows that you have given generously.
While calling on Catholics to grow spiritually through generosity in offering, thanksgiving and tithe, he charged them not to entertain fear when given to God, urging them to trust that He will reward them.
"Your purpose of self-giving is God. He rewards total and selfless giving to Him and His work on earth. When we talk about total and self-giving to God, it means surrendering your entire life to Him and as well trust in Him.
"Don't be afraid of suffering because of generosity. Don't give because you expect anything in return.
While appreciating the efforts of the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Akinlotan in the Parish, Bishop Odetoyinbo said, "I thank you for the push you have given to the people of God in this Parish on evangelization. I thank all those involved in this project for their willingness and positive disposition to the project. May God bless you, reward you all.
Admonishing the newly confirmed faithful, the Bishop charged them to remain steadfast in their faith, assuring them of God's presence at all times.
He educated them on the importance of all seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, that they received in the Sacrament of Confirmation, urging them to make use of the gifts whenever they are confronted with challenges of life.
Welcoming the Bishop to the Parish, the Chairman, Parish Pastoral Council, Mr. Stanley Ekwraga, affirmed that God has been generous towards them despite the various hardships that confronted everyone in Nigeria, stressing that "through the help of God, we overcame all these, and completed our New Priests’ House".
He said, "Our God has been extremely gracious to us, Priest and lay faithful these past 791 days. From the outset of our dreamed vision of a New Priests’ House in May, 2021 to its realization in July, 2023. The journey had been tough, rough, enveloped in anxieties and our humanity showed itself many times. But our Christian faith and total dependence on God fortified and pushed us on to cross the finish line".
He appreciated parishioners, for their joyful sacrifices and giving to the parish each time they were called upon and others who helped quietly behind the scene - benefactors.