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Collaboration among priests and religious is central and important to the success and effectiveness of the mission of Jesus Christ in Abeokuta Diocese.

 

Therefore, priests and religious, as co-responsible in the mission of Jesus Christ must work together to propagate, disseminate the mission 

 

The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Rev. Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo, stated this in his remarks at a One-Day Congress, put together by the Pontifical Mission Union (PMU), held at Divine Mercy Pastoral Centre, Obada-Oko, on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

 

According to Bishop Odetoyinbo, all priests and religious working in the Diocese must collaborate in achieve the mission of Jesus Christ in the Diocese.

 

"We are central and important to the lay faithful in the mission of Christ, because the Church and the lay faithful take care of us and our needs, therefore we must collaborate to work for their salvation".

 

"Regardless of the apostolate you find yourselves; be it education, health, communications, family and human life; all these are geared toward the promotion of the mission of Jesus Christ. Let's be cheerful givers in the mission that has been entrusted to us.

 

Speaking on the theme of the Congress, "Collaboration among Priests and Religious of Abeokuta Diocese - a sine qua non for mission in the Jubilee Year of Hope", the Coordinator, Propagation of Faith, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Tolulope Oladunjoye, highlighted proper communication, building of healthy relationships and missionary relationships, as basic ingredients for collaboration.

 

Rev. Fr. Oladunjoye noted that "the need for collaboration among priests and religious cannot be waived aside or we become sterile missionary agents".

 

"By virtue of our baptismal commissioning, all of us are co-responsible for the mission and evangelization of the Church according to our state of life and hierarchy in the Church. Co-responsibility does not mean co-governance. It means carrying out our missionary works within the ambience of our respective capacities".  

 

"Collaborating as priests and religious signals to the lay faithful the dawn of hope especially in this Jubilee of Hope. When they see us work together, share together, pray together, go out together, and laugh together, their joy is renewed and their hope revived. This also reduces the burdens of missionary work on us and amplifies the outcomes as fruits. As when the disciples were in the boat together with Christ (Matt 8:23-27), collaboration gives us “a sense of belonging” and a feeling of “we are in this together.” It gives us a reassurance that “we are not alone” and “everyone is important”. It concretely bring to the fore the messages of liberation, restoration, consolation, reconciliation and pardon that characterizes this Jubilee year".

 

"When we collaborate, we share ideas, share resources, compare notes to identify areas of urgent needs as well as areas of better outputs for better pastoral investments". 

 

"As missionary agents, the fruits of our collaborative endeavours will always be inspiring and surprising, even to us. Words will not be able to fully describe the witnessing they represent and the reassurance of hope they bring. “All the baptized, with their respective charisms and ministries, are co-responsible for ensuring that manifold signs of hope bear witness to God’s presence in the world".