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The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo has cautioned Catholics to desist from desecrating the Liturgy.

He said, Liturgy is the heart of the Catholic faith, as well as the source and summit of spiritual lives through which Catholics encounter Christ, the centre of worship and source of salvation.

He therefore charged them to participate fully, consciously, and actively in the liturgy, which he described as the summit and source of the Catholic worship.

This was the catechesis of Bishop Odetoyinbo during the just concluded 2025 Cathedraticum, with the theme; “Upholding and promoting the Liturgy among Catholics,”

The local ordinary of Abeokuta Diocese noted that the Liturgy is not just a ritual, but a moment of encounter with the living God, which transforms and sends Catholics forth to live as disciples of Christ.

He charged the people of God to participate in the liturgy, with reverence, attention and devotion it deserves, adding that it is an opportunity to encounter Christ and be transformed by His presence.

He said, "Catholic Liturgy is about Jesus Christ. Therefore, faithful must know and remember that they are in the presence of Jesus Christ. All what they will do during the Liturgy must be with reverence and also give glory to God".

"The Liturgy is ordered and structured. The laid down structure must be followed, by by the celebrant and the faithful".

"In the olden days, the Church does not allow drums and the only language then was Latin, but as the Church evolves, using of drums and other languages were introduced.

"There are different hymns from different seasons (Lent, Advent, Ordinary time, Christmas, Easter, and so on) in the Church. There are also hymns for different parts of the Mass (entrance hymns, offertory, communion recessional hymns), but today, everything is disorganized, all hymns have been missed together. Imagine singing hymns of ordinary time during lent. If anyone gets to the Church late, he should be able to know what part of the Mass he comes in, without asking anyone.

"All the hymns in the Church make the faithful to be conscious of the presence of whom they are.

The Bishop cautioned choir to be weary of 'importing' songs to the Church, saying that all songs and hymns should fit into the Church's Liturgy and season.

He also warned youths against immoral dressing. Catholic Church is not a play field or gym center. It's not a hall or social place, but a sacred place, where faithful meet and encounter God. Therefore, don't wear crazy jeans, transparent clothes, canvass shoes, among others to the Church.

"Use of phones for photography or video coverage during Mass should be minimized. Enough of doing things that do not glorify God in the Church, Bishop Odetoyinbo said.

He enjoined priests to 'take charge' of every Mass celebrated, saying that this is part of what they were trained for.