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Diocesan Pilgrimage: Let us Commit Our Families and Country to Mary for Help, Bishop Odetoyinbo Urges Faithful

The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo, on Friday, December 5^th 2025, led Priests, Religious and Laity in this year’s Annual Diocesan Marian Pilgrimage with the theme: “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of All Families.”

Held at the Diocesan Pilgrimage Ground, Onikoko, Abeokuta, the spiritual programme emphasized family unity, healing, and renewed devotion. 

It featured a procession from St. Bernadette Private School, Onikolobo; Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; Scriptural Rosary; penitential service; musical and drama presentations; talk; intercessory prayers; blessing of sacramentals; Divine Mercy prayers; anointing; and the celebration of Holy Mass.

“Mary Teaches Us Love, Trust, and Attentiveness”

In his homily at the closing Mass, Bishop Odetoyinbo underlined the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary—attentiveness, trust in God, and unconditional love—describing them as indispensable for families striving to remain faithful in today’s challenging world.

He encouraged Catholics to renew their devotion to Mary, especially as Nigeria grapples with economic hardship, insecurity, and widespread anxiety, entrusting families and the nation to Mary’s maternal care, he said, is a path to healing and peace.

“Nigeria is passing through difficult times,” the Bishop noted, pointing to rising living costs, insecurity, and emotional strain on households. “These challenges should draw us closer to God. Mary’s intercession has always been a source of consolation in turbulent moments.”

He urged the faithful to embrace the Rosary and other Marian devotions, saying they nurture hope, strengthen family bonds, and keep believers spiritually grounded. “Mary always leads her children to Christ,” he affirmed.

Bishop Odetoyinbo stressed the need for families to pray together and remain united in faith, reminding them that strong homes form the bedrock of a stable society. He appealed to Nigerians to pray for national healing, urging intercession for leaders, security agencies, and all who work for the common good.

Earlier in her reflection on the pilgrimage theme, Lady Helen Ebhomielen highlighted Mary’s virtues of love, compassion, purity, and grace. She lamented the struggles many Nigerian families face—immorality, economic hardship, social pressures, and domestic violence—and encouraged families to include dedicated “family prayers” in their daily routines.

Noting that many women and children suffer in silence, she urged them to turn to the Blessed Mother as a friend and companion who listens and intercedes.

Lady Ebhomielen called on families to strive for holiness, just as Mary remained holy despite the challenges in her life. She encouraged the faithful to internalize Mary’s many titles, which reflect her faith, courage, peacekeeping spirit, and unwavering trust in God.

Parents Must Reclaim Their Responsibility

Expressing concern about moral decline among young people, she attributed much of the problem to parental neglect. In the pursuit of financial survival, she observed, many parents have abandoned their responsibilities. She urged them to monitor their children more closely—their friendships, influences, and digital consumption.

She reminded Catholics that faith should manifest in concrete acts of charity and compassion, urging families to support the vulnerable in their communities. “Parents should instill in their children the spirit of service, especially toward the downtrodden,” she said.

Addressing the pressures facing modern families—economic burdens, interpersonal conflicts, and digital distractions—she encouraged the faithful to seek Mary’s guidance and maternal intercession. She also urged young people to entrust their dreams and aspirations to the Blessed Mother, who accompanies every generation with tenderness and fidelity.

The 2025 Diocesan Pilgrimage concluded with renewed spiritual commitment and a call for families to look to Mary as a model and intercessor in these challenging times.