The Director of Pontifical Mission  Society,  (PMS), Archdiocese of Ibadan, Fr. Martin Olowoyeye, has called on Christ’s faithful in Abeokuta Diocese to work for the realization of the prospects and plans of the Diocese in achieving the mission of Jesus Christ among his people.
According to Fr. Olowoyeye, priests, religious and laity must 'plant' themselves in the mission entrusted to the Diocese by Jesus Christ, for them to yield fruits in any apostolate they may find themselves.
Fr. Olowoyeye, who made the call in a paper he delivered at the Diocesan Mission Congress of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, held at Divine Mercy Pastoral Centre, Obada-Oko, reminded both the priests and religious in the Diocese that "the future of the Church is in their hands".
"For the prospects and plans of the Diocese of Abeokuta to be actualized, they must plant themselves".
Fr. Olowoyeye, who spoke on the theme: "Mission in the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta: Prospects and Challenges", described "Diocesan Mission Congress as a coming together of all the “stakeholders” in the missionary enterprise of a Diocese to discuss, evaluate the state of the mission of the particular Diocese with the aim of identifying the progress and problems while proffering solutions to them.
Speaking on the mission of Jesus Christ in Abeokuta in the last 25 years, the Ibadan Archdiocesan PMS Director said, "In the 25 years of its erection, the Church in Abeokuta Diocese can boast of a family Church where Priests and Lay Faithful are co-responsible in the missionary work. If there is no co-responsibility, there will be no increase in the number of Priests and the feats achieved in terms of structural development".
"The close proximity to Lagos will lead to further expansion of the Diocese to enable the creation of more Parishes and the provision of more infrastructure for the people".
"The increase in the number of nursery/primary and secondary schools is an indication that the formation of children and youths (the leaders of tomorrow) is a priority in Abeokuta Diocese. When the formation of children and youths are taken seriously, the future of the Church is promising".
"Our lay faithful should further support the effort of the Church by sending their children to Catholic schools. In as much as our missionary mandate is for all (Catholics and non-Catholics), we must ensure that our children are beneficiaries of the Catholic formation".
"The pastoral formation of the youths in Abeokuta Diocese is also commendable. Let us not be discouraged with the life style and ingratitude of our youths. There are many good Catholic youths out there. Do not say that the youths are not responsible, I will leave them alone. If the mother Church gives up on them, then we are no longer mother. We cannot abandon our youths. It is risky.
Though, the Diocese is blessed with  many ethnic groups, cultures and languages. Of course, missionary activity must be carried out within a particular group, culture and language, he noted that pastoral consideration for everyone, including the indigenous groups of a particular community must be considered.
With the large expanse of land covered by the Diocese, the collaboration and pastoral assistance of Male and Female Religious must have contributed a lot to the pastoral supply of the Diocese. There is need to encourage vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life.
The guest speaker said Abeokuta diocese should have a pastoral strategy or plan and target for each year, stressing that "this plan should cut across the various phases of missionary life of the Church, while a quarterly review of this plan is necessary.
"For this pastoral plan to be achieved, there must be collaboration of the entire Diocese with the Chief Shepherd, collaboration and good rapport between the Priests and the lay faithful and collaboration among the Priests.
"For our mission in Abeokuta Diocese to be relevant in the 21st century, we must make use of the best means of communication of the time. Our Lord Jesus used the best means of communication of his time. Apostle Paul used the best means of communication of his time. We must embrace and use the best means of communication of our time. Communication and social media are gifts of and for the mission".
We should encourage, support and guide those who are gifted in this line because mission and communication must be part of our mission strategy in the 21st century".