Nigerian Bishop to Priests: Jesus is the only one who redeems and restores

Priests of the Catholic Church have been called upon to see their vocation as a call that emanates from God out of his Fatherly love for them to be part of the Salvific mission of Christ. The call was made by the Catholic Bishop of Ijebu-Ode Diocese, Albert Fasina in his homily at the celebration of the Mass to declare open the meeting of the priests of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Lagos and Ibadan.

The celebration of the Mass was held at the St Sebastian Catholic Cathedral, Ijebu-Ode and attended by priests from all dioceses that constitute the two Ecclesiastical provinces. The meeting after the Mass was a fruitful deliberation held at the Bishop Anthony Sanusi Hall.

Pointing out that Jesus is the only one who redeems, restores and revives Bishop Fasina; noted that every moment of Jesus' life was in complete relationship with his Father adding that, “Jesus lived his life in total consecration to his father.” He continued, “Even when Jesus was personally attacked, he did not allow the attacks to change his mind from what he came to do.”

Quoting from the Gospel of John 15:16 that the Priests did not choose themselves, Bishop Fasina reminded the priests that, “We do not choose the places where we do pastoral ministry but find ourselves there by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Bishop Fasina emphasised, “God has chosen us in spite of our nothingness just as he did with the Apostle Paul and the Blessed Virgin Mary.” He then charged all present to go out to spread the Good News and never take it for granted that everyone has heard the Gospel. The Bishop told the priests that the people of God feel God's hand through the instrumentality of His priests. 

(Catholic News Services of Nigeria)

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