One of the things that gives me joy is having the privilege and grace to serve the Church of God in His people especially in the young. The Catholic Diocese of Oyo is one of the dioceses in Nigeria so blessed with a great number of people of good will; the Clergy, Religious and lay faithful who express their faith in various services within the Church. The teaching of children, the youths and adults through the different groups in which they belong finds expression of Synod in Synodality which is remarkably felt within the diocese for the past few years. Joining hands together to build the Church of God on earth has consequently brought about growth and fruition which would not have been possible with a single hand.
It is a privilege having been assigned to work as a Sr Coordinator with the League of St Ignatius’’ (LSI) in collaboration with their Chaplain in serving the Catholic Church in Oyo Diocese. The League of St Ignatius is a paramilitary organization founded some years ago by the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo; a group of young soldiers of Christ aimed at securing and defending the Church and God’s people against disorderliness, misconducts and other forms of external dangers.
Imbibing the Ignatian spirituality, this group is being challenged to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel in the services they render for the Church. It is a service that demands total sacrifice carried out in charity, doing all to the greater glory of God, as their slogan has it: LSI! CATHOLIC IN CHARITY AND SERVICE!
One of the major events of the LSI which stood so significant for me this year, is the just concluded Annual Camping from 17th to 19th December 2024 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Ogbomoso. It was a gathering that brought the five deaneries of the Diocese together: Ijio Deanery, Iseyin Deanery, Ogbomoso Deanery, Oyo Deanery and Saki Deanery. About eighty-eight participants attended the camping Seminar.
On the Arrival, the Camping commenced with a general Parade by the members, followed by a formal declaration of the Camp opened by Rev Fr Ferdinand Olabode the Parish Priest of the Parish and the representative of the Catholic Bishop of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo.
The second day of the Camping Seminar featured lots of events such as a talk on the topic ’’Teach us to Pray’ presented by Rev Fr Benjamin Ogar OSJ. He spoke emphatically on the forms of prayer in the Church as portrayed in the Lord’s Prayer. In his Speech, he encouraged the participants to live a life of prayer, which will enable them to remain firm in their services to God in the Church. He also encouraged them to make good use of the sacraments of the Church especially the sacrament of Reconciliation, and the Holy Eucharist which is the highest prayer of Thanksgiving.
The second Talk was presented by Officer Emmanuel, a government Para-military officer belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on the topic ‘’Safety Precautions on Road’’. He stated the major rules that guide all those who make use of the road such as commercial drivers, passengers, motor-cyclists, and pedestrians etc. He urged all participants to abide by the rules so as to avoid putting one’s life or the lives of other people to danger.
There were other spiritual exercises such as recitation of the Rosary, vespers, Penitential Rite, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharistic celebration.
On the last day of the seminar, a quiz competition was organized for all deaneries on church doctrine and teaching, at the end of which winners were awarded prizes.
During the closing Mass, the Dean of Ogbomoso deanery Very Rev Fr Samson Ojo addressed the LSI members with the words of the bishop. The Dean also acknowledged in a special way six LSI members who were married and still found joy in serving God in the Church LSI. He encouraged them to keep up their fire of faith burning as an example for the other members to emulate. They were all urged to remain happy and focused in rendering their services in humility and sincere love to the Church and wherever they may find themselves.
The LSI Diocesan Chaplain Rev Fr David Ayodeji in his words of appreciation thanked God for a successful week of camping events, he also thanked the Founder, Most Rev Emmanuel Badejo for the opportunity and support to carry out the 2024 Camping exercise. He further appreciated the effort of the host- Parish Priest, Rev Fr Ferdinand Olabode for his fatherly care and acceptance to host the event. He also thanked all the Daughters of the Holy Sprit for their support, prayers and presence at the programme.
Finally, Rev Fr Ojo also prayed for God’s blessings upon all the LSI members as they were about returning to their various parishes. The Camping event was officially declared closed by the Dean himself, Fr Ojo at the end of the Eucharistic celebration.
By Sister Patience Effiong DHS. Published on 22 December 2024