By Fr. Henry Obiagbalasi

It was a remarkable event on 14th January, 2025 as the Bishop, Priests and Religious of the Deaneries of Sagamu, Iperu and Ogijo with the Lay Faithful of  the Deaneries gathered at St. Anthony Catholic Church ayegbami Olororo Sagamu for the inauguration of the Pastoral Region which created by the Bishop Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina on 19th October 2024 at the St. Timothy Catholic Church Degun, Ijebu-Ode, and Very Rev. Fr. Jude-Marie Ezeigbo was appointed the Regional Episcopal Vicar. The ceremony also witnessed the Blessing of the new tabernacle with a grace filled celebration.

At the Mass, Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina who gave the homily stated that the inauguration of the St. Gabriel Pastoral Region is a momentous occasion as it is the first of its kind in the Diocese of Ijebu -Ode, and St. Gabriel Pastoral Region has become the first to be inaugurated in the Diocese. He further urged the faithful in the region to take seriously the mission of Christ and the focus of the Diocese in this Year of Hope to expand the frontiers of the Diocese through the vigorous evangelical ministry of the priests and the lay faithful. He, thus, noted that the Pastoral Regions were created for the administration of the Diocese to be closer to the people.  Consequently, he stated that Bishop appoints priests who are given a share in the administrative powers of the Bishop, so that in collaboration with the Bishop, they may administers the faithful in a particular region in the name of the Bishop in order that the service of faith in the region may be effective.

After the homily, the appointed Vicar, Very Rev. Fr. Jude -Marie Ezeigbo, took an oath of office and the Profession of Faith. Other comments on the celebration of the inauguration was done by the Adjunct Judicial Vicar of the Diocese Rev. Fr. Stephen Osinkoya, who stated the role of Pastoral Regional Vicar to church, and explicated on the nature of the office of the Pastoral Regional Vicar. He emphasized that the office is one which the Bishop in his authority graciously bestows and can be withdrawn without any prejudice to the law.

After the celebration of the Eucharist and the post communion prayer, the Bishop blessed the new tabernacle constructed by the St. Anthony Parish, and on behalf the Bishop the newly appointed Vicar handed over the keys of the tabernacle to the Parish Priest; Very Rev. Fr. Evaristus-Mary Oduntan who also doubles as the Dean of Sagamu Deanery. The Bishop, therefore, noted that he has requested that old tabernacle should not be destroyed for the preservation of History. This was followed by the thanksgiving offering as the priest, religious ad all the faithful in one file danced to the altar bringing their gifts to God In thanksgiving.

Subsequently the newly appointed vicar, very Rev. Fr. Jude-Marie Ezeigbo gave the vote of thanks, thanking God for the grace. He also thanked the Bishop, the Priests, Religious and all the faithful who came in their large numbers though it was a working day in the week.

In his closing remarks the Bishop once more acknowledges the presence of all the lay faithful as they turned out en masse to attend the inauguration though it was on a working day. He further enjoins on all the faithful to cooperate and collaborate with the Priests and the Bishop in the work of evangelization.