HOMILY FOR THE MASS OF CHRISM 2025 AT ST. SEBASTIAN CATHEDRAL, ODO-EGBO, IJEBU-ODE

“BY THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU MADE YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON HIGH PRIEST OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, AND BY YOUR WONDREOUS DESIGN WERE PLEASED TO DECREE THAT THIS ONE PRIESTHOOD SHOULD CONTINUE IN THE CHURCH”

(cf. Preface of the Priesthood of Christ and the ministry of Priests). Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to be Holy Spirit……+

Dearly beloved people of God, in the name of Christ the King, Patron of the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, I welcome you to the Cathedral Church of St. Sebastian that is currently undergoing a major reconstruction. The Psalmist says: “Unless the Lord builds a house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over a city, in vain does its guard keep watch” (Ps 127:1). We pray not to labour in vain over the building of this new Cathedral Church. Amen! May the Lord who began this gigantic project bring it to completion in due time, Amen! 

We are happy and blessed to be able to gather safely for the celebration of the Mass of Chrism 2025 in our Cathedral Church. We thank the Cathedral Administrator, Very Rev. Fr. Albert IGBODIPE and his assistant, Rev. Fr. Thomas Anthony; the building Committee members; the Workers on site, and the entire Cathedral Faith Community for working so hard in preparing the Church for our worship today. May we please acknowledge and appreciate their untiring good work with resounding joyful applause! (clapping)

In a very special way, I welcome my closest collaborators, my brother-Priests with whom I celebrate the Sacred Ministerial Priesthood of Christ today. This 2025 Mass of the Holy Chrism is a unique one, because it occurs during the JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE that Pope FRANCIS declared. Therefore with a heart full of joy and hope, I greet and welcome all of you: Priests and Deacons, Consecrated Persons, Seminarians, Church Knights and Ladies, Catechists, Evangelizers and dearly beloved people of God to this historic Eucharistic celebration.

We certainly have reasons to thank God for his love and mercy for us in the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode since last year (2024) when we gathered to celebrate the Mass of Chrism at CKCC, Odolewu. We are grateful to God for his countless blessings: his goodness, his mercy, his kindness and his benevolence to us as a family and community of faith. Everyone in the Diocese – Priests, Religious and the Lay Faithful including our Children and Youth -have been wonderful collaborators and sources of encouragement in our collective effort to advance the Mission Christ entrusted to us. We give all glory to God Almighty for the progress and successes we have jointly recorded in building the Kingdom of God, in expanding the frontiers of the Catholic Church in Ijebu and Remo Lands. Therefore, with joy in our hearts and hope that by God’s grace we shall do more for Christ, let us sing: “Count your blessings name them one by one…..”**

The theme I have chosen for our reflection today is: “THE PRIESTHOOD AS GIFT OF HOPE IN THE CHURCH AND WORLD”. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, every year when we gather to celebrate the Mass of Chrism, we are reminded of our priestly identity as ordained Priests in the Church, or as Priests through our Baptism. As we bless the Oils in this Holy Mass, let us each one of us embrace the call to rekindle hope in our communities and in ourselves. Very soon our priests will renew their commitment to the priesthood and we shall bless the Holy Oils for the celebration of the Sacraments, for the sanctification of the people of God. We pray that the Lord who has made this day possible for us, accept our prayers and worship so that our priests and you, the people of God, may become sharers in Christ consecration and bear witness to the gospel in world. Amen.

Priestly Ministry in Imitation of the Good Shepherd:

        This sacred gathering is a celebration of the love of God and his amazing grace in the world.  God the Father gave us Christ as our eternal shepherd, to guide and to lead us in the path of life eternal. Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd, who gives eternal life to his sheep (cf. John 10: 28). The image of the Good shepherd is precious to the Catholic faith in relation to the ministerial priesthood; but also in relation to the common priesthood of the Laity. Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd that we are called to follow and imitate.

In the gospel of John, Jesus Christ gave three essential characteristics of a Good shepherd we must always bear in mind as we carry out our priestly functions:

1] A good shepherd gives his life for his sheep (cf. John 10,11);

2] A good shepherd knows his sheep and his sheep know him (cf. John 10,14);

3] A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (cf. John 10,15). In other words, a good shepherd is that minister or person who carries out his service to the Church and humanity wholeheartedly and without seeking for personal gains. Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, we, the ordained priests share in the very mission of Christ in the same way He carried it out. My dear brother priests, we are called to be good shepherds with Jesus Christ and like Him. This is the challenge Jesus offered to Peter in John 21:15-17 when he said to him:“Simeon, Son of John, do you love me more than these others do? Peter answered Jesus: “Yes, Lord, you know I love you! Jesus said to him “feed my lambs…”.

        From my experience of thirty-five (35) years as an ordained Catholic Priest, I have come to know without any doubt that authentic Catholic Pastoral Leadership happens in the midst of the people of God, not outside it. We, priests, must know, love and serve the people of God entrusted to our pastoral care. The people of God on their part also must know and love their priests. As Priests, we must be ready like Jesus to give our best and all for the salvation of souls. Priests must recognize that they are servants of the people of God and not their master. As priests, we serve the flock of Christ by knowing, caring and teaching the faith without any compromise. This requires a lot of humility and prayer on our part.

According to Pope FRANCIS, the Catholic Church needs more priests who are ready to “smell like the sheep”. Priests, who are good shepherd and leaders of the flock: Priests who know when to be in front of the flock to lead them, or when to be in their midst or side to feel their pains and comfort them. For the sake of emphasis, let me clearly say: “Good Priests are Good shepherd. They do not loose touch with the people they are called to serve”. Like Jesus Christ and with Him, we must lead our flock to the green pastures, to the pilgrimage of eternal life.    

The celebration of the Chrism Mass is rooted deeply in our recognition of the gifts we have received. The oils symbolize strength and healing. The Oil of the Sick brings comfort to those in pain. The Oil of Catechumens prepares the hearts of those entering into the faith; and the Sacred Oil Chrism, used in Baptism, Confirmation, and Ordination, seals the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives and the lives of those we serve as ordained priests. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we are invited to reflect on how these Sacraments extend beyond mere rituals, church services, but serving as channels of divine hope in a world often marked by despair and pains.

The Priesthood as a Gift of Hope:

The gift of Hope is the light that pierces the darkness of life. Everywhere around our communities today, we witness all kinds of struggles – financial burdens, health crises, broken relationships, challenges of insecurity, moral dilemmas, death of loved ones, fighting and hatred, forced deportation, human trafficking, and so on – the list is endless. Yet, it is our calling as priests, not only to acknowledge these human challenges, but to infuse hope through our ministry. Hope is not a mere absence of struggles. It is the profound assurance that God’s love transcends all pain and leads us to renewal – a new beginning.

In the first reading from Isaiah (Is 61:1-3), we hear the prophecy of the Spirit anointing One to bring good news to the poor and to bind up the broken-hearted. That prophesy is fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry as recorded by the Evangelist Luke in Chapter 4:16-21.  This message of hope and renewal is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. As we bless the Holy Oils in this Mass, we pray that we may be instruments of hope, continually reaching out to those in need, just as Christ did in his days.

Our priestly calling should challenge our daily attitude to the extent that we become more aware that as Priests or Pastors, we are more than “caregivers”, but indeed, we are “ambassadors of hope”. Our lives must embody the very message of hope that we preach. As we renew our priestly commitment today, let us ask ourselves:  How can I become a beacon of hope within my community? How can my priestly ministry inspire hope through my actions and words?

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, I challenge each of you, my brother priests and you, the Lay Faithful to identify one way you can concretely bring hope to someone suffering around you – for example, a member of your parish or community or a fellow-worker or student. You could do so through a ministry initiative project, or by offering a kind word, or a simple act of service, respect and love for those we are called to serve. The possibilities are so vast – the need is great in our Diocese.

It is important to remind us also that the source of our hope is to be found at the Eucharistic Altar and in the Word of God. As we celebrate the Holy Eucharist daily and now, let us remember the profound love that Christ has for each one of us. He nourishes us, equips us, and sends us out to do the same to others. In receiving His Body and Blood, we are reminded that hope is not dependent on our strength, but on the power of God that works through us.As we journey through this Jubilee Year of Hope, may we embrace our roles as priests with renewed fervour. May the Holy Oils we bless today be a powerful reminder of the hope we are called to spread. Together, let us cultivate the spirit of joy, love, and hope in our lives and within our communities.

Words of Gratitude:

How could I conclude this homily without expressing a word of sincere gratitude to the Priests, Consecrated Persons and the Laity of our beloved Diocese? To you my dearly beloved brother-priests: I say thank you for your enduring ministry! Thank you for not giving up on account of hardships of mission you face daily! Thank you for nurturing the Catholic faith in your Churches, Parishes, Deaneries and in the three Pastoral Regions of Ijebu-Ode Diocese! Thank you for serving your parishioners joyfully and with pastoral zeal attending to matters concerning their spiritual and social wellbeing! I thank you for the work of pastoral expansions going on in our Diocese. I thank you for the spiritual and moral formation of children, youth and adults in our diocese! Thank you for caring for the elderly, the sick and the home bound. I thank you for preaching the word of God and celebrating the Holy Eucharist for the people. Thank you for using the print and social media platforms for spreading the Catholic Faith and the activities of the diocese. I thank you for sustaining and growing our health and educational facilities across the diocese!I am very proud of the efforts each and everyone of you are making in your assignments. Thanks for your enduring collaboration and co-responsibility with me, your unworthy servant and Bishop. May the Lord continue to strengthen our bound of unity and commitment to service of our people in love, Amen.

To our beloved Laity, I hope you too are proud of your priests and the Rev. Sisters? I hope you love, respect and care for them in the parishes? Once again, may I appeal to you: Pray for us your priests and the Religious Women serving in our Diocese. Pray the Holy Rosary for us daily. Offer the Holy Mass for us. Pray and fast for us, if possible, so that the evil One may not lead us astray. Just as the spiritual wellbeing of the laity is a primary pastoral concern for Priests and Religious; so too should the care of priests and Religious be a serious concern for people of God. Let us support the Bishop in caring for the priests and Religious so that they too may zealously care for our spiritual and pastoral needs. May God bless all our Laity abundantly! May this Jubilee Year be a true celebration of Hope for our Diocese, Nation and World! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, Amen +

Most Rev. Francis Obafemi ADESINA

16^th April 2025