By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

Following the declaration of the Diocesan synodal phase by the Catholic Bishop of Ijebu-Ode Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina, the entire Diocese gathered on Deanery level on Saturday 13th November 2021 for the Deanery discussion. This took place in the 7 Deaneries that make up the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode namely; Ogbere, Iloti, Esure, Ijebu-Igbo, Iperu, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode. Parishes and institutions sent their delegates to a central venue in the Deanery they belong to aid participation at the root level. It was a process that involved listening sessions in every parish guided by a series of questions released by the Vatican’s Synod office last month.

Pope Francis earlier warned that a synod is a journey of spiritual discernment that “takes place in adoration, in prayer and in dialogue with the word of God,” the pontiff said, or otherwise it becomes “a church convention, a study group or a political congress,” instead of being “a grace-filled event, a process of healing guided by the Holy Spirit.”
On this foundation, each Deanery in the Diocese of Ijebu-Ode began with Holy Mass and proceeded with other prayerful intercessions for the Church and the success of the process. There was a solemn enthronement of the Bible. It was then followed by active participation by everyone; Priests, Religious and Lay faithful.

The people were so happy to have been involved in such a manner with a synodal process that was new to many of them.