The Partner Newspaper

In a massive display of faith and national unity, millions of Nigerian Catholics gathered at the Sanctuary of Jesus the Saviour and Mother Mary in Elele for a national celebration of the Jubilee Year of Hope on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The event brought together Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Religious, and Laity from across the country for a weekend of worship and spiritual renewal to end on Sunday.

Delivering the homily at the opening Mass, Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina, the Bishop of Ijebu-Ode Diocese, addressed the deep-seated challenges facing the nation. “Our gathering is to celebrate the Jubilee of Hope as a nation,” he said, acknowledging how Nigerians have been left “jaded and distressed by the economic realities.”

Bishop Adesina’s message was a direct response to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria’s (CBCN) earlier communiqués on the Jubilee Year of Hope, which urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in faith despite ongoing socio-economic hardships, insecurity, and high inflation. The bishop emphasized that this celebration was not just a religious ritual, but a vital opportunity to “restore the Christian hope” and pray for a better future. “We are here to pray, we are here to worship. We shall restore the Christian hope. He said this celebration is a reminder that in Jesus there is hope for a better tomorrow” said the Bishop.

He reminded the faithful that in Jesus, there is a promise of hope for a better tomorrow, and he encouraged a renewal of commitment to justice and peace as a means of achieving it. The gathering was a powerful demonstration of the Church’s role as a moral and spiritual compass for the nation.

The Elele sanctuary, a significant pilgrimage site recognized as an International Shrine by the Holy See, provided a fitting backdrop for the national event. The Jubilee Year of Hope is part of a larger global celebration initiated by Pope Francis with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” This special year, which happens every 25 years, is intended to be a time of forgiveness and spiritual renewal.

Following the closing Mass, Bishop Anthony Ewherido of Warri Diocese, on behalf of the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), gave a heartfelt vote of thanks. His words conveyed the immense gratitude of the Nigerian Church. He thanked the Apostolic Nuncio for his presence, leadership, and guidance. He also expressed sincere appreciation to the Archbishops and Bishops for their fellowship and pastoral commitment.

The Bishop extended thanks to the Local Organizing Committee and the host center for their hard work, and to the many behind-the-scenes helpers whose dedication made the pilgrimage a success. He offered special thanks to the Founder and Rector of the International Sanctuary, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel M. P. Edeh, the Elele community, and the Traditional Rulers for their generous hospitality and support. Finally, he recognized the crucial contributions of priests, deacons, Religious men and women, lay associations, choirs, security personnel, Marshals of the Day, and all those who handled logistics with such care and discipline.

The massive attendance from all over Nigeria, including a notable representation from the Ijebu-Ode Diocese, underscored the unity of the Catholic Church in the country. The gathering served as both a spiritual pilgrimage and a collective act of prayer for the nation’s future, embodying the spirit of hope in a tangible way.