The Catholic Bishop of Ijebu Ode Diocese, Bishop Francis Obafemi Adesina has called for special prayers to mark the 55th Anniversary of the Diocese since it was erected.

Bishop Adesina said the Diocese looks forward to “a more robust pastoral growth through the numerous pastoral and administrative programmes proposed for the year 2024, which will be carried out by the different churches, institutions, departments and sodalities in the diocese.”

“With the present situation of Nigeria, amidst the increasing poverty, insecurity, corruption, political and economic instability, high cost of living that are almost suffocating many people, let us offer special prayers for the growth of our Diocese,” the Bishop said.

He added that the people of God need to pray for the safety of all Nigerians, justice, progress and peace in 2024.

In his message, Bishop Adesina called on the people of God in his Diocese to remain hopeful regardless of the challenges in Nigeria.

“As Christ’s faithful in Ijebu-Ode Diocese, looking back into last year 2023, regardless of the difficulties and challenges we faced, we have sufficient reasons to thank God and be hopeful because we are counting our blessings more than our losses,” he said.

“The birth of a New Year speaks the silent message of hope to us. It is an opportunity to behold a bright new future that lies ahead of us,” the Bishop said, and added, “We are hopeful for tomorrow, as long as we are alive. According to St. Paul the apostle, we are people of hope. ‘Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us (Romans 5:5)’.”

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