BENIN-CITY: HOMILY AT DAY-3 PASTORAL CONGRESS BY ARCHBISHOP ABEGUNRIN
“Our states might be different as clergy, religious and laity, but these must be complementary” – Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin
By Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh
The Catholic Bishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin has challenged the entire Church in Nigeria to renew their commitment to working for the common goal of making the Church a place where everyone is actively involved.
The prelate gave this challenge in his homily at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Benin City, which was delivered in his absence by Most Rev. John Oyejola of Osogbo diocese, during the Holy Mass held to commence the 3rd day of the Pastoral Congress.
Archbishop Abegunrin advocated that in order to prevent confusion of faith from impacting the Church and society any further than presently experienced, “we must continue to promote Synodality in the Church so as to foster healthy pastoral engagements.”
To achieve this, the Archbishop recommended the need for everyone in the Church “to listen to one another and cooperate in the common goal of building communion,” noting that “when the voice of everyone is heard in charity, collaboration becomes possible and no one feels excluded.”