NIGERIA CATHOLIC NETWORK BLOG News Nigeria Witnessing for Christ is not by choice but by mandate says Bishop Oyejola
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Witnessing for Christ is not by choice but by mandate says Bishop Oyejola

Witnessing for Christ is not by choice but by mandate says Bishop Oyejola

By Rachel Kogi, CSN

 

As the universal Church celebrates World Mission Sunday, Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese and Episcopal Chairman of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), Most Rev. John Oyejola reminds Christians that the call to be witnesses is not by choice, but by virtue of baptism; they are commissioned for the mandatory assignment of being witnesses.

The Bishop said this in his homily at the Holy Mass celebrated to mark 2022 Mission Sunday at St. Gabriel Chaplaincy, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Abuja on Sunday, October 23, 2022. The Mass was concelebrated by the Deputy Secretary General and Director of Pastoral Affairs Department, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo and the National Director of PMS, Rev. Fr. Solomon Zaku.

Explaining what it means to be a witness, the Prelate noted that witnessing for Christ “is the essence of who we are and how we live; how we love; how we do our work; how we parent; how we carry ourselves; how we talk and conduct ourselves, and how we relate to others.”

While affirming that “carrying the Bible, preaching and teaching the Word, and being active in church activities are essential part of witnessing,” Bishop Oyejola stressed that “witnessing is much more than that.”

To buttress this point, he called to mind the words of St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary.” He added that “the most powerful sermons are not spoken; they are lived.”

Calling on Christians to be exemplary witnesses wherever they are, the Chief Shepherd of Osogbo Diocese made reference to the Pope’s message for 2022 World Mission Sunday, that “we are not called to be witnesses only within our immediate environment but to the ends of the earth.”

“Our mission of evangelisation exceeds the boundaries of our own society, but to every society we find ourselves.”

He therefore encouraged the faithful that in addition to witnessing through their lives, they should support the work of mission by praying and donating to the cause of mission.

In a comment on the theme of this year’s celebration, “You shall be my witnesses”, Fr. Zaku noted that “the central message is a reminder that we are all witnesses.”

He enjoined the faithful to be witnesses wherever they find themselves whether in politics, at home, in school, work or community. “Be witnesses by loving one another and being there for one another,” he said.

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