Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan celebrates Abegunrin on his 10th anniversary as archbishop

PRIESTS, religious, and the lay faithful of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Oyo State, have celebrated the Archbishop, Most Reverend Gabriel Ojeleke Abegunrin, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his installation as the archbishop.

A thanksgiving Mass was held at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Catholic Chaplaincy, University of Ibadan, where Christians were charged to love wholeheartedly and not to pretend in love as love is not a game.

Reverend Father Ayo Abbey, who was the homilist at the thanksgiving Mass, called on Christians to emulate Christ in their acts, pointing out that Christ is the model of love that must be followed by all Christians in their daily life.

Father Abbey said Christians should not pretend in their love for one another because God who loves us with agape love does not play games with us and is indeed the epitome of love.

Speaking of the archbishop, Father Abbey said when Abegunrin was the Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, he was known to have exhibited absolute love for the religious and the lay faithful and was to many of them God’s instrument.

He noted that Archbishop Abegunrin was known among the faithful in Osogbo and Ibadan as “a pastor to the core” and explained that “he cannot see you in pain without doing something to intervene.”

Father Abbey said: “He is bold and courageous. He does not shy away from telling the truth when you need to hear it; he is not afraid to step on his toes to tell the truth. He is candid, thorough, disciplined, committed, honest, and candid. And a man who has all these qualities cannot be loved by all.”

Father Abbey charged Christians to love sincerely, saying, “If we are truly to abide in God’s love, we must do away with superficial love. Don’t pretend with love because love is not a game. If we truly love ourselves in Nigeria, we will not have so many fake things, including fake love.”

At a reception in honour of Archbishop Abegunrin chaired by Professor Adeolu, he thanked his brother-priests, reverend sister, the religious and the lay faithful of the Archdiocese for the reception and prayed for the continued unity, love, and progress of the archdiocese.