The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most Rev. John Oyejola, has prophesied “wonderful happenings” in Nigeria this year, urging citizens, especially Christians, not to lose hope in God.
Oyejola made this declaration while addressing multitude of pilgrims who beseiged Oke-Maria Pilgrimage Centre in Otan-Ayegbaju town, Osun State.
The 2025 annual Oke-Maria Pilgrimage held on Saturday and Sunday, February 8 and 9, 2025 with the theme: “Journeying With Mary Our Mother As Pilgrims Of Hope (Luke 1:38). The spiritual programme was organised by the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo.
Thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics attended the pilgrimage held overnight and offered prayers for themselves, families and Nigeria. Representatives of the Osun State Government, traditional ruler of the host community and other top dignitaries also participated in the religious activity.
Addresing the pilgrims after prayers, penitential, healing services, thematic teachings and Holy Mass were held, Bishop Oyejola asked them to watch out for wonders and other astonishing happenings in 2025.
He said, “I can assure you all that wonderful things will happen. So, with faith, expect wonders this year. The signs are there.”
The bishop urged Catholics to cherish their faith and ensure that they pass it to their children and generations to come. He tasked them to visit the Marian shrine often to offer prayers.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the prelate, while speaking on the theme of the pilgrimage, emphasised the need for Catholic Christians to journey with Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God who is always willing to meditate and intercede for them.
Addresing Catholic faithful, Oyejola said, “Hope is one of the three spiritual virtues of every Catholic, along with faith and charity. It is a confident expectation of eternal life and union with God. Hope is the anticipation of things not yet seen, something not yet in existence physically. Faith is the foundation of a Christian life and it is the hope we repose in Christ that keeps us firm in our faith.
“In this year of Jubilee of hope, the theme of year 2025 Oke Maria reminds us that we are people on a journey of faith with great hope of uniting with God at the end of our journey. And who is the best companion to journey with us other than our mother Mary? Mary herself is mother of hope who had embarked on this same journey. When the message of God was disclosed to our mother, she abhorred no doubt in her but placed all her hope and trust in God for the manifestation of His glory.
“In our mother Mary, we find the key characters of hope, such as: trust, expectation, optimism, resilience, obedience and total submission. All these were exemplified in the life of our mother despite the great challenges/trials placed before her. She submitted herself totally to the will of God which brought forth the salvation for humanity. In her obedience to God, our unity with God was molded.
“Likewise, we are called to the life of hope just like Mary. Indeed, as Christians, we are a people of hope, people of certainty of life after death, people assured of eternal glory and so our life must exhibit our call to love and sacrifice through our service to humanity. We are called to love others as Christ loves us and sacrificed himself for us in other to unite us with the Father.
In order to further strengthen our relationship with God in this year of jubilee of hope, I beckon on you all to make a personal spiritual journey to either the Cathedral of St. Benedict, Osogbo or Oke-Maria, Otan Ayegbaju. We can even make a journey to both places and while at it, we should make the following spiritual exercises; Go to confessions in order to ensure the purity of heart in our relationship with God; Do the stations of the cross to remind you that you are on the same journey of faith our mother made; If you are many you may request for mass for your intentions; Spend some time to pray before the blessed sacrament; Remember to be quiet for the Lord to speak to you personally.
“Finally, bring hope to others by feeding the poor, visit the sick and pray with others who might need your support. I assure you that when you do all this, you will receive indulgence and feel the gentle hand of our loving God in your life. It is my prayer that our mother Mary continues to journey with us in our pilgrimage of life. Amen!”