print

By Michael Okeola

The Catholic Diocese of Oyo on Sunday, September 6, 2026, marked the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Cathedral, Asogo, Oyo, as the faithful were challenged to recognise creation as a precious gift from God and embrace their responsibility to protect and preserve it.

The Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, alongside the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Julius Olayinka, who also joined in the reflection on the Christian responsibility towards the environment.

The celebration focused attention on humanity’s relationship with the created world, drawing from the biblical conviction that the earth and everything in it belong to God. It also provided an opportunity for the faithful to reflect on the practical ways human activities can either preserve or destroy the environment.

In his opening remarks, Bishop Badejo called on the faithful to give special thanks to God for the entirety of creation, pointing specifically to the plants, flowers, birds, animals, air and light that make human existence possible. He stressed that these elements, often taken for granted, are indispensable to life and freely given by God for humanity’s benefit.

The Bishop also challenged those who receive the message of creation care to become messengers themselves by sharing the teaching with others and helping to cultivate greater awareness of humanity’s responsibility towards creation.’

In his homily, Bishop Badejo described the celebration as an important reminder of realities humanity can easily forget while pursuing everyday concerns such as work, business, education, family and financial success.

He asked the congregation to consider the air they breathe, light, water, wind, trees, grass, animals and other elements of creation without which human life would be impossible.

“This creation has power beyond us,” he declared, reminding the faithful that humanity is only part of creation and cannot claim ownership over what God has made.

Bishop Badejo stressed that human beings are stewards, not owners, of creation, and therefore have a responsibility to care for what has been entrusted to them.

Using flooding and other environmental disasters as examples, the Bishop warned that the abuse of creation eventually produces consequences for those responsible. He particularly condemned indiscriminate dumping of refuse, blocked drainage channels and pollution.

“Many, many gutters in this our Oyo, it has blocked. When rain falls, on top of the road, that’s where the water passes. Who caused it? Is it witches? Is it wizards?” he asked.

He urged the faithful to understand that environmental responsibility begins with individual choices and that Christians cannot claim to love God while deliberately destroying His creation.

Reflecting on the Year of St. Francis, Bishop Badejo presented St. Francis of Assisi as a model of Christian stewardship. He recalled how the saint referred to the sun, moon, stars, wind, water, fire and earth as brothers and sisters.

The Bishop explained that seeing creation as part of God’s family should inspire people to treat it with dignity and care. He also reflected on St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, which praises God through elements of creation, including “Brother Sun,” “Sister Moon,” “Sister Water,” “Brother Fire” and “Sister Mother Earth.”

Bishop Badejo connected this spirituality with practical environmental challenges in Nigerian communities, condemning the pollution of gutters, rivers and roads, indiscriminate defecation and the poor treatment of animals.

Bishop Badejo challenged the faithful to move beyond words and prayers to concrete actions that would restore and beautify creation.

He encouraged them to use the period leading to October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, to undertake practical acts of environmental care, including planting trees, clearing blocked gutters, cleaning bushes and improving their surroundings.

“Do something to beautify creation. God will bless you,” the Bishop told the faithful, while urging parents to teach their children the importance of caring for the environment.

He further encouraged parishioners to take personal responsibility for keeping the Church environment clean and beautiful, stressing that care for creation must begin with the places entrusted to individuals and communities.

Père Paul DAH
Les derniers articles par Père Paul DAH (tout voir)