Consecrated persons have been urged to make themselves valuable to the Church, their congregation and the dioceses where they work, and in the spirit of the synod participate in communion and mission, especially as regards enlightening the human race to care for the earth, their common home. The charge was given by Most Rev. Peter k. Odetoyinbo, Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese at the Provincial Convention of the Conference of Consecrated Persons, Lagos Ecclesiastical Province, held on recently, at St. Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos. Speaking at the convention, with the theme, “Laudato si: Care for our common home”, Bishop Odetoyinbo, charged consecrated persons to take the message of caring for the earth to people in the schools, hospitals and parishes where they work. Emphasising on the importance of Laudato si and the influence consecrated persons, diocesan priests and the religious have over their wards in schools, patients in the hospitals and the congregation in church, the Bishop said that the people will carry the messages far, beyond their imagination. On the destruction of the earth by humans, he said: “People will listen when you show pictures of how destructive we are. We are destroying ourselves. We are destroying the earth.
We are destroying our breath and the air we breathe. As long as the earth is not okay, we that inhabit the earth will not be okay. Expressing gladness on the convention, Bishop Odetoyinbo said it is a welcome idea for the bishops of the province, as he prayed that God will help humans to understand and listen to the Holy Father as he continues to warn on the importance of the care of the earth. Also speaking on the theme, Very Rev. Fr, Anthony Thompson, Guest Speaker on the occasion said the attitude and irresponsible use of the earth by man has resulted in a number of natural disasters, which he referred to as the cry of the earth. Calling on the people for responsible use, care of the earth and care of one another, Fr. Thompson asked consecrated persons to use their power to change the narrative and influence people around them on ways to manage wisely that which is entrusted to them. For his part, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Nworuh, SMMM, President, Lagos Ecclesiastical Province Male Religious, expressed gratitude to God for the gift of vocation to the consecrated life. Quoting Pope Francis, Fr. Nworuh said that the mission of consecrated men and women is enriched by the unique charisma of their communities, in addition to the fundamental gift they have each received. He said, “Sequel to this, Pope Francis in his encyclical, ‘Laudato si (Praise be to you), which focuses on care for the natural environment and all peoples; reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. Hence, we are one in creation and must care for the earth, our common home.” He emphasised.
