The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, has called on all Catholics to embrace their divine calling as missionaries and take an active role in spreading the Gospel through prayer, generosity, and witness. The Bishop made this appeal during his homily at the Mass for World Mission Sunday held at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, Oyo, concelebrated by the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Julius Olayinka. Preaching on the theme “We Are All Missionaries,” Bishop Badejo reminded the congregation that every Christian is both a product and participant in the Church’s missionary work.
He emphasised that the call to evangelise is not reserved for priests and religious alone but is a sacred responsibility shared by all the baptised. He explained that all Christians belong to God, who has made them followers of Christ, and that they are Christians today because someone shared the Gospel of love and peace with them. The Bishop noted that World Mission Sunday is a time to thank God for men and women who dedicate their lives to missionary service and to remind all believers to support the Church’s mission through prayer, financial contributions, and daily witness. He stressed that the Holy Father and the Church encourage everyone — children, youths, men, and women — to take part in spreading the Gospel through both spiritual and material support.
Bishop Badejo outlined four essential ways the faithful can live out their missionary vocation — by praying, preaching, giving, and going. He said prayer remains the foundation of all missionary activity and urged Catholics to remember missionaries and those who have not yet encountered Christ in their daily prayers. He encouraged the faithful to speak boldly about Christ through their words, actions, and examples, both in their communities and on digital platforms. The Bishop further stressed that generosity plays a vital role in missionary work, adding that no one is too poor to contribute to the Church’s mission. Every offering, he said, no matter how small, can bring hope to someone in need.
While some are called to physically go to mission territories, others can “go” spiritually by supporting and encouraging those who do. Reflecting on the challenges of today’s world, Bishop Badejo described Christians as missionaries of hope in an age overshadowed by fear, violence, and despair. He said God calls all believers to bring light, comfort, and peace to those struggling with uncertainty and suffering. He commended the universal Church for its continued support of missionary efforts, especially in regions where Christians face persecution or lack access to pastoral care.
He reminded the faithful that their prayers and contributions sustain missionaries who serve in difficult and remote areas. Citing St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, the Bishop underscored the importance of proclaiming the Gospel, noting that people cannot believe in Christ without hearing the message, and that preachers must be sent to make that possible. He concluded by encouraging the faithful to perform every act of service — whether through prayer, preaching, giving, or helping others — with love and sincerity. Whatever is done for the mission, he said, should be done in the spirit of charity, as Christ assures that those who serve others in His name will surely receive their reward.
