Itele, Abeokuta Diocese – September, 29, 2025 – The Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Nigeria (CCRN), Abeokuta Diocese witnessed a historic milestone with the inauguration of Jesus the Living Hope Prayer Group at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Itele.
The solemn and spirit-filled event drew members of the faithful, clergy, and guests from across communities to celebrate the birth of a new prayer group dedicated to deepening renewal, unity, and service in God’s kingdom.
In his admonition before officially inaugurating the group, the Parish Priest of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Rev. Fr Miguel Olajide Gomez, charged the Charismatic community to remain faithful to its mission.
“Be great evangelizers, not by your words, but by your actions,” he declared.
“If after this inauguration you are not vibrant, I still have the authority to close you down. If you do not live up to expectations or work within the church community, you will be kicked out.
This is a sacred calling—live it out with faith, humility, and service.”
The Parish Priest also prayed for the newly inaugurated group, invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession:
“Lord God, your children are here to profess their faith and proclaim their love for You and the Holy Spirit
. Like Mary, may they nurture Christ in their hearts and carry Him everywhere they go. May everyone who meets them experience Your joy and love through their witness, and may their lives transform the world with the Spirit working through them.”
In her opening remarks, Sister Patience Madu, Ota Deanery Coordinator, described the inauguration as both a blessing and a responsibility.
“This is the first prayer group to be inaugurated under my leadership, and I am happy we are alive to witness it. But inauguration is not the most important thing—sustaining it is,” she cautioned.
“Leadership is not a ticket; God blesses only your service to His kingdom. If we remain united, forgiving, and working with one accord, this community will achieve great things in Christ.”
Delivering the exhortation, Bro. Cosmas Ekwueme, reminded members that perseverance and faith are the pillars of growth.
“A prayer group is not sustained by excitement alone, but by commitment, discipline, and unity. Unity can move mountains, but division destroys quickly,” he noted.
Ekwueme noted that For 22 years, the prayer group has been in the womb of preparation, and today, by His divine timing, it has finally been birthed.
He said that every prayer group carries a name, adding that the name must not only be declared, but lived.
” If a group is called “Jesus is Love,” then love must overflow within and around them. If that love is missing, the name becomes a disgrace rather than a blessing.
” Today, you are being declared Jesus the Living Hope Prayer Group. This means that you must live as the hope of this parish, the hope of this community, and a sign of Christ’s living presence among His people.
“With this great name comes great responsibility. To whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:48). The Church expects much from you. Your parish priest expects much from you. The Diocese, Province, and even the National Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement expect much from you. And above all, Jesus Himself expects much from you.
“So, what must you do?
Build a solid foundation. The past 22 years were preparation. Today, the real foundation begins. Build it on Christ.
Work together in unity. Division kills prayer groups. Unity makes mountains move. When you are united, God Himself will look down and say, “Wow!”
Be a faithful and prayerful community. Do not rely on titles or positions; rely on the Holy Spirit. Let prayer and faithfulness mark your identity.
Care for one another. As Jesus told Peter, “Feed my sheep.” Care is not only financial—it is prayer, encouragement, and presence.
Practice tolerance and forgiveness. Offenses will come, but forgiveness must abound.
Commit to evangelization. You are not just a group; you are missionaries. Let your light shine in the parish, the community, and beyond.
Finally, avoid the enemies of growth:
Division and factions.
Pride and “I too know.”
Gossip and backbiting.
Instead, embrace the Spirit of the Lord, who has anointed you to bring good news, bind the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom to the captives (Isaiah 61:1).
For Bro. Basil Opara, Coordinator of Jesus the Living Hope Prayer Group, the day was the fruit of years of labor, challenges, and faith.
“When I took up leadership in 2017, it seemed nothing was moving. But God gave us the strength to keep pressing forward. With the Diocese’s support and the guidance of fellow leaders, today we are finally standing as a full-fledged community,” he recalled.
Bro. Opara further extended gratitude to the “mother communities” that nurtured the group in its early stages.
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“Even if a mother does not do all she should, she remains a mother. Without our mother communities, we would not have been recognized. We honor them and pray that Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, will continue to bless them abundantly.”
The inauguration climaxed with prayers of thanksgiving, songs of praise, and a charge to members to live out their calling with humility, unity, and unshakable hope in Christ.
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