The Catholic Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo has charged prison inmates across the country not to see their present condition as an end to their lives, but that they should put their trust in Jesus Christ whom he described as the ultimate peace of all human beings.
Bishop Odetoyinbo, who dropped the charge on Tuesday in his homily during the 2017 Christmas celebration with inmates of Ibara Prison in Abeokuta; the Ogun State capital, noted that they should see their present situation as an opportunity for sober reflection, prayer and reflection for reformation.
He admonished the inmates move closer to Jesus Christ and open their minds and hearts to him for them to have peace of mind and everlasting joy and freedom the desire in life, positing that Jesus alone is in position to make their lives better.
He said, “in God alone, we find peace. In God alone, we find joy. In God alone, we find consolation. In God alone, we find peace of mind. We may have money, we may build houses, we may have everything we desire in life, but without God in our lives, we cannot have peace of mind”.
While assuring the inmates that Jesus is with them in their present condition, Bishop Odetoyinbo charged them to ’open their hearts and mind’ to him, so that he can dwell in them, urging them to desist from conditioning God in their lives.
“Possess Jesus and let Jesus possess your hearts. Once you have Jesus in your hearts, He will nourish your joy, freedom, and all you desire. Jesus cannot abandon you in your present situation.”
He charged them to “set themselves free. Set your hearts free; behave wee and live well. God will bless you”.
The Catholic Prelate urged them to take make good use of opportunities of both the vocational and educational training provided by the prison authorities for them to improve their live and acquire necessary skills that will help them live a better life while outside the prison on completion of their jail terms.
Appreciating Bishop Odetoyinbo, the Comptroller of Ibara Prison, DCP Sunday Kolawole, who was represented the Prison Welfare Officer, ASP AbdulAkeem Awesu by noted that the Catholic Church in Abeokuta has contributed immensely towards the welfare of the inmates of the prison both spiritually and otherwise.
He said thirteen inmates of the prison have been given admission into National Open University of Nigeria to study different courses.
Items donated to the inmates included bags of rice, footwear, toiletries, cloth, while Christmas food was also prepared for about 800 inmates, while the inmates entertained the Bishop and his entourage with drama and melodious songs.
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