Beloved in Christ,
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” ( Matthew 11: 25). I am writing this Sunday’s bulletin reflection on a Monday afternoon from the Herbert Macaulay Library (renovated by GTBank), Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. The last time I was in this library was in 1987 when I was preparing for my GCE Advanced Level exams. I was only taking a walk on Herbert Macaulay Way, where my parish church, St. Dominic’s, is located, when I saw a renovated version of the library and decided to step in and reminisce. In recalling with fondness my several visits to the library with a friend who is now a pastor of a Pentecostal church in Lagos, I was filled with joy, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the role this library played in my life. I am not sure if you do something similar, but I tend to offer praise to God when I recall transforming moments in my life. My studies in this library played a significant role in passing my exams and gaining admission to college. Do you sometimes find yourself in places and moments when you are inspired to give praise to
God for his graces?
With the Psalmist in this Sunday's responsorial psalm, I extol my God and King, and bless his name forever and ever. I particularly bless and praise the name of my king and God in anticipation of a safe flight back
to the US in a couple of days. I look forward to seeing and serving my beloved ones at St. Peter’s Elizabethtown, even as I feel disappointed that my twenty-four-day vacation is about to run out. In any case, departing and arriving are causes for directing praise to the Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I am filled with praise as I recall the amazing 80th birthday party we celebrated for my mom. She is a very happy mom, also gladdened by the gift of a car from her children!
As Catholics and followers of Jesus, the Way, we must always be filled with praise and thanks for the love and mercy the Father, in Christ, His Son, has bestowed on us. We have many reasons to offer daily worship of praise and thanks to God, because we are all so blessed to be citizens of heaven and of our great country, the United States of America, as we celebrate our two hundred and fiftieth Independence anniversary this weekend. We particularly celebrate the fantastic way our country is hosting the FIFA 2026 World Cup, “the beautiful game” we call Soccer in the US. I have been following it every day and enjoying the joy and unity it brings to people around the world. We must render praise to the Father, even for such mundane but impactful sport.
I am hopeful that I can share this reflection and more with you this Sunday (even though I am writing in Lagos on Monday, June 29). In being able to do so, that is, share this message with you this Sunday, I
will “give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth."
Happy 4th of July!
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” ( Matthew 11: 25). I am writing this Sunday’s bulletin reflection on a Monday afternoon from the Herbert Macaulay Library (renovated by GTBank), Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. The last time I was in this library was in 1987 when I was preparing for my GCE Advanced Level exams. I was only taking a walk on Herbert Macaulay Way, where my parish church, St. Dominic’s, is located, when I saw a renovated version of the library and decided to step in and reminisce. In recalling with fondness my several visits to the library with a friend who is now a pastor of a Pentecostal church in Lagos, I was filled with joy, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the role this library played in my life. I am not sure if you do something similar, but I tend to offer praise to God when I recall transforming moments in my life. My studies in this library played a significant role in passing my exams and gaining admission to college. Do you sometimes find yourself in places and moments when you are inspired to give praise to
God for his graces?
With the Psalmist in this Sunday's responsorial psalm, I extol my God and King, and bless his name forever and ever. I particularly bless and praise the name of my king and God in anticipation of a safe flight back
to the US in a couple of days. I look forward to seeing and serving my beloved ones at St. Peter’s Elizabethtown, even as I feel disappointed that my twenty-four-day vacation is about to run out. In any case, departing and arriving are causes for directing praise to the Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I am filled with praise as I recall the amazing 80th birthday party we celebrated for my mom. She is a very happy mom, also gladdened by the gift of a car from her children!
As Catholics and followers of Jesus, the Way, we must always be filled with praise and thanks for the love and mercy the Father, in Christ, His Son, has bestowed on us. We have many reasons to offer daily worship of praise and thanks to God, because we are all so blessed to be citizens of heaven and of our great country, the United States of America, as we celebrate our two hundred and fiftieth Independence anniversary this weekend. We particularly celebrate the fantastic way our country is hosting the FIFA 2026 World Cup, “the beautiful game” we call Soccer in the US. I have been following it every day and enjoying the joy and unity it brings to people around the world. We must render praise to the Father, even for such mundane but impactful sport.
I am hopeful that I can share this reflection and more with you this Sunday (even though I am writing in Lagos on Monday, June 29). In being able to do so, that is, share this message with you this Sunday, I
will “give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth."
Happy 4th of July!
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
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