Rev. Fr Patrick Ajayi Charges Couples to Embrace Faith, Hope and Love as Pathways to Sanctification
The atmosphere at the St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Ede, Osun State, was solemn yet vibrant on Friday evening, 27 February 2026, as Rev. Fr Patrick Ajayi delivered a thought-provoking lecture during the fourth phase of the Marriage and Family Life Training.
The cleric, addressing couples drawn from within and outside the Diocese, declared that marriage is not merely a social arrangement but a sacred vocation designed by God for sanctification and evangelisation.
According to him, Phase Four represents the ultimate goal of the entire programme because it focuses on how marriage and family life become practical instruments of mission in the Church and society.
Akahi News gathered that the training is an initiative of the Bishop to respond to the growing pastoral needs of marriages in contemporary times.
Marriage as a Means of Sanctification
Drawing from Scripture and Church teaching, Rev. Fr Ajayi itemised three major ways by which Marriage and Family Life become a means of sanctification:
- Commitment of Faith
- Commitment of Hope
- Commitment of Love
He explained that marriage, as a sacrament, is not static. It is dynamic and transformative. “When a man and woman stand before God and His Church,” he said, “they become ministers of grace to one another.”
Quoting Ezekiel 18:21–28, he reminded participants that God judges individuals according to their actions. In marriage, therefore, holiness is not theoretical. It is lived daily in words, deeds, sacrifices, and forgiveness.
He also referenced Matthew 5:20–26, stressing that reconciliation and righteousness must exceed mere legal compliance. “If couples truly understand this,” he said, “their homes will become schools of holiness.”
Akahi News learnt that the cleric further cited Genesis 2:24, where Scripture declares that a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. According to him, this unity is not only physical but spiritual and salvific.
Commitment of Faith: The Foundation of the Christian Home
Rev. Fr Ajayi emphasised that faith is the bedrock of every Christian marriage. Faith, he said, is not simply believing in God but actively trusting and obeying Him in marital decisions.
Quoting Mark 14:36, “Not what I will, but what You will,” he noted that surrender to God’s will sanctifies intentions. He also referenced Hebrews 11:6, reminding couples that without faith it is impossible to please God.
The family, he stressed, is the “domestic church,” echoing Lumen Gentium (11). Parents are the first catechists of their children, in line with Deuteronomy 6:6–7, which commands believers to teach God’s commandments diligently to their children.
In his words, “When couples pray together, forgive each other, and raise their children in the fear of the Lord, they are walking the path of sanctification.”
He further cited Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Akahi News reports that participants listened attentively, taking notes as the cleric broke down practical ways to build faith-filled homes.
Commitment of Hope: Trusting God Amid Trials
The second pillar, Commitment of Hope, was described as the sustaining force in marriage.
Marriage, the priest explained, faces storms — financial strain, misunderstandings, health challenges and societal pressures. Yet hope anchored in God keeps couples steady.
Quoting Psalm 121, “My help comes from the Lord,” and Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord,” he reminded families that divine reliance purifies the heart.
He also cited Romans 5:3–5, which teaches that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope — and hope does not disappoint.
According to him, hope prevents despair and strengthens perseverance. “When couples refuse to give up on each other,” he said, “they mirror God’s unfailing covenant love.”
Akahi News gathered that the emphasis on hope resonated strongly with participants, many of whom testified privately to overcoming challenges through prayer and patience.
Commitment of Love: The Greatest Path to Holiness
Perhaps the most compelling segment of the lecture was the exposition on love.
Rev. Fr Ajayi turned to 1 Corinthians 13, describing love as patient, kind, and enduring. He reminded couples that authentic marital love is sacrificial, not self-seeking.
He further cited Ephesians 5:25, where husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.
“This love,” he explained, “is redemptive love — love that forgives seventy times seven, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 18:22.”
He also referenced Colossians 3:13–14, urging couples to forgive as the Lord forgave them and to put on love, which binds everything together in perfect unity.
Akahi News observed that the hall grew reflective as the priest underscored that love is not emotion alone but deliberate sacrifice.
Phase Four: Marriage as a Means of Evangelisation
While sanctification was central, the cleric stressed that Phase Four elevates the vision further — marriage as a means of evangelisation.
“Your home,” he said, “is the first pulpit.”
Quoting Matthew 5:16, he urged couples to let their light shine before others. He also cited Acts 18:26, referencing Aquila and Priscilla as examples of married evangelisers in the early Church.
In his words, “When neighbours see unity, forgiveness and joy in your home, they encounter Christ.”
Akahi News gathered that the priest described Christian families as silent missionaries whose witness can transform society more effectively than many sermons.
Bishop’s Pastoral Support and Subsidy
In his opening remarks, Rev. Fr Ajayi commended the Bishop for organising the programme to care for the pastoral needs of marriages both within and outside the Diocese.
Akahi News learnt that the Bishop, Most Rev. Akinkunmi Oyejola, has subsidised the training fees to make participation affordable.
Out of the ₦25,000 required per phase, the Bishop pays ₦10,000 for each couple, leaving participants to contribute only ₦15,000.
Participants who complete all phases without carry-over will be officially commissioned at St. Benedict Cathedral, Osogbo, during the Chrism Mass 2026.
Observers describe the gesture as both pastoral and practical — a demonstration of shepherdly care in action.
Training Continues
The programme, currently ongoing at St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Ede, continues on Saturday, 28 February 2026.
Akahi News is on ground to provide more updates as the sessions progress.
As the evening session closed, couples departed with renewed conviction that marriage is more than companionship — it is a divine pathway to holiness and a living instrument of evangelisation.
The message was clear: Faith sustains, Hope strengthens, and Love perfects.
Through these, marriage becomes not only a covenant of two hearts but a mission field for the Kingdom of God.
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Akahi News www.akahinews.org
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