The Iguobazuwa Mandate: A Call to Radical Evangelization as Fr. Brodricks Urges the Church to Leave the Comfort Zone
Standing at the heart of the Iguobazuwa Deanery on May 9, 2026, the Dean of Iguobazuwa Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Benjamin Brodricks brought the Benin City Provisional Evangelization Week to a stirring conclusion with a message that resonated far beyond the church walls.
Addressing an expectant assembly of priests, religious, and dedicated lay faithful from the CMO, CWO, and CYON, the Dean framed the week’s intense missionary efforts not as a finished task, but as the beginning of a radical shift in the Church’s identity.
He reminded the congregation that while the week was marked by sacrifice and prayer across various parishes and zones, its true success lies in whether the Church remains "in motion."
Drawing a direct parallel to the first reading of Acts, he highlighted how Paul and Timothy were not stationary figures but travelers who carried the Gospel into the heart of the unknown, insisting that the modern Church must likewise trade its pews for the pavement.
Fr. Brodricks painted a sobering picture of the quiet desperation currently gripping many homes within the Iguobazuwa region and the wider Archdiocese.
He spoke of families fractured by economic hardship, youths disillusioned by a lack of direction, and many "cold" Catholics who have drifted away, waiting for someone to care enough to seek them out.
This past week, he noted with gratitude, the Church did not wait for the people; it went to them. From dusty village paths to busy compound gates, the faithful moved into the streets to pray with the broken-hearted and listen to the struggles of the forgotten.
This proactive outreach is the only remedy for a world where many are trapped in addiction or confused by false doctrines, reminding the faithful that a single word of encouragement or a humble visit can be the thin line between someone giving up and someone finding hope again.
However, the Dean issued a stern reminder that the words spoken during house-to-house visitations must be backed by the weight of Christian character.
Citing Timothy’s reputation for integrity, Brodricks argued that the greatest sermon remains the way a believer lives.
He candidly addressed the "scandal of behavior," noting that many today reject Christ not because of His teachings, but because they are disappointed by the hypocrisy, gossip, and corruption they see in those who claim His name.
He challenged the various church associations and parish leaders to become living witnesses of the Gospel, emphasizing that if the Church preaches unity but thrives on jealousy, its message becomes an empty noise. For the mission to truly take root in Iguobazuwa, the character of the messenger must be as compelling as the message itself.
As the ceremony concluded, Fr. Brodricks urged the community to avoid the trap of treating evangelization as a mere annual "program" to be checked off a list.
He declared that a Church that evangelizes for only seven days a year is a Church that cannot transform a society where immorality and materialism have become the new normal. He called for a sustained awakening where the Basic Christian Communities remain vibrant and the spirit of visitation becomes a daily habit.
The goal, he concluded, is a renewed Archdiocese where every home is a sanctuary and every Christian is a missionary. By moving from the comfort of the parish compound into the realities of human pain and confusion, the people of Iguobazuwa were charged to remain active witnesses of the Gospel, ensuring that the light ignited during this week continues to burn brightly in every street and every heart.
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