Diocese on the coast celebrates the inauguration of new Bishop
– Steve Ovirih.
The church of Nigeria, Anglican communion , Diocese on the coast, which cathedral is at the Ebenezer Anglican Church, Ilu titun, Ondo southern senatorial district, has gotten a new Bishop. He is Rt.Revd. Olaoluwa Oluseyi Pirisola. He was until his election as a Bishop, the Archdeacon of the Leki Archdeaconry , Diocese of Lagos. Bishop Pirisola succeded Late Rt .Revd Joshua Ebunoluwa Ogunele, the immediate past Lord Bishop of the Coastal Diocese.
At the inauguration and enthronement of Bishop Pirisola’s ministry, which held on Saturday, the 19th of October, the entire cathedral was filled to the brim as parishioners across the Diocese on the coast, distinguish dignitaries, communicants from Lagos Diocese and guests from all walks of life had come to witness the epoch inauguration and celebrate with the Diocesan.
Major highlights of the event include the Presentation of the new Bishop to members of the church of God, the celebration and thanksgiving and the inauguration parade by the Boys Brigade company of the Diocese on the coast.
In his sermon, the celebrant, Rt. Revd. Seyi Pirisola acknowledged the contribution of the heroes of faith who had held sway as past Bishops of the Diocese. He specifically thanked Bishop Arulefela who was the Diocesan when he was priested in 1996, who later released him and his wife to Diocese of Lagos. He appreciated the giant stride and evangelism of the late Bishop of the Diocese, Ebun Ogunele, whom he described as the Joshua of our generation.
Bishop Pirisola declared in his sermon and charge that a new dawn has commenced in the Diocese, calling for cooperation of all members of the Diocese. While quoting from the book of Isiah 62, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese on the coast said new things have started to spring up in the Diocese, stressing that by the grace of God the Diocese shall become a special crown of glory in the hand of the Almighty God. He noted that under his watch attention shall be focused on evangelism so that all the lost sheep can be herded back to the presence of God where there is fullness of joy.
Bishop Pirisola also noted that the Diocese shall reach out to the youth for empowerment, noting that the strength of the Diocese lies in her youth; he equally noted that the era of over tasking parishioners in order to meet the need of the church is over as he will adopt an investment driven approach to solving the financial challenges of the Diocese.
The new Bishop acknowledge the support of the Lord Bishop of Lagos, Rt.Revd Humphrey Olumakaye, whom he described as his mentor, soliciting more of his advise and support. Bishop Pirisola also thanked sincerely and profusely, The Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria and the retired Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace and Most. Revd. Ephraim Adebola Olarewaju Ademowo and his wife , Mrs. Oluranti Ademowo . Pirisola described them as his Daddy and Mommy in the Lord and his monitor who had watched, counselled, prayed and supported him in his ministry every step of the way.
On the sideline of the event, thepolity.net chatted with Gen. Olu Bajowa (Rtd), who expressed his appreciation to God for the success of the event. He congratulated Bishop Pirisola for his enthronement and advised him to endeavor to build on the successes of his predesessors. In her own contribution, the Regent of Ayeka, Princess Olayemi Bajowa charged the church to cooperate with the new Bishop and ensure that they yield to him the way the sheep yield to their Shepard for the good work to continue.
The Oniju of Ijuodo could not hide his joy as he noted that God has remembered Iju Odo during his reign and has blessed the Diocese on the coast with one of his sons as the new Bishop of the Diocese. The Oniju said God knows how to compensate steadfastness in his vineyard, noting that the father of the new Bishop was the organist of the Anglican at Iju Odo for a very long time, while the Bishop’wife’s father was also an organist and choir master at a time. The royal father while praying for the Bishop and his wife charged them to use their wealth of experience as Lagos priest and wife, to ensure growth and development of the Diocese on the coast.
