Kweshon. My neighbour get some small children. Im and im husband (wey no be Catholic) dey manage carry dia children go klas wey dem dey teach religion, but I never see dem for Mass. Anything dey wey I fit tell dem to encourage dem to come Mass? Abi make I no put mouth?
Ansa. Make you no put mouth? I go say, no hesitate at all—enter di matter with all your mind! But make I explain.
Na pity say this kind thing wey you describe no too strange. Make I first point out one very good thing. Just di fact say this husband and wife dey carry dia children go klas wey dem dey teach religion na excellent thing. From wetin I don see, parents wey no dey always practise dia faith still dey feel di need to make sure say dia children learn, at least, di basic things about di faith. I believe say one thing wey this one dey show na di strong conviction wey God dey put for parents heart to do everything wey dem fit do to pass di faith give dia children. To carry dem go learn about religion na very good beginning, but no be there e end.
People dey stop to dey attend Mass for plenty different reasons. Some people inside di Church don hurt some of dem; some no fully understand some part of wetin di Church dey teach, and dem turn away because dem dey confused or angry; some just don stop to dey go as dem dey go before; and some dey so busy sotey dem feel say e easier to just sleep till late for Sunday morning. But I believe say one of di reasons wey dey common pass, and wey people no dey talk about, na say plenty people dey carry heavy guilt because of sins wey dem don commit before, and for one reason or another, dem feel say dem no belong there. When dem attend, dem feel like say dem no fit in, and dem feel say e easier to just stay away. But no matter di reason why dem no dey attend, most parents still know say na dia responsibility to pass di faith give dia children. This one dey show say, at least deep inside dia heart, dem still believe.
So na there I go start. Find chances to begin dey talk about your faith in simple way. Share some good things wey you don experience with your friend. For example, if you hear one homily wey remain for your mind, find chance as una dey talk normally to just say something like, “I go church last week, and the priest talk this thing…and e really help me.” When you share wetin you don experience yourself, e no dey make other people feel threatened. And if you do am in a way wey show say you just dey share your experience, no be to tell them wetin dem must do, this fit be the best way to plant the right seed wey fit begin grow.
But this fit take time. No lose patience with your friends. Just continue to dey plant seeds without talking as if you dey judge them. Sometimes, na just to sow the right seed at the right time. When these two things happen together, the result fit surprise you. Na wetin I mean when I talk say, “Enter am with all your mind!” Share openly, freely, and often. If your friend wan continue the discussion, that one good well-well. If not, find the next chance to share something from church or about your faith.
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