Fr Lawrence Ogundipe SDV Our theme tonight "Mary the Comforter of the Afflicted" comes to us as a word of hope in our country passing through a difficult moment. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is at work. Our theme speaks directly to the wounds of our people, the anxieties of families, the tears of mothers, the frustration of young people, the fears of workers, and the silent burdens carried by many in our nation. Nigeria today faces many afflictions. Economic hardship has deepened poverty. Insecurity has displaced families. Corruption has weakened trust. Unemployment has discouraged the youth. Many homes are struggling to survive. Even in Ibadan, a city rich in history, faith, culture, and resilience, many people wake each day carrying hidden pains. Yet the Church in The Archdiocese of Ibadan invites us to lift our eyes to Mary our comforter. She is not distant from our sufferings. She is not untouched by our pains. She is a mother who knows sorrow, uncertainty, waiting, sacrific...