ABUJA, Nigeria — Christians must confront injustice in their workplaces and professions as part of their responsibility to bear witness to Jesus Christ, Nigerian Bishop Sylvester Luka Gopep has said.
"If there is injustice in your workplace and you are there and you cannot confront it, you have failed as a missionary," Gopep said in an interview with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, during a celebration marking the centenary of World Mission Day, organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies in Nigeria on Oct. 18.
The auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Minna urged Christians to regard their workplaces and places of residence as territories for evangelization, saying their conduct should reflect Gospel values.
"The teacher must evangelize the classroom. The doctor must evangelize the hospital. The lawyer must evangelize the practice of law. The businessperson must evangelize the marketplace. The politician must evangelize politics with sincerity, justice, truth, and the common good in public life," he said.
Gopep challenged Catholics to examine their conduct, saying corruption, cheating, insincerity, and other forms of injustice contradict the Christian faith and undermine the credibility of the Church's mission.
He emphasized that missionary responsibility belongs to every baptized Christian, regardless of profession, social status, or financial circumstances.
"The call to be a missionary is not optional. It is mandatory for every Catholic, ordained and unordained. The mission is not for priests and sisters alone. No. We are all called to pray. We are all called to teach. We are all called to preach. We are all called to educate," he said.
Citing Jeremiah 1:5 and Jeremiah 29:11, the bishop said that every person has a God-given purpose and a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of others.
"Every human person is born with a mission and for a mission. No human person is an accident. God planned for your coming and existence," he said.
Turning to the centenary theme, "One in Christ, United in Mission," Gopep called on priests, religious, and lay faithful to overcome division, jealousy, hatred, and personal ambition.
"Without unity, we cannot bear much fruit. In unity, we can bear much fruit," he said.
Referring to John 20:19–21, Gopep recalled Jesus' words to his disciples: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
He also urged Catholics to support missionary activities through prayer and financial and material contributions, particularly on World Mission Sunday.
"Generosity is not from what you have, but generosity is from the heart. If you are not generous in heart, even if the whole world is given to you, you will still not be generous," he said.
He encouraged priests and women and men religious to remain willing to serve wherever the Church sends them and urged lay Catholics to support missionaries working in difficult territories.
"Some go by giving, and some by giving themselves to the mission," he said.
In a separate interview with ACI Africa at the same event, the national director of Pontifical Mission Societies in Nigeria, Father Solomon Patrick Zaku, said Nigeria has benefited from the Universal Solidarity Fund and the generosity of Catholics worldwide.
He called on Nigerians to contribute to missionary activities and support vocations.
"As we celebrate the centenary of World Mission Sunday, I want to remind all Nigerians that we are part of this mission. We are not exempt. Since we are receiving, we also need to give because no one is too poor to give. We have something to offer," Zaku said.
He added that the Church's mission extends beyond preaching to addressing practical needs, including healthcare, justice, peace, and peaceful coexistence.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
