By Eyrah Foli, SJ

It started with a mic, a roman collar, and a few nervous chuckles from the crowd. I was backstage – not preparing to preach, but to perform. Yes, perform. Comedy, to be precise. “Jokes and Cruise with Fr. Slim” was the name of the show. A priest on stage telling jokes. What could possibly go wrong?

It was a two-night event – Saturday at Christ the King Catholic Church, Ilasamaja, and Sunday at St. Francis Catholic Church, Idimu – both Jesuit-run parishes in Lagos, Nigeria. The halls were packed each night. You could feel the energy bubbling from the crowd even before we began. Young people had come from different parishes and campuses across the city, dressed in a mix of style and simplicity, but all ready for something joyful and unexpected.

As Director of Youth Ministry for the Jesuit North-West Africa Province (ANW), I spend a lot of time thinking about how to meet young people where they are – not just physically, but emotionally, socially, and culturally. And in the West African context, that’s no easy task. Many young people here are weighed down by unemployment, academic pressure, broken families, loneliness, and the rising lure of gambling, especially sports betting. Add the constant pressure to “keep up” in a digital world, and it’s easy to see why many of them are tired – tired but searching.

They’re searching for meaning, for joy, for faith that feels real and relevant. Not just sermons and silence, but something that stirs their spirit. That’s how the idea for Jokes and Cruise was born. A comedy show that would do more than entertain. One that would evangelize. One that would meet young people in joy and gently lead them into something deeper.

So, I gathered a group of talented Catholic youth comedians – young men and women whose wit is sharp but clean – and we added a Catholic magician (yes, that’s a thing), music, and dance. The event wasn’t just about having a good time. It was also a fundraiser – the money raised would support youth empowerment activities through the Youth Ministry Office and help subsidize participation in this year’s MAGIS encounter.

Now, you might be wondering – what does comedy have to do with evangelization? Well, on both nights, I think we all got our answer.

There was laughter, of course – plenty of it. Laughter that echoed through the walls and made people hold their sides. But there was also something more. There was healing. There was connection. There were young people who hadn’t set foot in a church in months – maybe even years – who walked in for the show and walked out feeling like they’d just had a spiritual experience. Laughter, it turns out, can be holy too.

That evening, I was reminded of a favourite Ignatian principle: finding God in all things – even in jokes, banter, stage lights, and awkward punchlines. Oh yeah! Even in the awkward moment when I fluffed a punchline and someone still laughed out of pity. I found God in that person who laughed out of pity for me. Comedy, like prayer, builds community. It disarms us. It makes room for vulnerability. It brings us face-to-face with our humanity and, sometimes, God slips in through the back door.

Yes, we raised funds. But the real win was something deeper. The young people felt seen and valued. The comedians and magician expressed deep gratitude for the platform to showcase their gifts within the Church. Sometimes, ministry is not about handing out resources – it’s about handing over the mic, giving people the stage, letting them know: “Your gifts are welcome here”.

One of the performers told me afterward, “Father, this was the first time I got to use my talent in church without feeling out of place”. That stayed with me. Because that is evangelization too – telling young people not just to come and listen, but to come and share.

Pope Francis, in Christus Vivit, reminds us: “Filled with the love of Christ, young people are called to be witnesses of the Gospel wherever they find themselves, by the way they live.” And sometimes, that witness includes punchlines and stage presence.

As a Jesuit, this whole experience made me feel deeply connected to our tradition – one that honours storytelling, creativity, and the arts. We’ve always gone to the frontiers – educational, spiritual, social – and these days, some of those frontiers include social media stages and comedy sets.

Jokes and Cruise with Fr. Slim wasn’t a gimmick. It was Gospel wrapped in laughter.

And my hope? That this becomes more than just an event. That it becomes a tradition. That more parishes, schools, youth ministries, and faith groups across our region (and beyond) find ways to bring laughter, music, and art into the heart of faith. Because joy is contagious. And our world – especially our youth – need more of it.

Because at the end of the day, laughter that brings us closer to each other – and closer to the God of joy – is no joke at all.