Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Giving a new impulse to the missions abroad on behalf of the Catholic Church in Nigeria was the aim of the two-week Orientation Program held at St. Benedict’s Monastery, Ewu-Ishan, in Edo (Nigeria), organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies in collaboration with National Missionary Council of Nigeria. The program was held from the 7th to 19th April 2008 and ended with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the local ordinary of Uromi diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubueze, assisted by the National Director of PMS, Msgr, Hypolite Adigwe and the Prior of the Monastery, Rev. Fr. Vincent Mordi.
In organizing the course, the local Church of Nigeria has assumed responsibility as part of the universal Church, for the universal mission of the whole Church by forming and sending out missionaries. It was also meant to strengthen communion between Nigerian missionaries ad extra and the local Church of Nigeria and to help those who have already discerned their missionary vocation.
The program touched on core issues of Missiology, like the theological and Biblical foundations, Conciliar and Post-Conciliar documents on mission and how these can be translated to mission in the contemporary world. Other issues that were treated include: Inculturation and Evangelization of Cultures, Globalization, the Use of the Media in Evangelization, Justice and Peace, Peace Building and Conflict Resolution with other sociological issues and problems facing Nigerians abroad as well as erstwhile practical problems surrounding visas, health, insurances etc...Lecturers were drawn from various church institutions and universities.
“Being a Nigerian missionary is not easy and the need to feel supported by the home Church is vital,” Sr. M. Lucella Ukaegbu, IHM, Secretary PMS National Office in Nigeria, told Agenzia Fides. “The symbol of the commitment of the entire Nigerian Church to support the missionaries was manifested in the Mass presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubueze. In his homily, the Bishop noted that the mission of Jesus Christ, the Son of God can be seen in two phases: missio ad intra and missio ad extra. His is first directed inwardly to the people of Israel. The prior and fundamental mission was to the Chosen People of God, for they were chosen precisely to bring the message of the Good News to all people. Building upon the first phase, Christ, after his resurrection, gave his apostles the mission to go forth and be his witnesses... ‘to the end of the world.’”
Bishop Akubeze thanked the new missionaries for their generosity in accepting the mission entrusted to them and urged them to be good ambassadors and to make us proud as Nigerians.
The 20 new missionaries will be sent to other countries of the world covering Africa: Burkina Faso, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, Angola, and South Africa; Europe: England, Asia: Pakistan and Oceania: Australia.
The PMS National Director, Msgr. Hypolite Adigwe, expressed great satisfaction with the missionary spirit exhibited by the participants and said that this is a good beginning for the young Church in Nigeria. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/4/2008; righe 41, parole 497)
