News NEWS SERVICE OF CSNTHE CATHOLIC SECRETARIAT OF NIGERIA N300 VOL. 8 N0 40 September - December, 2019 Nigerian Catholic Students host 16th World Council Youth: The today & tomorrow of the Church HOLISTIC FORMATION SECAM Key @ 50: Counting The to Blessings our Extraordinary Mission Month Success Celebration Bishop Adesina takes over Ijebu-Ode Diocese Bishop Olawoore now incharge of Ilorin Diocese Port Harcourt gets first indigenous Bishop CONTENTS MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS FROM Inside CSN STABLE Editorial 3 Secretary General’s Desk 5 CSN Platform 6 CBCN Platform 14 Special Focus 68 Special Focus 77 Special Focus 85 Celebration Gallore 87 Celebrations 99 COVER PICTURES (CLOCKWISE) 1. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, PDP Presidential Candidate 2. President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR of the All Peoples Congress (APC) 3. Msgr. Patrick Eluke, Auxillary Bishop-elect of Port Harcourt Diocese 4. Msgr. Francis Obafemi Adesina Bishop - elect of Ijebu-Ode Diocese 5. Group photograph of Nigerian Youths at the 2019 World Youth Day in Panama EDITORIAL/ PRODUCTION TEAM Publisher - Catholic Bishops’ Reporters Published and Printed by the Directorate of Social Communications, Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Lucy Arogundade (Mrs) Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi- Abuja Steve Ofurum Editor-in-Chief - Rev. Fr. Zacharia CONTACT: Samjumi (CSN Secretary General) Secretary Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) Fidelia Angbalaga Editor - Rev. Fr. Chris N. Anyanwu Plot 459, Cadastral Zone B2, Southern Parkway, Production Officer Durumi, Abuja Deputy Editor - Emmanuel Eko Lagos Office: 6, Force Road, Opp. Tafawa Balewa Otunba JideFadugba-Phinheiro Square, Lagos. CSN NEWS September - December 2019 1 OFFICERS OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ Bishop John Niyiring OSA CONFERENCE OF NIGERIA, (CBCN) (Bishop of Kano) Laity PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS Bishop John Oyejola Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze (Bishop of Osogbo) Youth (Archbishop of Benin City) President CHURCH AND SOCIETY Bishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji Archbishop Matthew Man ‘Oso Ndagoso (Bishop of Umuahia & Apostolic Administrator of (Archbishop of Kaduna) Justice, Development, Peace & Ahiara diocese) Caritas Vice President Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza Bishop Camillus Raymond Umoh (Bishop of Yola) Health (Bishop of Ikot Ekpene) Secretary Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo MSP Bishop Charles Michael Hammawa (Bishop of Bomadi) Family & Human Life (Bishop of Jalingo) Assistant Secretary Bishop Peter Odetoyinbo DEPARTMENTAL EPISCOPAL CHAIRMEN (Bishop of Abeokuta) Education Bishop John Ebebe Ayah (Bishop of Uyo) Pastoral Affairs Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme (Bishop of Maiduguri) Migrants & Nomads Bishop Michael Ekwoyi Apochi (Bishop of Otukpo) Pastoral Agents MISSION AND DIALOGUE Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah Archbishop Matthew Man’Oso Ndagoso (Bishop of Sokoto) Mission (Archbishop of Kaduna) Church & Society Bishop George Jonathan Dodo Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (Bishop of Zaria) Dialogue (Bishop of Sokoto) Mission & Dialogue Bishop Michael Gobal Gokum Bishop Denis Chidi Isizoh (Bishop of Pankshin) Ecumenism (Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha) Social Communications Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke CBCN COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN (Bishop of Nnewi) Commission on Mission PASTORAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin (Archbishop of Ibadan) OPUS Securitatis Bishop John Ebebe Ayah (Bishop of Uyo) Pastoral/Liturgy Bishop Michael Odogwu Elue (Bishop of Issele-Uku) Police Chaplaincy Bishop Martin Olorunmolu (Bishop of Lokoja) Bishop Wilfred Anagbe CMF Biblical Apostolate, Religious Education, Catechesis (Bishop of Makurdi) Army Chaplaincy Bishop Anselm Umoren MSP CATHOLIC SECRETARIAT OF NIGERIA (CSN) (Auxillary Bishop of Abuja) Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi - Secretary General Pilgrimages/Synod/Congresses Rev. Fr. Chris N. Anyanwu - Deputy Sec. General/Director, Social Communications Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye Rev. Fr. U Obodoechina - Director, Church & Society/Executive Sec, CCFN (Auxillary Bishop of Awka) Canon Law Rev. Fr. Isaac Dugu - Director, Pastoral Affairs department Rev. Fr Michael Banjo - Director, Pastoral Agents department Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma Rev. Fr. J. Nomwhange, SMA - Director, Mission & Dialogue (Bishop of Orlu) Inculturation andTranslation department Rev. Fr. G. Ajana - Director, Pontifical Mission Societies Bishop John Okoye (Bishop of Awgu) Theology Bishop Matthew Audu (Bishop of Lafia) Ethics Bishop Donatus Ogun OSA (Bishop of Uromi) New Evangelization Pastoral Agents Bishop Michael Ekwoyi Apochi (Bishop of Otukpo) Clergy Archbishop Valerian M. Okeke (Archbishop of Onitsha) Seminaries Bishop Hilary Dachelem CMF (Bishop of Bauchi) Religious The Word of God is Alive ! CSN NEWS September - December 2019 2 EDITORIAL Also, at the meeting, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama; Co-adjutor Archbishop of Abuja and Apostolic Administrator of Jos Archdiocese was reappointed the President of the body for a second term tenure. Read more in our Story titled: RECOWA 3RD Plenary: Fighting the Cause of the “Tomorrow” of the World in the sub-Region Abeokuta Diocese: The Youth as the Future of the Church “Strategies to Overcome After the October 2018 special Synod of Bishops on the Youths and Vocation Discernment, held our Challenges” at the Vatican, the Holy Father Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Exultation, subsequent to the report of the synod fathers. The Holy Father’s beokuta Diocese, the host diocese for the 2019 Second message titled: Christus Vivit re-emphasized the Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria importance and relevance of youths as the future of the Church (CBCN), holding from September 11 to 20; is indeed nay the nations of the world; and the need to let them have a diocese basking in the glory of God, spiritually a say and play an effective role in the mission of the Church, Aand pastorally. Though a relatively young diocese in terms in the world, especially among their peers. In the document, of years of existence, she has made tremendous progress in Pope Francis outlined the invaluable roles of the youth in the terms of evangelization and reaching out with the Good News life of the Church and the need for the Church to give them a of Christ; as well as in terms of structural development and listening ear. Our story in this respect is titled: Catholic Youths; provision of facilities and amenities for the common good of The Today and Tomorrow of the Universal Church. the people of Egba and Egabdo areas of Ogun State, which constitute the diocese. The diocese is hosting the Catholic YCS hosts the world Church hierarchy in the country for the first time, on behalf From 30th August to 11th September, the Catholic Youth of the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province. In the interview with the Student hosted the 16th International Conference of the body Local Ordinary of the diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Kayode in Abuja. This is a plus mark for the youths of the church in Odetoyinbo, and other key functionaries of the Church, the Nigeria. Read more about this memorable hosting inside this CSN News magazine crew found out that in just two decades edition. of existence as a Sufrigan, Abeokuta Diocese has taken giant strides in all areas of activities, and the achievements on ground confirm that Christ is indeed with His Church in Ijebu-Ode Diocese Agog for new Local Ordinary this land of Egba and Egbado people of the Yoruba race. In The Clergy, Religious and lay faithful of Ijebu-Ode Diocese on deed the grace of God has been the strength of the diocese Thursday, April 25th, 2019; hosted dignitaries from different as disclosed by Bishop Odetoyinbo, who revealed that they parts of the world and the country on the occasion of the have evolved strategies to overcome the Challenges of the Episcopal Ordination and installation of their new Local diocese. Turn to our special focus interview on the diocese Ordinary, Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina. He is the third titled: On-Going Formation for Holistic Development, Key to Bishop of the Diocese. Bishop Adesina succeeds the former Our Success Story. incumbent who guided Christ’s flock in the diocese for about three decades; Most Rev. Albert Ayinde Fasina, now Emeritus of the diocese. It was a colourful ceremony; and the third of SECAM at 50: Counting the Blessings such in the 50 years history of the diocese. Our story on this Uganda, the home of the 22 African Martyrs, recently hosted memorable day is titled: Change of Shepherdship Baton in over 300 African Archbishops and Bishops and other delegates Ijebu-Ode Diocese. from different parts of the world for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). It was a memorable Bishop Olawore Takes possession of Ilorin Diocese reminiscence as the association officially inaugurated on In the same vein, the faithful of Ilorin Diocese rolled out the July 29, 1969 at Lubaga Cathedral, Uganda, by Saint Pope drums to rejoice with their Coadjutor Bishop, Most Rev. Paul Paul VI ; has gone in realizing the set objectives. It was also a Olawoore as he took canonical possession of the diocese as celebration to recall the progress of the Church of Christ on the new Chief Shepherd. The ceremony took place in Illorin the continent, guided by the continental body of the Church on 13th July 2019. He takes over from Most Rev. Ayo Maria hierarchy in Africa. Without doubt, the Church in Africa has Atoyebi OP; the former Local Ordinary, who retired after made tremendous progress in her evangelization apostolate, reaching the Church’s canonical age for retirement of Catholic under the collaborative efforts of the various Bishops’ Bishops. Read more inside this edition. Conferences that constitute SECAM. The success story of SECAM is validated in the fact that, Africa, the one-time Port Harcourt gets First Indigenous Bishop missionary continent now sends missionaries to the European History was made in the life of the Church in Port Harcourt nations that brought Christ to them. Read the story of this Diocese, when on Thursday, May 9, 2019; the Local Ordinary, invaluable celebration in this edition under the title: SECAM at Most Rev. Camillus Etokudoh led the faithful of the diocese in 50: Counting the Blessings, Invigorating the Faith. a memorable celebration of the Episcopal ordination of Most Rev.