IJEBU-ODE 2022 DIOCESAN PASTORAL SEMINAR WAS A HUGE SUCCESS
By Rev. Fr. Anthony Adetayo
The Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode began her 2022 Diocesan pastoral seminar on Monday 28th November 2022 and ended it on Friday 2nd December 2022 at Louis Bautain Retreat Center, Ijebu-Itele.
The purpose of the Pastoral seminar is to encourage participants to become more pastorally inclined and particularly, faithful pilgrims in servant leadership as this year’s team suggests.
The program was made up of many sessions of Holy Mass, Divine Office, talks, evaluation and proposals for the following pastoral year.
In attendance were the Bishop of the Diocese; Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina, all the Priests and Religious that are pastorally engaged in the Diocese.
It began with a Bible Enthronement, and the Bishop’s official opening of the seminar, with a declaration that the Pastoral Diocesan seminar is a synodal process of listening to one another and pastoral efforts made by the Priests. Hence, he encourages active participation.
The plenary session focused on the theme: “Good Leadership and Administration skills for Pastoral Fruitfulness”. This topic was delivered by Rev. Fr. Ugo Nweke and aimed at enhancing and improving leadership skills as pastors by influencing the people of God positively in order to attain salvation. It was attended by all Priests, Religious and 2 lay faithful from every parish and institution.
Other sessions attended by only the Priests throughout the week include evaluation of all Parishes in the Diocese, curbing liturgical abuses among Priests and Laity, revitalizing the Education Department, supporting the Social Communication commission on production of The Partner Newspaper, support for the Promotion office and Finance Department. Others include lessons from the National Pastoral Congress, rebuilding St. Sebastian Cathedral and creation of new parishes across the Diocese.
The program ended on Friday 2nd December 2022 with the Bishop expressing his words of appreciation and imparting his episcopal blessing after the Holy Mass. It was indeed a fruitful period of praying, evaluation and planning.
