By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

The Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode successfully organized its Annual Pastoral Seminar from November 25 to November 28, 2025, at the Louis Bautain Retreat Center, Ijebu-Itele. The seminar was held under the timely and significant theme: “Formation, Participation and Collaboration of the Laity in a Synodal Church for Impactful Evangelization.”

The four-day event saw full attendance and active participation from all priests working in the Diocese, while members of the laity joined the crucial plenary session, underscoring the Church’s commitment to the synodal process.

Seminar Highlights

Day 1: Setting the Foundation (November 25)

The seminar commenced with a spiritual tone, featuring the solemn Enthronement of the Bible, symbolizing the centrality of the Word of God in the Church’s mission. The event was officially opened by the Diocesan Bishop; Most Rev. Francis Obafemi ADESINA, whose Welcome Address set the stage for the discussions. The day also included a Colloquium and the start of a crucial Parish Evaluation Exercise among the participating deaneries.

Day 2: Deep Dive into Evaluation (November 26)

The second day was dedicated to continuing the extensive Parish Evaluation Exercise across more deaneries. This internal assessment aimed to review the pastoral activities, structures, and effectiveness of evangelization at the grassroots level.

Day 3: The Laity Takes Centre Stage (November 27)

Day three marked the eagerly anticipated Plenary Session, which was distinguished by the full participation of the Laity. The session featured two key seminar papers dedicated to strengthening the role of the faithful in the Church’s mission:

1. “Building a Culture of Co-responsibility: Deepening the Participation of the Laity in the Mission of the Church.” This paper explored practical ways to foster a shared sense of ownership and responsibility between the clergy and the lay faithful, a core element of a synodal church.
2. “Formation of Laity and Lay Apostolate Groups: Pastoral, Doctrinal and Spiritual Dimensions.” This second presentation focused on the necessary spiritual, theological, and pastoral formation required to equip the laity and their groups for effective apostolate and evangelization.

Day 4: Resolutions and Way Forward (November 28)

The final day focused on bringing the discussions to a practical conclusion. Priests engaged in further evaluations based on the insights gained throughout the week. The seminar culminated in the adoption of Pastoral Resolutions and a voting exercise by all the Priests, laying the groundwork for the implementation of the seminar’s outcomes across the Diocese in the coming year.

The annual seminar is viewed as a significant step by the Ijebu-Ode Diocese in implementing the spirit of synodality, where the clergy and the laity walk together, to ensure a more collaborative and impactful evangelization mission.