BY FR. JOHN ARULEBA

Lagos Ecclesiastical province held its maiden Floating Institute of Missiology From 10th-13th September 2024 at Christ the King College Odo-lewo Ijebu-ode Diocese.
Floating Institute of Missiology is a mission Formation course endorsed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria for the mission animation, formation and cooperation of the People of God in Nigeria. It started in 2012 at National level. It is now being implemented at provincial level by the Pontifical Mission Societies.
The Formation session in Lagos province was attended by representatives from all the dioceses in the province, namely: Abeokuta, Lagos, and Ijebu-ode.

During the programme, six different papers related to Mission were presented. Topics treated include: Introduction to Missiology: situation of mission in the world, Biblical foundations of mission, Ecumenism and Inter Religious Dialogue, Church History, New Evangelization and Missionary Enterprise in Lagos Province and the role of Pontifical Mission societies in Evangelization.

The Formation session ended with commissioning mass which was celebrated by the National Director of Pontifical Mission societies, Very Rev. Fr. Solomon Patrick Zaku. During the homily , he reminded them of their call as missionaries and their obligation to preach the good news. He challenged them to live exemplary lives and share what they learned with others.

It was a successful event that got participants challenged to rendering missionary services for a world in need of it more at this moment.