Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord:
TO ALL PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS WORKING IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LAGOS, AND THE LAY FAITHFUL;
1. THE MONTH OF JULY: I warmly welcome you all to the month of July 2022. This month falls within the Liturgical season of the Ordinary Time of the Year. The season is chiefly marked by the hope it offers, hence, the colour green, used at this time in the Church, signifies growth and life. Ordinary Time is a season which follows Christ’s Ascension into heaven after his resurrection; a season where as Christians we await our own resurrection, a season of sowing in the hope of reaping, a season where we are expected to put into practice the Christian virtues which flow from Easter. In this month we celebrate the following feasts: St. Thomas the Apostle (July 3rd), St. Maria Goretti (July 6th), St. Mary Magdalene (July 22nd), St. James (July 25th), Ss. Joachim and Anne (July 26th), St Ignatius of Loyola (July 31st). As we rejoice in the communion of saints, may we imitate their virtues so that we can join their company when the time comes.
2. THE MUSTARD SEED (New Catechism Book): This is a new catechism book approved in the Archdiocese for preparation of children for the Sacraments of Baptism/First Holy Communion. The book is now available and is sold for N800.00 per copy. All parishes should contact the Religious Education Department: 08108846869, 08066224284.
3. LEADING FOR MISSION SEMINAR: The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos began the Leading for Mission Seminar for all priests in 2019 since when over 80% of the clergy completed the leadership enhancement programme. There is an annual opportunity for new priests and others who have not completed it to do so.
In order to make training easier, from now on we have decided that rather than going to a parish centre in each deanery for the training:
i. All parishes with a minimum of 50 lay leaders are to organize and mobilize all their leaders to be trained by the LFM Team in the premises of their parishes. We expect the Deans to work with the LFM Team and parish priests in order to come up with a schedule that completes the training of all parishes in one year. Parish priests and the Parish Laity Council executives in each parish will provide the required logistics.
ii. The Deans and Deanery Laity Councils and the Archdiocesan Laity Council and the Director of the Lay Apostolate Centre are to coordinate the trainings in the deanery level and Archdiocesan levels respectively. We expect the training of the leaders at each level to be completed within one year.
iii. We expect everyone concerned to support the timely and smooth completion of the programme by suspending or at least minimizing other programmes targeted at the same group or running at the same time as LFM Seminars so that we can conclude this intensive stage successfully.
We are grateful to Deans and parish priests and ask them to continue to play their assigned roles so we can achieve our goals of growing more engaged parishes and spiritually-committed Catholics in the Archdiocese. May God bless you as you contribute to developing more spiritually-committed servant leaders for our common task of evangelization.
4. ARCHDIOCESAN EDUCATION WEEK: This will take place from Sunday 3rd July, 2022 to Sunday 10th July, 2022. Please take note.
5. PRACTICAL SEMINAR FOR TRIBUNAL FACILITATORS: Please be informed that there shall be an urgent and practical seminar for all our tribunal facilitators on Wednesday 13th July, 2022 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland at 10:00am prompt. Let all those concerned please take note.
6. SINGLES’ DAY WITH THE ARCHBISHOP: This annual Archdiocesan event organized by the Directorate of Catholic Lay Apostolate Centre in conjunction with the Archdiocesan Young Christian Workers Movement (YCW) comes up as follows: Theme – To be joyfully single as a Christian in an African Society. Date: Saturday, 20th August, 2022. Venue: St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Yaba. Time: 10:00am. Fee: N 1,500.00 (per delegate).
This event shall begin with the opening Mass by His Grace, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos; reception follows after. For advertisement/support/sponsorship in the brochure please contact the Director’s office: 08077003036, WhatsApp: 08026156606.
7. 36TH ARCHDIOCESAN YOUTH DAY (AYD-IPAJA2022): The celebration of the 36th Archdiocesan Youth Day will hold on Sunday the 17th of July, 2022. The Holy Mass starts at 10am at Command Day Secondary School, Ipaja.
8. PRIESTLY ORDINATION: By the grace of God, the Priestly Ordination for the year 2022 will take place on Thursday 4th August, 2022, at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos at 10:00am. Let us continue to pray that the Lord would send faithful servants to work in his vineyard.
