New Owerri, Nigeria. The Claretian Missionaries of East Nigeria Province held a one-day seminar and workshop for its 17 Local Superiors on 30 March 2023 at the Provincial Curia in New Owerri. The Local Superiors from the northern missions, however, did not join because they will have the same program later in the year. 

The workshop, the first of its kind after the celebration of its VIII Provincial Chapter in June 2022, is a fulfillment of what the Province dreamed for during the Chapter. It was aimed at equipping the Local Superiors to be able to animate their communities and revitalize the zeal of the members of the community. It is also to inject new life into the communities, to empower the members for more involvement and dedication in their different apostolates. Likewise, it is to help them grow individually and as Claretians responsible for themselves and the communities in mission with the shared dream of going forth audaciously into the peripheries to evangelize and to enliven the propagation of the Gospel.

The Provincial Council members animated and moderated the workshop. The different Prefectures took turns to present the different sections of the Provincial Action Plan derived from the VIII Provincial Chapter Document. The numbers 102 to 110 of the  Constitutions of the Congregation were explained to them, emphasizing on the vocation which superiors receive – animate with love, patience and dialogical spirit–, and the vocation of leaders. They were invited to work in communion, with one heart with their respective local communities, their Province, the universal Congregation and the universal Church at large.  

At the workshop, the participants had the time to discuss in groups and express ideas on ways to enhance living out the pure and authentic call to be rooted and audacious in mission as a Province, their Chapter goal. They appreciated the experience in delightful ways and expressed their eagerness to have such animated encounters often. 

Lastly, they were given a copy of the Dream of the Province, placed inside a frame, as a symbol of a collective sharing and unified acceptance to put all necessary arsenals to make it happen. The event ended with a shared meal.

Source| Fr. Dominic Ukpong, CMF, Provincial Secretary, East Nigeria.