In our journey exploring First Indigenous Ceremonies, we begin with the Anishinaabe breathing ceremony, beautifully described by Ojibwe storyteller Richard Wagamese. Breath is more than biological—it is spiritual. This sacred ceremony connects us to the Creator, to all of creation, and the sacred rhythm of the universe. It is the first ceremony because breath is the first gift we receive. It reminds us of our time in the womb, hearing the steady breath of our mother and...
Can someone be both deeply Christian and deeply rooted in Indigenous spiritual traditions? This article explores how these two spiritual paths can coexist — not through compromise, but through relationship, ceremony, and mutual respect. This question still resonates: Can Indigenous spirituality and Christianity live side by side? Some say yes, others no. But I believe they can — and more than that, they can mutually enrich one another. This isn’t about erasing differences. It’s about...
A call to challenge the ongoing presence of Christ’s crucifixion in today’s world, challenging silent spirituality and calling for an active, living memorial that confronts injustice and suffering.
“NA” is one of the most essential words in the Igbo language. Despite its apparent simplicity, “NA” plays a vital role in Igbo Grammar. It is written in different ways depending on its role in the sentence. NA bu otu n’ime mkpụrụ okwu di ezigbo mkpa n’asụsụ Igbo. Ọ na-arụ nnukwu ọrụ n’ụtọ asụsụ Igbo. Ọ di ụzọ di iche a na-ede ya n’ahiriokwu. Ọrụ na na-arụ n’ahiriokwu gosiri etu a na-ede ya n’ime ahiriokwu....
The caste system is an artificial construction, a fixed and embedded ranking of human value that sets the presumed supremacy of one group against the presumed inferiority of other groups on the basis of ancestry and often immutable traits, traits that would be neutral in the abstract but are ascribed life-and-death meaning in a hierarchy favouring the dominant caste whose forebears designed it. I’ve watched countless historical films and documentaries, yet not...
At the recent graduation ceremony for the Digital Faith Influencers Program, Bishop Godfrey Onah of the Nsukka Diocese delivered a powerful message to the young leaders present. He urged the African Catholic youth to take up a new kind of mission—one that embraces both the challenges and opportunities of the digital world. In his address, Bishop Onah highlighted a paradox: while the digital world is central to modern life, it remains on the outskirts of the Church’s...
Ecumenism and Synodality are about more than structures; they’re about relationships. In today’s diverse Christian landscape, collaboration and unity are essential to promote evangelization and foster a deeper sense of shared mission within the Church. Ecumenism and Synodality are about more than structures; they’re about relationships. As the African Palaver Conversation series wraps up, African Catholics are seeking to broaden their connections with other Christian communities. Today’s final synodal conversation brings us Professor...
Dans une époque marquée par la division et les conflits, l’Église se dresse comme un phare d’espoir, une famille où l’unité peut se réaliser par la force de la responsabilité partagée, une co-responsabilité. Lors de la 13e série des Conversations Synodales Africaines, un appel retentissant a été lancé : la co-responsabilité est la clé pour unir l’Église dans sa mission pastorale et synodale. Le vendredi 30 août 2024, près de 200 participants...
Only by uniting the Church through genuine collaboration can we build a future where all voices—bishops, clergy, and laypeople—truly shape our shared mission. Uniting the Church: The Testimony of an Engaged Laywoman Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – During the 13th series of the African Synodal Conversations, focused on the theme “Co-Responsibility in Pastoral Ministries and Leadership in a Missionary and Synodal Church,” nearly 200 participants, including bishops, clergy, religious, and lay Catholics from...
Co-responsibility in a synodal church means uniting leaders and laity to embrace their shared mission. In the African context, it calls for an authentic expression of faith, where every member plays a vital role in shaping a Church that truly reflects its people and values. During the 13th Synodal Palaver conversation organized by Pactpan in collaboration with COMSAM, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, spoke with a heart full of conviction...
