Browsing Category: Opinion

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...

In the context of Vatican II, the bishop’s role has always been central to the unity of the Church, primarily through Lumen Gentium and Christus Dominus. Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of Freetown stresses, “The bishop’s leadership is vital in guiding the faithful and ensuring that the Church’s mission is fulfilled in a spirit of communion, participation, and mission.” He further emphasizes that this leadership is essential in a Synodal Church, where bishops...

Reforming Communion: The Role of Papal Representatives  In The Heart Of The Ongoing Synodal Conversation Led By The Pan-African Catholic Theology And Pastoral Network, The Relationship Between Papal Representatives And The African Church Takes Center Stage. The Dialogue, Ignited By A Presentation From Nigerian Theologian Fr. Idara Otu, MSP, Delves Into The Intricate Dynamics Of A Missionary And Synodal Church. As Africa’s Bishops Grapple With The Challenges And Opportunities Presented By These Relationships, The...

In Nigeria, a land rich with diverse cultural and spiritual expressions and locally inspired spiritual charisma, the Catholic Church faces a unique challenge: how to embrace and nurture home-grown spiritualities that resonate with the lived experiences of its people. Last Sunday, during the announcements in a Church I attended in Ottawa, we were asked to pray for a group of youth embarking on a spiritual journey to Taizé, France. This announcement was...

A bishop’s role is defined by his mission to mirror Christ: to ignite the world with His light and ensure it blazes for generations. The Divine Call: A Bishop’s Mission to Mirror Christ During the tenth Synodal conversation hosted by the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network and Confederation of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar, participants discussed critical aspects of the bishop’s ministry, including criteria for episcopal selection, judicial functions, and the nature of...

Facing 90 seconds to midnight, the world stands on the brink of nuclear catastrophe. Have we truly learned from Hiroshima, or are we repeating history’s darkest moments? 90 Seconds to Midnight: The Ominous Reality of Our Nuclear Dilemma” In a world teetering on the edge of catastrophe, the nuclear threat looms more prominent than ever before. This is a portrait of the current state of our society as depicted by Prof. Alex...

Journeying Together: Synodality as a Way of Life The second Synodal conversation, organized by the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network and the Confederation of the Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar, occurred on June 14, 2024. The event, centered around the theme “The Synodal Missionary Face of the Church Family of God in Africa,” brought together leading voices in African Catholicism, including Bishop Anthony Borwah of Liberia. The bishop emphasized the importance of “journeying...

In the complex world of Church governance, where do the lines between diocesan authority and religious independence blur? This question isn’t merely bureaucratic; it strikes at the very heart of the Church’s mission—evangelization and embodying Christ’s values. As Mutuae relationes highlights, “the mutual relationships among the various members of the People of God are drawing special attention today.” As the Church strives to revitalize its mission, redefining these relationships has become an...