AFRICA/NIGERIA - National Mission Congress; "A very successful event of great importance for the Church in Nigeria", says the Director of the PMS

Monday, 4 November 2019 extraordinary missionary month  

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "The Congress was a very successful one, in comparison to the third one, in terms of attendance and active participation by the cross section of the faithful of the Church in Nigeria", said Fr. George 'Segun Ajana, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Nigeria, at the end of the Fourth National Mission Congress held from 22 to 27 October at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Center, in Benin City, capital of the State of Edo (see Fides, 24/10/2019 and 26/10/2019).
The Congress, which was attended by 350 delegates (including 30 Bishops) from the 9 Ecclesiastical Provinces of Nigeria, with the theme "Baptized and sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in Nigeria", which resumed that of the Extraordinary Missionary Month. The last day of the congress was in fact dedicated to the closing of the Extraordinary Missionary Month. The closing ceremony was attended by 2,500 faithful from the host archdiocese.
On this occasion the life and virtues of Vivian Ogun, the young girl who refused to be defiled by the criminals who kidnapped her. She was one of the 25 people identified as people of exemplary Christian life for the Extraordinary Mission Month, was brought to the attention of the faithful.
"Of particular interest was the number of the members of the Church’s hierarchy, present at the congress and the increase in the number of lay faithful participants. The determination and resilience of the participants at enhancing evangelization in the country and ad extra was very encouraging and a clear indication that the Church in Nigeria is progressing gradually in her missionary apostolate, even in the face of persecution and other challenges", stressed Fr. George. "For the Church in Nigeria, the light at the end of the tunnel, in the context of her evangelization apostolate is very bright and encouraging", concludes the National Director of the PMS. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 4/11/2019)


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