By Amb. Edith Isidahomen
The Bishop Catholic Diocese of Oyo, His Lordship, Most Reverend (Dr) Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo has called for a cooperative and collaborative measures such that would advance the Church as laid down by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Most Reverend (Dr) Emmanuel Badejo made the call at the 2023 Ibadan Provincial Annual Conference and Meeting held at St. Paul Pastoral Centre, Awe, Oyo.
The programme with the theme, “Synod on synodality: Its promise for a more inclusive church” took place from Friday 27th – Sunday 29th October 2023. With the theme: SYNOD ON SYNODALITY: ITS PROMISE FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE CHURCH”
According to him, the theme of the Synod has been explained to ensure that nobody is left behind in the workings of the Church aimed at advancing the growth of the church.
The conference, which started with an opening mass, was described by Most Rev. Dr Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo as a welcome development that will further advance the good course of the Church.
The Opening Mass, which had in attendance the Provincial Laity Chaplain Rev. Fr. Paul Akinyode, Rev. Fr. Anthony Olanrewaju, the Assistant Chaplain of Oyo Diocese Laity Council and Rev. Fr. Mathew Oladosu, the Priest in Charge of the Pastoral Centre.
In his homily at the mass, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo welcomed the Provincial Chaplain of the Laity, Rev. Fr. Paul Akinyode, the provincial president, Bernard Salako, with his executives and delegates from all the dioceses in the province.
His Lordship urged all the laity to work towards the progress of the Church, and this must be seen as a collective responsibility as being made known also through the just concluded Synod on Synodality.
He noted that for the first time in the history of the church, bishops are not the only ones called to dialogue and make decisions on the steps to take on the journey of the church as people of God.
He acknowledged the importance of the Laity Council in the development of the church, just as he urged them to strive to do their best and be proactive in the matters of the church whilst asking for encouragement from one another.
A series of talks which were delivered to the participants at the conference included topics like ‘Subsidy removal: implications on the nation’s economy and the Nigerian church.’ with insights from Mr. Dominic Taiwo – Programme Manager of Department of Politics And Human Rights — Justice, Development And Peace Movement (JDPM), Catholic Diocese of Oyo.
The Second talk titled ‘Synod on synodality: Its Promise for a more inclusive Church’ was given by Rev. Fr. Martin Badejo, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo.
Fr Badejo stated that the paper is focused on explaining what the Synod on Synodality is expected to bring to the table with precise attention to the local church especially in our province. He gave an explanation of the meaning of synod which he said means “coming together.”
The speaker laid emphasis on some keywords and issues of the synod of synodality, which are communion, participation, and mission, adding that the Church recognizes that the synodality is an integral part of her very nature.
“Being a synodal church finds expression in ecumenical councils, synods of bishops, diocesan synods, and diocesan and parish councils. There are many ways by which we experience forms of “synodality” already across the church. Yet, being a synodal church is not limited to these existing institutions. Indeed, synodality is not so much an event or a slogan as a style and a way of being by which the church lives out her mission in the world.
