Major Superiors in Nigeria Urge State to “be proactive in ameliorating sufferings"

“We also acknowledge the signing of the electoral bill,” CMSN members say in the statement at the end of their conference that was held under the theme, “Intergenerational Dialogue: Towards Building Synergy in Consecrated Life in Nigeria.”

“We are enjoined to be faithful to the prayer and encourage all Nigerians of voting age to collect their PVCs, go out to vote and to vote for credible candidates, shun election rigging and violence, vote buying and selling,” they add.

In their January 13 statement, CMSN members “recognise the great value in dialogue as a way of penetrating different generations and building synergy” and call on Consecrated persons and all people “to embrace dialogue”.

They go on to highlight some recommendations for true and concrete dialogue in Nigeria, and call on the people of God in Africa’s most populous nation to “engage in intergenerational dialogue in order to promote peace, unity and to resolve conflicts.”

CMSN members also advocate for the promotion of “mutual respect and kindness starting from our families, religious communities and the society at large.”

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“There should be openness to the language of different generations for better understanding,” they say, and add, “There should be sincere and honest interaction among individuals.”

They further say, “People should be more intentional about intergenerational dialogue by creating opportunities for it, integrating dialogue in initial and ongoing formation.”

Making reference to Pope Francis’ address to young people and the elderly in 2018, CMSN members note, “Dialogue demands trust between the participants who need to listen to one another, share different views, reach agreement and work together. This is especially important between generations – between the keepers of memory – the elderly and those who move history forward – the young.”

They encourage every person “to work towards this synergy. Like the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4: 1-25, we encounter the Christ that talks and listens to us and enables us to discover ways to break barriers that separate us, foster unity and togetherness in our world.” 

CMSN members implore, “May God give us the grace for sincere dialogue and for genuine peace. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Nigeria, continue to intercede for us.”

Participants in the weeklong conference that concluded on January 14 discussed credible ways to improve evangelization through intergenerational collaboration.

At the end of the January 8-14 conference, Fr. Anthony Ikechukwu Kanu of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in Nigeria was elected president of CMSN for next two years.

Fr. Anthony Ikechukwu Kanu of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in Nigeria elected president of CMSN. Credit: Courtesy Photo 

“God’s grace and wisdom will lead the way as we shepherd the affairs of the Conference of Major Superiors of Nigeria to the glory of God and the salvation of souls,” Fr. Kanu who serves as the Superior of OSA in Nigeria has been quoted as saying.

Other executive council members of CMSN include Fr. Cletus Kpalap, (vice president), Fr. Thaddeus Dom, (councilor I) and Fr. Nathaniel Ek (councilor II). 

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Fr. Theophilus Hwande is to head the public relations department, while Fr. Kingsley Okereke is to serve as financial secretary. Others include Br. Godwin Biin who is to serve as treasurer, and Fr. Gregory Ezeokeke, CMF, the new CMSN secretary. 

Established in 1970 in response to a call by Pope Pius XII in 1950 to Religious Orders to come together to form national associations, CMSN is the umbrella body for all male Consecrated persons in Nigeria, and seeks to foster collaboration among male Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life in Nigeria.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.