ONLINE WORKSHOP ON “INTERCULTURALITY: COMMUNITY AND MISSION ORGANISED FOR CLARETIAN SEMINARIANS

ONLINE WORKSHOP ON "INTERCULTURALITY: COMMUNITY AND MISSION ORGANISED FOR  CLARETIAN SEMINARIANS
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Owerri, Nigeria. The Provincial Prefecture of Formation, East Nigeria Province organised a workshop on “Interculturality: Community and Mission” which was held on March 11, 2024, from 16:00 to 18:30 hours. It was an online workshop which integrated all the formation houses of the Province (viz. CIP Nekede, Attakwu Theologate and the Novitiate at Utonkon), and also incorporated missionary priests and students residing beyond the borders of Nigeria.

The Vicar of the Province and Prefect of Formation, Rev. Fr. Ekwujuru Stanislaus CMF, who moderated the meeting, gave an opening remark in which he made reference to the CMF XVI General Chapter document which emphasized the need to embrace the intercultural dimension of community living.

Among the speakers was Fr. Okorie Maximus CMF (working in Ghana) who recommended patience, tolerance, openness and adaptation to the people’s culture, language, and food as a way of living the missionary life. Fr. Omale Martin CMF (working in Germany) advised that a missionary should do away with bias and prejudice when encountering a new people and their culture. Fr. Okafor Innocent CMF (working in Chad) made an impactful remark that an intercultural community is indeed a rich community. Students Eze Richard (Equatorial Guinea), Nimo Douglas and Anadu Philip (both in Spain) related how their minds have been exposed to a new way of seeing things and a new way of thinking. The participants asked some intelligent questions after each speaker made their presentation. Apt and practical responses to these questions were also given.

Rev. Fr. Ekwujuru Stanislaus CMF expressed his gratitude to the speakers and all the participants of the workshop. He further stated that listening and mutual dialogue are key factors to understanding and working efficiently in a new terrain. Overall, the workshop highlighted the importance of patience, understanding, tolerance, and openness in fostering interculturality in community and mission. It served as a platform for meaningful dialogue and reflection on the richness of cultural diversity in today’s globalized world, as we are a ‘congregation going forth.’

 

by: Moses Abang and Joseph Ugwu.

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