Ahead of Church’s 2025 Jubilee, Nigeria’s Consecrated Need to Review Charisms “in light of today’s realities”: Official

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the International Theological Conference, the InCLA Nigeria Director, Fr. Peter Okonkwo, said that “there is a great possibility that Consecrated persons may have derailed at some point, but it’s time to bring them back on track to live out the charism of their founders.”

Fr. Peter Okonkwo, Director of the Institute of Consecrated Life in Africa (InCLA), Nigeria. Credit: ACI Africa

“We are men and women of hope, moving forward together to renew our experiences as a people and as God’s family,” Fr. Okonkwo told ACI Africa during the November 8 interview, the last of the five-day theological convention realized under the theme, “Jubilee of Consecrated Life, pilgrims of hope on the path of peace”.

The Nigerian member of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretian Missionaries/CMF) emphasized, “Religious men and women, Consecrated persons, are called upon to reexamine their charism in light of today’s realities.”

Alluding to the theme of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope”, he said, “Even when the world sees no hope, we, as Christians, hope against hope. Our faith and trust are in God, not in earthly powers that may fail us. God remains faithful, and his kingdom will be manifest.”

Credit: ACI Africa

The planned 2025 Jubilee Year, Fr. Okonkwo said, is an opportunity for women and men Religious to “realign themselves with the Church’s mission, renew their dedication to the poor, and deepen their reliance on hope.”

This hope, he went on to say, is deeply rooted in faith and is essential in facing the present-day uncertainties.

“We must continue on our path as Religious, as Priests, and as people of hope, praying that the current hardships in our country will one day become a thing of the past,” he said.

Fr. Peter Okonkwo, Director of the Institute of Consecrated Life in Africa (InCLA), Nigeria. Credit: ACI Africa

In the November 8 interview with ACI Africa, the Director of the Consecrated Life Institute under the auspices of the Claretian Missionaries reflected on the objectives of and participants in the five-day International Theological Conference.

“This is one of the ways we are participating in the celebration of the Jubilee Year that will come in 2025. The conference brought together different Religious Congregations, male and female, to participate in the preparation for the Pilgrimage of Hope, which is the celebration of the Church’s Jubilee in 2025,” Fr. Okonkwo said.

Participants in the conference reflected on the option for the poor as a mandate for the Consecrated, the treasure of creation, and interreligious dialogue as a path to universal fraternity in Nigeria, among other subthemes.

Credit: ACI Africa

Held at the Abuja-based InCLA, the conference brought together 200 participants from 100 ICLSAL from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Ireland.

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In the November 8 interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Okonkwo noted that while founders of ICLSAL had reasons for settling for specific charisms at the founding of their respective Institutes and Societies, women and men Religious today need to adapt these charisms to contemporary contexts.

“If Jesus were here today, he would use modern tools, like PowerPoint, to preach. He used a donkey to travel in his time. It’s about finding what is urgent, timely, and important in our present reality,” Fr. Okonkwo

Fr. Peter Okonkwo, Director of the Institute of Consecrated Life in Africa (InCLA), Nigeria. Credit: ACI Africa

The 47-year-old CMF member underscored the importance of women and men Religious to pay keen attention to their respective charisms and spiritual gift in their apostolate, saying the charisms defines each Institute and Society. 

“The reason every Institute exists in the Church is because of that charism, which is the driving force behind their apostolate, life, and mission. Every Institute must hold fast and remain focused on that, ensuring that the charism continues to evolve and contribute to the development and strengthening of the local Church,” he said.

Fr. Okonkwo encouraged the Consecrated to deepen their commitment to service especially to the poor. Women and men Religious, he said, need to “find ways to uplift, support, and empower the poor. In Nigeria, in particular, we’ve seen male and female Religious get involved in various ways to uplift the poor around them. Their mission is often centered on the poor.”

Credit: ACI Africa

He said that the apostolate of women and men Religious goes a long way in helping “revitalize and uplift the downtrodden.”

In Nigeria, the CMF member said, “we see Religious Congregations establishing hospitals in rural areas and schools in remote locations. They live, work, and pray with the poor in these villages. This is an area we hope to strengthen as we approach the Jubilee Year.”

“Each Institute has a special commitment to the poor in its constitution, and although the poor have always been present, new ways of ministering to them have emerged,” Fr. Okonkwo said.

Credit: ACI Africa

“This conference is an opportunity to learn from each other to be better prepared to serve the poor as we enter the Jubilee Year of Hope,” he told ACI Africa referring to the planned launch of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year on December 24.

At the official launch, the Holy Father is set to continue the tradition of opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.