Fr. Richard OMOLADE

This article is written to give us a peep into an aspect of our Church life, that is, the organization of events. From what I witnessed from two engagements with the CBCN, let me say, FAITH, PREPARATION AND WORKING TOGETHER are keys to accomplishing success.

When the people of faith gather, then, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. At the beginning, things may seem difficult but once we realize we are not working for ourselves but for God, and then we entrust all things into God’s hands, the impossible becomes possible because obstacles will be removed, new paths will open up and necessary items will be provided. We must have faith and allow it to guide all our activities. Without faith even the best of resources will not accomplish much.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) plenary may be technically a meeting programme, but it is also our celebration of faith and much of the activities are faith-filled  and inspiring, from the meeting of Bishops across diverse cultures, to the incredible out-pouring of faith among the people seeing their Bishops, many of whom they may never see again. It is also out of their faith for God that people contributed resources that enable dioceses to host Bishops annually. Because of faith, ordinary people make incredible sacrifices so that things can be done, and success may be accomplished.

If we have faith and do not prepare, failure will be loud and catastrophic. We must prepare and starting on time is an essential aspect of preparation because late preparations could also lead to confusion and chaos. Whether preparing for the CBCN conference holding in Abuja or dioceses, great amount of preparation is always essential.  Osogbo has just finished hosting and they prepared for more than two years. Jos Province is going to host the next 2nd Plenary for 2027, I understand they have been preparing for three years. Yes, three years, because there is a lot to be done, from building new structures, to raising funds and generally understanding what is expected of a hosting diocese.

When things work out faultlessly, it is because adequate preparations have been made and every little detail has been taken care of. For instance, ensuring constant power supply is a big task, hence Generating sets have to be purchased and made ready for maximum utilization. The diesel to be used must be purchased, and all the connecting wires examined to ensure connectivity. Even then, one must not forget to get a Mechanic standby incase anything goes wrong. Someone must be in charge of the entire process, and he must have reliable people under him to ensure success.

The same is true of Laundry department. Laundries have been provided in each participant’s room but that is the least of the task. Workers have to pick up laundry bags every morning label them for easy return and ensure that all the clothes in their varieties are washed and ironed and then returned to the appropriate room. Imagine doing that for about a hundred guests with most of them being Bishops. Success in this area means that a lot has been put into the preparation stage to ensure people know what to do and how to deliver on time. In the area of cleanliness, it is to be expected that the avenue for Bishops’ gathering ought to be clean and inviting. Gardeners were on top of their task, raking leaves before they accumulate. Waste baskets were carried periodically to ensure that even filth was not visible, and as you know, filth does not walk, someone has to carry it, and this was done diligently.

The Bishops also visited many places and some events occurred at different locations. Apart from seeing the faith of the people, the people also expressed generosity to their visitors. These are the people who had been taxed already during the preparation stage, yet, seeing their fathers in the faith, they showed more generosity. This is commendable.

Sometimes, Bishops are perceived to be rich, but they are rich in people and to the extent they can rely on their people for all that they need for their pastoral engagements, then they are rich. But if the people are not willing to give, then there is very little the Bishops can do. For our people to be generous, pastors of souls must educate the people on the importance of giving and then show transparency in the way the funds received is used. This will encourage the people to give more.

While I could easily treat the next topic under faith, but the concern is about the solemnness of the liturgical celebrations. On weekdays, Choirs from different parishes sang at Mass and they were polished, professional and solemn. They did not allow an instrument to dominate neither did the members of the choir or any instrumentalist compete for relevance that quite often turns into nuisance. For the choir to be blended, and solemn, countless hours must have been put in.

The people of God is already a formidable group. We would even be more powerful if we remain united and work together to accomplish our goals.  Quite often, as with many groups, only a handful of people get things done. Organizational success depends on everyone putting in their best.  With the recent Bishops Conference, there were many hands working behind the scene, from cooks to cleaners, to seminarians serving drinks or attending to Bishops. They worked together for the success of the Conference. If one section had suffered significant lapses, it could have adversely impacted the whole conference. Priests and lay people must work together to accomplish their goal. This is not only possible, but also necessary.