A Schoenstatt Priest, Rev. Fr. Kingsley Okereke has admonished the Ibadan Archdiocesan Young Christian Workers Movement to be the light and hope amidst the current challenges in the world particularly in our country, Nigeria. He gave this admonition while delivering a talk as the Retreat Director at the Annual retreat of the Movement with the theme "JOURNEYING IN HOPE WITH CHRIST; Making a Difference in the Light of Economic Reality in the Country" held on Saturday, 18th January, 2025 at the Schoenstatt Fathers Community, Ijokodo, Ibadan.

Fr. Kingsley began by commending the organizers of the retreat for choosing the venue for such a spiritual exercise as the community remain a pilgrimage center for all which houses the Marian Shrine for every form of spiritual activity and more importantly choosing a theme which is in line with the theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year "Pilgrims of Hope" as declared by the Holy Father.

He noted that as young individuals, they remain the future of the Church, hence, the need to be properly educated, nurtured and be guided in the faith in a bid to safeguard the future of the Church. He affirmed that the Jubilee Year is a period of renewal and reconciliation while highlighting what the period entails to include engaging in personal preparation through prayer and reflection, participating in Parish and Archdiocesan lined up activities, visiting designated pilgrimage centers, focusing on works of mercy and charitable initiatives, understanding the Church's doctrines and sacred traditions etc.

He urged the participants to be instrument of hope, emulating the life of the founder of the Young Christian Workers Movement, Fr. Joseph Cadijn who at time past discovered and fought against the injustices and unfair treatment melted on workers, also alluding to the worrisome statistics of chronically depressed individuals and those who had taken their lives on the basis of a lost hope in the country and the world at large, adding that the good life of a Christian worker should be felt amongst colleagues, family, circle of friends, business places and wherever they are found, that journeying in hope with Christ is to be witnesses to Christ more with our way of lives by giving that hope the world needs. “You may not be the best as a member of the Young Christian Workers but be different in spite of the current social/economic reality in the country”, stressing that the society is sick and therefore needs hope and light to illuminate our darkened world. If you cannot help, then don't hinder, be patient, show love and care no matter what, he added. The talk was then followed by question and answer segment.

The retreat had earlier featured exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, confession, praying of the rosary and singing of solemn hymns and Benediction. The retreat was concluded with the Holy Mass celebrated by the Retreat Director.

The President, Mr. Millan Onoriode in his speech, appreciated the Retreat Director immensely for his time and encourage the members to keep upholding the movement's methodology of "see, judge and act" that the intent of the retreat coming earlier was to set the tone for other activities mapped out for the year.

After the Mass, participants were shared into groups for the Review of life on Paternal theft: Causes, Effect and Solutions after which submissions were received from various groups and the session was round off with a closing prayer.