Nigerian Bishops to begin second plenary assembly of 2023

By Sr. Titilayo Aduloju, SSMA

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) will hold its second plenary meeting in Abuja, the federal capital of Nigeria.

The assembly, which will be held on 10-15 September, is preceded by a meeting of the bishops with major superiors of religious congregations in Nigeria, as well as with several Catholics of the Abuja province.

The meeting will begin with an Opening Mass to be celebrated by the CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, on Sunday, 10 September, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.

The official opening ceremony of the assembly will be held at the same venue with all the Nigerian Bishops and Diocesan Administrators.

The enthronement of the Holy Bible will introduce the opening session, which will be followed by an opening address from the chairman and a welcome address by the CBCN president.

The leaders of various Christian Churches in Nigeria, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, Prelate of the Methodist Church, Dr. Oliver Aba, as well as some government officials have convened several messages of goodwill.

Daily activities are scheduled to begin with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass with Lauds, followed by the Bishops’ session for the day.

Various ecclesiastical provinces, CBCN units, and the departments of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria will report to the assembly about their recent activities.