UGANDA: Laity Advocate For More Collaboration Within Church
Thomas Adefolusho Adekoya, the President of the National Laity Council of Nigeria
The 18th Plenary Assembly and Golden Jubilee celebration of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) is almost coming to conclusion. The event is held in the Ugandan Capital of Kampala, under the theme, “Church-Family of God in Africa, Celebrate your Jubilee! Proclaim and Welcome Christ your Saviour, with over 300 delegates from Africa, Madagascar, Europe, America, Asia and beyond including 9 cardinals, 55 archbishops, 106 bishops, about 60 priests, religious men, women, laity and youth, representatives of various partners and selected institutions among others in attendance. Our AMECEA correspondent Jacinta W. Odongo conducted an interview with the President of the National Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria following his presentation at the Plenary on behalf of the laity.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF
My name is Thomas Adefolusho Adekoya, the President of the National Laity Council of Nigeria. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, which is the national office of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria, directed me to be part of the delegation that came to Uganda last week for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of SECAM thus, it’s for this reason that I got the honour to be here.
IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING THE SECAM PLENARY ASSEMBLY?
Yes, this is my first time because my tenure of office started in 2018. I am not very sure whether my predecessors have been attending any SECAM Plenary so, I think it is a great privilege for me to be included among the delegates which comprises of Cardinals, Bishops, priests, religious men and women as well as we the laity. We are only three delegates representing Nigeria.
YOU ATTENDED THE STUDY SESSION WHICH WAS HELD FOR TWO DAYS. WHAT IMPACT DOES THIS PARTICULAR SYMPOSIUM HAVE ON THE LAITY IN YOUR OPINION? WHO ARE THE GREATEST BENEFICIARIES OF THE PLENARY?
The structure of the Catholic Church and the Vatican II Council gave recognition to the lay faithful as an important aspect that we should be in collaboration with the priests and be involved in many Church activities. According to statistics, the number of the lay faithful in the Church is higher than the clergy; and from the laity we get the priests and religious men and women and that goes back to stress the importance of the family in the Catholic Church. Therefore, I think the laity people are the greatest beneficiaries.
Besides, most of the funding/ finances that support Church projects and activities usually come from the lay people including contributions for the expansion of Parishes, church institutions and other things. Therefore, lay people are an important organ that keeps the Church’s engine moving. In respect of the spirit of collaboration, there is no way the Church can be vibrant without the lay faithful.
BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAITY IN NIGERIA, THAT IS VERY BIG RESPONSIBILITY. NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SECAM DO FOR THE LAITY AFTER THIS CONFERENCE?
When I was given the opportunity to speak on behalf of the lay faithful in Africa, I advocated for two things: one is our recognition in this Symposium meaning all countries should have representatives of their laity councils in SECAM; from the parish level, to the denary, to the diocese, archdiocese and then to the national. Therefore, I am advocating for a pan-African Laity Council whereby, just like the African Bishops, we should meet annually to share and formulate ideas then present them as suggestions to the Church leaders for implementation.
Second, when I look at the political sphere, there are no priests who are politicians. But we can have many lay faithful who are elected as Heads of states, ambassadors, national speakers etc. Such people can bring the Catholic Social Teachings into governance hence bring good development agenda to the continent of Africa. We need the Catholic Church to give people guidance in so many things and the Catholic Social Teachings are the best that we could offer.
It is said that ‘We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.’ But how do we prefer salt when we are not doing our part in collaboration with the priests in the Church? I would like to encourage more lay faithful to join politics. If they join politics they can formulate positive ideas that will be beneficial to all citizens in the continent and in our respective African countries.
FINALLY, THERE ARE SOME RESOLUTIONS WHICH HAVE COME UP DURING THIS SECAM PLENARY ASSEMBLY. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DISSEMINATE THE MESSAGE TO THE FAMILY LEVEL AND GRASSROOT LEVEL WHEN YOU GO BACK?
This is exactly what I am driving at or advocating for that if we are given the opportunity, we could go back and feed our people with a lot of positive ideas that we have learned from this Symposium. The message cannot be said on the pulpit alone. We have the disposition to have them deliberated upon at different levels in parishes, deaneries, dioceses then region. Whatever we formulate, we will submit a report which will assist the Bishops and priests. If the laity are given that opportunity, they will do this.
However, if we are not given the opportunity to deliberate, then we will just listen. People must give their own ideas. It is from these ideas that reports will be coming out; this is what we suggested as our way forward.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Probably, I should have started with this. I want to congratulate the fathers of the Church in Africa for this occasion and for giving us this opportunity to be together with them and celebrate the Golden Jubilee of their Symposium. I want to wish them continuity of what they have started, and also to improve on it.
Besides, I would like to thank you the Press for giving me this opportunity of being interviewed so that I may be heard.
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