Department of Church and Society, CSN

To the glory of God and for the salvation of souls, the partners and Units of the Church and Society Department (Education, Health, Justice Development and Peace Commission, Family and Human

Life, and Migrants and Refugees) met for their Annual General Meeting  from Tuesday 19^th to Friday 22^nd November 2024 at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Resource Center, Durumi, Abuja on the theme Promoting the Catholic Social Teaching as Vehicle for Socio-economic and Political Reorientation in Nigeria. 

We thank God for this opportunity to meet and discuss this aspect of our apostolic mandate. Amongst the sub-themes discussed were positively impacting the socioeconomic policies and politics of our nation through advocacy, soft diplomacy and lobbying, active involvement in reforming our nation, a call to action towards 2027 general elections, employing the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) for social transformation, and the plight of IDPs in Nigeria.

Rising from our annual general meeting, we resolved as follows:

1. Nigeria is at a most critical point in history and in dire need of socio-economic and political reforms and reorientation.
2. Catholic Christians all over the country (clergy, religious and lay faithful) are to recognize afresh the power and influence we collectively possess as citizens of our country. 
3. It is our collective duty to bring this power and influence as a people of God to bear in working for socio-economic and political reorientation in Nigeria, beginning at the grassroots level, using the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
4. These reforms and reorientation could be best achieved through education about CST and applying its timeless principles anchored on the pillars of human dignity, the universal destination of goods, solidarity and subsidiarity, the Common Good, etc. across all levels of society.  
5. That the Church and Society should pay special attention to efforts targeted at alleviating hunger. Citizens are encouraged to engage in concrete actions aimed at improving food security as we continue to pray for better times.
6. The task of advocacy and action for political reforms is not the exclusive preserve of human rights activists in the country. It should involve all Nigerians including the Church, as part of her role of prophetic witnessing for a just and progressive society. 
7. Catholic faithful at all levels, but most importantly those at the hierarchy, should deepen their respective commitment to being the moral conscience of the nation, the voice of the voiceless and the help of the helpless in our country which is currently marred by endemic injustice, impunity and gross disregard for the rule of law.
8. As a Synodal Church, in keeping with the precepts of CST, while addressing issues of socioeconomic and political development in the country, we are to sufficiently take care of ourselves in plans and actions aimed at serving the Common Good.
9. Conscious of the fact that true and sustainable change is only achievable through collective action, we resolved to continue to foster collaboration with interfaith and community-based organizations using CST as a catalyst for social action.
10. Nigerians are to move away from the huge disillusions and disappointments following the widespread irregularities of the 2023 general elections. We are to work out and implement actions for social reorientation and reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. We must STOP AGONIZING AND START ORGANIZING.
11. That the Church and Society work towards implementing urgent action plan addressing the needs of IDPs and refugees in our country paying special attention to advocacy for policies and increased funding for the care of internally displaced persons (IDPs), deepening coordinated charity support from parishes and dioceses including providing educational, health and psycho-spiritual support for them.
12. Foster operational collaboration among the Units of the Department of Church and Society especially at the diocesan and provincial levels in order to maximize efforts and programme impact. 

Participants numbering about 150 from across the country were grateful to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and Caritas Nigeria including Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, PhD and Rev. Sr. Rosanna Emenusiobi who have served their terms creditably.

Signed:

Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, PhD         

Director

November 28, 2024