…resolve to collectively drive the goals of the conference – Fr. Zachariah
Staff of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) and agencies of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), have today, January 9, commence the 2024 annual staff retreat at the Catholic Secretariat premises in Abuja, with the theme: “Deus Caritas Est: Working together to manifest God’s love.”
In an interview with CSN Media on the sidelines, after the morning prayer of day 1, the Secretary General of CSN, Rev. Fr. Zachariah Nyantiso Samjumi, disclosed that the retreat is aimed at reminding the various agencies that their work is to participate in mission of the Church to evangelize and drive the goals of the conference.
“As we participate in the mission of the Church, we are called to be the light. We are gathering to team up to collectively drive the goals of the conference. We are not working at cross purpose, we are not competing, it is not about who is bigger or smaller, but that all this segments come together to define what the CBCN stand for. So it is to bring that understanding of togetherness to bear, so that the love and message of Christ will show.”
“Christianity exist for love, the coming of Christianity is to civilize the human mind, the mandate of the Church is to go out and evangelise. So that humanity will come to know God, and knowing God is to love him, to serve him and be with him in paradise.”
Emphasising on his retreat message to the staff of the CSN and the agencies of the Bishops Conference, the Secretary General, warned against parasitic mentality with regards to work and service. He admonished them not to place personal love above the love and commitment to work, but to prioritize the organization’s growth and development in the spirit of love and sincerity.
The Human Resource Manager of CSN, Rev. Sr. Miriam Bernardine Ikeji DDL, thanked God for being the source of everything they do. She stated that it is just right that to begin with God, so they can end well with him, and added that such is the reason why every year the CSN deems it fit to organise this retreat for a divine beginning with God.
The Chairperson of the retreat exercise, Lady Amanda Amadi who is also a Technical Advisor of CCFN, noted that the gathering is to avail them the opportunity to reflect on their shared visions and pray for the grace to actualize their goals in the light of the love of Christ whom they serve. She also added that the 2024 retreat hopes to offer a unique experience, considering the choice of the theme and the versatility of the retreat moderator.
Besides the CSN, other CBCN Agencies are present for the ongoing retreat are: Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), Veritas Travel Agency, Opus Securitatis, Salus Trust, CSN Investment Concept Limited (CICL), Veritas University of Nigeria, Abuja (VUNA), Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), National Catholic Service Centre (NCSC),CSN Resource Centre (CSN-RC).