February 13, 2025
CSNNews News Nigeria

Work is salvific, a contribution to humanity – Msgr. Obiora Ike

Work is salvific, a contribution to humanity – Msgr. Obiora Ike

By Rachel Kogi, CSN

Staff of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) and all agencies of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) commenced retreat at the CSN in Abuja on Thursday, January 5, 2023 to start up the 2023 working year.

Focused on the theme, “Work, a divine vocation,” the Retreat Director, Very Rev. Msgr. (Prof) Obiora Ike, during the two sessions on day one, took the participants through the intrincasies of work, based on the Catholic teachings as enunciated in Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation, “Laborem Exercens.”

He noted that “all work is a contribution to humanity; it is salvific, an advantage to others.” He emphasised that “when work is done wrongly, everybody suffers.”

Msgr. Obiora shared five fundamental points regarding work, drawn from ‘Laborem Exercens’, noting firstly that work is an activity of the Creator, and human beings are called to be co-creators.

CSN SG, Fr. Samjumi in a tรจtรจ ร  tรจtรจ with Msgr. Obiora Ike

Secondly, since human beings are called to work, work is not a transaction. It is a vocation, a transformation. Thirdly, human work unites the global family, therefore not working means depriving others.
The fourth point focused on the spiritual dimension of work; that every work is a participation in the cross. The Retreat Director explained that every work is configured to Christ, the Carpenter who carried the cross.

Lastly, work was explained as a fundamental dimension of man’s existence; the fulfilment, joy, reward that comes with work.

During his homily at the Mass, Msgr. Obiora applauded the CSN for being a witnessing and praying community, reminiscing on how the organisation has grown over the years.

The erudite Professor, during the second session dwelt on the two dimensions of work; the subjective dimension which focuses on the human person and the objective dimension which refers to all the things that make up the work environment. He suggested the development of a work policy to protect the rights of staff of the CBCN agencies.

The sessions closed with discussions around challenges to work, which took the form of tribalism, ethnicism, attitude to work, abuse of power among other things.

Day two of the retreat on January 6, will feature the third session, penitential service,ย  confession, Rosary and consultation, the Holy Mass and close with social activities.

Click below to listen to views from some of the participants.

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