THEME: Fostering Universal Missionary Spirit

1. PREAMBLE

The General Reunion of Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU) was held from 1st – 4th of October, 2024 at the Resource Centre, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, with the theme: Fostering Universal Missionary Spirit. The event was attended by PMS Directors, PMU Coordinators and members from different Arch/dioceses in Nigeria.

2. GRATITUDE

We are very grateful to the Almighty God for bringing us together as one family in mission. We equally thank him for sustaining us throughout the course of the reunion. His abiding presence made our reflections and deliberations fruitful. We are also grateful to His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Kaigama, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja and his Auxiliary, Most Rev. Dr. Anselm Umorem for providing us with a wonderful atmosphere for the events. We thank the PMS Episcopal Chairman, Most Rev. John Oyejola for his fatherly presence and support. We also thank the National Director, Fr. Solomon Zaku, Fr. Tobias Osigwe, the PMU National Coordinator, Sr. Sylvaline Obiezughara, the HCA National Coordinator, and Fr. Stephen Dumbiri, the SPA National Coordinator for their presence. We also thank our paper presenters for enriching us with their knowledge and for bringing to our consciousness our responsibilities as missionary agents.

3. PURPOSE 

The aim of the reunion was to bring all the members of the PMU from the different Arch/dioceses in Nigeria together to interact and share with one another on how to make PMU alive and active in all the Arch/Dioceses in Nigeria. It equally provided us an avenue for collective prayers as missionary agents and to share our experiences as missionaries. 

4. RESOLUTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS

I. Pontifical Mission Union as the Soul of the Pontifical Mission Societies: 

The Pontifical Mission Union of Priests and Religious, which is one of the four arms of the Pontifical Mission Societies is indeed the soul of the PMS in fulfilling the missionary mandate of the universal Church. PMU has the obligation to stimulate missionary formation and awareness among Priests and Religious and the lay faithful. In view of this, we resolved as follows:

1. That every Arch/Diocese should endeavor to have an active PMU and organize regular programs to keep the members abreast with their missionary responsibilities as mission agents. 
2. That the PMU members have the mandate to animate all the animators of the people of God for the mission by spreading and promoting the other branches of the PMS. The success of the other societies depends to a large extent on the vitality of the Pontifical Missionary Union which is the soul of the other Pontifical Mission Societies. 
3. That the PMU through prayer and mission cooperation, should foster Christian unity and put the Church in a State of Mission.

II. Collaboration among Priests and Religious in Nigeria: a sine qua non for mission

Collaboration entails working together to achieve a common purpose. This follows from the very fact that we are differently gifted, and harnessing our giftedness and perspectives ensures great progress in every adventure. Therefore, for effective mission to take place there must be a mutual collaboration between the agents of evangelization. In view of these, we resolved as follows: 

1. That collaboration is at the heart of the mission of the Church, and all mission agents should be conscious of the goals of mission.
2. That for collaboration to be more effective, the missionary agents must work with the right intentions, eschewing competition and the desire to dominate or control.
3. That individual’s gifts ought to be recognized, respected and properly utilized. 
4. That all should work towards a renewed bond of mutual trust, apostolic solidarity and fraternal harmony. 

III. Reviving the authentic missionary zeal and spirit

Missionary work entails daily activities and experiences. In view of this, there is need therefore for us to renew our commitments daily to the mission entrusted to us. In the light of this, we resolved as follows:

1. That we should not get stocked to the old ways of doing things in our missionary works but should update ourselves with the trending events in our environments. 
2. That we should evaluate our places of apostolate, interact with the environment, know the people we are sent to work with, and their challenges. 
3. That we should move away from the mindset of conquest to dialogue to be able to achieve more in our missionary work. 

CONCLUSION

The PMU general reunion, with the theme: Fostering Universal Missionary Spirit, is quite timely, especially in the world of secularism, where the zeal for the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ appears to be dwindling. We resolved within ourselves to work in collaboration with our bishops and other mission agents to keep the flame of mission alive in us and to improve on our mission animations. We commend our endeavors into the Lord, the master of the vineyard to guide us towards the effective implementations of our resolutions. May the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, enlighten us to embrace the mission entrusted to us. We pray that through the intercession of Our Blessed Virgin Mary, the Star of Evangelization, our deliberations and resolutions made in good faith may be put into practice and bear abundant fruits. 

Rev. Fr. Solomon Patrick Zaku                                                                                 Rev. Fr. Tobias Osigwe

National Director, PMS                                                                                     National Coordinator, PMU 

Most Rev. John Oyejola

CBCN Episcopal Chairman,