DRE, Ibadan Archdiocese

The Holy Father Pope Francis last year declared the Jubilee year from December 24, 2024 to January 6, 2026, with the Theme ‘Pilgrims of hope’ emphasizing the importance of Hope and Trust in God’s promises. It is a time for spiritual renewal, mercy and abundant grace coupled with various events for Catholics of different walks of life.

In line with this declaration, the National Directors of Religious Education (NADRE) at her annual conference held in January 2025, chose the theme ‘Do not lose Heart: Awakening pilgrims of Hope’ - 2 Corinthians 4:16 for this year’s Catechetical week coming up on the 5th of October through to the 12th of October 2025. This is an annual event in the Catholic Church, all over Nigeria. Catholics all over the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan are encouraged to participate actively in their various parishes as the issues to be deliberated on daily basis will be spirit filled as well as hope restoring.

The first day of the programme will address definition of concepts and suggested activities.

The second day will take care of the Biblical background to 2 Corinthians 4:16.

On the third day, we shall examine renewal and restoration of hope in our troubled times while the fourth day will feature the Dilemmas and challenges of the Nigerian pilgrims of hope. On the fifth and sixth day, our attention will turn to the factors militating against the pilgrims of hope and way forward respectively.

Beloved lay faithful, let us afford ourselves this spirit filled encounter and rise up to the challenges of our times, focusing on renewing our faith, trust and hope in God.

We are children of God. Believers in his words, hence we cannot afford to live in despair for our God is a God who can deliver and liberate us from the current difficulties staring us in the face.

I wish you all a Spirit-filled 2025 Catechetical week celebration.

 

Director of Religious Education

Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan

Rev. Fr. Clement Emerue