The Fourth Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, holding from 16–22 November 2025 at Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, continues to provide deep pastoral and spiritual insights under the theme “Challenges of Faith Today”.
Day Three (Tuesday, 18 November) was filled with grace and powerful reflections. The day opened with Morning Prayer led by Very Rev. Fr Philemon Ugwu and a solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Most Rev. Dr Geoffrey Aguigwo, with the homily delivered by Very Rev. Fr Dr Wilfred Agubuchie.
A major highlight was the opening lecture by His Grace, Most Rev. Dr Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Abuja, on “The Abuse of Priestly Powers and Its Impact on the Laity”. The Archbishop distinguished the three forms of ecclesiastical authority, condign, compensatory, and conditioned power, and strongly cautioned that any abuse of these wounds the faithful spiritually and emotionally while damaging the Church’s credibility. He urged priests to lead with compassion, humility, and the servant-hearted love modelled by Christ.
Another deeply inspiring presentation came from Mr Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, who delivered the fifth lecture titled “The Role of the Church in Youth Empowerment and Community Development”.
Mr Obi lamented that Nigeria, despite its abundant natural resources, has become one of the poorest nations on earth and now has the highest number of unemployed youths globally. He described the country as having turned into “a crime scene” where the desperate pursuit of fraudulent wealth has destroyed the moral foundation of society.
He challenged the Church to become the nation’s moral conscience by deliberately forming young people in the virtues of hard work, honesty, integrity, and fear of God, and by actively empowering youth and communities to build a better future. “Only a radical moral reorientation led by the Church can save Nigeria from collapse,” he emphasised.
Other sessions throughout the day addressed priestly formation, contemporary gender ideology, Igbo funeral traditions, anti-clerical tendencies, the dignity of womanhood, the power of prayer, and the broader mission of the Church in national development.
The Synod continues with great enthusiasm, offering clergy and lay faithful a precious moment of renewal and recommitment to the Gospel in these trying times.
