The Catholic Lay Apostolate Centre of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos in conjunction with Apostolate of Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and St. Pio Prayer Group organizes the 2015 Lagos Archdiocesan Lay Leader's Seminar/Workshop with the theme: Leadership: A call to consecrated Life and a part to Holiness. The seminar/workshop was held today May 2, 2015 in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Isolo Lagos. The event started with accreditation of delegates from all the parishes, organizations, societies, groups in the Lagos Archdiocese.
In his welcome address, the parish priest of the host parish Rev Fr. Ethelbert Arua, OSJ opines the call to consecrated life and holiness as related to the year of consecrated life is for all as leaders in the church and general life of everyone. The duty to change the negative lives of those around us and those whom we lead must emanate from our efforts at positively inspiring and impacting on them the right tenets of leadership.
Also the Dean of Isolo Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Matthew Ogunyase gave his welcome address and reminds delegates that every lay leader is a collaborator with the clergy and as such they exercise through their office one of the three fold functions of Christ namely; kingship. Lay leaders are like Christ to serve and not to be served.
The Director of Lay Apostolate Centre. Very Rev. Fr. Innocent Opogah equally gave welcome address. He urges the delegates to have a conscious reflection on a personal conviction to understand the work ahead and have sense of accountability in the discharge of duties as the theme and topics for deliberations are very much inward looking.
The keynote address of the chief host; the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Revd Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins was delivered by the moderator, Very Rev. Fr. Mike Umoh. His address confirms leadership as a divine gift, human responsibility, a call to consecrated life and path to holiness. Leaders are expected to give back to the church community as a call of unique invitation to live in love with God and in the service of humanity. Similarly leaders have responsibility to one another and the responsibility is to lead one another to God.
A twelve page paper was delivered in thirty minutes by the first speaker Rev. Fr. Fidel's A. Labor, OFM., Cap., titled: Humility - the mark of true leader (follow me and I will make you fishers of men) ( Matthew 4:19). In his lecture he explained that humility gives a leader openness to holiness, honesty and humility is a mark of a true leader, if people like you they will listen to you. He further enumerated the attributes of a successful humble leader as; dangerous trust, sincere investment, gentle but strong, readily admits mistakes, forgive easily, quickly diverts attention, remains thankful, recognizes limitations, shares authority and invites feedback. From the above he fashions out some benefits of successful humble leaders as its makes a leader more persuasive, gives leader the courage to set aside personal gain(s) for the good of others, it gives a leader the character to respond charitably when attacked, criticized or even rejected, it gives a leader openness to be honest with the followers and change course if necessary and it gives a leader the capacity to lead out of a position of strength. There is strength in humility.
The second paper was delivered by Mrs. May Ohaedoghasi on Leadership a Panacea for Christian Moral Living. She relates leadership as old as from the beginning when Christ as a good shepherd and leader, so also was Moses, Joshua, David, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa etc. such leaders were successful because they possess some constant factors in their character like courage, integrity, purposefulness, selflessness, humility, and reverence for the Lord
No comments:
Post a Comment