What is a Synod?
A Synod is an ecclesiastical assembly where a local church and its congregation convene to prayerfully reflect upon their blessings and the fundamental message of the Good News. They subsequently respond with faith-based perspectives to their pastoral challenges. Clearly, a diocesan synod is an "assembly" of selected priests and other members of Christ's faithful of a particular Church which, for the good of the whole diocesan community, assists the diocesan Bishop" (Can. 460). In fact, the purpose of the diocesan Synod is to assist the Bishop in the exercise of the office proper to him, namely, that of governing the Christian community.
FOURTH ENUGU DIOCESAN SYNOD 2025
Overview
In a world increasingly shaped by technology, shifting ideologies, and the erosion of traditional and religious values, the Catholic Church in Enugu Diocese is gearing up for a historic gathering that renews its pastoral zeal in dealing with these emerging trends. The 4th Enugu Diocesan Synod with the theme Faith and Practice in Enugu Diocese: Opportunities and challenges, slated from November 16 to 22, 2025 is being heralded as a pivotal moment for the Church in Enugu to confront emerging societal and religious challenges head-on.
According to the Decree of Convocation of the Fourth Enugu Diocesan Synod (2025) by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callitus Onaga on 19 May, 2024 (Solemnity of Pentecost), “ The Diocesan Synod is an expression of the Church as a people of God who are in communion with one another, journey together in faith and participate actively in the mission of Christ, in accordance with the condition proper to each (c.204) and with the aim to offer assistance to the diocesan Bishop for the good of the whole diocesan community” (c. 460)
It is good to know that the last (Third) Diocesan Synod for the Catholic Diocese of Enugu (2013) convoked by Bishop Onaga under the theme: “Renewing the Mission and Identity of the Church in Enugu Diocese in Service to Integral Education, Reconciliation and Human Development” was in fact a success. Within the last ten years, the diocese has implemented its synodal declarations and decrees for the growth of the Christian faith and overall development of our Diocese.
Reflecting on the need for the 4th Synod of Enugu Diocese after 10 years, the Decree of Convocation of the Fourth Enugu Diocesan Synod states: since the last Diocesan Synod was convoked, the manner of living out the Christian faith in the society, and among the Clergy, Members of the Consecrated Life and the Laity, has tremendously changed. New pastoral challenges, new questions and dangers concerning our faith in everyday life have emerged, especially in the face of the new developments in the social media and the revival of idol worship (neo paganism) in our local society. Therefore, after prayerful reflection and due consultations with the Presbyteral Council and other participative organs of the Diocese, and following the provisions of cc.460-468, I hereby convoke the Fourth Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, which will begin on November 16, 2025 and end on November 22, 2025”. To be sure, the Fourth Enugu Synod reflects the contemporary challenges to Christian faith in our society, with the aim of proffering practical plans and guides for authentic Christian Life.
The Fourth Enugu Diocesan Synod was convoked with the inauguration of the Synod Preparatory Committee (SPC). The Synod Preparatory Committee constituted by the Bishop and chaired by Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke is to assist the Bishop in matters pertaining to the organization and preparation of the Synod in accordance with the “Instructions on Diocesan Synods”(1997).
Downloadable Documents
FOURTH ENUGU DIOCESAN SYNOD 2025
Members of the Synod Preparatory Committee (SPC) includes:
- Rev. Fr. Christian Anieke Chairman
- Rev. Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie Diocesan Chancellor/Secretary
- Rev. Fr. Liberatus Isife Synod Secretary I
- Rev. Fr. Anthony Aneke Synod Secretary II
- Msgr. Obiora Ike Member
- Msgr. Anthony Anijielo Member
- Rev. Fr. Alfred Emeka Nwoye Member
- Rev. Fr. Michael Chime Member
- Rev. Fr. Ikechukwu Ani Member
- Rev. Fr. Joseph Uche Nnajiofor Member
- Rev. Fr. Joseph Ahukanna OP Member
- Rev. Fr. Cletus Obasi CMF Member
- Rev. Fr. Joseph Ezechi Member
- Rev. Fr. Matthias Odigbo Member
- Deans of the Deaneries Members
- Sr. Mary Benedicta Odoh DDL Member
- Sr. Mary Gloria Iloka IHM Member
JOURNEY SO FAR
First Phase: Lineamenta (working guideline)
Quite frankly, the diocesan synod is an opportunity for deep reflection, dialogue and participation. After the convocation of the synod last year 2024, the SPC gathered informed imputs, issues and suggestions from Clergy, members of the Consecrated life, and Lay faithful in the Diocese which were proposed for deliberations by the SPC from which the Main Synodal theme and sub themes were derived upon the approval of the Diocesan Bishop, – Hence, Faith and Practice in Enugu Diocese: Opportunities and Challenges.
In order to position the diocesan synod in the right participatory perspective, it was expected that the faithful should respond to these issues contained in the themes of the Synod. The initial document, known as the Lineamenta, provides guidelines for generating meaningful responses concerning the Synod’s themes. Clearly, the Lineamenta contains questions generated from the sub-themes of the 2025 Synod. The SPC ensured that the Lineamenta reached the people of God in the deaneries, parishes, houses of formation, institutions, and religious houses in order to collate responses to the Lineamenta before 30th November 2024. These responses from God’s people to the questions posed in the Lineamenta aided in the preparation of the Instrumentum Laboris, a working document for the Synod.
Second Phase: Instrumentum Laboris (working document)
The Instrumentum Laboris (IL) contains responses to the Lineamenta examined thoroughly by members of the Synod Preparatory Committee for the purpose of generating thoughts, profound discussions, and prayerful discernment during the Fourth Synod of Enugu Diocese (16 to 22 November 2025)
Parishes, academic institutions, houses of formation, religious communities, and sons and daughters of the Diocese in the diaspora have discussed the questions raised in the Lineamenta intensively and in the spirit of Christian charity as the apostles did in the gospel (Acts 15: 6-21). The responses of the people of God in the discussion and listening phase are indeed the fruit of sincere and respectful dialogue under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
The first phase of the discussions focuses on deepening our faith, while the second phase centres on opportunities to practise it. The last phase deals with the challenges of faith practice. The dynamic nature of the discourse on the Lineamenta gives the people of God in Enugu Diocese the opportunity to draw closer to one another and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit (Rev. 3:22), who opens Himself to us in our prayerful reflection.
Third Phase: The Synod (Paper presentations and Interventions)
It is hoped that the Instrumentum Laboris will assist all invited speakers and delegates as well as all participants during the Synod Deliberations (16th – 22nd November) in the synod to understand what has already been discussed at all levels in the Diocese in order to present papers or make interventions that, in the light of the Holy Spirit (Galations 5:25), will lead to fruitful resolutions during this Synod. The synodal proceedings, declarations and decrees which will be implemented immediately after the synod, is collated immediately after the synod in a document called THE SYNOD ACTA.
Furthermore, the purpose of a synodal process is not to produce documents but to open horizons of hope for the fulfilment of the Church’s mission. Therefore, the Fourth Synod of Enugu Diocese offers us the opportunity to reflect on the practice of our faith, inspiring an awareness of opportunities and challenges in the practice of our faith today.
