The Catholic Women Organization Nigeria, Lagos Archdiocese, CWONLA scored another first in its history as the organization had its Annual General Seminar through virtual means. In the past, every September, representatives from all the parishes in the fifteen Deaneries of the Archdiocese of Lagos, would converge at either Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, or Sacred Heart Secondary School Apapa or Holy Child College, Ikoyi for three days to pray together, discuss the way forward for the women of the Archdiocese and network.
However, with the sudden emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, making and restrictive measures all other programmes of the Annual Assembly had to be postponed. It was a welcome development, therefore, when the President of CWONLA, Barr. (Chief) Mrs. Philomena Omorodion announced that there would be a one day virtual seminar on the Zoom platform. Armed with the permission of CWONLA’s indefatigable Chaplain, Very Rev.Fr. Patrick Obayomi, and the support of the Rev. Sister Adviser, Sister Agnes Adepoju, Education Committee got to work. The PRO, Mrs. Gloria Young was asked to fine-tune the preparations and all went excellently well.
The Seminar was held on September, 19th, 2020, between 10a.m and 1pm, with over 76 members of CWONLA in attendance. The theme was ‘COVID-19: The Role of CWONLA in the New Normal.’ The conference started with the Opening Prayer said by CWONLA Chaplain Very Rev Fr Patrick Obayomi who afterwards welcomed everyone and officially declared the event open. The CWONLA President, Chief (Mrs.) Philomena Omorodion in her welcome remarks acknowledged the presence of the BOT Chairman, Dame Victoria Akran, the former CWONLA and CWONLEP President; Chief (Mrs.) Christie Kehinde and other elders that were in the virtual conference.
She also welcomed the CWONLEP Vice President; Lady Rosemary Okekeze and the immediate past President; Mrs. Esther Izokpu. She enjoined all the members at the conference to pay attention to the facilitators and She enjoined all the members at the conference to pay attention to the facilitators and heed their words as well as take notes for their respective Deaneries and Parishes . Next came words of Exhortation by Rev. Sister. Agnes Adepoju, the CWONLA Sister Adviser who encouraged the members to continue to be good mothers and take their health seriously. Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Dan Aigbona, C.Ss.R. of the Department of Philosophy, Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan; and Rev. Fr. Paul Ariole presented the respective papers. Rev. Fr. Dan Aigbona, a Redemptorist with a doctorate degree in Philosophy of God and Philosophy of Law dwelt on the topic titled ‘COVID-19: Role of the Catholic Women Organisation in The New Normal’ while Rev. Fr. Ariole spoke on ‘COVID-19 Pandemic: The Place of Christian Women Organisation of Nigeria, Lagos Archdiocese (CWONLA) in The “New Normal’.