The 3rd National Pastoral Congress of the Catholic Church in Nigeria commenced Tuesday, November 8, 2022, as delegates, in their numbers, arrived at the ancient city of Benin City, Edo State. Waiting to receive the visitors at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre was the Archbishop of Benin City, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Bishop Donatus Ogun (OSA) of Uromi Diocese, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Rev. Fr. Edwin Omorogbe with some priests of the Archdiocese, and the Director of Pastoral Affairs of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ayanleke Banjo. Some of the participants already on ground include John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Peter Cardinal Okpaleke, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishops Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos, Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of Kaduna, Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Abuja, Emeritus Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. Alaba Job, many other Bishops, Officers and Staff of the Catholic Secretariat led by the Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Zacharia Nyantiso Samjumi, Rectors of Seminaries, Priests, Religious and Laity from different dioceses across the country.
After a solemn Vespers, the delegates had dinner and retired for the day. Wednesday, November 9, 2022, the programme started by 6am with the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and morning prayer, while the official Opening Mass started by 9am and the Opening Session thereafter. Among other things, the Opening Session, under the Chairmanship of Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Chevalier Dr. E.J.S. Uujaamhan, commenced with the Enthronement of the Word of God, addresses by the Host Archbishop, CBCN President, the Sultan of Sokoto and the State Governor. The revered Oba of Benin, HRM, Oba Ewuare II was also present on the occasion.
