Very Reverend Father Simeon Irabor is an exceptional missionary priest. Born and raised in Lagos, the Diocesan Priest of the Archdiocese of Lagos has come a long way in the Pontifical Missions of Societies (PMS) in the Archdiocese. He celebrated 15 years as a priest this year. Fr. Irabor is in his second strata of service in PMS having been retained and elevated to the office of the Director in 2021 after eight years of serving as the Assistant Director. Father Irabor was at the Cathedral on Sunday to celebrate the Holy Mass in commemoration of the Mission Sunday in the Archdiocese of Lagos. In this interview, the PMS Director speaks on Mission Sunday, essence, theme of this year’s edition as he also gives a vivid description of PMS, its functions, projects and contemporary issues. NETA NWOSU reports.
What is Mission Sunday? Why was it conceived? How has it impacted in realization of the Church’s mission?
To adequately delineate mission Sunday, it is essential to decipher ‘Mission’ in the light of its Catholic Tradition and worldview. Scripturally, mission has always been a spirit – driven and directed venture. Obviously, it calls to mind the mandate of our Lord Himself to His Disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”. (Matt 28:19). Fundamentally too, the last but one Sunday in the Month of October (also known as Mission Month) is designed as Mission Sunday every year. It is a special Sunday in the Church’s calendar that the work of Evangelisation of peoples is focused on through Prayers, financial support (universal solidarity funds), and charity. Why was it conceived? It was conceived to foster missionary spirit and co – operation. With these in mind, Pope Pius XI in the year 1926 instituted the World Mission Sunday (WMS)
How has it impacted on realization of the Church’s Mission?
The Mission Sunday; that is universally celebrated in the Catholic Church has no doubt amplified the mission enterprise, especially in mission territories of the globe in no small measure as well as bringing to the consciousness of Catholic Christians the urgency of evangelization both locally and internationally. The Theme for 2021 Mission Sunday is “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard”.
What do you think informed the theme? What message is Pope Francis trying to communicate?
Without trying to be a mind – reader, I would think that the theme for this year’s World Mission Sunday is informed by the inexplicable ‘Love of God’ – ‘Amor Dei’ in Latin. The Pope declares, “We all experienced the power of God’s love in one way or the other. Consequent upon this, the Pope invites us to share the love we experience with one another always, especially during this Pandemic. This is unequivocally, the message that Pope Francis is communicating – Universal Solidarity in love of God.
How would this theme stimulate the lay faithful to further actualise the mission of the Church?
This theme is very apt due to its perilous and precarious situation the world finds itself. The civil unrest and economic inadequacies in the human family, ecological imbalances, militarism and so on. In the Pope’s words, “Even so, things were not always easy; the first Christians began the life of faith amid hostility and hardship”. Experiences of marginalization and imprisonment combined with internal and external struggles that seemed to contradict and even negate what they had seen and heard. Here is the stimulant for the lay faithful: “Yet, rather than a difficulty or an obstacle leading them to step back or close in on themselves, those experiences impelled them to turn problems, conflicts and difficulties into opportunities for mission”. This is how the lay faithful can certainly bear good fruits by entrusting themselves to God. (Evangelii Guadium, 279)

What does Mission Sunday mean in the Archdiocese of Lagos? How is it usually celebrated in this Archdiocese?
Mission Sunday means a lot in the Archdiocese of Lagos as it concerns the twenty Deaneries with the Deans championing the activities of the day under the spiritual guidance and mentoring of our Amiable Archbishop. The Priests, Religious (Male and Female) and the general Catholic faithful are elated to support the Church’s mission. Interestingly, it is celebrated with the Prayer; the Holy Mass, contribution of funds amidst funfairs courtesy the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) in most Parishes showcasing Eucharistic dances and presentation of gifts. It is always colourful and eventful.
Who is a missionary? How would you rate the missionary works of the Archdiocese of Lagos compared to other climes?
This is not an academic memoir, therefore I would like to explain who a missionary is in the words of Rev. Fr. Paolo Marina, the founder of the Pontifical Missionary Union. For Fr. Marina, all the baptized, but above all, every priest “is by his very nature and by definition a missionary”. No wonder the motto of The Pontifical Missionary Union is “All Missionaries” (We are all missionaries). Succinctly put, Every Baptized Male or Female in the Catholic Church is a Missionary. The missionary works of the Archdiocese of Lagos compared to other climes is very robust since the Archdiocese is a “super – cosmopolitan community”. It is a microcosm of the universal Church. In this wise, the deployment of collaborative efforts cannot be over emphasized. As it were, the spirit of missionary co – operation amongst Priests, Religious, Catechists and others is enshrined.
What are the challenges facing missionaries in Nigeria, especially as it concerns COVID-19 Pandemic?
There are myriad of challenges facing missionaries in Nigeria before the advent of COVID-19 pandemic and with COVID-19 pandemic the challenges have escalated. Firstly, lack of proper understanding of the Church’s missionary enterprise with its antecedent set-backs. Secondly, lack of commitment due to ignorance. As the Latin dictum puts it “nemo dat quod non habet”, that is “you cannot give what you don’t have”. Thirdly, lack of funds to execute meaningful mission projects to facilitate mission progress. Fourthly, non-challant attitude towards missionary activities as a result of laziness. Fifthly, the health risks in and around mission territories. Sixthly, poor communication networks because of inadequate facilities to enhance missionary works. Seventhly, the prevalence of insecurity due to insurgencies and hostility to the Christian Faith in some geographical locations in Nigeria. It is instructive to mention that the “COVID-19 pandemic caught many Archdioceses, Dioceses, Parishes and other church organizations unawares. As many were scrambling to respond to the new challenges of having to carry out the mission of the Church in an era that necessitated the banning of close physical contacts of the people”. Recapping the words of Very Rev. Fr. Martin C. Anusi during the Study Session of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) Directors at the Archbishop A.K Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno, Awka, Anambra State.
How are missionaries utilizing the new technology to enhance evangelization in Nigeria?
Doing this has always been a need in the mission of the Church. Now, what the COVID-19 pandemic did was to make it an urgency. My honest opinion is that missionaries are now aware of the importance of the new technology in the form of Zoom, YouTube, WhatApps, Facebook or (Faithbook). Others include Instagram, Telegram and so on. The Television and Radio means of propagating the Faith cannot be brushed aside. A vivid example is the Lumen Christi Television Network that beamed the Masses to the teeming Catholic Faithful at the peak of the COVID-19 and till date in the Archdiocese of Lagos.
How can a lay person serve as a missionary?
The lay person can effectively serve as a missionary under three Arms of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS). They are: i) The Pontifical Society for the propagation of Faith founded by Pauline Marie Jaricot in 1822. ii) The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood also known as Missionary Childhood Association founded by Rev. Fr. Charles de Forbin – Janson, later, Bishop Forbin – Janson in 1843; and iii) The Pontifical Society of St. Peter Apostle founded by Miss Jeane Bigard, with the encouragement and guidance of her mother Stephanie Bigard in 1889. These Societies were all given the Pontifical Status in 1922 by Pope Pius XI. Worth noting is the fact that two of these three pontifical mission societies that have spread over more than one hundred years have two lay persons as their founders. It is also important to know that the fourth Pontifical mission society known as The Pontifical Missionary Union is solely for Priests and Religious. It was founded by Rev. Fr. Paolo Manna, P.I.M.E in 1926.

Are there Organizations through which one can support the Church with regards to mission in the Archdiocese of Lagos?
Yes, there are organisations through which one can support the Church’s mission in the Archdiocese. The local churches, both at the national level with their own missionary commissions of the Episcopal Conference, and at the Archdiocesan or Diocesan level, have a role to play in the Church’s mission. In the Archdiocese of Lagos, the Catholic Men Organization (CMO), the Catholic Women Organization (CWO), the Catholic Youth Organization (CYON), Young Missionary Movement of Nigeria (YOMM) under the aegis of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith, The SERRA CLUB are collaborators in the work of mission. In a nut shell, these organizations, movements and clubs form the Archdiocesan Pontifical Mission Societies Council that promotes missionary animation and co-operation in the Archdiocese as part of the universal mission of the Church. In the final analysis, we baptized persons are all called to support the Mission of the Church. May our Mother Mary, the Star of Evangelization continue to intercede for us all in our mission endeavour, Amen. Let’s talk about the Pontifical Mission Societies. May we know these Pontifical Mission Societies and their respective roles.
The Pontifical Mission Societies comprises four arms. These are:
• Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith (Propaganda Fidei)
• The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood (Also known as Missionary Childhood Association {MCA})
• The Pontifical Society of St. Peter Apostle
• The Pontifical Missionary Union Roles of the various Pontifical Societies Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith
• To inform the people of God so that they become aware of the Church’s worldwide missionary vocation.
• To inform Christians about the life and needs of the Church in mission territories via exchange of News, the witness of solidarity in times of trial, and moral and material support.
• To promote economic solidarity by appealing to the generosity of Christians and developing a social justice assistance programme.
The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood
• To assist educators to awaken and gradually develop in both children and adolescents a worldwide missionary consciousness.
The Pontifical Society of St. Peter Apostle
• To use spiritual means, especially prayer and sacrifice to beg the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.
• To make Christians aware of the need for growth in the number of vocations and the importance of formation of local clergy in the churches in the mission territories.
• Using funds raised from establishment of Scholarships, Payment of Pensions, Fees and other donations to build and develop numerous Major, Propaeduetic, and Minor Seminaries.
• To assist in the formation of male and female candidates for consecrated life in the churches of mission territories.
The Pontifical Missionary Union
• To stimulate missionary formation and awareness among priests, members of Institutions of consecrated life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
• The Union ministers are to animate all those who are called to ensure that the people of God are animated, both by a missionary spirit and a generous openness to missionary co-operation.
Kindly also enlighten us on PMS projects in Archdiocese of Lagos.
The PMS has undertaken many projects in the Archdiocese of Lagos through the various Arms. These include support for construction of Church, Chapel, installation of Power Supply, building of Altar, Convent and Schools.
Please share experiences as PMS Director, Archdiocese of Lagos and the antecedent challenges.
My experiences have been quite humbling and inspiring. The challenges are basically on how effectively the people of God in the Archdiocese of Lagos can be animated and consciously assisted in mission enterprise.