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CHURCH LIFE AFRICA (CLA)
SUMMER CONFERENCE,
2023

Theme: In Solidarity with the Church in Africa

Day 1

Thursday
July 27
2023

10:00-11:00
Keynote: Dignity in Solidarity: What Does Africa Need from the Global Church? What Can Africa Offer to the Global Church?

John Cardinal Onaiyekan,

Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja

Time
Activity
Anchor
7:30-8:30
Arrival/Registration

CSN Resource

Center, Catholic

Secretariat of

Nigeria, Durumi I,

Abuja

8:30-9:15
Inaugural Mass of the Holy Spirit

John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja

9:50-10:00

Choral Performance

Tobenu Chukwu, by Vincent

Ihara; Bless this House, by

May H. Brahe

Fatima Anyekema, MSM, University of Notre Dame

Gabriel Eyemese, Holy Rosary Parish, Wuse

9:20-9:40

Welcome/Short Remarks:

Inclusive Theological

Participation in Africa

Kenneth Amadi, Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame

​

9:40-9:50

Goodwill Message

Most Reverend

Ignatius Kaigama,

Catholic Archbishop

of Abuja

11:30-12:00

Cathonomics and the African

Poverty Crisis (virtual)

Prof Fidelis Olokunboro,

Assistant Professor of

Religious Studies and Philosophy, CabriniUniversity,Pennsylvania

12:30-1:00

Economic Justice and

Fragmented Solidarity: How

Might the Church Respond?

(virtual)

Prof Brian Boyd,

Research Assistant Director, Center for Ethics and Economic Justice, Loyola University, New Orleans.

1:00-2:15
Lunch Break
2:15-2:30
Teaser
11:00-11:20
Tea Break
2:30-3:30

Keynote: Theology in

Context: Reflections from

the Americas (virtual)

Prof. Timothy Matovina, University of Notre Dame

3:30-4:30
Breakout Sessions

​Groups 1-7

4:30-6:00
Film Screening

TBD **

6:00-6:15
Announcements/Closing

Joachim Ozonze

University of Notre Dame

Time
Activity
Anchor
7:45-8:15
morning session
Mass

Rev Ken Amadi,

Presider

9:00-9:30

A Broken Church: A Déjà vu

of Hope

Francis Okeke,

Veritas University, Abuja

12:45-1:45
Lunch Break
9:30-10:30

Speed Presentations

12:00-12:45
Local Worship and the Development of the Church’s Lex Orandi

Prof Kimberly Belcher

University of Notre Dame

1:45-2:45
afternoon session
Art Exhibition

Rose Chukwu, Rosie

Wylie; Venatius

Amadi, VennyArtz;

Others

​2:45-3:00
Teaser

TBD **

3:00-4:00
Keynote: The Church in the United States in Solidarity with the Church in Africa (zoom)

Most Rev Kevin C. Rhoades

Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese

8:30-9:00

Narratives of Hopelessness in

Africa: A Theological

Critique

William Orbih,

Doctoral Candidate, World Religions World Church, University of Notre Dame

10:30-10:55
Tea Break
11:00-12:00

Panel Presentation: Singing

the Lord’s Song in a Strange

Land: Experiences of

Diasporan Catholics around

the World (virtual)

Kefen Budji Ivoline,

Doctoral Candidate, Anthropology, University of Notre Dame

Hansol Goo,

Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology, St John’s University, and College of St Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota

Arthur Ssembajja

Pastor, St Anthony de Padua Parish, South Bend, Indiana

4:00-5:00
Breakout Sessions

Groups 1-7

5:00-5:40

Solemn Vespers and Ritual of

Lament

Rev Joachim Ozonze, Presider, with Seminarians of Abuja Archdiocese assisting

5:30-6:00
Announcements/Closing

Day 2

FRIDAY
July 28
2023

Day 3

SATURDAY
July 29
2023

9:00-9:30

“Breaking Bad” Nigeria:

Doing Theology in Unusual

Contexts

Joachim Ozonze,

Doctoral Student, Peace Studies and Theology, Kroc

Institute for Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

11:00-11:50

Round Table Discussion

Pastoral Solidarity: Priests,

Laity, and Religious in

Collaborative Ministry

Rev Moses Jimbili,

Parish Priest, Holy Trinity Parish, Maitama, Abuja;

Sr Philomena Agba,

fsp, Daughters of St Paul, Abuja

Cosmas Muogbo,

Diocese of Minna

Time
Activity
Anchor
8:30-9:00
morning session

Lauds (Morning Prayer) and

Announcements

2:00-2:15
Teaser
9:30-10:30

Keynote: Catholic Social

Teaching as the Touchstone

of an Ideal Family Life

Dame Bridget Itsueli, Founder and Chair, Relate Africa Organization for Marriage and Family

12:00-1:00

Keynote: Solidarity, Co-Responsibility, and the Church’s Being and Action (virtual)

Prof John C. Cavadini,

McGrath Institute for Church Life, University of Notre Dame

1:00-2:00
Lunch Break
2:15:3:00

Developments, Challenges,

and Hopes of Lay Theological

Education in Africa

Rev Prof Michael Udoekpo,

Veritas University, Abuja

9:30-10:30

Tea Break

3:15-4:00
Theology as Vocation and Profession (virtual)

Prof Katie Cavadini,

University of Notre Dame

4:00-4:50
Wrap Up/Transition
5:00-6:00
Closing Mass

Most Rev Anselm Umoren, Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja

6:00-7:30
Closing Ceremonies and Reception;
Special Feature: Entry for Church Life Impact Awards 2023 Opens

MC: C-Ri Snow;

Artistes: Fada Sheyin;

Magic Steppers;

Fatima Anyekema,

Gabriel Eyemese,

Maryann Ibe, etc.

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