The 3^rd International Conference of the Claretian Missionaries’ Theological Institute for Consecrated Life in Africa (TICLA) took place on November 12 – 15, 2019, on the theme: Collaborative Ministry in Mission: A Socio-Pastoral Approach, at the Domus Fidei Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. The conference began with the arrival of Delegates on Tuesday, November 12 from the different parts of the world.

Eminent personalities and experts were invited to deliver various papers formulated from the theme of the conference. After the conference was declared open, Msgr John Aniagwu, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lagos, presented the lead paper on: The Clergy, Consecrated Persons and the Laity in the Mission of Uplifting the Sanctity and Dignity of the Family. In his presentation, Msgr Aniagwu reflected on the Post Synodal document, Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio (FC), which was the fruit of the 5^th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 1980.

The lead paper which was presented from the Catholic point of view, understands the Christian family as the nuclear family of a man and a woman and their children. In other words, the man and the woman are understood as those who have sealed their union in the sacrament of Matrimony. Msgr John Aniagwu was detailed in his presentation with the various citations from the sacred scripture and other documents of the Church regarding the sanctity and the dignity of the family. He went further to state the roles the clergy, consecrated persons and the lay faithful have to play in preserving and uplifting the sanctity and the dignity of the family. However, Msgr Aniagwu, in conformity with FC, postulates that the mission of the family translates into four general tasks: of forming a community of persons, serving life, participating in the development of society and that of sharing in the life and mission of the Church. Msgr John Aniagwu did not conclude his presentation without talking extensively on the role collaboration have to play in the pastoral life of the family, that through the collaborative effort of all concerned, it can reasonably be expected that the needs of the families in the local Church will be largely met, and the sanctity and the dignity of the family will both be preserved and enhanced for the greater good of both the Church and the Society. Apart from the lead paper, other papers were also presented before the delegates were grouped for the workshop session. Among those who presented other papers were Prof. Pat Utomi, Rt Hon. Chev. Uduimo J. Itsueli and hosts of other experts in the areas of Collaborative Ministry and Sociology. Prof. Utomi, in his paper on The Future of the Youth in the Collaborative Mission of the Church, appreciated the role the Church is playing in the area of Youth Ministry. He gave an example of the Holy Family Youth Village at Amansea, Awka North LGA in Anambra State, which offers accommodations to the students studying in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.  He said that the Archdiocese of Onitsha has done a lot in the area of Youth ministry and other dioceses too in the country are trying their best. While he appreciated the work done thus far, he still call on the Church to do more to bring the youth to the discussion table that the youth need to be involved in the collaborative ministry of the Church. He disagreed with the fact that the Youth of today are not interested with the things of the Church. He opined that the youth of today are not as superficial as some persons may think that, the youth want to know what life is really all about.

The conference came to an end with presentation of the communiqué. However, delegates at the conference expressed their gratitude to the organisers as they will be looking forward to participating in the next edition.