The Floating Institute of Missiology, hosted by the Calabar Ecclesiastical Province in collaboration with the International Secretariat of the Pontifical Missionary Union and the national direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Nigeria, was a 4-day intensive mission formation program aimed at deepening the understanding of missionary work among priests, religious, and lay faithful. The theme for this was “Missionaries of Hope among the Peoples”, aligning with the Jubilee Year of Hope and World Mission Sunday 2025.
Key topics covered included:
1. Situation of mission in the world: Insights from Evangelii Nuntiandi: This presentation looked at the concept of mission, Biblical foundation of mission, theological foundation and the situation of mission in the world today. The presenter would help the participants to understand this encyclical and its relevance today.
2. Missionary Spirituality and New Evangelization: Insights from Redemptoris Missio and Evangelii Gaudium: Both documents speak about the missionary mandate, New Evangelization and Missionary Spirituality. The presenter shall draw some insights and discuss the relationship between mission and prayer, missionary spirituality and New Evangelization.
3. Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue: Insights from Ecclesia in Africa and Vatican II: This presentation have looked at the teaching of the Church on Interreligious dialogue with some insights from Ecclesia in Africa and the documents of the Second Vatican Council.
4. The role of Pontifical Mission Societies in Missio Ad Gentes: The Pontifical Mission Societies have one purpose: promotion of universal missionary spirit among the people of God through prayer, charity and sacrifice. This presentation have looked at the brief history of each Society, their charism and the role they play in Missio Ad Gentes.
5. Mission and Communications in the contemporary world: It enlightened the participants on how they can use communications in mission. The message of salvation, Jesus entrusted to His disciples needs to reach the ends of the world. We live in a digital period with development in the field of communications. This presentation hopes to explain how social communications should be used in Evangelization.
6. Missionaries of Hope among the peoples: Insights from World Mission Sunday 2025: The presenter taught how we can be Missionaries of hope with some insights from Popes’ message for 2025.
The 2025 Floating Institute of Missiology achieved its goal of forming missionaries of hope, equipping participants with theological, pastoral, and practical tools for evangelization.
