Owerri-Lagos. On March 7, 2026, the perpetually professed Claretian Missionaries from the East Nigeria Province and the West Nigeria Independent Delegation gathered for their online biannual ongoing formation seminar. The seminar, centered on the theme “Our Claretian Identity,” served as a spiritual and fraternal touchstone for members navigating the complexities of modern ministry. The seminar was facilitated by Fr. Daniel Onyeayana, CMF, the former Major Superior of the West Nigeria Independent Delegation, who brought both administrative experience and deep theological insight to the discussion.
Fr. Onyeayana opened the session by emphasizing the urgency of the theme. He noted that for missionaries in ongoing formation, a clear sense of identity is vital while collaborating with our brothers and sisters in the mission and interacting with a rapidly changing world. To understand the Claretian identity he went back to the source, highlighting how the Claretian charism transmitted through Father Claret serves as a specific gift to the Church.
Consequently, the facilitator spoke about Spirituality, Charism, and Apostolate. He reminded the participants that their identity is not defined simply by their actions, but by their “rootedness” in Christ, whose word they are called to listen to and serve. This Claretian missionary identity defines us as itinerant preachers and ardent followers of Christ, forged and formed in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
A central point of the reflection was the “Pen Picture” (CC, 9), which the Father Founder intended for every Claretian to carry in his heart and pocket. The Claretian is a man on fire with God’s love, who spreads its flame wherever he goes, undaunted by obstacles as he seeks to imitate Christ in daily life. To deepen this understanding, he invited the participants to engage in a reflective study of the two-volume Commentary on the Constitutions.
The seminar, jointly organized by the Prefectures of Formation and the Ongoing Formation Councils of both organisms, concluded with a sense of renewed vigour. In line with the proposal from the recent Formator’s Encounter involving both Major Organisms, a second seminar is scheduled for later this year.
