7TH NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE DOMINICAN YOUNG HEARTS MOVEMENT (DYHM), HELD AT ABBE LOUIS BAUTAIN RETREAT CENTRE, LOUISVILLE, IJEBU-ITELE, OGUN STATE 27TH TO 31ST OF JULY, 2016
PREFATORY STATEMENT
The 7th National Congress of the Dominican Young Hearts Movement (DYHM) was held at Abbe Louis Bautain Retreat Centre, Louiseville, Ijebu-itele, Ogun State, with the theme “The role of the Dominican Young Hearts Movement in the Preaching Mission of the Order: A Jubilee Call”. The Congress had the sole objective of focusing the minds of members on their task as collaborators with other members of the Dominican family in the preaching mission of the Order. The following is a chronicle of events for the four-day long programme:
27TH JULY
Arrival
Members arrived the venue of the Congress from different parts of the country where the Dominicans are present: Lagos, Ibadan, Gusau, Oyigbo (Rivers) and Enugu.
Registration
Attendants to the Congress were registered and assigned rooms upon arrival. Most of them were carefully paired to ensure that they were from different unit groups. This had the added advantage of helping them meet and make new friends and foster fraternity. The facilitators and Coordinators (Religious), however, had a room each to themselves.
Supper
All in attendance had supper together that first night at 7:15pm, beginning with an opening prayer led by Fr. Collins Akhigbe, O.P. It ended with a brief address and prayer by the Moderator, Fr. Jude-Mary Owoh, O.P.
Compline
Compline began at about 8:35pm in the retreat centre chapel. The director of the Retreat Centre, Sister Victoria, welcomed all in attendance and gave a few words about the use of the facility. Soon after, the Moderator guided the delegates and facilitators through the programme of events that had previously been printed on a leaflet for all participants. Corrections and suggestions were made and taken note of. The Vicar-Provincial, Very Rev Fr. Martin Aitsebamo, O.P. came in just in time to address a few words of welcome to all in attendance. The meeting ended at about 9:57pm.
28TH JULY
Rising and Morning Prayer
Rising was at 6:30am while Morning Prayer took place at 7am at the now popular chapel. Breakfast followed immediately after with an opening and closing prayer.
First Meeting
The Moderator had a brief meeting with the Secretaries of each unit group. He intimated the secretaries about their work together. The secretaries were divided into two groups, with two “major” secretaries and four “minor” secretaries. The major secretaries would work with a laptop each while the minor secretaries would take notes with a pen and writing pad. The Moderator met soon after with members of the Logistics and Liturgical committee. He inquired into what each group had done and what was left to be done. The logistic committee had ensured that participants were properly checked in and that the different venues for meetings were prepared. The liturgical committee had worked on a rooster for liturgical assignments and a choir had been assembled the night before to help with singing at masses. In both meetings, all members were at the venue on time.
The Opening Mass
The inaugural mass commenced at 10:10am with Very Rev. Fr. Martin Aitsebamo, O.P. as the chief celebrant. In his homily, Fr. Martin emphasized that just as the potter moulds clay into beautiful shapes, so too God moulds us into good Christians. He added that everyone has a place in the preaching mission of the Order. Even a broken vessel is useful for watering a dry side walk. Two incoming members (UmenwobiChidimma Nancy and ChukwudiOsademe) from Blessed Jane of Aza Unit group, Gusau, were received at Mass. They were each invested with a Dominican cross as a sign of their call to preach.
Welcome Address by the National Coordinator
The first official meeting of the Congress began at 12:03pm in the school Hall. The Deputy National Coordinator 1, Paul Sanu, read a letter of apology addressed to the delegates by the National Coordinator, IsiomaDiji, explaining the reason for her absence. The 10-day leave she took to attend the International Conference in Toulouse, France, had elapsed. This was closely followed by address of the Deputy National Coordinator who expressed his wish to see the delegates deliberate and arrive at resolutions that will move the Movement forward.
Address by the Promoter of Dominican Family
Before the Promoter’s speech, the Moderator stated clearly that delegates had a right to state their opinions on issues.He, however, warned that they should have a ready solution to whatever problems they wish to highlight or keep their opinions to themselves.
In his address, the Promoter of the Dominican Family, Fr.OluyemiTaiwo, O.P., expressed mixed feelings about the Movement.In his words, “My joy is that the Dominican young heart movement which began sixteen years ago has come to stay and has been handed over from one generation to another”. But the Movement seems to be under a lot of threats, especially since youth is a “transition period”.
He raised the following concerns for the consideration of delegates;
1. The origin of DYHM, where it is today and what will become of us in the future?
2. How has the statutes been of help? Do we have any proposals or anything to change in the statutes?
3. We have come of age and so need to start taking leadership position on the African continent and the world at large while focusing on our own growth.
4. Why is our web site not being used knowing that we pay heavily to keep it going?
5. Should the idea of Active Remote Membership be scraped or not?
6. There seem to be a gradual decline in the quality of membership and capacity. Are we helpless in this regard?
7. It has been proposed unofficially thatDYHM unit groups take the name of lay Dominican fraternities where these exist beforeDYHMor vice versa.
8. How arewe able to promote DYHM during the Jubilee celebration? Were we able to get more members or not?
Reports by Unit Groups
Reports were presented by the different unit groups. The order of reportswas as follows;
1. St Thomas Aquinas unit group
2. Blessed Jane of Aza unit group
3. Albert De Great unit group
4. Rose of Lima unit group
5. Blessed Imelda unit group
6. Pier Giorgio Frassati unit group
The reports were rendered in the SWOT format; Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats. Speakers had ten minutes each to give their report and this was monitored closely. The following members presented the report to the assembly;
1. Ayaegbunam David { St Thomas Aquinas unit group}
2. UmenwobiAnthonia {Blessed Jane of Aza unit group}
3. EzeOgechukukwu {Albert De Great unit group}
4. IfeanyiMaximilllian {St Ramond of Penyafort unit group}
5. Vincent John { Rose of Lima unit group}
6. AdewumiBolaji {Blessed Imelda unit group}
7. Nwodo Francis {Pier Giorgio Frassati unit group}
International Dominican Youth Movement {IDYM} Report
A report was given by the international delegate in the person of Umenwobi Anthonia. She gave a chronicle of venues, events and lessons learnt from the Conference in Toulouse, France. She also provided a financial report of their expenditure. She attended the meeting along with the National Coordinator, IsiomaDiji.
National Council Report
The report was given by Paul Sanu(Deputy National Coordinator I). The National Council made the following recommendations to the Congress:
1. This Congress should strive, with the help of the Holy Spirit to elect people who are passionate about serving DYHM and not just after a place in the Council.
2. This Congress should try to elect representatives cut across all unit groups, as from experience, this allows for more effective coordination than if councilors are concentrated in just two or three unit groups.
3. The incoming national council should endeavor to consolidate on the work of the previous council and try to implement all outstanding duties before setting new goals.
4. The incoming national council should look into more feasible ways of meeting such as Skype, buying sim cards that allow CUG community, maximizing the use of the WhatsApp national council group page etc., and even physical meetings.
5. The incoming national council should please endeavor to work as a team, in submission to one another. They should all work for the common good, as the success of one is the success ofall and vice versa.
6. Individual offices of the national council should take seriously the duties assigned to them and do well to implement them in good time.
7. The incoming national councilors who may be having difficulties in executing their duties, should be humble enough to ask for help, rather than present false impressions about their abilities, only to later show their incompetence.
8. The incoming national syndic should be more proactive about sourcing for funds from national benefactors, as well as suggesting and following up new ways of raising money for the Movement’s activities.
9. The incoming national councilors should enliven our national secretariat, making it an archive and encouraging regular visits by members to it.
10. Emphasis should be made by the council to constantly reawaken the mission and vision of DYHM in the hearts of its members.
11. Unit groups should start saving up for representation at the next African Congress of Dominican Youths.
12. The incoming national councilors should endeavor to pray for themselves and about the tasks they have been assigned as it is only with prayers and hard work that the battle can be won.
13. Unit groups should please continue to collaborate with the national council and pray for its members, so that we can all move forward as a Movement.
Group Discussion on Reports
1. The reports were deliberated upon and groups were formed to address issues and proffer possible solutions to the weaknesses and threats highlighted by different unit groups. The compilation given beloware stated according to the SWOT formula; other recommendations are listed as they were presented.
2. It is worthy of note that the items listed below were moderated before it was complied.
STRENGTHS
1. All unit groups successfully organize CAP.
2. Some unit groups successfully implemented CP.
3. Retreats, and novenas are explored in all unit groups.
4. Most unit groups have recorded success in the reception of incoming members.
5. Community and study life seminars have been completed in most unit groups.
WEAKNESS
1. There seem to be a widespread challenge in the use of the breviary.
2. Most unit groups have a challenge of implementing PEP.
3. Most unit groups have a challenge running a library and instilling a reading culture in their members.
4. Whereas many people are internet users, the Movement’s websiteis underused.
5. Private praying of the divine office seems to be a challenge.
6. There is poor communication between most unit groups and their ARM{Active Remote Members}. There is need for proper formation program for ARM.
7. There is poor or insufficient understanding of the movement’s objective and mission in the Order.
8. Lack of suitable venue for meetings, location of library and notice boards.
9. Insufficient study materials for most unit groups.
10. Inability of most members to pay their monthly dues.
11. Poor discernment process for accepting incoming members.
12. Most unit groups complained of incomplete formation of active members.
13. Most unit groups display a poor understanding of the content of the Statute.
OPPORTUNITIES
1. The youth colloquium should be explored as a means of creating awareness about the Movement and recruiting new members.
2. We need to explore opportunities of collaboration with the Director of Catholic Faith Friends {CFF} for the benefit of members.
3. The NaCon can address a message or strong appeal through the Promoter of Dominican Family to the Provincial chapter holding next year.
4. Most members are internet users.
THREATS
1. Most unit groups share a common fear of members leaving the group owing to school and relocation to other places.
2. Some unit groups experience a challenge of competing with other youth groups in the recruitment of members.
3. All unit groups lack sufficient fund for implementing their activities.
29TH JULY
Mass and Breakfast
The Mass took place in the chapel at 6:35am. It was celebrated by the Promoter of the Dominican Family and a homily was delivered by the Moderator. In his homily, the Moderator encouraged everyone to see their spiritual life as a loving relationship with God. The scriptures in this regard is a “love story” between God and us. Reading through its passages, we become increasingly aware of God’s love for us.
Theme Speech
The theme speech was delivered by the Director of Catholic Faith Friends, Fr.Akhigbe Collins. He reflected on the theme of the Congress. In his speech, he mentioned that preaching is the mission of the youth. They do so by living out the Christian life and sharing their experiences with family and friends. The youth are advocates and catalysts of positive change and they collaborate with other arms of society to engender growth and development in every sphere of life.
He also pointed out that there are challenges that youths today have to contend with. Chief among them are: Freedom, Relativism and Subjectivism and Authenticity of life. To contend with these challenges, young people have to be conscious of their nobility in Christ. They must consider knowledge gotten from scripture as indispensable. As Dominican youths, we must also emulate the life of St Dominic.
Other challenges plaguing the youths (of the Movement) are the misuse of social media, neglect by the friars and sisters, poverty of the mind which makes causes them to be swept away by materialism. Materialism, as an example, has led so many young ladies into informal prostitution as a source of income. These can be dispelled by investing in and studying good Catholic literatures. Members who are in school need to be constantly encouraged and prayed for. There is need for a proper integration of the youths into the Dominican family and preaching apostolate. There is also a need for a full-time Promoter of the Dominican youths. There is need for a formal training of members of the Movement to handle catechism, organize talk shows and film schools in schools and parishes, to be youth animators at event and create a harmony between their words and way of life.