TO ALL PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS WORKING IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LAGOS, AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:
1. POPE’S INTENTION FOR APRIL 2026:
For Priests in Crisis: Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.
2. ARCHBISHOP’S INTENTION FOR APRIL 2026:
For Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life: We pray for an increase in priestly and religious life, may our seminarians be formed into priests configured to Christ, men who will foster the expansion of the kingdom of God with zeal; and may the Consecration of our Religious proclaim God’s love among us.
3. Archdiocesan Engagement for Mission Programme (AEMP)
The Archdiocesan Engagement for Mission Programme (AEMP) is geared at enhancing parish and lay group engagement, spiritual–commitment and evangelization. While it is required for formal leadership positions in the archdiocese, it is a self-development programme with great personal benefits in all areas of life. All parishioners are encouraged to participate in parish-organized AEMP topics and modules. Faith Formation Officers of Parish Lay Groups and the Leadership and Social Education and Discernment Laity Committees of Laity Councils can organize and implement Peer Study Groups and Sessions using discussion leaders. Parishioners can also participate through Self Study or Private Study Groups.
4. 2026 AEMP Calendar Click here for 2026 Leading for Mission-Facilitated AEMP Calendar for Laity and Clergy: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y8wQNtwVbXR1ix8idcc8LfEEoDJaFJ 1FfoMJ5G49tD4/edit?usp=sharing Kindly note that the Leading for Mission team will continue First Term virtualonly sessions for registered participants, on April 14. Both Zoom and Physical Sessions will resume in the Second Term on July 14. Parishes and lay groups are encouraged to include the AEMP learning and growing together in their annual plans such that by 2030, there will be no shortage of effective evangelizers and potential leadership successors. 5 Click here for the 2026 AEMP Registration form: https://forms.gle/32zLgwt97KBewj879
5. AEMP Completion Status Records (CSR):
You can check the status of AEMP completion status for participants of Leading for Mission modules and all Archdiocesan Engagement for Mission Modules from 2020 to date by clicking on this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jS1E2FTt14efPUHRe2k4zuhZfGEPSOg p?usp=drive_link If one has any complaints about their records, they should use the AEMP Complaints link in the first row of the AEMP CSR to register their request. Kindly be consistent in the order and use of only the same First and Last names in all your submissions, quizzes and correspondences. Kindly refrain from sending private messages and calls to AEMP administrators. c. AEMP Self Study and Parish Group Study AEMP Self Study and Parish Group Study Participants are expected to submit their completed, accurate and original exercises using the links provided at the end of each module of the AEMP Self Study Exercises Link. Kindly track the progress of your submissions by checking the third sheet of the AEMP Feedback Tracking Spreadsheet Link titled “Submissions Assessment Status.” You can also follow up on the AEMP Completion Status Records Link. Please note that the AEMP Feedback Tracking Link also has sheets that provide useful information on Attendance and Scores Entry Status and the status of your AEMP CSR Complaints. Both links can be found at the top of the AEMP Self Study Exercises Link. https://docs.google.com/document/d/15T9RDCwXzftn9rkxdJ4ZsEOGFIzvA9pi/ed it?usp=sharing&ouid=115296050515177035510&rtpof=true&sd=true
6. Kindly check the status of your submissions as there are some submissions that were either incomplete, irrelevant, incorrect or copied work. Complete, correct and original submissions would need to be resubmitted. Kindly note that it takes a maximum of four weeks to complete the assessment and updating of the submissions. We have found many instances of participants submitting copied work. The names of such participants will be sent to their parish priests. d. AEMP Second Term Registration We have received complaints from some people who registered for AEMP but did not see their names on the AEMP Completion Status Report (CSR) nor receive invites to join AEMP WhatsApp Platforms. Kindly note the following: 1. Your name will only appear on the AEMP CSR after you pass a quiz or successfully complete a module through Zoom attendance or submission of complete, accurate and original module exercises. 2. Due to increased demand, LFM has stopped inviting Self and Group Study Participants to join LFM administered WhatsApp Platforms as parishes are better positioned to do this. 3. The second term of AEMP will resume on July 14, 2026. Invitations to join WhatsApp group will be done by email beginning the first week in June. This will be for those who registered for Physical and Zoom sessions alone. If you registered for Physical and Zoom and subsequently went ahead to complete your studies by Self or Parish Group Study, kindly update your Registration by completing the Second Term Registration Form again and choosing the option “Cancellation.” e. Parish Engagement Survey The Parish Engagement Surveys helps us measure the progress we are making in in the two core goals of the Archdiocesan Engagement for Mission Programme – spiritual commitment and parish engagement. All parishioners are invited to respond to the survey by May 30, 2026 using this link: https://forms.gle/QMHLwcnSufCBj5dv7 f. 2026 Laity Elections 7 In addition to establishing a uniform period for elections at all the levels in the archdiocese, the 2026 Laity elections aim to evangelize and to align our elections policies and practices with Gospel values and the Catholic Social teachings through compliance to all Archdiocesan Governance Guidelines. Kindly report any violations to the Elections Guidelines, Clarifications, any of the Archdiocesan Governance Guidelines and visions and goals of the Archdiocesan Engagement for Mission Programme. Reporting violations is small but simple step towards advancing God’s kingdom in our Archdiocese. Click here to report any form of violations of the Archdiocesan Governance Guidelines, including the Elections Guidelines and it clarifications, at any stage of the process: https://forms.gle/5DWGFDe64WjE6ZNP6 Kindly check the facts for yourself: Approved Elections Guidelines: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-rj1Ah177F-n4BRn2N5jcX2XnEgpu5I/view?usp=drive_link 2026 Elections Clarifications: https://drive.google.com/file/d/195TK4pv5S165_YAS8C3aGhlwu8YTOCB/view?usp=drive_link Corrections of all Elections Violations All Parish Elections that violated the approved Elections Guidelines and Clarifications in any way were nullified and should to be properly conducted either in the elections of April or June 2026. Where eligible candidates do not exist, the recommended remedies in the Clarifications to Elections Guidelines should be applied. Parish Priests are expected to implement and enforce all of the Archdiocesan Governance Guidelines including the Elections Guidelines and its Clarifications.
7. St John Paul ll School for Marriage and Family Archdiocese of Lagos: is offering Online and physical Learning opportunities and Skills development for Marriage Facilitators, Married Persons, Singles/Widowed Parents, Lay/ Youth Leaders. List of courses/Trainings: * Marriage Theology and Lived Experience. * Basic Christian Counselling Skills – Become a trained Counsellor * TeenStar (Human Sexuality Education for Teens, young Adult and Parents) * Natural Family Planning (Billings Ovulation Method) Enquire & Register Now! Courses already began on the 1st of February 2026 Call Martina Ozegbe for enquiries and registration on 0813 028 5777 OR 08023547952 c. 55th Anniversary Celebration: Three-Month Activity Plan (April 2026 – June 2026): St. Augustine College of Education invites you all to the 55th Anniversary celebration of its existence. This celebration is filled with exciting academic and spiritual activities from the month of April 2026 – June 2026. The below is the activities for the month of April; Theme: 55 Years of Forming Minds & Shaping Futures • Month 1: Foundation & Community (April 2026) Focus: Spiritual grounding, Historical Recognition, and Public Outreach. 9 Week Activity Venue Week 1 24th April, 2026 Solemn Opening Mass & Flag-off Planting of 55th Anniversary Tree (by the Archbishop) St. Augustine College of Education, Akoka, Yaba “The St. Augustine Story”: Historical Exhibition (App Launch) Same as Above Week 2 29th April, 2026 Inter-Faculty/Departmental Academic Quiz & Debate St. Augustine College of Education, Akoka, Yaba Staff Health and Wellness Fair Month-long “55 for 55” Campaign Launch • Appeal for Support – 55th Anniversary Projects of St. Augustine College of Education As part of the celebration of its 55 years of existence, St. Augustine College of Education is appealing to the Catholic Community for support towards the renovation of the College library and the construction of new classrooms block (₦750, 000,000) For over five decades, the College has contributed to the formation of quality teachers and future leaders. We humbly invite parishioners, alumni, and friends of education to support this noble cause in cash or kind. Your generosity will help secure a better learning environment for present and future generations. Category A: 5,500,000.00 Category B: 550,000.00 Category C: 55,000.00 Category D: 5,500.00 A/C Name: St. Augustine College of Education, Akoka Zenith Bank A/C Number: 1228404942 Thank you, and may God bless you. 10 d. Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins Catechetical Family Quiz Competition: The following are the areas to cover in preparation for the 2026 Edition: Part A: New Testament: i. Gospel according to St. John ii. First and Second Letters of St. Peter Part B: Old Testament: i. Book of Judges ii. Book of Joshua Part C: Catechism i. The Church and Her teachings (Dogmas and Doctrines) ii. History of the Church iii. Liturgy of the Church iv. Sacred Vessels and Vestments v. Sacraments and Sacramentals Timeline: Parish level Competition: Sunday 6th April, 2026. Deanery level Competition: Sunday 14th June, 2026. Regional level Competition: Sunday 26th July, 2026. Grand Finale: Saturday 19th September, 2026. e. Archdiocesan Lay Leaders’ Spiritual/Pastoral Formation Seminar: is organized by the Catholic Lay Apostolate Centre. This Seminar for Lay Leaders in the Parish Lay Organisations/Societies/Associations and Liturgical Ministries, Deanery and Archdiocesan executives comes up as follows. Date: Saturday, 23rd May, 2026 Venue: Catholic Church of the Ascension, Int’l Airport Road, Ikeja Time: Accreditation starts by 8:30am, Seminar starts by 10:00am Theme: “Faith and Citizenship: Building a Just and Compassionate Society”. Keynote Address will be delivered by His Grace, Most. Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins. Topic I: The Laity and the Catholic Liturgy: Balancing Catholic Liturgy and Pentecostal Expression Topic II: The place of Digital Media in Evangelization in the Modern World Fee: N6000 per delegate No. of Delegates: As contained in the letter written to Parishes, Chaplaincies, Deanery Laity Councils and Archdiocesan Lay Organisations/Societies/Associations 11 Note: i. Deadline for payment is Wednesday 23rd April, 2026 ii. Deposit into Fidelity Bank: Account Name: Catholic Lay Apostolate Centre (Events), Account Number: 4110028140 iii. For easy production of seminar materials, the names of the delegates should be sent to Lay Apostolate Centre before or on Wednesday 23rd April, 2026 For more details contact: Julius (08034034530), Chinedu (08036667312), Stanley (09053477473), Oliver (09035780040), or Directors office on 08077003036 or 08026156606 f. Mater Ecclesiae Monastery: Monthly Retreat: Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Sangotedo, Lagos, organizes a day of spiritual retreat for young girls from 15 years and above for the purpose of discerning their vocation. The retreat is scheduled to hold on the first Saturday of every month. Time: 9:00 am – 4.00 pm. Venue: Mater Ecclesia Monastery, Sangotedo, Lagos. g. Mater Ecclesiae Retreat Center: Mater Ecclesiae Retreat Center, located in the serene atmosphere of the Monastery, is officially open to everyone for personal and Group Retreats. Time for Public Adoration to the Most Holy Sacrament is from Mondays to Saturdays 9:00am to 8:30pm; on Sundays after 9:00am Mass to 12:15pm; and from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Also, you can visit the Book Centre. For more inquiries, call 09085648168.