Background, Mission, Vision, and Goals of the PACTPAN Palaver Series
Pope Leo recently invited the Church to pray for priests in crisis, reminding us that "the priest is not immune from the struggles of the human condition, but must learn to carry them in communion with Christ and with the People of God." This is a wake-up moment. There are priests in crisis among us - some visible and many invisible.
This ongoing formation initiative goes beyond responding to individual crises to the wider context of priestly ministry in Nigeria today. The cultural, political, intellectual, and social conditions within which priests live and minister are rapidly changing. We must also reckon with new religious dynamics, including the attraction of Pentecostal forms of religious enchantment, the rise of healing ministries, and the pressures of financial expectations and fundraising in a complex political climate.
Many priests find themselves pulled in multiple directions, striving to meet competing expectations. However, in the midst of parish life and pastoral service, one can still feel deeply isolated - disconnected from God, from one's bishop, from brother priests, and even from the people one serves.
We must return to a foundational spiritual truth: "You did not choose me, but I chose you" (John 15:16). Our vocation is not self-generated. It is a gift and a responsibility. As Pastores Dabo Vobis reminds us, "the priest is called to live a life of total self-gift, reflecting the charity of the Good Shepherd" (PDV, 23).
This national online palaver among priests, bishops, and invited lay collaborators seeks to foster a renewed vision of prophetic servant leadership rooted in personal integrity, communal care, relational resilience, and spiritual and pastoral maturity.
The Palaver consists of six weekly sessions of two and a half hours each, spread across six weeks from July to August 2026. Participants are chosen by their local ordinaries or major superiors and are expected to register in advance and attend all sessions.
Participants who complete all six sessions and successfully undertake the self-care audit and the Vital Church Pastoral Situation Analysis shall receive a Certificate of Honor, jointly presented by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), PACTPAN, CATHAN, the Association of Nigerian Catholic Priests, and Veritas University, Abuja.
Mission
Our Purpose
To foster a renewed vision of prophetic servant leadership in Nigerian priests, rooted in personal integrity, communal care, relational resilience, and spiritual and pastoral maturity - because only a healthy priesthood can sustain a truly vital Church.
Vision
What We See
A Nigerian Church whose priests are fully alive in Christ, deeply rooted in fraternal communion, and courageously engaged with their people and society - prophetic servant leaders who model the charity of the Good Shepherd in every dimension of their lives.
General Theme
Palaver 2026 Focus
Priests as Prophetic Servant Leaders in a Vital Church in Nigeria: Caring for Self, One Another, and God's People
Certificate
Recognition of Formation
Participants completing all six sessions and audits receive a joint Certificate of Honor - a true mark of formation accomplished.
The palaver is built around eight deeply connected goals, each reinforcing the others in the pursuit of priestly flourishing.
Coordinating Team