The NACATHS Chapter of the Dominican Institute, Samonda, Ibadan held her first public lecture of the year on the 22^nd of March, 2019 at Tom and Caroline Walker Hall, Dominican University, Ibadan. The Guest speaker was Rev. Fr. Ajewole Emmanuel Adeyinka who spoke on the theme: “On the Duties of the Clergy of St. Ambrose: Its Relevance in our Time”. The respondents were John Okonkwo, OP and Henry Okolo.

Fr. Ajewole began his paper with a brief summary of St. Ambrose’s treatise on the duties of the Clergy. Fr. Ajewole noted that St. Ambrose’s aim in writing his treatise was to impress upon those whom he had ordained on how to act rightly, honourably and expediently in their ministerial office. A duty, according to St. Ambrose, is to be chosen from what is virtuous and useful. For the Christian, nothing is so useful or virtuous which is not helpful to the future life (eternal). The Christian discerns his duty, that is, what to do or not to do, what to choose or not what to choose, with eternal life as the end in perspective. It is amazing how what is true and desirable remains valid across many centuries. The right standard of duty is the obligation of balance to know when to speak and when to be silent; to know what to say and what not to be uttered. As part of the duties of clergy, they should ensure they learn silence, study the scripture(lectio divina), humility, modesty and self -control (control of anger).

Respondents

In responding to this paper, John Okonkwo asserted that Fr. Ajewole’s paper was well-researched, scholarly and well-presented. He commended Fr. Ajewole’s methodology and his beautiful insight on the contemporary relevance of St. Ambrose’s treatise on the duties of the clergy. In conclusion, the guest speaker and the respondents recommended that whoever studies the work of St. Ambrose on the duty of the Clergy, should also make effort to read the following documents: Vatican II documents, Pastores Dabo Vobis  and Veritatis splendor,of John Paul II,  Benedict XVI  Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Word of God: Verbum Domini, the Sacred Scriptures among other documents.