Mandate
The Department of Church and Society serves as the Church’s principal bridge to society, translating Catholic social teaching into concrete action. It promotes social development, justice, human dignity, and integral human development in alignment with the principles articulated in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Specialized Units
A. Education Unit
- Supports Catholic schools and educational policy, providing guidance and coordination for Church-run and Church-affiliated institutions.
- Advocates for Catholic educational values and liaises with diocesan offices to ensure alignment with national standards.
B. Health Unit
- Coordinates Catholic hospitals, clinics, and public-health initiatives, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes.
- Supports health-care services in parishes and dioceses and develops a national Catholic health policy.
- Interfaces with government agencies and international partners on health advocacy and service delivery.
C. Family and Human Life Unit
- Defends and promotes human life from conception to natural death.
- Supports marriage and family life, ethical living, and collaborates with local and international partners committed to Catholic family values.
- Provides guidance, formation, and resources to strengthen the family as the foundational unit of society.
D. Justice, Development & Peace / Caritas (JDPC/Caritas) Unit
- Coordinates initiatives in social justice, democracy, peacebuilding, and rural/community development.
- Organizes training on civic education, conflict resolution, prisoners’ welfare, and human rights.
- Supports agricultural and rural development projects, contributing to local economic empowerment.
E. Protection & Migration / Migrants & Refugees Unit
- Addresses humanitarian pressures, including migration, displacement, and support for victims of conflict.
- Serves migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons, reflecting the Church’s commitment to social outreach and solidarity.
Through these units, the Church in Nigeria lives out Catholic social teaching, contributing to societal transformation, human dignity, and the common good while fostering solidarity across communities.