HANDOVER REPORT OF PASTORAL ACTIVITIES AT THE BISHOP’S HOUSE

FROM APRIL 8 – JULY 1ST, 2024 BY INNOCENT MICHAEL IDIONG.

Introduction

It is with thanksgiving and gratitude to the Most High God that I write this pastoral
report. All praises be ascribed to his holy name forever.

I resumed at the Bishop’s House on the 8 th of April, 2024. Upon my arrival, I was welcomed
by the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Obafemi Adesina and his secretary, Fr. James Igwe
Smiles. And I worked with them during my stay in the house. Fr. James gave me orientation
on my duties as a seminarian in the house. I also studied the handover note that was left there
by the previous seminarian, Brother Nwafor Joseph. Below are the functions I carried out
during my stay in the house:

 Liturgy
 General management and supervision of the workers
 Bursary
 Cleaning of the Bishop’s Room and office.
 Cleaning of the House itself.
 Running of errands
 Reception of visitors
 Farming

Work description

1. Liturgy

My primary assignment in the house was preparing for liturgy in the house and I ensured this
was carried out by:

1. Setting and preparing for daily Masses, benediction and prayers in the chapel
2. Cleanliness of the chapel everyday
3. Setting of the Bishop’s Mass Box for Masses celebrated outside the House and going
with him when asked to.
2. General management and supervision of the workers.

I was in charge of all the workers in the house and I saw to it that their duties and functions
were carried out by:

1. Managing and supervising the steward to ensure he carried out all of his duties in the
house
2. Ensuring that the security men resumed early and were always at their duty post and
that they didn’t move close to the cage of the dogs.
3. Ensuring that the gardener trims the flowers, cut bushy trees, mow the compound,
work in the farm and other related works pertaining to him.
4. Ensuring that the cook prepares the meal for the house at the proper time.
5. Ensuring that the laundry man irons the Bishop’s clothes, the secretary’s cloth and I
made sure that those clothe were delivered appropriately when they were ironed.
6. I also made sure that any fault in the house was repaired by their appropriate external
workers e.g. Plumber, carpenter, electrician, etc.

3. Bursary

I also worked as the bursar of the house in which I functioned as follows:

1. Collecting money from Fr. Smiles to get things or items in the house that were almost
finishing or consumed.
2. Taking account of the food items that were brought into the store, and items that were
taken outside from the store.
3. I also took account of daily events that happened in the house.

4. Cleaning of the Bishop’s Room and office.

1. I saw to the cleanliness of the Bishop’s room always and I made sure that whenever I
was called to clean it, I did a good job there by cleaning, dusting, and fumigating.
2. I also picked up the Bishop’s ironed clothes from the laundry back to his room and the
washed clothes to be sundry outside and ironed in the landry.
3. I replaced anything in his room that needed replacement, e.g. Dettol, Honey, Lasena
Water, Detergent and tissue paper.
 4. I also reported any fault I discovered in the Bishop’s room to Fr. Smiles for
replacement or repairs.
5. I cleaned the Bishop’s office based on instruction and when I discovered that it
needed cleaning.

5. Cleaning of the House itself.

1. I ensured that I cleaned the building everyday and I made sure that all the rooms were
clean i.e. the chapel, the restrooms in the building, the waiting room, the sitting room upstairs
and downstairs, the corridor upstairs and downstairs, the gym room and the two visitor’s
room.

2. I also replaced anything in these rooms that needed replacement by calling Fr. Smiles’
attention to it and all faults were also fixed in these rooms

6. Running of errands

I also ran errands for the house whenever I was sent to get things for the house or for personal
use either by the Bishop or by Father Smiles.

7. Reception of visitors

I served as the receptionist to the Bishop’s visitors by welcoming them into the waiting room
where I shall in turn call the attention of the Bishop’s secretary or the Bishop to attend to
their visitors.

8. Farm

I also worked and assisted the gardener at the farm every week. I planted some crops, e.g.
Corn, pepper, pineapple and vegetable (Ugu) in it and I ensured that they were maintained by
myself and the gardener. I was in charge of the fishery in the house and the animal poultry.
Below is the inventory of the livestock in the house:

 Cat Fish: 283 small sized and 80 big sized.

CHALLENGES

1. When I newly resumed, I was challenged as I had to start learning all my works and duties
as a seminarian in the house and these resuming errors were corrected by the Bishop.

2. Daily time for Masses which I later got used to depending on the time fixed by the
Bishop.

CONCLUSION

It is on this note that I appreciate the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Obafemi Adesina for his
fatherly love, care, concern, support and corrections and indeed for forming me thoroughly
during my stay at the Bishop’s House. It is a place of formation indeed. I also thank Father
Smiles for his guidance and counselling, for his support too since I resumed at the Bishop’s
House. I appreciate Miss Tessy and brother John for the good work and service done in the
house and I wish the next seminarian coming to work here a fruitful stay and I say unto him
to have a docile heart and adapt himself to the formation of the house, do better than I did by
always listening to instructions and be clear before carrying out anything. May God’s peace
continue to abide with us all. Amen.