The month of August has come and gone. This is the month in which Catholic women who reside in their home communities and those who reside outside their community hold a common meeting. This comprises women who are indigenes of a particular place by birth or by marriage. The reasons why such meetings are held in the month of August may not be farfeched.In the month of August, there is a short period of dry whether popularly known as “August break”. This makes August suitable for gatherings. Being the eight month of the year, it is well spaced out from the festivity periods like January of New Year, Easter and Christmas seasons. These festive periods attract so many persons to their towns and villages and in order not to travel too frequently, August seems most appropriate.
Reasons for August Meeting.
There are many reasons why women come together from their different places of abode to hold august meeting. It is a period of re-union for home and ‘abroad’ women. It is a forum for women who were married from outside the community to interact with and know more about his people, their customs and traditions. It is an avenue for women to rub minds together on various issues affecting womenfolk. Such issues include health matters, children’s welfare, marriages and family life. Spiritual matters are not left out as church leaders are invited to give talks on issues bothering on spiritual matters, church’s teaching on family planning, divource, abortion, temporary separation and so on.
During August meetings, women discuss and make inputs on sustainable development of the local church in particular and the community in general.Furthermore,it is a period of evangelization as many people are converted to the faith when they see different activities going on.
Apart from all these, other activities like recognition of men and women who have contributed to the growth of the local church are carried out. Improvement of the lots of women is another major aim of August meeting, and of course, fund raising for the achievement of goals and objectives.
Who Should Attend August Meeting?
As stated earlier, it is a meeting of Catholic women who reside within and outside the communities. It was originally carried out by Christian women from the eastern part of the country. It is therefore a borrowed culture which spread over Catholic faithful and to Anglican faithful.
Challenges of August Meeting.So many challenges face the organization of August meeting. As earlier stated, it is borrowed tradition which was introduced to every part of Catholicism in the country. The objectives of the organization proper have not been fully imbibed. Many women do not know where to pitch their tent whether home parish or the residential parish, especially those who reside in towns very close to their home parish. The disunity and distrust among women have made the achievement of goals impossible. The abroad members do not see the need for the annual general meeting. What this means is that the women at home alone hold the meeting with very poor attendance from the abroad women. The economy of the nation is another obstacle militating against the attendance of annual general meeting by some women who find it difficult to make ends meet.
The Way Forward.
Since August meeting is a reunion of home and abroad women, all those concerned should endeavour to attend so as to make an input in the development of the church for as the saying goes east, west, north or south, home is the best. Be that as it may, it should not be a do or die affair. Women should unite and be their sister’s keeper at all time. Those who do not understand the concept of mass return should know that the August meeting is not the same as CWO meeting of the parish where one is domiciled.

Poster, August meeting is observed by Ibos in general and not Catholics. Please get your facts right before post. The truth is that Ibos who are catholics also join in the meeting.

Mind you, i am not an Igbo man but i am a Catholic. I have never in my life heard of August meeting except from the Nigerian home movies.
Please correct me if i am wrong, is there any tribe apart from the Ibos that practice August meeting?

@poster

it is actually an Igbo tradition,the fact that most Igbos are catholics might be responsible for the confusion

August meeting is an age- long and annual meeting for the Igbo, which is also celebrated with pomp and ceremony is an avenue for the women to show the latest trends in town.

1. The new yam festival in most Igbo land is generally around August (few do theirs in July or early September) so it's an opportunity for the women to hold general meeting, for the various branches to report what they have been up to and to see what they can do for their community for the coming year.

2. Majority of the Igbos are Catholic, but Anglicans and traditionalists also attend. The catholic women hold their general meeting in December, their law compel them to wear the diocesan uniform (blue wrapper and white blouse in most of the Dioceses including Owerri, Orlu, Okigwe, Umuahia, Ahiara, Awka etc). However, most women prefer paying the fine for non-attendance, because the meeting does not offer them the opportunity to 'show off'.

So in essence, August meeting is tied to NEW YAM FESTIVAL or other similar festivals (Not catholic meeting).