Francis Cardinal Arinze: 50 Years as a Bishop

Vatican Radio By Fr. Paul Samasumo 30 August 2015

 Yesterday Saturday 29 August 2015, Francis Cardinal Arinze, 82, marked fifty years as a Bishop. In an interview with Vatican Radio’s English Africa Service to mark to the milestone, Cardinal Arinze was in high spirits.

Although now retired and living in the Vatican, Cardinal Arinze is very much sought after and continues to travel, take on speaking engagements and he writes. He has just completed two books, one of which is about Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. 

The Cardinal is also proud and very upbeat about the state of the Church in his country of origin, Nigeria. “How would you explain this faith (of the Nigerian Catholic Church)? The people believe; the clergy is motivated; the religious are quite a number and they serve the people; the lay people are wonderfully committed!” he exclaims. He puts it down to divine providence.

At fifty years as a Bishop in the Catholic Church and as one of its Cardinals what are his sentiments today?  “What comes to mind spontaneously is gratitude to God…also gratitude to all the people who have helped me along the way since I was ordained priest in 1958 and Bishop in 1965. No one is a priest or Bishop or Cardinal for himself. It is always for the Church, for others. It is they that we serve and it is with them that we move along. To all these people I remain grateful,” he says.

If he were to name a secret to his illustrious apostolate, what would it be? “I don't have a big secret in the sense of hidden but perhaps big, in the sense of Jesus Christ, himself, in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist,” Cardinal Arinze responds.

The Cardinal says that it is the Lord Jesus principally in the Holy Mass that he celebrates every day who motivates him…but also Jesus Christ in, “in the tabernacle…Christ in the Holy Eucharist is my secret. Along with Christ is his (Jesus’) Blessed Mother, Mary, whom he gave us on the cross and who in turn gave us Christ on Christmas day,” he explains.

Cardinal Arinze says that the resurrection and the presence of Christ, “with the Apostles between Ascension day and Pentecost –the first novena,” is a source of great consolation to him. It is a reassurance that Jesus continues to be with us, even to this day.  Our Lord Jesus was with the Apostles, “on Pentecost day when the Church was made manifest to the world and was with the early Church after Pentecost. So, Jesus and Mary are my secret, “he finally reveals.

The state of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, his country of origin, is very important to Cardinal Arinze. It fills him with great joy.

“We thank God that he has given strong faith to the Church in Nigeria. How would you explain this faith? The people believe; the clergy is motivated; the religious are quite a number and they serve the people; the lay people are wonderfully committed!  The lay apostolate is very well-organised at the provincial, diocesan and parish levels. It is very encouraging, “the Cardinal says.

Asked why this is so when so many Catholics in the world are struggling in their faith? Cardinal Arinze says, “The Strength of the Church in Nigeria can be attributed (first) to divine providence because God is the director general of the work of evangelization. Second, African traditional religions were a providential preparation for Christianity in Nigeria. In other words, the traditional religions of the people, before the arrival of Christianity and before the arrival of Islam (predisposed the people for the kind of evangelization that came afterwards). The people of Africa with traditional religions believed in one God; they honoured the ancestors and honoured good spirits and tried to avoid the evil spirits. The (Africans) had a religion with prayer, with sacrifice and with a priesthood. When Christianity arrived, especially the Catholic faith, it was like midday Sunshine to a people who were looking for light at 4 O’clock in the morning,” Cardinal Arinze affirms.

He goes on to commend Irish missionaries who were among the earliest in Nigeria. “Another explanation is the good work done by the missionaries especially the Irish missionaries. The Irish were very methodical. They promoted good Catechetical Sacramental preparation and they attended to families,” he emphasises.

Cardinal Arinze also credits his own people, the Nigerians, for the manner in which they received the message of Christ. “We very much thank God for the local people’s response. The first Catechists who were near the missionaries; those who gave missionaries land and helped them with the (local) languages and then the first priests and the religious and the first bishops and the present ones, lay people and families... I believe for all these reasons, the Church in the country is rather strong,” Cardinal Arinze says.

It has often been said that Cardinal Arinze’s life, from the start, was greatly influenced by Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi whom he knew personally. When asked about this, the Cardinal says, “Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi is the first priest that I ever knew. He began our parish in Onitsha, in 1940. He baptised me. My first confession was at his hands; first communion from his hands; he prepared me for confirmation and I was his Mass Server in 1945.” He continues, “The area where Blessed Tansi worked has many vocations to the priesthood and religious life because of the person he was,” the Cardinal says.

According to Cardinal Arinze, Blessed Tansi was a model priest. He promoted the Catholic faith and schooling for children. He championed women’s issues often standing up against entrenched local traditional customs. Blessed Tansi also promoted family life.

“Fr. Tansi was also known for asceticism. He ate very little,” says Cardinal Arinze and tongue-in-cheek adds, “His cook did not have much work.”

Later, Tansi became a Cistercian Monk at Mount Saint Bernard Monastery in Nottingham, England. He joined the Cistercians of the Strict Observance sometimes called the Trappists. Tansi took on the name Cyprian when he became a monk. He was a diocesan priest for 13 years and a Monk for 14 years. He died in 1964 and was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on 22nd March 1998, in Nigeria.

Of the beatification, Cardinal Arinze says, “One million or two million people were at that Mass. We are now looking forward to a miracle so that Tansi can be canonised. I have written a book about him and this book is expected this year.”

Several events are lined up for the celebration of Cardinal Arinze’s golden jubilee as a Bishop. There will be Mass at the ‘Altare della Cattedra’ in St Peter’s Basilica on the evening of 26 October 2015. This will be a day following the closure of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, scheduled to take place in the Vatican from 4 October to the 25 October. The timing of the golden jubilee Mass in St. Peter’s should provide opportunity for friends of the Cardinal to be present. Priests, the religious, friends and the Nigerian community in Italy will certainly attend.

Apart from other smaller private functions, the big jubilee celebration that should crown all celebrations is probably the one scheduled for Onitsha, Nigeria on 28 November. It is the last day of the liturgical year. Many people in Nigeria will certainly not want to miss that one.

Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, was born on 1 November 1932 in Eziowelle, a city of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria. He was ordained priest during a ceremony which took place at the Church of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome on 23 November 1958. On 29 August 1965 he was ordained coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese and became the substantive Archbishop two years later. In 1984 Pope St. John Paul II asked him to head, as pro-president, the Secretariat for Non-Christians (now the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue). He was created Cardinal on 25 May 1985. 

Since the year 2005, Cardinal Arinze holds the title of Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni.

Archbishop in Ghana Decries Same-sex Marriages, Ordains Five to Priesthood

CANAA || By Damian Avevor, Accra || 31 August 2015

Archbishop Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle of Accra in Ghana has decried the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism and the legalization of same-sex marriages in some Christian communities in the world, calling on Christians to stand firm against such practices.

The Archbishop made the lamentations on Saturday, August 29 while presiding over the Holy Eucharist at his Cathedral in Accra, during which he ordained five deacons to the priesthood.

He said that it was sacrilege for a man to marry his fellow man and vice versa all in the name of human rights.

He also spoke against the destruction of the environment that militated against the development of the nation and called for attitudinal change among Ghanaians.

The Archbishop said God had a vocation and mission for all before conception, decrying abortion and murder of people even hardened criminals, which he described as wicked, wrong and sin against God.

He said Ghana needs Prophets who would stand for the truth and justice and ensure that people see the truth and receive justice.

He ordained four Priests for his Archdiocese and one for the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), calling on them to live humble and austere lives.

In his homily, the Archbishop thanked the parents, benefactors, priests, religious and parishioners who prayed, supported and formed the newly ordained, entreating them to encourage more children to join the priesthood and religious life.

Focusing his homily on the passion of John the Baptist, the Archbishop urged the Priests to emulate his life of self-sacrifice, self-denial, humility, simplicity, commitment and a life of poverty, advising them against the incessant love for worldly pleasures and material things.

“Be examples in the way you speak, behave and express your faith in prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist,” he said, advising the newly ordained to make use of their time by reading, knowing and sharing the teachings of the Church of the people entrusted to them.

The new Priests resolved to celebrate the mysteries Christ faithfully and religiously as the Church has handed them down to them and exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and explaining the Catholic faith.

They also resolved to consecrate their lives to God for the salvation of His people and to unite themselves closely every day to Christ.

Those ordained include Father Patrick Quarcoopome, Father Raphael Hessah, Father Paul Ebow Quarshie, Father Courage Senam Dogbey, and Father Fredrick Kwame Mensah Okusu, SDB.

Dozens of Swazi Girls Die in Road Accident, Bishop Announces a Week of Prayer for the Bereaved

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 31 August 2015

At least sixty-five young women in Swaziland were killed in a tragic road accident on Friday night, when the truck they were traveling in smashed into a van along Mbabane-Manzini highway.

Bishop José Luis Ponce de León of Manzini diocese has asked for a week-long prayer “for those who died asking the Lord to welcome them home.”

“Let us also pray for their families and friends that “the God of all consolation” (2 Cor 1:3) gives them peace and strength,” the Bishop added in a message addressed to the priests, the religious and all God's people, which he emailed CANAA on Saturday, August 29.

According to reports, the girls were traveling on an open truck to cut reeds for the annual dance festival, popularly known as Umhlanga Reed Dance, where the Swazi king traditionally chooses one of the participants as his newest bride.

"We can now confirm that 65 young girls have perished on that accident even those that we admitted which earlier on were reported critical injured. We want to extend our deepest to their families," the Swaziland Solidarity Network, a South Africa-based pro-democracy Swazi group, has been quoted as saying.

The annual Reed Dance Festival celebrates the Queen Mother in Swaziland.

The event gathers about 40,000 single girls and women at the Royal Village, who sing and dance for eight days.

Below is the full message by Bishop José Luis following the tragic road accident in Swaziland. The message is also available on the Bishop’s blog here.

To:

The priests, the religious
and all God's people

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Peace!

“A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: it is Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted because they are no more” (Jer 31:15).

Jeremiah's words quoted also by Matthew (2: 17 – 18) sadly resound once again among us. 

We mourn the death of so many young girls at the accident on Friday 28 August 2015.

Let this be a time of prayer. I ask you all from today until next Sunday (06 September) to pray daily for those who died asking the Lord to welcome them home. Let us also pray for their families and friends that “the God of all consolation” (2 Cor 1:3) gives them peace and strength.

May it be a time of deep reflection in our lives. “‘Who, then, is the wise and trustworthy servant whom the master placed over his household to give them their food at the proper time?” (Mt 24:45) Each one of us had been entrusted by God with the safety and dignity of these young people. Aside from those directly responsible for Friday's accident, we need to ask ourselves if there was anything more we could have done to prevent it. Why do we wait until something like this happens before we take every single life seriously?

Let it be a time of solidarity. I call on you all to be close to the families of these children and to support them in every possible way.

The Catholic Church in Swaziland is grateful for the prayer and solidarity messages from Cardinal Napier OFM and Archbishop Brislin in the name of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC).

Fraternally Yours in Christ,

+ José Luis Ponce de León IMC
Bishop of Manzini

Pan African Meeting of Catholic Women Kicks off in Nairobi

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 31 August 2015

A meeting bringing together representatives of women belonging to the Catholic Women Associations (CWA) across Africa kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday with women from nearly twenty countries in attendance.

The meeting has been organized by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in collaboration with the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) with the support of Missio.

The theme of the conference is: The African Women Moving Towards the African Year of Reconciliation.

The three-day conference started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharistic, which took place at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) presided over by the Executive Secretary for the Pastoral Commission of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Father Charles Odira.

In his homily, Father Odira used the example of his own family to illustrate how mothers can play a significant role in reconciliation, “ensuring that there is even justice” in the family.

“Reconciliation is not about muscles, it is not about shouting, it is not about who is good and who is bad, it is not about who is on the right and who is on the wrong, it is about the heart,” Father Odira advised, encouraging the workshop participants to allow the grace of God to work within their heart to enable them practice forgiveness.

“Women are best placed to foster reconciliation in our societies because they have a nonviolent approach; they do not use muscles,” Father Odira reiterated.

Participants who offered intercessory prayers during the Holy Eucharist prayed for peace and reconciliation in families on the continent and for the Holy Spirit to guide the efforts of women in Africa in bringing about reconciliation.

The fifty participants from across Africa are being hosted by CWA representatives from Nairobi Archdiocese, who had a PowerPoint presentation about their association just after the Eucharist and gave a luncheon in honor of the visiting women.

“We are so proud to host this big delegation of women from different countries of Africa. It is going to be an enriching encounter and we shall gain from the experiences we shall share,” the CWA Chairlady for the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Sabina Ng’ethe, told CANAA.

Meanwhile, Marie-Claire Nikiema who is the Chairlady of the Catholic Women in Burkina Faso hopes to learn from interacting with other African women how to continue with the reconciliation ministry she is already involved in back home.

“We organize women to enable them understand each other, console each other, and reach out to each other with the good news of evangelization through singing, devotions, and groups of prayer,” Marie-Claire told CANAA, looking forward to interacting with “sisters from other countries.”

“We are living in a world where families are very fragile and in challenging situations. Some of our countries are experiencing violent conflicts due to religion and even tribalism. We women are conscious of that and have the possibilities of reconciling the world because all begins with the family,” Marie-Claire shared with CANAA, giving details of how the Catholic association of women in her country ministers to families in conflict, separated couples.

“We insist on each woman to reconcile with herself first, then with God, and the rest will follow quite smoothly,” Marie-Claire concluded.

Among the topics the participants will reflect upon with the help of facilitators, beginning Monday afternoon at St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Karen, include the political, economic and socio-cultural context of Africa today, a theological overview of the social doctrine of the Church in the context of Africa today, the role of and opportunities for women in society and the Church with focus on the role of women for reconciliation in Africa in the context of the African Year of Reconciliation (AYR).

The meeting is expected to come up with suggestions on how to mark the AYR through regional groups and how these groups can be networked.

The following countries sent representatives: Burundi, DR Congo, Ghana, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria, Malawi, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Kenya.

Church in Sierra Leone Reacts to Ebola Milestone

Vatican Radio || 25 August 2015

Father Paul Morana Sandi of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference in Sierra Leone said he and the country were “jubilant” after the last Ebola patient in the country was released from hospital this week. Father Sandi expressed gratitude to all the people who helped Sierra Leone overcome the Ebola crisis.

Up to 4,000 people have died from the disease in the country over the past 15 months. The release of the last Ebola patient represents a milestone that allows the nation to start its 42-day countdown for being declared free from the epidemic. Father Sandi, who is Secretary General of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of The Gambia and Sierra Leone, spoke to Claire Gilbody Dickerson.

Father Sandi claimed that the country’s optimism stems from safety precautions which had been put into place, such as hand washing and the avoidance of “areas where you were likely to be exposed to the virus”.

In addition, he said that programs on radio and television, along with appeals by religious leaders, had helped increase “public awareness [of the disease] in the country in the past few months.”

Father Sandi said that “they continued to pray that they would not be exposed to such an outbreak again”, and that he was grateful to people that had helped in “this difficult moment”.

Malawi’s Catholic Development Commission Trains Journalists on Climate Resilient Policies

Episcopal Conference of Malawi || By Bartholomew Boaz || 24 August 2015

The Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (Cadecom), a relief development arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has urged government to expedite the enactment of the right to food bill.

Speaking on Wednesday in Balaka during a two-day training for journalists on climate resilient policies, National Cadecom Secretary Carsterns Mulume said there is need for the country to approve and enact some bills.

Mulume said climate change, disaster risk management and national agriculture policies as well as the right to food bill need to be given the much needed attention to ensure the country is resilient to climate shocks.

“We would like to work with the media to make them understand what is in the bills for them to help in advocating for the enactment of the same. The media should help in influencing policy makers on this,” said Mulume.

“The disaster risk management policy was enacted, but there’s need for more funding for it to be implemented,” he added.

He further said that if there are no policies in place the country will not have clear guidelines to mitigate the negative impact of climate change.

The training pulled together at least 15 journalists from all reputable media houses in the country.

Cadecom is implementing a three-year-project called ‘Increasing Food Security and Resilience to Climate Shocks’ which is expected to benefit 1,250 households in the country.

It is also working with Civil Society Network on Climate Change and Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) to advocate for the enactment of climate resilient policies such as Right to Food Bill, National Disaster Risk Management Policy and National Climate change.

Beatification of Possible South Africa’s First Saint Slated for September

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 27 August 2015

The beatification of Benedict Daswa, the possible South Africa’s first saint, is set to take place next month, September 13, 2015 as officially announced by Southern Africa Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC).

“God has blessed the Church in Southern Africa in a very special way by the gift of Benedict Daswa as the first Martyr for the faith. On 13 September 2015, he will be officially declared Blessed Benedict Daswa by Cardinal Angelo Amato SDB, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican. Cardinal Amato will be representing Pope Francis,” begins the official message on the beatification signed by the SACBC President Archbishop Stephen Brislin.

The message, which is addressed “to the People of God of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland” goes on to detail the heroic virtues of Benedict Daswa, describing him as having been “a committed lay Catholic and the loving husband and father of a large family; a dedicated teacher and volunteer catechist, an active and charitable member of the community.”

“Benedict’s great moral courage and his passion for the truth led him to openly and very publicly oppose the belief and practice of witchcraft,” the Bishops’ statement explains Benedict’s courageous witness that contributed to his martyrdom on February 2, 1990.

The beatification is set to place during the celebration of Holy Eucharist at Tshitanini near Thohoyandou in the Province of Limpopo in South Africa, the home and place where Benedict was martyred.

According to a message addressed to members of the media by SACBC Communications Officer, Father S’milo Mngadi availed to CANAA, the ceremony will begin at 7.30 a.m. local time with a youth presentation, followed by the prayer of the Church in honour of Benedict, and then the Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. presided over by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Angelo Cardinal Amato.

“We invite as many as possible of the faithful to be present at the beatification ceremony,” the Bishops said in their statement, adding, “It is our wish that those who cannot come to the ceremony be united in spirit and prayer with those present at Tshitanini.”

Benedict Daswa will be commemorated on every first of February.

Official Statement on Pope’s Maiden Visit to Africa to be Released in September, Details in October, Apostolic Nuncio Says Proposed Visit to Begin in Kenya

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 27 August 2015

The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya (and South Sudan) Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo has said that the proposed pastoral visit of the Holy Father to Africa, the first to the continent since he became Pope, is being worked on, revealing that the trip would involve three capitals beginning with Nairobi, then Uganda’s capital Kampala, and conclude with Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.

In an exclusive interview with CANAA on Tuesday, August 25 at his residence in Nairobi, Archbishop Balvo said that an official statement about the proposed November pastoral visit will be released in September and the full formal announcement including details of the trip published sometime in October.

The proposed pastoral visit by the Holy Father is being scheduled for the last week in November.

Below is the full interview with the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya and South Sudan, Archbishop Balvo about the proposed trip of the Holy Father to Africa.

CANAA: On June 12 this year, the Holy Father reportedly confirmed his first trip to Africa since becoming Pope. He said that he would visit the Central African Republic and Uganda in November this year, and that Kenya would only be a possibility. What do you know lately about the Pope’s visit to Africa?

Apostolic Nuncio: Earlier than this, when he was returning from Asia last year, in one of his conversations with the journalists, he indicated his interest (to visit Africa). He had mentioned first to Central African Republic and also Uganda. I think it was in relation to the political situation in Central African Republic, the serious unrest, the violence, that was a concern to him. These kind of things, migrants, immigrants, places where there is some social unrest, are of special concern to him. If people can remember, the first trip out of Rome that he made was to the small island of Lampedusa, where many of the migrants on these ramshackle boats that leave the North African coast often end up.

As far as I am concerned, when I was first informed in the middle of June (2015), the capitals of the three countries were on the Pope’s planned trip: Nairobi, Kampala, and Bangui. I don’t know if the visit of the Kenyan Bishops after Easter for their Ad Limina probably had something to do with it, because when the Pope receives bishops from all over the world for their Ad Limina visits, I’m sure they all say, ‘Holy Father come and visit us.’

Considering that he wanted already to come to East and Central Africa, adding Kenya and considering Nairobi as a major hub for Eastern Africa, then this would be the first stop. In essence, from my first hearing of this, Kenya was part of the program.

CANAA: As far as I know, there has not yet been a formal announcement about the Pope’s visit to Kenya. When can we expect this?

Apostolic Nuncio: The first formal and official announcement will take place in September, indicating that the Pope is visiting these three countries. About a month later, the full formal announcement including the details of the trip will be published, because it has to be coordinated with the three countries.

I have an idea obviously of the program here, but I do not know at all what is going to take place in Uganda specifically. There is always going to be mass in any of these places. In Kampala you have the Martyrs’ shrines in Namugongo and the Pope is surely going there.

CANAA: Even as we wait for the formal announcement and the official release of the schedule, what kind of program do you foresee?

Apostolic Nuncio: There are activities that are already in the planning. There is the welcoming at the Airport on Wednesday afternoon. At that point, it is the State involvement and there is the welcome at State House. On Thursday, there will be mass, the meeting with priest and religious, then there will be a short visit to the United Nations office in Gigiri, Nairobi. Friday morning, there will be a visit to a slum, and then the youth at Kasarani Stadium, then he leaves in the afternoon for Uganda.

So, we have a proposed schedule, we have to put specific times and places. We have concrete ideas, we just have to finalize them. The visit as planned will be from here (in Nairobi), Wednesday the 25^th (November) to Friday the 27^th midday-afternoon, then he continues on to Uganda, and as far as I know, two nights in Uganda and one night in Central African Republic.

CANAA: This is going to be a complex visit involving the State and the Catholic Church in Kenya, isn’t it?

Apostolic Nuncio: The Papal visits are always pastoral visits. They have some governmental State aspects to them, but the primary purpose is to visit the local Church in each and every place that the Pope goes to, but there is always some relationship with the host government as well. Here that will take place pretty much at the beginning. But the day-and-a-half that the Pope is really here is dedicated to the Church.

CANAA: What preparations would you recommend for the ordinary citizens of these countries, ahead of the Papal pastoral visit?

Apostolic Nuncio: Well certainly the local Church through the Bishops’ conference has Commissions to prepare the different aspects of the visit. It is obvious that in any Papal visit anywhere, not everyone can see the Holy Father, or hear him, that can’t just happen. He is just coming to Nairobi and there is going to be a limited number of people who’ll actually see him and hear him speak.

The Bishops have the theme for the visit, “To stay strong in the faith.” In parishes, they (faithful) can participate in organized activities like masses, talks, prayer sessions, Small Christian Communities to reflect upon the faith.

CANAA: As the representative of the Pope in Kenya and South Sudan, the Pope, or at least the Pope’s representatives at the Vatican, will surely be consulting with you ahead of this pastoral visit. What do you think will be his message when he finally comes?

Apostolic Nuncio: As far as the Holy Father’s message is concerned, he (the Pope) will receive suggestions from the local Bishops and the Nuncio along some themes and ideas. But we don’t know what is in his heart and what he wants to say here. We will not know that until he actually says it.

The Holy Father is the shepherd of the Church throughout the world. He has a message for the Americans, for Latin Americans, for Europeans, for Asians; what his message will be specifically for Africans, we’ll know when he comes. We know already some main themes of his Papacy: the notion of the Church as being open and welcoming, inclusive, as he says the world being a battlefield and the Church is a field hospital, helping people who are trying to respond to the needs of humanity. These are obviously general themes: poverty, simplicity, humility. Any specific idea that he may have at the back of his mind that he wants to communicate in his first trip to Africa, that we’ll know when he comes.

CANAA: What does this visit mean to you personally?

Apostolic Nuncio: Well, I have had the experience of Papal visits. In 1997, I was the Secretary at the Nunciature in the Czech Republic when the Pope (John Paul II) made a trip there; it was the commemoration of 1,000 years of a particular saint of that region.

In the year 2000 when Pope John Paul II wanted to commemorate the great Jubilee with pilgrimages to different places, he started his Holy Land trip in March 2000 in Jordan where I was assigned. There, I was alone in the Nunciature in the sense that the Nuncio lived in Iraq and because of the embargo at the time, communications were reduced, traveling was only by road, so the Nuncio would only come from time to time, so I had a lot to do with the local Church of course. So, that was invaluable experience for me to know in general the kind of things you need to do for the preparation of a Papal visit and there are pretty much the same. You have to organize all the things about the press and communications, security, transportation, and then what is going to happen, the various liturgies or encounters, the meetings, prayers, etc.

The Commissions of the Bishops’ conference and their committees will do the bulk of the work for the local Church. The State has its part, but that is really very limited, whereas much of the footwork will be done by the local Church.

CANAA: You have talked about a limited number of people being able to actually see the Pope during his visit. How do you think the limiting of people can be handled?

Apostolic Nuncio: I really don’t know how they will do it. In certain places, and I say this from my lived experience that I had from my home country in the Archdiocese of New York when they had these events, each parish is given a certain number of pass tickets. Then it is up to the Parish Priest. They may have a lottery.

For example, when we have mass in a park, a great many people can participate. So, whether the Bishops will organize that each diocese can send a delegation, each parish in Nairobi, since it is the closest, can send a delegation, they will organize how best to do that. The Church will try to get as much of a representation as possible for the different events.

It will really be up to the Bishops how they do it for the different dioceses, parishes, institutions, and all those who will be able to participate. The rest, obviously you have communications and I am sure that certain events like the mass and the youth gathering can be transmitted by the Kenyan television and broadcast on radio, so that people can have access. I realize that in rural areas the access is limited, but most people can somehow get radio.

CANAA: Any last message with regard to the visit of the Holy Father to this part of the world?

Apostolic Nuncio: Well, I know that the Bishops here have chosen as their theme “to stand strong in the faith,” and I think that when the Holy Father comes, one of the tasks that Jesus gave to St. Peter (and just before he denied that he had known Jesus) was to strengthen his brothers in the faith. I think the Holy Father wants to do that, to strengthen his brothers and sisters in the faith, his presence to be a kind of something that will push people to encourage to live their faith not only interiorly in their life of prayer but also in their life in influencing society so that the society in Kenya can also be even more filled with the values, which come from the gospel for our faith.

Catholic Church in Kenya Marks Silver Jubilee of Commission for Missions and Golden Jubilee of ‘Ad Gentes Divinitus”

CANAA || By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications, KCCB, Nairobi || 24 August 2015

The Commission for Missions of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) marked the two events: golden jubilee of “Ad Gentes Divinitus” the document that promotes the missionary activities of the Catholic Church and 25 years since the Kenyan Catholic Bishops formed a commission to promote the same.

The three-day celebration took place the grounds of St. Mary’s School in Nairobi, from Thursday, August 20 to Saturday, August 22, with more than five thousand children under the Pontifical Missionary Childhood (PMC) in attendance.

Speaking during the launching mass, the Chairman of the Commission for Missions, Bishop Peter Kihara said that Kenya has achieved a lot in terms of missionary activities since the Mother Church in Rome launched the document in July 1965 with the intention to arouse the missionary awareness requiring that every baptized person shares the good news with others.

Bishop Kihara said that there has been tremendous formation and increase of Small Christian Communities that were started because the Christians came to understand that without understanding the word of God and sharing it, they will go out to be missionaries without a basis adding that, there has been an initiative to enculturate the Church and the liturgy by incorporating songs and dances with the cultural aspect to make the Church in Kenya livelier. 

He revealed that there have been a lot of successes in vocation promotion when the young people understand that the command of the gospel is to go out and preach the good news. 

“Many embrace family life, priestly life, like we have a good number of seminaries with more than 700 students wanting to become priests of tomorrow, religious sisters and brothers, to respond to the mandate of Christ in the gospel of Mathew chapter 28 go out to the whole world and preach the good news” Bishop Kihara said.

Bishop Kihara who is the Bishop of Marsabit said in the past 25 years, the Church in Kenya has been able to form ‘Fidei Donum’ priests who leave their dioceses and go to the neediest dioceses to witness faith in those areas.

“We have many priests who are born in one diocese and have been sent to another diocese to donate their faith to the most needy,” he said.

He said the Church in Kenya marked the celebration with the children since they are the future generation and to nature them to be able to make informed decisions in their careers when they grow up.

“We should see more missionaries and committed Christians living their faith, doing different activities and helping people.” He said.

He thanked the PMC children who are already doing a lot through prayer and collection of money to help children in other countries during the epidemics adding that, as the children grow aware of the mission of Christ they will become better missionaries.

The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya (and South Sudan) presided over the Eucharistic celebration on the Friday while John Cardinal Njue of Nairobi Archdiocese was the main celebrant at the concluding mass on Saturday.

The celebrations were organized by PMC office in Kenya under the leadership of the National Director, Father Celestino Bundi.

There were children from 25 diocese of Kenya accompanied by their animators as well as PMC delegates from Uganda, Rwanda and the Vatican.

A Catholic Delegation in Ethiopia Asks the African Union Commission to Invite the Holy Father

CANAA || By Makeda Yohannes, Addis Ababa || 24 August 2015

A high Catholic Church delegation led by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel together with other Church leaders, met with the African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Dlamini Nkozasana Zuma, to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral relationships.

On the occasion, Cardinal Souraphiel suggested that it would be a great opportunity for the African Union to invite the Holy Father to speak during its next plenary scheduled for January 2016.

Among the topic discussed during the meeting is the 19^th AMECEA Plenary to be hosted in Ethiopia in 2018.

“High Catholic Church representatives from Eastern Africa and also other parts of the world will be participating in the AMECEA Plenary,” the Chairperson of the Preparatory committee Ambassador Dr. Berhane Gebray briefed Dr. Zuma on the accomplishments so far and what it would mean for the Catholic Church in Ethiopia and the nation as a whole to host the meeting.

He also made some suggestions as to how AUC could collaborate with the Catholic Church in the preparations of hosting the Holy Father as well as the AMECEA plenary assembly.

On her part, Dr. Zuma considered it an honor to invite the Holy Father Pope Francis saying, “it is a task that we must work on together with the Catholic Church in Ethiopia and the Government of Ethiopia.”

She also expressed AUC’s desire to engage in the plenary and its preparation promising the establishment of a task force to assess AUC’s assistance to the plenary.

The Catholic community working in the AUC meets in a Chapel within the premises of the Commission for prayer programs regularly.

The appointment of a permanent chaplain for the community was also agreed upon during the meeting.

The Catholic Church also took the opportunity to brief the AUC about the contribution of the Church in the development efforts of Ethiopia.

This was the first official meeting Cardinal Souraphiel has held with the African Union Commission since he was elevated to the Cardinalate on 14 February 2015.

African Youth Encouraged to Combat New Forms of Slavery and Colonialization

CANAA || By Benedict Assorow, SECAM Communications || 22 August 2015

The youth in Africa have been called upon to combat the new forms of slavery and colonialization on the continent. This appeal was made by the President of the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bishop Nicola Djomo, at the opening ceremony of a meeting of Pan-African  Catholic Youth and Children that is being held in Kinshasa, DRC  from August 21-25, 2 015.

The Youth in Africa, he said, should not allow false trappings of wealth lure them to move out of their countries in search of non-existent jobs in Europe and America.

"Be vigilant of the deceptions of the new forms of the destruction of the culture of life, moral, and spiritual values. Use your talents and other resources to renew and transform our continent and for the promotion of lasting justice, peace, and reconciliation in Africa. You are a treasure for Africa. The Church relies on you, your continent needs you," Bishop Djomo emphasised.

He further urged the youth to study and understand the Social Teaching of the Church to enable them be of more service to the Church in Africa and their various countries.

The  about 120 participants representing a number of countries in Africa participating in the three-day meeting taking place at the  Catholic Centre of Nganda in Kinshasa were welcomed by an  Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, Bishop Jean-Poierre Kwambamba.

The meeting has been organised by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in collaboration with the Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO).

In a message presented on behalf of the Secretary General of SECAM, Father Joseph Komakoma, the Director of Communications of SECAM outlined the objectives of the meeting a) as part of preparation towards engaging the youth of Africa in the promotion of Justice, Peace, Good Governance and Reconciliation at the National, Regional and Continental levels; involving the  youth in the celebration of the  African Year of Reconciliation (from July 29, 2015 to July 29, 2016);  b) to institute a Pan-African Organisation for bringing together at the continental level Catholic Action Movements for the Youth and Children and c) To consider the possibility of hosting, in the near future, a World Youth Day in Africa.

He pointed out that SECAM is giving priority attention to the youth who form about 70 per cent of the population of Africa.

"The youth are therefore the most important sector of the African population on whom the Church ought to count on, as a priority, in the scope of Church's evangelisation efforts such as the promotion of justice, peace, reconciliation, and socio-economic development of our continent," he added.

Later in the day, Father Komakoma in addressing the participants urged them to take charge of their own pastoral engagements with the guidance of their Chaplains.

Some of the topics that are being treated at the meeting are:

i) The Politcal, Economic and Socio-cultural Context of Africa Today;

ii) Opportunities for the Youth in the Society and in the Church- The Role of the Church in Africa Today;

iii) The Social Doctrine of the Church within an African Context with particular reference to Theology;

iv) the leadership role of the African Woman;

v) Role of the Youth in the Church Today: A challenge for the youth in the Continental Year of Reconciliation.

There will be Workshops for coming up with concrete Regional and Continental programmes and projects for the year of Reconciliation and other issues discussed during the five-day meeting.

In another development, the participants had the opportunity of participating in a seven-thousand strong Youth Convention of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa that was addressed by Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo of Kinshasa. 

The Cardinal's public Catechesis was on the theme: Fraternity, Dialogue, Justice and Reconciliation in reference to Ephesians 2: 12-19.

He also answered questions by the youth. The issues raised included that of politics, Church-State relations, economic, social and cultural challenges that are confronting the youth.

The Meeting on theme: “EDUCATION FOR THE CULTURE OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION” was coordinated by Father Leonard Sentedi, Secretary General of CENCO and  the Secretary General of the Regional Episcopal Conference of Centra Africa, Father Edouard Mombili.

Apart from the host Country-DRC, Egypt has the largest number of participants.

South Sudanese Bishop’s Appeal for “safety” of Former Governor Bears Fruit

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 24 August 2015

The appeal for the “safety” of the former Western Equatoria governor, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, made by Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Catholic diocese of Tombura-Yambio in South Sudan, has borne fruit.

The former governor, who had been allegedly taken from his private residence by security personnel after having been relieved of his duties as governor through a presidential decree, “was set free from his state of arrest by the President Salva Kiir.”

Bishop Hiiboro has since expressed gratitude following the release of the former governor last Friday, saying, “I take this chance to thank all the people who contributed to peaceful handling of the situation that was truly a work of peace.”

Below is the full text of Bishop Hiiboro’s statement of appreciation following his fruitful intervention for the safe release of the former governor.

N. 009CDTY/0015

August 21, 2015

Ref. Words of gratitude to the Government of South Sudan and all Peace Lovers

Theme: Thank you for releasing Col. Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro - Let us rededicate ourselves to peace

It is nearly 24 hours since I joined my voice of appeal for the release of Co. Joseph Bakosoro whose arrest did not fulfil proper legal standards.

Today, he was set free from his state of arrest by the President Salva Kiir, whom I thank truly. I take this chance to thank all the people who contributed to peaceful handling of the situation that was truly a work of peace. I am particular thankful to the Minister of Defence for his straightforwardness and responsibility.

As much as we seek actions and interventions from our government, we as well stand ready to thank and bless them for such noble duty. Thank you all for a job well done.

For our country South Sudan, we must begin by acknowledging the hard truth: We will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes. I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King Jr. said many years ago: "Violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones." I believe that there is nothing weak -- nothing passive -- nothing naïve -- in the creed and lives of great people such a Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mandela,

.

As people of South Sudan, there have been times when each and every one of us has needed to forgive. There have also been times when each one of us needed to be forgiven. There will be many times again. In our own ways, we are all broken. Out of that brokenness, we hurt others. Forgiveness is the journey we take towards healing the broken parts. And this is how we become whole again.

Forgiveness is the way we set those interactions right. It is the way we mend the torn social fabric of our beloved nation. It is the way we stop our human community from division.

In my understanding, it seems like it is the human condition, there has always been violence and when we are greeted with it we must choose the side of peace.

Dialogue and talking to each other out of love can prevent bloodshed and violence, and will promote peace. I believe that Col Bakosoro will learn to work for peace and consider all as equal. May all who have demonstrated love, unity, peace and constructive advice be blessed. God rewards you abundantly.

My appeal to you all is: when we hear hate speech or see a hateful act we can stand up and confront it, and do so as people of faith. God’s Word announces to us that we all “are one in Christ.” (Gal 3:28). That is the identity that God gives us, and with it comes the responsibility and opportunity to live as if we believed it to be true. The willingness to live that life doesn’t depend on how others receive us; it depends on our trust in the God who is making all things new. That trust is itself a gift of God. Let us use it.

Finally, I ask you to join me in prayer for the needy and suffering people of South Sudan. Thank you for your faithful witness to the saving love of Christ. Let us continue to pray for the prisoners who are not able to come out and above all for peace to prevail in our beloved nation. Once more, thank you very much and God bless you all!

Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio

Catholic Archdiocese in Liberia Launches Media Program

AllAfrica || By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor || 18 August 2015

The Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia has launched a youth media program to identify potential secondary school students to be introduced to career in journalism. The Archdiocese operates an FM radio station, Radio VERITAS in Monrovia.

Speaking at the launch over the weekend at the St. Kizito Parish in Paynesville, outskirt of Monrovia, Rev. Father Ambrose DayougaKroma said the Catholic Media Center has recognized the urgency and importance of establishing a youth media education program.

"This program, which we intend to go all across the country, is intended to identify potential students, who are interested in journalism in our school system to have them begin their practice from their campus based media clubs activities and liaising with Radio VERITAS to plan and produce programs that have direct impact on our human conditions such as the environment; the economy; starting small business, agriculture, health, gender, issues relating to women and children; the vulnerable and elderly within our communities," he explained.

Rev. Kroma called on the Ministry of Education, as a matter of urgency, to introduce media studies within the national school curriculum beginning from 7th to 12th grade. According to him, the idea behind teaching media studies in secondary schools is not solely to making students become journalists or media persons as is the case with other subjects being taught.

However, he noted that if students are exposed to many subjects, in the future they may pick these professions, adding they study all these subjects to understand their surroundings and to develop an nderstanding of the concepts, which may help them to deal with various situations in life.

The Catholic priest said media studies should also be taught along with other subjects as it is an important aspect of students' lives. "Media is not only a source of entertainment for young people as is sometime erroneously portrayed, but also a source of education. Students knowingly or unknowingly learn a lot from the continuous flow of media messages in their lives. Hence a media discourse is necessary at our schools. For this, media can be introduced as a subject in all schools across the country," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister for Administration, Aaron Weah, who also attended the launch, has promised that the suggestion from the Catholic Church will be taken to the ministry for possible consideration in the next revision of the national curriculum.

The program was characterized by intellectual debate among students from the Catholic School System and other private and public schools in and around Monrovia.

South Sudanese Catholic Bishop Appeals for “safety” of Missing Former State Governor

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 20 August 2015

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Catholic diocese of Tombura-Yambio in South Sudan is appealing for the “safety” of the former Western Equatoria governor, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, who “has gone missing with no official statement from the government.”

On Sunday, August 16, South Sudan President Salva Kiir sacked the governors of the States of Western Equatoria, Warrap, Central Equatoria, and Upper Nile, through a presidential decree read on the state television, SSTV.

According to the bishop, the removal of Bakosoro from his office as governor on August 16 through the presidential decree “was accepted as a normal and legitimate government administrative prerogative.”

The transitional constitution of South Sudan gives the President the power to “remove a state Governor and/or dissolve a state legislative assembly in the event of a crisis in the state that threatens national security and territorial integrity.”

“The disappearance of Col. Bungee Bakosoro, according to family members, took place at 11.45 PM (on Sunday) from his private residence,” Bishop Hiiboro revealed, adding, “He was apparently taken by security personnel.”

“It is now five days and no news of him has been communicated to his family, the general public and the people of Western Equatoria in particular,” the Bishop lamented, calling for adherence to the country’s legal norms, which require one’s trial within 24 hours of detention.

“By the time the former governor was arrested, he was sick and needs medication,” Bishop Hiiboro stated in his letter dated Thursday, August 20, 2015, in which he appeals to the government of South Sudan to share news about “and to assume responsibility for the life and wellbeing of the former governor.”

In the letter, the bishop also appeals for calm and peace among the people in Western Equatoria State saying, “Nobody should encourage any tension which leads people into unnecessary violence.”

On Tuesday, the director of South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA), Biel Boutros Biel, condemned the arrest of the former governor and called for his immediate release.

“This is humiliation to him as a person and abuse of his rights to fair trial under article 19 of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan 2011. This constitutional provision obliges arresting authority to bring the accused before the court of law within 24 hours as specifically stipulated under article 19(4) of the Constitution,” Sudan Tribune quoted Boutros Biel as saying in a statement he issued on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, on Monday, President Kiir refused to sign a peace deal supported by IGAD and the troika (the US, the UK and Norway) claiming that the text of the accord had been altered from the one that had been agreed upon and that he needed 15 days for further consultations.

CAFOD Partners Receive Peace Award in Central African Republic

Catholic Herald || By Staff Reporter || 20 August 2015

One of Cafod’s partners in the Central African Republic has won a prestigious humanitarian award for trying to hold.

Dieudonné Nzapalainga, the Catholic Archbishop of Bangui, Imam Omar Kobine Layama, President of the Central African Islamic Community, and Nicolas Guérékoyame-Gbangou, President of the Evangelical Alliance of the Central African Republic, were awarded the UN Sergio Vieira de Mello Award yesterday for their efforts in reconciling Christian and Muslim groups.

Receiving news of the award, Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, told Cafod: “We’re absolutely delighted to be a part of this very special Sergio Vieira de Mello Award which recognises the important work of peace-building, however challenging the situation might be.

“This award does not belong to us, but honours the dedication of ordinary people from all walks of life who have refused to be overwhelmed by the violence, and instead with brave hearts go and talk peace and reconciliation in their communities.”

The three religions leaders are members of the Interreligious Peace Platform, established in 2013 at the height of the conflict between the rival Seleka and Anti-balaka militias. The three men travel around the countries encouraging the communities to tolerate and trus each other.

The conflict in CAR began after the Muslim Seleka group seized power following a military coup in March 2013. Six months later largely Christian militia known as Anti-balaka launched a series of counterattacks.

Some 2.7 million people, over half the country’s population rely on aid.

SECAM Reaches out to Women and Youth to Implement the African Year of Reconciliation

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 20 August 2015

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has organized Pan African workshops targeting women and the youth on the continent in the process of implementing the recently launched African Year of Reconciliation (AYR).

The workshop targeting the youth is scheduled to take place in Kinshasa in DR Congo from August 21-25, 2015, while the one targeting women is slated for  August 30 to September 3, 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.

On July 29, 2015, SECAM officially launched the AYR as it commemorated its 46^th Anniversary since it was founded, a continent-wide celebration that will conclude on July 29, 2016 during the 17^th Plenary Assembly of SECAM scheduled to take place in Angola.

Each conference of bishops in Africa is expected to put in place some programs to mark the AYR.

The Kinshasa youth workshop will bring together over one hundred youth and facilitators drawn from 37 Bishops’ conferences under the theme, “Moving Towards the African Year of Reconciliation (AYR) and the African Youth Days (AYD): Education for the Culture of Peace and Reconciliation.”

According to the concept paper about the youth workshop prepared by SECAM Secretary General, Father Joseph Komakoma, SECAM considers the youth a priority constituency because they represent more than 65% of the population in Africa.

“The youth are therefore the most important sector of African population on whom we ought to count on, as a priority, in the scope of Church actions such as formation for the culture of reconciliation and the Year of Reconciliation in Africa,” the concept paper reads, adding that the youth “are also the sector who merits a particular care from the Church such that the exuberance of the Church is self-evident.”

The Kinshasa meeting is meant to start off a process that will see the youth get actively engaged in activities that will promote the “values of justice, peace and reconciliation for a transformed Africa” and the realization “in a future that is more or less near, the big event of the World Youth Day.”

Meanwhile, the dozens of women representing Women’s Catholic Action Movements will gather in Nairobi at the end of this month under the theme, “The African Woman Moving towards the African Year of Reconciliation.”

Like the workshop targeting the youth, the women workshop has the objective to prepare for the celebration of the AYR.

“In all aspects of the pastoral work of the Church, at parish and diocesan level in particular, women excel in their commitment and are numerically and qualitatively, without doubt, more efficient among the laity,” reads the concept paper explaining the significance of women as a target group.

Through the women leaders, SECAM hopes to reach out to as many women as possible during the process of celebrating the already launched AYR.

The two workshops are being realized through a partnership with Missio Aachen and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and are part of SECAM’s five-year strategic plan 2013-2018 ratified during the 16^th Plenary Assembly held from 8-15 July 2013 in DR Congo.

Plenary Meeting of the Bishops of the Southern African Conference

CANAA || By Fr. S’milo Mngadi, Pretoria || 17 August 2015

The bishops of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) gathered at the Mariannhill Retreat House (part of the Monastery) from to 11 August for their bi-annual plenary assembly. The whole 29 of them were present. The Conference is made up of 5 metropolitan archdioceses, 22 dioceses and 2 Vicariates Apostolic. One vicariate apostolic (Ingwavuma) is vacant and one archdiocese (Durban) has an auxiliary bishop, Bishop Barry Wood OMI.

Being an auxiliary bishop and the liaison bishop for the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life in Southern Africa (LCCL-SA) made him a critical role-player during this plenary. On Monday (10^th August), he had to preach a homily during the Celebration of the Year of Consecrated Life which he help put together. During this homily, he challenged the religious to keep the “dangerous memory” of Jesus Christ. Switching from English to isiZulu and back very comfortably, he kept the packed St Joseph’s Cathedral, Mariannhill attentive throughout his 20 minutes presentation. Only the fear of the 28 mitres kept the congregation for giving a round of applause after his sermon brightly coloured with stories including the one of the “mouse and the lion.”

Two days earlier, he had had to be a single-man IEC as he conducted the elections for the administrative Troika of the SACBC for the years 2016 to 2018. The results were as follows:

Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town was re-elected for the second term and Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha and Bishop Valentine of Gaborone (Botswana) were elected vice-presidents. They are all members of the diocesan clergy. Sr Hermenegild Makoro was also appointed for the second term as the Secretary General.

The plenary always begin with a moment of prayer. This time around prayer focused on the role of the bishop as the chief priest of the diocesan church. This was … by the fiftieth anniversary of the Vatican II’s Decree on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium). After a presentation and common sharing, the bishops put themselves at the feet of the Lord in the exposed Blessed Sacrament resolving to renew their role as the pontifecis of their local churches.

The Plenary also had to listen to the sad and tumultuous turn of events in our South Africa-landlocked Lesotho.

A delegation of three Lesotho bishops; Archbishop Gerard Lerotholi OMI of the capital city Maseru, Bishop Augustinus Bane OMI of Leribe and Bishop John Thlomola SCP, presented the plight of the Lesotho situation. It was shocking to hear of the death threat of Archbishop Lerotholi who is the president of the Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference (LCBC), the chairperson of the ecumenical Lesotho Christian Council and, by birth, a member of the royal family. The bishops of the SACBC resolved to issue a statement and pay a solidarity visit to Lesotho very soon.

The challenges pondered upon were not only Lesotho, South African problem of racism and racial intergration was also on cards. A sociological presentation made by of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation for Non Racialism revealed to the bishops the stark reality of perennial racial tendencies among the South Africans.

The “rainbow” nation is increasingly becoming illusory. Professor Nick Rowe of St Augustine’s College gave a theological analysis and a “reconciliation model” towards the proper and lasting racial integration.

The plenary was formally presented with the preparations for the Beatification of the first martyr of the region, Benedict Daswa. They acknowledged this as the fruit of almost two centuries of initial evangelisation. They also saw this as a great opportunity for catechesis, robust stand against witchcraft beliefs and reaffirmation of the noble vocation and mission of the family especially pertaining the role of husbands and fathers.

On the family note, the bishops sent their representatives to the October synod on the family with the position of “mercy” and of virtue that stands in the middle, not too harsh but not relative either. The representatives are the president, Archbishop Brislin, and Bishop Zolile Mpambani SCJ who is the SACBC bishop for the family.

The year of Mercy, beginning on the 8^th December, will be characterised by each bishop writing a pastoral letter. This will hopefully develop a concrete theology of mercy for our region. A team of priests, both religious and diocesans, will form teams to preach missions on the theme of mercy.

Providentially, its beginning will be pre-fixed with the Mini World Youth Day to be held at Bosco Centre, Johannesburg from the 3^rd to the 6^th December 2015 and during it, the great exorcist Fr Denis McManus will conduct workshops throughout the region on releasing people from the clutches of the evil one (exorcism)

The finances are looking well. The Lenten Appeal brought in over R9 million (some funds still forthcoming). The SACBC Foundation is slowly growing under the capable hands of the newly-appointed director, Monsignor Barney McAleer. St Augustine’s College is still on shaky financial grounds while the adequate care for the clergy (remuneration, pension, medical aid) is still a challenge for many dioceses.

Finally, the bishops approved the campaign against pornography and approved the new Catholic body for education, the CBE with the Catholic Institute of Education as its operating agency. They also gave a go-ahead to the publication of the new catechism for teenagers, namely, “Living the Word, Learning the Faith”

STATEMENT BY THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE

ON THE EXTENSION OF THE SEPARATION BARRIER IN THE CREMISAN VALLEY

This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another' (Zech 7:9)

The Catholic Bishops of Southern Africa, gathered in Mariannhill for their plenary session, are saddened and dismayed to learn of the recent decision by the Israeli Supreme Court to allow the Separation Barrier to be built in the Cremisan Valley.

The extension of the Separation Barrier will severely affect the livelihoods and the quality of life of 58 Christian families, whose land and olive orchards have been in their families for generations. Furthermore, it will separate them from the spiritual and pastoral care of the Salesian Sisters and the Monastery both of which which will remain in Palestinian territory.

The extension of the Barrier will be a further encroachment on Palestinian lands close to Bethlehem, squeezing the population once again into a smaller area. The building of the barrier on Palestinian territory is arguably illegal in international law – most certainly it places more obstacles in the way of finding peace in the Middle East and contributes to further destabilization of the whole region.

We believe that peace can only be achieved by seeking justice for all. The separation of peoples through walls and barriers can only further divide and anger people, and will not contribute to peace. We call on all leaders in the Holy Land to work for peace by seeking justice, and to show mercy and compassion to one another. We express our solidarity and support for the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Faoud Twal, his auxiliary bishops and all the suffering peoples of the Holy Land.

Furthermore, we hold all people of the Middle East in our hearts and in our prayers.

Archbishop Stephen Brislin

President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

SACBC SOLIDARITY MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF LESOTHO

We, the Bishops of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) gathered here in Mariannhill this August 2015 wish to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters from the Kingdom of Lesotho. We would like to express that Lesotho is not alone, the Bishops and the Catholic community are with you in this time of need.

We have been following the events in your country since the outbreak of violence in August 2014 with shock and dismay in particular the recent killing of the Lesotho Defence Force Commander, L.G. Maaparankoe Mahao on the 25^th June 2015. We are shocked that such a horrendous act was done by some members of the Lesotho Defence Forces. This action reflects the predicament in which many Basotho people find themselves, that they are not safe in their own country. It brings fear and threatens the foundations of human rights, especially the right to life, and throws out the democratic principles on which many constitutions are founded. We are well aware that even last year some disturbances took place in Lesotho. We call upon leaders in Lesotho to come together to seek a lasting solution to the Lesotho problems. As leaders, we condemn any attack on any person.

Affirming that Basotho are best positioned to solve their own problems, we also commend the actions of SADC leaders who acted swiftly and quickly to try and solve the challenges that had befallen the Kingdom of Lesotho. We believe that as long as one of the countries in Southern Africa is unstable, it affects all its neighbours.

We call for open dialogue as a way of solving the problems that are facing Lesotho. We therefore need to stand together with all the Basotho people and condemn any form of violence, especially when it is being done by the state.

We pray for peace in Lesotho and ask the government to respect the human rights of its citizen and to promote tolerance of different opinions.

Issued by: Archbishop Stephen Brislin

President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Over 50 Nurses Graduate at a Catholic Institute in Kenya

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 17 August 2015

The Catholic School of Nursing of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) in Nyahururu diocese held its 18^th graduation ceremony last Friday, August 14, an event that saw 54 nurses graduate.

KCCB St. Luke’s Kenya Registered Community Health (KRCH) Nursing School was conceived in 1977 to train indigenous health personnel in a rural setting and had the first student nurses in January 1991.

The training facility is situated in North Kinangop in Nyandarua County within the Catholic diocese of Nyahururu and offers a Diploma in Nursing, with basic courses lasting three-and-a-half years.

Bishop Joseph Mbatia of Nyahururu diocese, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya, presided over the Eucharistic celebration, which preceded the graduation ceremony.

He called on the nurses who graduated to promote the culture of life in their “new race” of being at the service of the sick in the places they will be practicing their profession saying, “The Church and indeed the Kenyan society was training you for their own purpose. St. Luke’s Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops School of Nursing was training you to perpetuate Gospel and human values.”

“In the contemporary times, the culture of death has prevailed over the culture of life,” bishop Mbatia lamented, warning, “a country that does not defend, protect and promote life is heading to doom.”

“Can those who are sick in the community realize the human, loving face and healing touch of Jesus from you?” the bishop challenged the nurses who graduated, encouraging them to remain joyful during their encounters with patients.

Representatives from the health department of Nyandarua County assured the nurses who graduated of job vacancies in the health sector in counties across the country.

Over the last 10 years, St. Luke’s Nursing school has graduated over 500 nurses.

The institution has the vision to be a national and international college of excellence in the provision of quality and specialized nursing education.

The Chairman of the Education Committee of the Nursing Council of Kenya, Samson Cheruiyot, who was the guest of honor at the Friday event thanked the Catholic Church for taking the lead in the health sector in the country.

According to KCCB website, “Through the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya, the Catholic Church runs close to 30% of all healthcare facilities in Kenya. The Church has an expansive network which consists of 448 health units (54 hospitals, 83 health centres and 311 Dispensaries) and more than 46 Community Based Health and Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Programs.”

Pope Francis Elevates Bishop in Sudan to Archbishop

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 17 August 2015

Pope Francis on Saturday elevated Bishop Michael Didi Adgum Mungoria of the diocese of El Obeid in Sudan to Coadjutor Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Khartoum.

Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir who heads Khartoum Archdiocese will be turning 75 on 27 February 2016 and Archbishop-elect is set to take over from him in January 2016.

Secretary General of Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), Father Jacob Odwa Paul broke the news of the elevation of Bishop Didi to Archbishop through a letter sent by the Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan (and Eretrea), Archbishop Hubertus Matheus Maria Van Megen.

According to the letter, Archbishop-elect will continue to head the diocese of El Obeid as Apostolic Administrator until a new bishop for the diocese is appointed.

56-year old Archbishop-elect was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Khartoum in May 1992.

He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of El Obeid in May 2010 and succeeded Bishop Macram Max Gassis in October 2013.

Church in Ethiopia Working to Promote Family Values ahead of the World Meeting of Families

CANAA || By Makeda Yohannes, Addis Ababa || 17 August 2015

The Catholic Church in Ethiopia has embarked on a program to promote family values by organizing workshops to various groups in preparation for the world meeting of families scheduled to take place in Philadelphia in the U.S. next month.

On June 30, 2015, the Vatican released the comprehensive itinerary for the Pope’s journey to the U.S., which includes his schedule for Philadelphia on September 26-27, closing the 6-day Apostolic Journey.

The Church in Ethiopia is realizing a series of workshops targeting Pastoral Coordinators, Catechists, couples, laity Councils, the youth, Catholic students of universities, Catholic Life Community Movements and Young Catholic Workers under the theme, “Vocation and Mission of Families in the Church and in the Contemporary World.”

According to the National Pastoral Coordinator, Father Hailegabriel Meleku, Family is given great attention as the current situation of families is precarious in Ethiopia and the world.

“All families have a mission to announce the Gospel of the family, the National plan of the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat’s summer program is focused around the theme of the family, its vocation and their mission in the Church and the contemporary world,” Father Meleku said.

He clarified that these workshops are serving as a good instrument to identify some of the major socio-cultural challenges of families in the local context and are serving to reduce unawareness about Church’s teachings on family and marriages. There are also witnesses from families with long years of married life and different experiences.

“Marriage between men and women and family are not only human design but it is a call from God or a vocation from God, sometimes they say a marriage is planned in heaven” he said.

He further explained that the workshops are aimed to help the faithful listen to their calling and live it as per the teaching of the Catholic Church and to make them aware of their mission of evangelizing the value of family.

He also clarified that the workshop sessions are intended to involve families in the process of the forthcoming Synod, encouraging active participation during the workshops.

The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is currently preparing Catholic families to participate in the upcoming World Meeting of Families’ congress (WMOF) to be held in Philadelphia, USA in September.

Security Challenges Not an Excuse for Not Witnessing to Christ: Archbishop in Nigeria

Catholic News Service of Nigeria || 12 August 2015

Catholics in Nigeria, especially media practitioners, have been called upon not to allow the present state of insecurity in the northern part of the country to prevent them from witnessing to Christ in the area.  The call was made by the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna , Most Rev. Mathew Ndagoso in his homily at the opening Mass for this year’s Regional Conference of Catholic Media Practitioners of Nigeria  of the North, (CAMPAN);  held recently, at the Catholic Social Centre, Kaduna.

While expressing dismay at the activities of the Boko Haram  Islamic terrorist group in the Northern part of the country, particularly, the North east, Archbishop Ndagoso noted that Catholics and other Christians in the areas have remained undeterred and steadfast in their faith.

Noting that the Boko Haram bombblasts saga has lost steam with the people now accepting it as “one of those things,” and going about their businesses; the Archbishop stated that threat to  security of life and property  in the country is not limited to the North; adding: “In fact, no place is safe in Nigeria”. While acknowledging the menace of the Boko haram in the northern part of the country, Archbishop Ndagoso remarked that the safety in the south is threatened by armed robbers and kidnappers who are really on rampage.

The Archbishop therefore called on Catholic faithful in the southern part of the country not to shun evangelization activities or religious programmes in the North, stressing that witnessing to Christ is a cross which all Christians must endeavour to carry. He expressed the hope that the Boko Haram insurgency will soon be part of the country’s history and peace would returned to all the affected areas.

Emphasizing the importance of communication in the evangelization mission of the Church, Archbishop Ndagoso remarked that all aspects of Church life and mission centre on communication, including “preaching the Gospel in and out of season”.

He stated further that the media is not only a means of communication but also an instrument of evangelization and means of spreading a new culture.

The programme which was attended by over 40 delegates from the Archdioceses and dioceses in the region had Media Evangelization and the Nigerian Society as its them, and presentations were made on: The Concept of Change and The Role of Media Practitioners/Professionals; and The Role of the Church and Media as Agenda Pace Setters.

African Theologians, Bishops Cry out for More Expansive Synod Discussions

National Catholic Reporter || Joshua J. McElwee || 11 August 2015

A number of prominent theologians and bishops from across the African continent have sharply called for more expansive discussions at this fall's global meeting of Catholic bishops on family issues, saying last year's event focused too heavily on subjects mainly of concern to Europeans and North Americans.

Last year's discussions -- which attracted global media coverage scrutinizing bishops' stances on controversial questions like divorce and remarriage and same-sex relationships -- left out a multitude of pressing issues facing millions living throughout Africa, the prelates and academics argued at a groundbreaking conference here July 16-18.

In a reflection of the tone of the event, one theologian-participant made a poignant, echoing plea. The global church, she said, must entirely refocus itself to speak for voiceless Africans who are suffering in many ways.

 "How outraged are we? Who is keeping a tab?" Nontando Hadebe cried out to other participants at the gathering, speaking specifically of the kidnapping of some 300 schoolgirls by the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria in 2014.

"There just needs to be an institution that says no -- no more!" she continued, calling on the church to reorient to become the "guardian, sustainer, protector" of African and black lives.

"We need an institution that is outraged and that sustains that outrage as a prophetic teaching," said the South African, a rising theologian who has focused her work on the struggles of African women.

Hadebe, who teaches at Johannesburg's St. Augustine College, was one of 36 of the continent's most prominent Catholic ethicists gathered for the discussions, the last in a three-year series of such meetings being held at the Jesuit-run Hekima University College since 2013.

Organized as a "Theological Colloquium on Church, Religion, and Society in Africa," this year's event saw the academics and selected prelates discuss a wide range of issues, such as questions of ecological destruction and religious fundamentalism, and how Pope Francis is impacting the shape of Africa's church structures.

But many of the conversations focused most on the October meeting of the Synod of Bishops, the second of two back-to-back bishops' meetings called by Francis for 2014 and 2015 to focus on family life issues.

Among those addressing that subject were three prelates: Rustenburg, South Africa, Bishop Kevin Dowling; Malindi, Kenya, Bishop Emanuel Barbara; and Kibungo, Rwanda, Bishop Antoine Kambanda.

Both Dowling and Barbara bluntly faulted the 2014 meeting for not focusing enough on African issues.

Dowling, a prominent global voice as a co-president of the international Catholic peace group Pax Christi, said he hoped the 2015 event would avoid simply restating doctrines in "predominantly Eurocentric constructs."

More time at the meeting, he said, should be spent on "all the systemic issues which threaten relationships between people in societies and make it so hard for parents today to nourish their relationship with their own children and so bring them up in wholesome and life-giving ways."

Barbara, who has been selected as a substitute to attend the synod should the Kenyan bishops elected to do so not be able, said the first synod was focused "much more on a Europe or a European culture which got converted to Christianity and is now facing big challenges because of the new era."

Africans, Barbara said, face many different challenges than Europeans. Many Africans, he said, are still dealing with issues related to being newer converts to Christianity and in trying to live their faith while respecting their traditional cultures.

The Kenyan bishop called for a new theology of marriage from an African context.

"If we want to have respect to our African Christian families, we need to work seriously on an African Christian theology of marriage," he said. "It's not enough to apply other models that have been there for centuries."

One theologian, Ugandan Emmanuel Katongole, even criticized what he called a "tyranny of pressing moral questions" that immediately reduces problems the church needs to face down to issues of sexuality or authority.

"The overall effect of starting with the 'pressing moral questions' is to make a parody of the African voice," said Katongole, a professor of theology and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute. "It is to obscure what might be more broad, urgent but perhaps less sexy issues affecting millions of Africans."

"One wonders why sexuality is a pressing moral question but the fact that millions of Africans lack basic necessities like water, food and shelter is not," he said. "Why is sexual orientation a basic human right, but not the right to water?"

Call for African organization

In three expansive sessions at the Nairobi gathering focused on "Gospel of Family: From Africa to the World Church," the participants brought up a diverse range of unique family topics they said are facing the church on their continent but had not been adequately discussed at the 2014 synod.

Among the issues, too many to list in full:

• Identity struggles for Africans who feel separated from their traditional cultures after Christian conversion;
• Gender-based violence in households, overwhelmingly against women;
• Missing presence of fathers in family life;
• Large-scale, crippling poverty;
• Lack of "principled, ethical leadership" in both governmental and church spheres.

Several participants at the gathering called for leaders in the African church to work more closely together in order to coordinate in speaking out about such issues at the 2015 synod.

One theologian, Jesuit Fr. Paul Bere, said he felt a "deep lament" that the complexity of issues facing Africans was not discussed at the 2014 event.

"It is so sad that the church of Africa did not make its voice heard and I doubt it will be heard in the upcoming synod," said Bere, a native of Burkina Faso who teaches at the Institut de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Bere, who also served from 2009 to 2014 as a consultor to the Synod of Bishops' secretariat office at the Vatican, said African voices were not being heard because the different African churches were not organizing their arguments together.

Maryknoll Fr. Joseph Healey, an American who has lived in Eastern Africa for nearly 40 years, said the African bishops "have not come up with a strategy to clearly and incisively present in Rome [their] priorities."

"Unlike other continents, which plan together and then come with clear priorities, our African interventions are often scattered and not planned together," he said.

Barbara, whose Malindi diocese sits some 300 miles east of Nairobi on the Indian Ocean, focused his remarks on speaking for African Catholics struggling to live in both their traditional and Christian cultures.

The bishop said he constantly hears from Catholics in his diocese who feel "they are not living totally as Africans because they became Christians."

Barbara also identified two specific proposals he said he had asked bishops at October's synod to consider, writing to the Vatican synod office with suggestions: creation of a more gradual form of consent for marriage, and more extensive preparation courses for couples considering marriage.

On the first issue, the Kenyan bishop said traditional African marriages normally involved much more than the simple "Yes, I do" that provides for consent between married couples in Christian marriages. In the past, he said, consent between couples was even made over years -- as the couples lived with one another, and their families came to be gradually meshed together.

"Can we still today speak of a universal form of marriage where the only consent -- 'Yes, I do,' coming from a Latin, German culture -- will be sufficient to sanction a marriage?" Barbara asked.

"In the African context, it used to take stages," he said. "There used to be involved both families before the marriage will come to be something. Is it enough today still to insist in our own culture, in our environment in Africa, that it is enough that you go in front of the priest or the minister and say, 'Yes, I do?' "

The Kenyan bishop also said that church teaching on contraception and fertility focuses too specifically on defining sinful behavior.

"It is too simplistic to speak that our African Christian couples can only be taught about the good or negative effects of contraception, infertility, or fertility under just the category of what is sinful or not," said Barbara. "It is too simplistic for a culture where fertility is one of the most important elements in marriage."

The Ugandan theologian, Katongole, presented seven social challenges he said face African churches and "press for fresh theological imaginations of what the church in Africa need to be, ought to be, and how it can respond to these challenges."

Identifying sub-Saharan Africa as having the fastest-growing population in the world, the Notre Dame professor cited statistics that more than 50 percent of youth there are illiterate and unemployed.

"This will press the church in Africa," said Katongole. "What kind of church will we have? I think in responding to this challenge, the African church will find herself drawing more on the ecclesiological vision of Pope Francis, of the church of the poor for the poor."

'Big man' leadership

But the theologian also said that one of the key problems facing the church in Africa is a tendency to mirror in its structures a type of leadership popular in African governments, where one key figure exercises power as a "big man" or a "boss."

"Church leadership, unfortunately, has by and large both mirrored and radiated the same style of leadership, where the bishop and to lesser extent the priest exercises chief and unquestionable lordship over those they lead," said Katongole. "Accordingly, church institutions are characterized by the same and in some cases even worse forms of corruption and opacity."

The theologian called on bishops "to recover a vision of the church" grounded by Jesus' call to be servants.

Kenyan theologian Philomena Mwaura identified violence against women and lack of stable fathers in African countries as issues the October synod should discuss.

Mwaura, an associate professor at Kenya's public Kenyatta University, said there is a "crisis" in fatherhood on her continent, citing figures that only 3 percent of Africans say they have a good relationship with their fathers.

"The challenge in the modern African family today is the presence of fathers," she said. "Boys do not have mentors; they do not have role models."

The Nairobi event was convened by Hekima University College's principal, Jesuit Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator. A Nigerian native who recently finished a term as the provincial of his order's East Africa province, Orobator arranged the three years of the theological conferences with distinct themes.

This year's theme was: "An Agenda for Vatican III: Ideas, Issues, and Resources from Africa for the World Church." Besides the family synod, other sessions also focused on ecological issues, religious violence, and the so-called pressing moral issues across the continent.

This year's event was also marked by an unusual amount of open dialogue for a theological conference. Presentations were limited to 10 minutes so that participants could spend time discussing ideas together.

During an opening conversational session July 16, participants roundly praised the three-year cycle, saying it had allowed them to expand their horizons by learning about the diverse range of experiences across their continent.

Kambanda, the Rwandan bishop, mentioned that he was appointed to his ministry two years ago and found his participation in the colloquia timely.

"It was providential for me as a new bishop in the diocese," he said, adding that he had just helped launch the process to create a new pastoral plan for his diocese in southeastern Rwanda.

"Here, I learned practical theology," said Kambanda. "Theology in practice, which inspired me in this pastoral plan."

Dowling, the South African bishop, said he knew that many theologians face difficulties in their work with the leadership in their dioceses.

"You face systemic challenges in the church and I'm very conscious of those," he told the group. "It's very important that you know that some of us in leadership not only love you but fully support you."

"Your role and calling is to push the boundaries, however difficult that may be," Dowling said.

[Joshua J. McElwee is NCR Vatican correspondent. His email address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @joshjmac.]

The Church in Kenya Concerned about “Destructive Behaviour” in Schools, Proposes Non-judgmental engagement with Students

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 13 August 2015

The Catholic Church in Kenya is concerned about unbecoming behaviour in schools and sites some destructive incidences, some fatal, and “cases of students’ involvement in radicalization and other deviant behaviours” as examples of a bad trend that needs to be addressed urgently.

The concerns were voiced on Tuesday by the chairman of the Commission for Education and Religious Education of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba while delivering his keynote address to the participants at the Catholic Schools Principals Conference.

The conference brought together members of the Catholic Schools Principals Association in Kenya (CaSPA-K), education secretaries and religious education advisors, faculty members of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), members of staff of the Commission for education and religious education, among other participants under the theme, “Saving the Youth from Destructive Behaviour; A Catholic schools Responsibility.”

Addressing the over 900 participants, Bishop Muhatia expressed concerns about “destructive behavior” witnessed in schools across the country, “some which are Catholic based.”

“How do we increase this formative engagement with our youths in school to bring about a calm environment conducive for learning and good behaviour,” Bishop Muhatia posed.

“How do we go about strengthening relationships between: Principals and the youth; the youth and teachers; Youth and their parents; principals, teachers and parents; schools and the church community,” he continued to inquire from the participants at the three-day conference held at CUEA.

He proposed a collaborative and non-judgemental engagement with students, emphasizing the need to initiate and foster formative and pastoral support programs for the youth through “interaction, positive relationships and open channels of communication.”

“Journeying with the young also means reprimanding them for wrong doing, honestly evaluating them, coaching them and reassuring them,” Bishop Muhatia clarified.

“Therefore, to effectively deal with the destructive behaviour in our institutions, we need God back in the classrooms and at the centre of all our operations. In this way, building positive relationships and acquiring other virtues will not be a big challenge,” he added.

Bishop Muhatia encouraged School Principals to “Embrace the foundational virtues of humility, respect and stewardship” arguing that practicing such virtues has the power to inspire students to behave appropriately.

Below is the full text of the keynote address by Bishop Maurice Muhatia.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PRINCIPALS CONFERENCE

AUGUST 11-13, 2015

KEY NOTE ADDRESS BY RT. REV. MAURICE M. MAKUMBA

___________________________________________________________

My Brother Bishops,

Catholic Schools Principals,

Education Secretaries & Religious Education Advisors,

Faculty Members of CUEA,

Members of Staff of the Commission for Education & Religious Education,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I great you all in the name of Jesus Christ.

I am really humbled and gratified to see you all. Your presence gives the entire Catholic Bishops Conference encouragement that a lot of good is happening in Catholic schools which you lead all for the benefit of the young people.

I take this opportunity to [thank] the CaSPA-K Interim Committee for organising this Conference. My gratitude to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for hosting and sponsoring this conference a 2^nd time. Thanks to the various sponsors who have contributed towards the holding of this conference.

Focus of the Conference

The theme for this year’s Conference is “Saving the Youth from Destructive Behaviour; A Catholic schools Responsibility’.

The second term that has just ended was marked with destructive incidences in over eight schools across the country, some which are Catholic based. Earlier in the year, cases of student’s involvement in radicalization and other deviant behaviours were witnessed in some of our schools. These behaviours have brought about negative effects on the learning, teaching and formative role a school as well as challenging parental care and societal norms. It is for these reasons that the theme was chosen in order to give us an opportunity to reflect and come up with effective strategies of increasing our formative engagement with the youth in schools.

How do we increase this formative engagement with our youths in school to bring about a calm environment conducive for learning and good behaviour?

How do we go about strengthening relationships between: Principals and the youth; the youth and teachers; Youth and their parents; principals, teachers and parents; schools and the church community?

For us to be effective fully in addressing the destructive behaviours of the young people, we need   collaborative and non-judgemental engagement of every player taking into account that all of us (principals, teacher, parent, student, church, local community) are indispensable in the upbringing of young people.

In view of this I propose that:

Collaborative and Non-judgemental Engagement

You explore possibility of meeting with the mentioned players at school level to work out formative and pastoral care support programs for the youth in your schools. Some of the students engaged in destructive behaviour may be experiencing difficulty psycho-social growth challenges that may not have been addressed.

 Building a Humane School Community

Building a humane school community that encourages interaction, positive relationships and open channels of communication. This is possible through establishment of holistic welfare activities program namely spiritual and moral formation activities, regular teachers-students ‘barazas’, community outreach(social action) and protection of the most vulnerable members of the school community. Flourishing of the human individual occurs through participation in the life of the church.

Journeying with Students

Catholic schools are called to journey with our young people out of darkness in to the light of risen Christ. It is the expectations of parents and society that Catholic schools form and inform children as well as shield from harm. Students look up to you for guidance so encourage them, lead them on and share your fundamental humane religious values for them emulate.

Journeying with the young also means reprimanding them for wrong doing, honestly evaluating them, coaching them and reassuring them. This also calls for fostering critical thinking skills and informed decision making visvis unreasoned mob behaviour. It is our responsibility to instil in the young people a sense of personal responsibility for every action chosen. As Pope Francis states we need to provide an education which teaches crit­ical thinking and encourages the development of mature moral values’’   Young people have to be helped to realize from this early age that ‘’choices have individual consequences’’.

Instilling Virtues

In order for our schools to be successful, in fulfilling their mission they must instil within the young people a life of virtue. Our young people need to acquire and master many virtues in order to navigate well the perilous waters of life in the world of today. Such virtues include chastity and humility; both because they are foundational and because they are virtues which contemporary culture either does not support or outright disparages in a very aggressive way. Yet the two are the basis and solution to societal social problems. The way the modern society views these virtues is what has made God be relegated to a second place.

Therefore, to effectively deal with the destructive behaviour in our institutions, we need God back in the classrooms and at the centre of all our operations. In this way, building positive relationships and acquiring other virtues will not be a big challenge.

Catholic schools have the charge of instilling in their students morality and growth towards holiness. We have to accept that God speaks to students through the moral challenges they are facing through prayers, study, and guidance and in the sacraments.

“The temptation we all feel is to soft-peddle the teaching of virtues- it is better not to go there or at least do not insist upon it ,less we be judged adversely by others and not ‘’fit-in’’. But this is the time more than ever, that our Catholic schools have to step-up to the plate and be true to what they are called to be –for the good of our young people in this life and in the next ‘’ (Archbishop Cordileone ,Archdiocese of San Francisco, February 6, 2015) .

Distinguishes principals, make chastity and humility your schools’ mantra and you will reap, positive relationships and performance.  

Engagement with the Youth

A living school is characterised by active participation of members in the day to day operations of the school proportionate to their status and abilities. The concept of the student’s councils, parent’s teachers association and boards of management is to encourage this participation. I would like to focus on student leadership and involvement in the day to day activities of a school.

How do we engage our students so that they talk and act with us and not against us? How do we get them to tell us when happy and when hurting?

I suggest that the following:

Embrace Democracy

Every school need to define clear roles and responsibilities of student’s leaders and induct them fully into service and godly leadership. We need to encourage them to share their views honestly and with respect with the principal and staff as appropriate. Never ignore views from students. All students should be encouraged to give their views either informally as individuals or through students-teachers barazas.

It is of great importance that religious, ethnic and socio-economic status of students must not be allowed to drive the democratic process in the school. A sense of respect for human dignity for all persons is a central social teaching of the Catholic Church and must be upheld in our schools.

Upholding school Rules and Regulations

Schools are preparing students as responsible citizens of the world. It is therefore important that they appreciate, own and practice the rule of law. Schools have rules, regulations and even code of conduct which are meant to maintain a safe and well-ordered environment for the benefit of everyone in the school. Students on admission must have a clear understanding of the rewards and sanctions arising from adherence or non-adherence of the school rules. There is no exception.

Conclusion

For the principals to be able to guide the whole process of saving the youth from destructive behaviour, I appeal to you to:

Embrace the foundational virtues of humility, respect and stewardship and your students will ‘’pick them from’’ you. This will also give you moral authority to influence students for positive behaviour. Remember that, it is your privilege to accompany students at a very critical stage of their life’s journey. Your own faith and beliefs will illumine your own faith journey and set you ready to bring out the young people out of their darkness into the light of   exploitation of their full human potential through holistic education.

I appeal to you to draw inspiration from Proverbs 4;23

“Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it, flows the springs of life.’’

It is my earnest prayer that this Conference will leave a mark in your hearts that will translate into actions that will touch the hearts of the young people you lead. We need to see and feel the impact of this conference experiences in your particular school. With the spirit of Jesus Christ ,we must transform the young people, because “from your hearts should flow the springs of life.’’

“Education cannot be neutral. It is either positive or negative; either it enriches or it impoverishes; either it enables a person to grow or it lessens, even corrupts him. The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful. And this occurs through a rich path made up of many ingredients. This is why there are so many subjects; because development is the results of different elements that act together and stimulate intelligence, knowledge, the emotions, the body, and so on.”

(Pope Francis Address with Italian school teachers, parents, educators, pupils and other workers, May 10, 2014)

PRESENTATION OF NATIONAL CaSPA-K OFFICE BEARERS

Chair------ 

Vice Chair…………

Secretary……………

Treasurer……………..

References

http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CatholicEducationDaily/DetailsPage/tabid/102/ArticleID/2722/Pope-Francis-Makes-First-Major-Statements-on-Catholic-Education.aspx#sthash.1hE6n1AB.dpuf

SECAM Workshop in Burkina Faso Emphasizes Networking among Small Christian Communities in Africa

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 13 August 2015

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and Missio Aachen have continued the discussion on Small Christian Communities (SCCs) as an important way of being church in Africa, emphasizing the need to establish and maintain the sharing of experiences and networking among SCCs, also called Base Christian Communities (BCCs).

Last November, SECAM partnered with Missio Aachen and organized discussions on SCCs under the theme, Small Christian Communities, moving toward the African Year of Reconciliation and Sharing with other churches.

The recently concluded workshop took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 6 to 9 August, 2015.

SECAM considers SCCs vitally important in realizing pastoral programs within the continent and discussions about ways of being church through SCCs facilitate the implementation of some of the recommendations of both the Synod on Africa (Africae Munus) and the last SECAM plenary held in DR Congo in July 2013.

In Africae Munus, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI recommended the celebration of the African Year of Reconciliation (AYR) and, as SECAM Secretary General, Father Joseph Komakoma said during the November workshop on SCCs, it is in SCCs that concrete situations of conflict and reconciliation can take place.

Below is the report on the planning workshop in Burkina Faso, submitted to CANAA by Father Joseph Healey, MM, who was part of the three-member delegation representing the Association of Member Episcopal Confrences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA). The other two members were the Coordinator of the Pastoral Department of AMECEA, Father Fabian Pikiti, and Mrs. Rose Musimba, a member of the Eastern African SCCs Training Team.

Planning Workshop in Burkina Faso Emphasizes Networking among Small Christian Communities

Fourteen delegates from six African countries (Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Togo and Zambia) and from Bolivia and Germany participated in a “Planning Workshop on Networking among Small Christian Communities (SCCs)/Base Christian Communities (BCCs) in Africa” in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 6 to 9 August, 2015. They were joined by 15 grassroots representatives of BCCs in the host country. The workshop was organized by the SECAM (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar) Commission of Evangelisation in association with Missio, Aachen, Germany.

In his “Opening Address” Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo, the Archbishop of Ouagadougou, emphasized the significance of small Base Christian Communities in Africa in relation to the 2015-2016 worldwide Year of Mercy in the Catholic Church and the continent-wide 2015-2016 African Year of Reconciliation (AYR). He said that African BCCs combine the pastoral experience of the apostolic church in the 1^st Century and the values of African culture in the 20^th and 21st centuries. BCCs play an important role in the growth of the African Church today and promote the theology and practice of the Church as Family of God. He urged the delegates to find concrete ways that SCCs/BCCs can help family and marriage in Africa, adding that at the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October, 2015 “we African Bishops will have something to say.”

The delegates shared their grassroots pastoral experiences of SCCs/BCCs in the Local Churches in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eastern Africa (the AMECEA Region of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), and Togo as well as Bolivia/Latin America and Missio/Germany. The participants experienced the dynamism and energy of this “New Way of Being/Becoming Church” and this “New Pastoral Model of Church” especially in the Global South. It was reported that the host country Burkina Faso has 15 dioceses, 177 parishes with CCBs and a total of 8,162 CCBs (Communautés Chrétiennes de Base in French). The nine countries of Eastern Africa have over 180,000 SCCs.

The main “Recommendation for the Way Forward” is summarized as follows:

The consultative meeting that was attended by SECAM and Missio delegates recommended the creation of a SECAM-MISSIO Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Networking Team. It is supposed to be a small team whose membership will be those pastoral agents who are actively involved in the promotion of this ecclesial model.

The Networking Team will promote information and sharing of experiences about the importance of SCCs in the Local Churches of Africa, reciprocal theological reflection with the Department of Theology of Missio in Germany and interaction with other continental bodies where SCCs are seen as a new way of being church.

Highlights of the SCCs Workshop included:

Visit to St. Lazarus CCB, one of the 32 CCBs in Our Lady of the Apostles Parish. Combining three zones in the parish this BCC has 100 families and 600 members. About 60-70 members participated in the singing, dancing, drumming, speeches, questions and answers and prayers in French and Moore the local language. There was a good mixture of women and men and quite a few young people. There was a lot of lay participation and the explanation of many lay ecclesial ministries. Given that Burkina Faso is 60% Muslim the ministry of Christian-Muslim Dialog is very important. Matthew 18:21-35 on the theme of “Forgiveness and Reconciliation” was read and reflected upon. BCC members gave practical examples of the challenges of forgiveness in their families and communities. The Prayer Leader emphasized the greatness of God’s mercy and connected the theme to the 2015-2016 Year of Mercy in the Catholic Church. In a joyful spirit of friendship and sharing the visitors were welcomed with a cold local drink made of millet and sugar and roast meat.

Small Christian Communities Mass. To celebrate the continent-wide 2015-2016 African Year of Reconciliation (AYR) the theme was “Reconciliation and Peace” using the Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation. Participants danced into the church singing Kweli Kweli ni Baraka Kutoka kwa Mungu (a Swahili song meaning “Yes Indeed These are Blessings Coming from God”). The Exchange of Peace was at the end of the Penitential Rite to show that “the community of believers was of one mind and heart” (Acts 4:32) before listening to the Word of God. The symbol of peace was from Mende Ethnic Group in Sierra Leone and ethnic groups in South Sudan and Sudan: simultaneously putting one’s right hand on the other person's left shoulder and saying "peace."

Before the readings the Bible was carried into the chapel in a Bible Procession with singing and dancing. Rather than the traditional homily there was a Shared Homily in small groups of two each. To show the rich diversity of the Catholic Church the Our Father was said in different African mother tongues (heart languages) -- Bemba (Zambia), Ewe (Ghana, Togo, Benin and Niger), Lingala (DRC), Luyia (Kenya), Moore (Burkina Faso) and Swahili (Eastern and Central Africa) -- as well as in English, French, German and Spanish. Then everyone joined hands and prayed a second time in one language, French, to show the unity in the church.

All the participants in the workshop felt support for their involvement in SCCs around the world and expressed both enthusiasm and commitment to march ahead.

Church in Malawi Underscores the Importance of Investing in Children

Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) || ECM Communications || 10 August 2015

The Director for Pontifical Missionaries Society at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa has described Early Childhood Centres (ECDs) as crucial in ensuring that children grow holistically with both body and spirit.

Fr. Mwakhwawa was speaking during a graduation ceremony of children in the kindergarten and primary classes at St. John the Baptist Convent School in area 47, Lilongwe and is run by sisters of St. John the Baptist congregation.

Fr. Mwakhwawa said children are a gift from God to us hence there is a need to ensure the integral development of them and at the same time they (children) should not be under rated.

“When God give us children, he expects us that we will care and love them so that they grow and become what God wants of them. Make sure that your children have good spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical development,” said Fr. Mwakhwawa.

He challenged parents, guardians and teachers to ensure that they treat children as human beings that are made of body and spirit.

“They have to develop as sense of Divine such that they have to learn how to pray and how to fear God and of course how to love and serve in their church,” said Fr. Mwakhwawa adding that “children need to develop moral and human characters; love, respect, care of creation, sympathy, generosity and other general human character”.

Sister Lucy Banda, Head teacher of the school said she was delighted to have such a conversion institution which apart from the academic teaching they have, children are also prepared well in terms of their spiritual life.

Bishop challenges Catholic Children to deepen their faith in prayer

Meanwhile, the head of the Catholic Church in Chikwawa diocese, His Lordship Bishop Peter Musikuwa has challenged Catholic children to deepen their faith in prayer and charity hence being generous with the little gifts they have in the society.

Bishop Musikuwa was speaking at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Chikwawa to thousands of children drawn from all the parishes in the diocese at a Holy Childhood Mass celebration for the diocese on Saturday (July 24, 2015).

“As a young Church, Malawi has and still receives faith and other material gifts from fellow children from others countries. It is time for you now, children of Malawi to learn and take an active role in the life and mission of the Church,” said Bishop Musikuwa during his homily to the children.

Bishop Musikuwa said as a way of ensuring generosity, children must to love their friends by among others; pray for them and share the little resources just like the apostles of Jesus did.

He said in such doing, God will reward them as “God reward those that share with others the little they have”.
National Director for Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa in his remarks said the national office has put in place plans to train more children counselors and care-giver as a way of making sure that children grow both body and soul.

Fr. Mwakhwawa commended Bishop Musikuwa and the diocesan PMS director, Fr. Ignatio Yohane for working tirelessly in making sure that children’s welfare in the diocese is well taken care of.

“Let me thank you, your Lordship for the love you have on children. It appears your heart is on children based on the support you render to them. This is commendable indeed as the future of both the Church and the nation at large lies in these children,” said Fr. Mwakhwawa.

Speaking of behalf of fellow children, eleven year old Precious Bonzo of Nkhate Parish appealed to the Bishop to deliberately open up an office in the diocese where children will be comfortable to seek protection on several forms of abuses they normally experience in their respective communities.

He challenged his fellow children in the Catholic Church to love and respect parents and the elderly hence love their church by among others participating in Church activities like serving mass on the Otter, cheering the seek and the elderly and joining church groups.

During the Holy Mass which was celebrated by Bishop Musikuwa, all the proceedings were handled by the children themselves. For instance, Alice Nthali and Desmond Mlambe read out the first and second readings of the word of God respectively.

Cardinal in Ethiopia Encourages Charity during Fasting ahead of the Feast of Assumption

CANAA || By Makeda Yohannes, Ethiopia || 10 August 2015

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel, has encouraged the Catholic faithful in Ethiopia to reach out to the needy as they fast in preparation of the feast of the Assumption due in less than a fortnight.

According to the Ethiopian Liturgical Calendar, the 15-day fast, from August 7 through 21, 2015 before the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an important time for the spiritual renewal of the faithful throughout the nation.

In his message at the beginning of the fasting period, Cardinal Souraphiel encouraged the faithful to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary by taking care of those in different kinds of need in society.

“Charity and giving love to the needy and the vulnerable should be our religious responsibility, this fasting period is a good time to practice charity and make it part of our life,” Cardinal Souraphiel said.

“Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary was the first to visit her cousin Elizabeth in her house to offer her support when she heard the news of Elizabeth’s conception, she also understood the need of the host at Cana wedding and interceded to her Son on their behalf, she is our model of Charity and kindness to others and we must follow her footsteps” Cardinal Souraphiel explained.

He also asked all Christians to love one another and also love and respect followers of other religions saying, “This is a time for all Christians to renew and strengthen their spirituality by loving one another and also striving for peace and mutual existence with brothers and sisters of other religions.”

He further called on the youth in Ethiopia to stand united against illegal migration and human trafficking.

“Let this be a time we decide to engage ourselves in various sectors of work in our own country. I ask the youth to participate on the ongoing development efforts of Ethiopia and earn to change your life and also contribute to the integral growth of your country,” he said.

He also recommended the faithful to pray for rain, as it is the main rainy season in Ethiopia, that the Lord may send rain wherever it is needed for sowing crops.

He finally wished all the faithful a blessed season of preparation for the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Nairobi Archdiocese Marks its Annual Family Day, Gets over US$1million for Development

CANAA || By Francis Njuguna, Nairobi || 10 August 2015

The family institution is currently facing many challenges, but the Church will remain steadfast in defending and promoting it, the head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, John Cardinal Njue, told a large gathering in Nairobi on Saturday, August 8, as the Archdiocese marked its annual Family Day celebration.

The Cardinal stressed that the Church’s role of defending and promoting the family is an “order” from God and that the Church will not abdicate its pastoral mission to the family.

He encouraged the laity to actively participate in evangelizing the family saying, “While the Church played its role, the faithful should equally make their contributions towards this direction.”

“This way, we shall be able to battle out some of the challenges facing the family today,” Cardinal Njue emphasized during the Eucharistic celebration at Saint Mary’s grounds, Msongari in Nairobi, where he led the congregation in marking the 2015 Family Day for Nairobi Archdiocese under the theme: God saw that everything He had made, and behold it was very good.

The Cardinal decried the tendency to make decisions that have a negative impact on the family, encouraging the faithful to be vocal against leaders with such tendencies.

“The faithful should always speak up when some decisions taken by the leaders are not in favor of their faith,” the Cardinal advised, adding, “Towards this direction, I am urging you to remain alert on decision taken by the leaders and that are not in favor of your faith and belief.”

During the event, over US$1million (over KES. 108million) was raised through the Archdiocesan parishes for pastoral development in the Archdiocese.

It was announced that part of the amount will go towards completing the annex of Cardinal Otunga Plaza, located within the premises of the Holy Family Minor Basilica.

The same occasion witnessed the commissioning of the Archdiocesan family life animators as well as members of the family life Advisory Board.

The guest speaker at the event was Bishop Anthony Muheria of the Kitui Diocese, who lamented corruption and immorality in society and urged believers in Jesus Christ to lead the way in stamping these vices out of the society.

“Let us not participate in issues that are not in line with the teaching of the Church, simply because they are being done by other people,” Bishop Muheria advised.

“Let us make every effort to be corruption-free and practice the moral uprightness for our religious goodness and equally for others to emulate us,” Bishop Muheria emphasized.

Catholics in Ghana Protest against the Culture of Death in a Pro-Life March Spearheaded by Bishops

CANAA || By Damian Avevor, Ghana and Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 10 August 2015

Over one thousand Catholics, among them, the clergy, the religious, and the laity from various sectors of society last Saturday, August 8, hit the streets of Ghana’s capital, Accra, in a pro-life march organized by Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC).

The march was part of GCBC’s two-day Pro-Life Conference, from August 7 to 8, aimed at leading Ghanaians and Africans at large to a deeper reflection of the Gospel of Life and appreciation of the sanctity of life, purity of marriage and the dignity of human sexuality.

The Conference, whose theme was Protecting Life and Family Values in the Continuing Culture of Death, was inspired by what the Bishops in Ghana described as an “alarming rate of attacks on life and family values in Ghana and Africa.”

Participants held placards with messages advocating for the protection of human life from conception to natural death.

Some of the posters held read, “Every life is created in the image of God, protect it!”; “Abortion is a sin, stop it!”; “Life starts from the womb, protect it!”; “Sex is for married couples only”; “Protect the unborn child”; “Eternal values – life and faith”; “Abortion is evil, stop it!”; “Don’t kill our future generation”; “Not ready to be a mother? No sex”; “International organizations stop promoting abortion in Ghana”; “African governments stop promoting the culture of death.”

Topics discussed during the Conference included, “Building up a Culture of Life by scaling up pro-life activism” by Ms. Obianuju Ekeocha who is a founding member of Culture of Life Africa; “Natural Family Planning in Ghana: Challenges and Prospects” by Dame Mrs. Josephine VanLare; “Responsible Sexual behaviour in Ghana Today” by Father. Wajnorowski, SDB; “Socio-Cultural, Moral and Legal Aspects on Pro-Life” by Sir Justice Dennis Adjei and “The imposition of the Sexual revolution on Africa” by Mr. John Smeaton, CEO, Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.

In his intervention, Peter Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, commended GCBC for taking the initiative to hold the Conference, lauded the discussions around the protection of life and the promotion of family values and condemned the increasing advocacy for the culture of death in Africa.

Addressing the Conference, GCBC Vice President, Bishop Anthony Adanuty decried the alarming rate of attacks on life and family values in Ghana and Africa, saying that Africa was becoming contraceptive at a dramatic pace and if nothing was done to halt this trend, the integral human development would suffer devastating jolt.

“Ghanaians and Africans must resist being like other nations by drawing lessons from the consequences of the moral state of the west. We in Ghana and Africa have a mission to promote life in the world and we cannot renege on this mission or reject God’s word,” Bishop Anthony said.

A Communiqué issued on August 8 declared that the family was a cradle where life is welcomed, nurtured and protected and pointed out that every family, with marriage at its core, must create a conducive environment where the inestimable value of life is emphasized and upheld.

The communiqué noted that sacramental marriage was instituted by God as a permanent and indissoluble union between one man and one woman; open to life and love, and therefore denouncing other forms of unions such as same-sex unions and adulterous unions, which “are inimical to the mind of the Creator – they undermine the integrity of the human being and the family.”

The Catholic Bishops in Ghana resolved to continue resisting “the persistent and pernicious attempts to impose population control on Africa by wealthy philanthropists, donor nations and international organizations who are pursuing this agenda subtly under the platform of sexual and reproductive and health rights.”

The Church leaders in Ghana also resolved to work with the government, other faith-based organizations and the civil society groups as well as the media to promote and sustain the importance of faith and family in human development, public education and in the social order.

Pope Francis Bids Farewell to Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Holy See

Vatican Radio || 06 August 2015

Pope Francis on Wednesday 5 August met with Nigeria’s outgoing ambassador to the Holy See H.E. Francis Chukwuemeka Okeke.

The Embassy of Nigeria to the Holy See was opened in August 2012 and Dr. Okeke was appointed the country’s first resident ambassador.

Formal diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See date back to 1976. Prior to the opening of the embassy, those relations were done through the country’s embassy in Spain.

In one of his interviews granted to Vatican Radio, the ambassador was asked about ways in which Nigeria has been co-operating with the Holy See. Dr. Okeke said high on the agenda was the issue of interreligious dialogue in a bid to promote “love and brotherhood” among the different religions in the country.

Church and State Fall Out in Burundi

IRIN || By Jessica Hatcher || 04 August 2015

The growing schism between the Catholic Church and Burundi’s political leadership is a particularly worrisome aspect of the fallout from President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term, which has already seen dozens killed in protests and 175,000 people, mostly women and children, flee the country since April.

More recent signs of violent instability a decade after the end of a 13-year civil war include the weekend assassination of Adolphe Nshimirimana, an army general and intelligence chief said to be the second most powerful man in the country, and the serious wounding in a shooting incident of Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, a leading human rights activist.

The Catholic Church has played a key role during years of talks between opposition groups and the government, dialogue designed to shore up peace since the end of the war, which claimed some 300,000 lives.

On 21 July, Nkurunziza won a predicted landslide victory in a presidential election. The Catholic Church had been among the first bodies to speak out against his candidature, which was widely condemned as being in violation of the constitution and the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Accord signed in 2000. Deeming the entire electoral process flawed, the church cancelled its plans to deploy some 6,000 observers during the poll.

Supporters of the president responded by intimidating and threatening a number of bishops and archbishops. Intelligence agents appeared in churches, monitoring sermons.

The East African Community report on the elections concluded that “successive efforts to build consensus through inclusive dialogue among Burundi stakeholders have not been successful,” and called on all stakeholders to re-engage in candid and inclusive dialogue to find a solution to the political impasse.  

According to Father Emmanuel, a priest who chose to use a pseudonym because of his own security concerns, that is going to be difficult. “They’re no longer listening to the priests and the bishops. If the church and the state are not on good terms, the consequences will be severe.”

Aside from its key role in political dialogue, the church manages numerous health and educational facilities, with its staff being paid salaries by the state. This support, according to Emmanuel, now looks uncertain.

The Arusha agreement lay at the heart of the church’s condemnation of Nkurunziza’s third term bid. Mike Jobbins, the head of Search for Common Ground, a peace-building NGO, described that deal as “the Magna Carta of independence; a commitment to power sharing, to ethnic balance, to sacrificing individual interests in favour of peace and security in the country.”

The Catholic Church in Burundi, with support from the Vatican, was instrumental in bringing warring parties to the negotiating table and drafting the agreement. While not a legally binding document, its provisions, which include a two-term limit, have Burundi’s post-war dispensation.
“The Arusha agreement is not perfect, but it’s the best we have,” said Gabriel Baregensabe, who has been a priest for 42 years and the secretary general of the Bishops’ Conference of Burundi for the past decade. He said the decision not to back the president was a difficult one for the church.

“The bishops gathered and took their time to ensure that they were doing what was right for the people and that they spoke the truth accordingly, because they knew what they were saying would mean war,” he told IRIN. The bishops had decided that defending the Arusha accords was, on balance, best for the people. 

If dialogue continues to falter, the church’s decision could indeed mean war. Opposition leaders and dissident generals who backed a failed coup in May met on 30 July in Addis Ababa to discuss how to form a unified front against Nkurunziza. “We cannot exclude the use of force,” Anicet Niyonkuru, president of the national opposition council and leader of Burundi’s CDP party, told journalists.

The Sunday killing in Bujumbura of spy chief Nshimirimana was carried out using small arms and rockets. The general was widely thought to have orchestrated the crackdown on street protests against Nkurunziza’s third term bid, which began in May.

African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma described the killing as a “barbaric act that is likely to further destabilise the country.” She urged the Burundian government, opposition political parties and civil society "to work very closely together to find a lasting solution to the current crisis.”

But the government no longer sees the Catholic Church as an honest broker in such dialogue, as was displayed by a recent broadside from presidential spokesman Willy Nyamitwe that only a few months ago would have been unthinkable.

“People are dying,” Nyamitwe said. “Grenades are launched at dawn on our citizens. Have you seen any bishop condemn this? No. Because they’re implicated.… We can’t say they are people who present a model of morality.” 

“That was his way of telling us to shut up,” said Father Emmanuel, who lives in an opposition neighbourhood that has been a flashpoint for violence over the last three months. He said this attitude from the president’s office was only adding to citizens’ disquiet. “They ask themselves: ‘If the political authorities dare to attack our pastors like that, then what will become of us?’”  

After three months of arrests, torture, grenade blasts and after-dark shootings, people are deeply afraid, tired and worried, Father Emmanuel said. Some are experiencing a crisis of confidence in the church, one of the few places where they found peace and solace and where political affiliations could be cast aside. 

“There’s no longer any hope. The ruling party has announced that it’s going to continue. Others have announced they’re going to start fighting. People are coming to us, left and right, calling for help,” he said.

“People are asking, ‘what should we be doing?’ We can give them God’s word, but people don’t know how to turn that into a concrete reality. It feels like we have no more lessons to give. People are starting to condemn God.”

A Burundian political analyst working for a European diplomatic mission who preferred not to be named said he believed Nkurunziza needed both the international community and the Catholic Church.

“Nkurunziza can change,” the analyst said. “If they [the Catholic Church] fight him, there won’t be peace, won’t be human rights, won’t be democracy. They will do everything they can to keep the channels of negotiation open.”

Court in Sudan Acquits South Sudanese Pastors Accused of Espionage

Sudan Tribune || 05 August 2015

A Sudanese court on Wednesday acquitted two South Sudanese pastors who were charged with espionage and inciting tribal sentiments and ordered their immediate release.

Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen – of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (PEC) – have been detained by Sudan’s security services in Khartoum at two separate occasions.

Michael, a visiting pastor from South Sudan, was taken into custody last December after giving a service at the Khartoum North church of the PEC.

Reverend Peter Yen was also visiting Khartoum when he was arrested last January after responding to a summons to report to an office of the NISS.

The two pastors faced charges under articles (26), (50), (51), (53), (62) and (125) of the Sudanese penal code. Some of those charges are punishable by death.

A large number of journalists and Western diplomats besides the families of the accused were in attendance at the courtroom when the presiding Judge, Ahmed Gabosh read out his verdict acquitting the two pastors.

The court also decided to return the exhibits including mobile phones, iPads and laptops to the two pastors.

The judge pointed that pastor Michael was convicted for disturbing public peace, saying he spoke in a lecture at the Presbyterian Evangelical Church (PEC) in Khartoum North without being authorised by the competent authorities.

He added that the pastor in the lecture touched on several issues that harm the public interests.

On the other hand, pastor Yen was convicted of running a terrorist organization after he admitted that he received money from foreign organization and handed it over to delegates in all Sudan’s states.

The judge considered that the eight months that the two pastors had so far spent in prison is sufficient enough to serve as their punishment.

It is worth noting that the US ambassador for international religious freedom, David N. Saperstein, on Tuesday discussed with Sudanese officials at the foreign ministry the situation of religious freedom and raised pressing issues facing the Non-Muslims in Sudan.

However, the foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq denied that the meeting discussed the case of the two south Sudanese pastors.

He said the meeting tackled religious freedom and the desire of the US administration to cooperate with the government on its religious annual reports.

Bishop in Ghana Urges Charity Organizations to Use Funds for Intended Purposes, Bishop-Elect Calls for Collaborative Ministry

CANAA || By Damian Avevor and Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla || 06 August 2015

The Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), Bishop Anthony Adanuty, has called on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to make good use of the funding at their disposal for the intended purposes, encouraging them to support the underprivileged.

Bishop Adanuty made the appeal in a Lecture he delivered at Christ the King Parish Hall in Accra, during the 25^th Anniversary of the Centre of Hope, a Catholic NGO under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Accra.

He said that it was the duty of NGOs and all Charity Organizations to ensure that the donations for victims of circumstances were used judiciously and for the purpose for which they were given.

Speaking on the topic, The Church’s Role in Living the Mission of Charity: Challenges and Prospects, Bishop Adanuty called on Church authorities to ensure that there was transparency and accountability for donor funding.

He argued that the Christian idea of charity is the emptying of oneself to some degree so that another person might be enriched.

“Self-impoverishment in charity is not necessarily material. It could as well be the troubles one goes to in order to make someone else feel good and loved,” Bishop Adanuty noted.

He acknowledged with appreciation the initiative of Accra Archdiocese through the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) sisters who run the Centre, saying in taking care of the needy at the Centre, the Archdiocese was making God’s love a reality and therefore living the mission of the Church.

Centre of Hope was established by the late Archbishop Dominic Kodwo Andoh in 1990.

The Lecture was chaired by Archbishop Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle of Accra, with the Ghana Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, as the Special Guest.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle commended the FMM Sisters for taking up the mantle to care for the aged, widowed and abandoned, and lauded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for fostering the care for the vulnerable.

He also thanked donor agencies, the clergy, religious women and men and the lay faithful for their continuous support for the Centre.

Centre of Hope has been a haven for the afflicted in society and dignities of persons have been restored there, a fact the Centre’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Prof. Dr. Edmund Delle, appreciated.

Meanwhile, the Bishop-elect of Ho diocese, Father Emmanuel Fianu, has called on the priests, the religious and the lay faithful of the diocese to collaborate with him when he assumes office and appealed for prayers to be a faithful shepherd in the vineyard entrusted to him.

In an Interview, the Bishop-elect expected to be accepted by all saying, “most of them may not know me but I hope we will not be strangers to one another.”

“What binds us is our common Baptism and the invitation to work together to create the Kingdom of God here among us,” he added.

He promised to listen to his predecessor, the clergy, the religious and the laity when he will start off his ministry as the diocesan ordinary.

Asked how he felt when he got the news of his appointment as Bishop, he said, “The news came to me like a thunderbolt. I could not believe my ears and thought they dialed a wrong number. It took me some time to come to terms with the information.”

“Although I have been in the General Administration of an international Religious Missionary Institute of over 6,000 members in more than 70 countries, it was not the same thing as being the shepherd of a Diocese,” the Bishop-elect who belongs to the religious Congregation of Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) said.

He was appointed Bishop of Ho diocese in Ghana on July 14, 2015 by the Holy Father, to succeed Bishop Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu.

“I accept this appointment in the spirit of religious obedience and trust in the support of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference as well as the Priests, Religious and faithful of Ho Diocese,” he concluded.

Religious in Solwezi Reflect on Consecrated Life

Vatican Radio || Fr. Wilbroad Musonda, Solwezi, Communications Office || 03 August 2015

Priests, women and men religious in Zambia’s Diocese of Solwezi have recently attended a workshop on the Year of Consecrated Life

The workshop held at Bishop Potani Guest wing in Solwezi began with a day of recollection and later a discussion, sharing and reflection on a Pope Francis’s document on Consecrated Life. Lastly, a paper on “Consecrated Life in Africa: Chances and Challenges” was presented.

The workshop was conducted by Fr. Serge St. Arnenult, a Missionary of Africa priest and a Sr. Chanda Nsofwa who is a Salesian religious sister. On the vigil of the first Sunday of Advent of 29 November 2014, Pope Francis declared and proclaimed a Year of Consecrated Life which coincides with fiftieth anniversary of promulgation of the Second Vatican Council document, Perfectae Caritatis. This document promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1965 is the “Decree on the adaption and Renewal of Religious Life and deals with institutes of consecrated life in the Church.

In the Diocese of Solwezi, the institutes of consecrated life are Franciscan Missionary Sisters/Brothers of Service, Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi, Sisters of St. John the Baptist, Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz, Franciscan Conventual Friars, Franciscan Capuchin Friars, Sisters of the Child Jesus, Sisters of the Holy Cross and Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.

Church in DR Congo Says yes to Dialogue but with Respect for the Constitution

Agenzia Fides || 31 July 2015

"Dialogue is considered the founding principal of democracy and nation". This was said on Tuesday 28 July by the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo (CENCO), Rev. Leonard Santedi. The priest was taking part in a debate organised by CENCO.

The participants, politicians belonging to the Presidential Majority MP, members of the opposition, members of civil society and a group of analysts, discussed goals of political dialogue in Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), the upcoming elections and special session of Parliament.

For Rev. Leonard Santedi, the local Catholic Church is not opposed to the idea of dialogue, but insists on respect for the Constitution. "Yes to dialogue, but with respect for fundamental law ", he said.

Congo’s Constitution deals with the expiry date for the election of a President of the Republic and the number and duration of presidential mandates.

Present at the meeting political analyst professor Philippe Biyoya, affirmed that dialogue is the very principle of community life.

"Dialogue is seen as the active principle of every society. It is the principle which builds harmony in society", said, André Alain Atundu, governing Party spokesman.

However this opinion was not shared by Opposition member Franck Diongo, who considers dialogue "in the present context, deception and a trap".

The local Catholic Church reaffirmed her position (through the Bishops’ Conference) regarding national dialogue promoted by President Joseph Kabila, which “must take place in absolute respect for the current constitutional and institutional framework”, in other words excluding any constitutional change which would enable the outgoing president to stand for election and a third mandate. (see Fides 30/06/2015).

Caritas Constructs Schools for South Sudanese Refugees in Ethiopia

Vatican Radio || By Makeda Yohannes, Ethiopia (CBCE) || 03 August 2015

The Ethiopian Catholic Church' Social and Development Commission with the support of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) constructed 4 schools for South Sudanese Refugees in Ethiopia in Kule and Terkendi camps, in Gambella regional State, Ethiopia.

The Church has been supporting refugees in both camps with various interventions since the conflicts in South Sudan occurred. While inaugurating the schools with a blessing and a prayer, Bishop Angelo of the Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella said that the schools constructed in both camps at a cost of 9 million Ethiopian Birr are part of the Church’s support to the refugees. He said, “we are here today to show our solidarity with the displaced people of South Sudan and contribute to educating the young children of South Sudan who have come to Ethiopia to seek shelter because of the conflicts in their country. We must thank God for giving us this opportunity to assist the refugees by constructing these educational facilities.”

Mr. Aterfa Mostafa, representative of the Gambella Regional President, on the occasion thanked the Catholic Church for all the social development works implemented in the region. He said “The construction of these schools will tremendously increase access to education for school aged children, it is truly a good news for the community.” He also assured the Church to count on the support of the regional government for all her development interventions.

More than 4800 children are expected to benefit from the 4 schools constructed with funds secured through CRS. The construction also included water points and latrines for boys and girls. All the class rooms are furnished with the necessary school desks and blackboards. While the construction was going on the teachers were also given training and 4 school health clubs were established as part of the project.

According to the project agreement, the Norwegian Refugee Council will take over the responsibility of running the schools. Executive Director of the Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission Mr. Bekele Moges, Country representative of CRS Ethiopia Mr. Matt Davis and representatives of partner organisations and beneficiary community members were also present at the inauguration ceremony.

AMECEA and the East African Community Explore Areas of Collaboration

AMECEA Online News || By Pamela Adinda || 31 July 2015

The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has embarked on a process to explore possible collaborations with the regional intergovernmental organization, the East African Community (EAC).

Headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, EAC brings together the Republics of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the United Republic of Tanzania, with “the mission to widen and deepen Economic, Political, Social and Culture integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value added production, trade and investments.”

The process began on 28^th July, 2015, when AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo accompanied by AMECEA Justice, Peace and Caritas Coordinator Mr. Antony Mbandi met with EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera at EAC Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania.

“The purpose of our visit to EAC was to start an engagement process with the East African Community which is based on the clerical call by the Holy Father Pope Francis that the Church has to engage more with the governments and in government decisions,” Antony Mbandi told AMECEA Online News adding that the move is also in line with what is being done by SECAM, in relation to the African Union collaboration.

He said that AMECEA Secretariat was mandated by the Bishops to look at how it can start engaging with the regional bodies which include EAC, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

He said that during this initial meeting, they gave the intention of AMECEA to the East African Community and were well received by the EAC secretary General at the meeting, which was also attended by EAC head of Communications as well as EAC Head of Conflict and Early Warning.

Some of the possible areas of collaborations presented by AMECEA to the EAC included promotion and protection of human life and dignity through sustainable development, promotion of good governance, preservation of the environment and natural resources, combating root causes of illegal forms of migration, combating illegal arms within the region, promotion of gender equity and promotion of sustainable peace and reconciliation through early warning systems.

In his feedback, Amb. Sezibera said that the East African Community seeks to collaborate with institutions like AMECEA. He thanked the Catholic Church, in a more special way, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) for the way its curriculum is integrated and resonates well with the mission of the East African Community. He commended CUEA for allowing students from East African Community to pay fees like local students rather than charging them by international rates.

The AMECEA Justice, Peace and Caritas Coordinator said that the Secretary General of EAC directed that AMECEA be in touch with EAC director of social issues and EAC director of legal issues so as to deliberate more and concretize the areas proposed by AMECEA for possible collaborations.

“He also requested that we the Church participate more in the Interreligious Council of Eastern Africa, which he said for the East African Community is important as an engagement body for religious organizations,” Antony said.

Mbandi added that the Secretary General of EAC also requested that AMECEA be more engaged in the Consultative Dialogue Framework of the East African Community and also the Secretaries General Forum, which comes within this consultative framework and has different themes and topics.

As a way forward, Mbandi said that AMECEA and EAC will work a little bit more on the possible areas of collaboration in order to develop a framework that is mutually beneficial.

More information and editing by CANAA