MESSAGE OF THE AMECEA BISHOPS
FROM THE 10TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY IN KAMPALA, UGANDA
Preamble
We the Catholic Bishops of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) gathered with the representatives of Youth and the Chaplains and youth. Coordinators of our region, at our tenth plenary assembly held at Ggaba National Seminary in Kampala, Uganda, on June 4th to 19th 1989, prayed and reflected together on the theme, "Hope in the Youth" - "Youth on the move towards of the year 2000".
The Lord has filled our hearts with joy as well as with new hope, we are more than ever convinced that our hope in the youth, in the Church, and in the World is not misplaced. The present and the future belongs to the Youth. But the future belongs to them in a special way for hope is always linked to the future; it is the expectation of future good things. For a Christian, hope is at a deeper level linked to expectations of these eternal good things which God has promised to mankind in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:19; Ephes. 4:4; Phil. 3:10). Our hope in the youth is therefore the expectation of the good things which they can achieve, using the gifts that God has given them.
Through our reflections/and analysis we have however, become deeply aware of the complexity and extent of the present situation and problems which confront our youth. In the countries of our region, 60% of the entire population is composed of young people under the age of 35 years. Many lack the opportunities of education, the basic necessity of life and of employment. What are the root causes of such a situation? We have tried to identify some of them in our reflections.
Our world on the threshold of the year 2000 is in urgent need of change and transformation. We call on the youth to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and to heed His call. He is Lord and Saviour who calls them to "follow Him" and transform our world into a world of love, justice and peace.
We call on the youth to discover their gifts and their call in life; to join hands with us in building genuine community; to grow to maturity in Christ and to share in the Church's mission of bringing the Good News of salvation to all people especially to their fellow youth.
9th June 1989
Kampala, Uganda