AMECEA NEWS No.11
CHRISTMAS REFLECTION
Elizabeth was a middle-aged woman in Gatura village. She had a tendency of preparing at the last minute, a habit which really worried her village mates. Most of them had talked to her and she would not rectify. They even called her Parish Priest to talk to her but to no good. One day she received a letter from her friend Margaret who lived some three hundred kilometres from Gatura village, that she would be visiting her on the 12th November. Elizabeth as usual said that she would prepare later although she had received the letter early enough.
On the Material day, Elizabeth received an invitation to her other friend to help her prepare for her visitor who was also supposed to come the same day and since she did not want to disappoint her friend she accepted saying she would try and come back early before Margaret came.
On her return, Elizabeth met Margaret at the gate going away after bouncing. Elizabeth apologized that she was not prepared. Margaret was very disappointed that although she had informed her friend early enough she was still not prepared.
Are we ready to welcome the Child Jesus when he is born this Christmas? How many times have we disappointed Jesus even after calling us to be prepared?
May you have a prayerful Advent, merry Christmas and a happy New Millennium!!
AMECEA EVENTS
APPOINTMENT
ARRIVAL OF THE AMECEA SECRETARY GENERAL
On 16th September 1999 Rev. Fr. Peter Mulomole arrived at the AMECEA Secretariat for his new appointment. Fr. Mulomole was born on 12th September 1957. He is the first born in a family of seven after two died. He joined Nankhunola Minor Seminary in 1973 and proceeded to Kachebre Major Seminary in 1977.
He was ordained priest on 23rd September 1984 after which he did pastoral work for two years up to 1986. He went for Scripture in Rome for four years. He also taught in Zomba for one year. He was the Vicar General of Zomba Diocese from 1991 - 1994. Until his new appointment he has been the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi from 1994 until July 1999 when he was elected the Secretary General of AMECEA region during the 13th Plenary Assembly of AMECEA which was held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
He is calling upon all the people of AMECEA region to support him in order to attain the region's goals. He is available in the office from 8.15 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. from Monday - Friday.
Welcome Father and serve God's People entrusted to you by the AMECEA Bishops.
NEW ARCHBISHOP FOR ADDIS ABABA
Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Suraphiel has been appointed the Archbishop of Addis Ababa. His Grace Suraphiel was the Auxiliary Bishop of the same Diocese before his appointment. The Archbishop has succeeded His Eminence Paulos Cardinal Tzadua who retired mid this year.
His Grace's Enthronement Ceremony will be held at Nativity Cathedral Addis Ababa on Sunday 12th December 1999 from 7.30 a.m..
GRADUATION
SENT TO WITNESS OUR FATHER'S LOVE
On 17th October 1999, AMECEA Pastoral Institute held a graduation ceremony for twenty - eight (28) participants who were doing a diploma in Religious Education and Pastoral Studies which took nine (9) months running from 17th January - 17th October. They were drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan. Others were from Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mexico. The group comprised of priests, religious and laity. Twenty-four participants were from AMECEA region.
The Rt. Revd. Maurice Crowley, the Bishop of Kitale Diocese in Kenya commissioned the participants. He called on them to witness the Father's love to the troubled world of today. The Secretary General of AMECEA, Fr. Peter Mulomole together with eight others from AMECEA Secretariat were in attendance.
BE LEADERS OF INTEGRITY
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) held it 14th Graduation Ceremony on 8th October 1999. The University, which developed from an institute, was opened on 3rd September 1984 by the then Rt. Revd. Medardo Mazombwe who was by then the Chairman of AMECEA and now the Archbishop of Lusaka in Zambia.
The desire of the AMECEA Bishops to establish a Catholic University was first deliberated upon in 1961 but could not materialize in time due to lack of finances and personnel. In 1974 the AMECEA Bishops in collaboration with the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Congregation for Catholic Education decided to establish a theological institute - the then Catholic Higher Institute of Eastern Africa (CHIEA) to award Licentiates and Doctorates in theology to priest students who held Baccalaureates in theology.
In early November 1992 aspirations of the AMECEA Bishops to establish a Catholic University in Eastern Africa materialized when the President of the Republic of Kenya formally granted University Status to CHIEA under Universities Act (Cap. 210B)
It has two faculties - Theological Faculty and Arts and Social Sciences Faculty awarding Canonical or Ecclesiastical degrees and Civil degrees respectively. The two are controlled academically by two distinct competent academic authorities namely ecclesiastical and civil.
More than three hundred and forty graduands were awarded degrees and diplomas by the Rt. Revd. Noel O'Regan who is the Vice-Chairman of AMECEA and Bishop of Solwezi Diocese in Zambia. He called on them to be leaders of integrity and reminded them that they are the flag holders of the Catholic University of Eastern African in the World.
MEETING
FORMATION OF FUTURE PRIESTS
The AMECEA Bishops and other delegates meeting in the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi; Kenya during the just ended 13th Plenary Assembly (26th July - 8th August 1999) felt that priests are key to Church's evangelizing mission and that the Church in Eastern Africa needs priests who are deeply spiritual, mature, whose human qualities are exemplary, and who are filled with a zeal for the Gospel and dedication to serve the people of God selflessly.
On the other hand, their brother Bishops of Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference and Seminary staff met in Pretoria during the month of October 1999 and had the same feeling that a Special Committee needed to be setup to study the different models of formation which were proposed in their Consultation. Is it a sign that Priestly Formation needs restructuring?
SUDANESE SECURITY RAID THE CATHOLIC SECRETARIAT
Security Agents of Khartoum Government broke into the Sudan Catholic Secretariat on 29th October 1999. The raiders tied the watchman, broke into the Communication's Office and went away with two computers. One of the computer was an IMB donated recently to the office by the Vatican for the Jubilee Year 2000 programmes and the other computer was for general office work.
Last May, the Secretariat suffered similar treatment when Government agents stormed its Radio Transmitter Room and took away the aerial.
Last August, the Muslim Government expelled a Catholic Canadian priest, Fr. Gilles Poirier aged 57 years without explained reasons. Fr. Gilles has worked in the Sudan for seven years in the slums outside Khartoum where he administered development loans to the poor to open businesses. He lived in the same parish with Father Lino Sebit, a Sudanese priest who was arrested last year with twenty-five other people who were charged with a series of bomb attacks in Khartoum.
Other incidents where the Church seems to be persecuted directly in Sudan include taking away of the Catholic Club in central Khartoum by the government which has since been made the ruling National Congress Party head quarters.
PASTORAL LETTER
HAVE THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY AT HEART
The Catholic Bishops of Kenya have called on President Moi and other political leaders to have the future of this country at heart. This was said during their meeting in September when they met to know the fate of the Kenya's Constitution Review. They quoted the President when he said before the General Election of 1997 that " ...the Constitutional Review exercise will be embarked on immediately after the General Elections ...". Also on 5th May 1997, the President said that the process of the Constitution Review must be open and the people must fully and effectively participate in it. Kenyans have felt cheated. The Bishops highlighted some of the problems facing this country which include: HIV/AIDS which kills hundreds of people daily, insecurity, corruption, hunger, poverty, collapsed infrastructure and stealing of public land, property and funds. They stated that the constitution has to be reviewed in order to meet the needs of Kenyans and not some political party or a particular leader.
They called on all the people of good will to pray without ceasing. They appealed to the Kenyan leaders in Government to put the welfare of the people of Kenya before their personal interest and demand for power.
OBITUARIES
AMECEA MOURNS MWALIMU NYERERE
The AMECEA region mourns the death of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who passed away in October 1999. He was the President of Tanzania until his retirement in 1985. Nyerere was a staunch Catholic who never left behind his Christianity even in political matters.
The Chairman of AMECEA, some Catholic Bishops, priests and sisters attended his state funeral and some up to now visit his family to console them.
We are all comforted with the Word of Scripture which says: "Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies it remains a single seed, but if it falls then it yields more ..."
We pray that whatever Mwalimu Julius sowed in Tanzania and in the whole world may grow and produce more fruits. May his soul rest in eternal peace!
FORMER SECAM PRESIDENT IS DEAD
The former President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Most Revd. Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka passed away in mid November 1999 in U.S.A. after a very long illness. The Most Revd. Ganaka was the Archbishop of Jos in Nigeria.
Archbishop Ganaka was born at Pankshin on 24th May 1937 in Jos (Nigeria). He was ordained priest on 4th July 1965. He was appointed bishop on 17th May 1973 and consecrated bishop on 9th September 1973. On 26th March 1994 he was appointed the Archbishop of Jos.
Archbishop Ganaka served as President of SECAM for two terms: first term: 1987-1990 and second term: 1994 - 1997.
The Secretary General of AMECEA, Fr. Peter Mulomole sent a message of condolence to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria.. Archbishop Ganaka was laid to rest in his Archdiocese (Jos) on 26th November 1999. May the good Lord grant him eternal rest! Amen.
CATHOLIC PRIEST SHOT DEAD
Revd. Fr. Solomon Doncabe of Marrianhill Diocese in South Africa was shot dead in his car in circumstances which are not clear since nothing was taken from his car. Fr. Solomon was shot dead on Monday 1st November 1999. His gruesome murder has shocked every one.
On behalf of AMECEA, AMECEA Secretary General Revd. Fr. Peter Mulomole, sent a letter of condolence to Rt. Revd. Paul Themba Mngoma of Mariannnhill Diocese and to the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC).
Fr. Mulomole joined the SACBC in condemning the gruesome murder of Fr. Solomon Doncabe. May his murder be a source of encouragement and perseverance of many in faith; in their decision to follow Christ. May the Good Lord rests his soul in eternal peace. ARCHBISHOP FOLEY GREETS AMECEA COMMUNICATORS
The President of Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop John P. Foley, sends greetings to AMECEA Communicators. He is grateful to the message we sent him on July 27th 1999 during our 30th Annual Social Communications meeting in Nairobi. He writes "... please convey my thanks to the communicators of AMECEA for the very kind message addressed to me on July 27th 1999"
GOD THE FATHER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS IN AFRICA
The Second Pan-African Priests' Congress held a Declaration in Nairobi from 25th - 29th October 1999 at Amani Counseling Centre with the theme: "God the Father in the context of the social, political and economic dimensions in Africa". This was a follow-up of the first one which was held in Capecoast, Ghana from 20th - 26th July 1997 with the theme: The Role of Priests in the Family of God Ecclesia in Africa Year 2000.
The participants were drawn from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi , Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
They resolved to: * encourage relevant and effective seminary and on going formation; * promote the philosophy of and construct structures for self-reliance in the African Church; * have greater involvement in socio-political and economic issues affecting the development and well-being of African people; * encourage the establishment of Priests' Associations in dioceses and countries where they do not exist or to revive them whenever they are defunct; * seriously explore genuine forms and patterns of inculturation in the areas of Evangelization, Communications and Ecumenism in order to deepen the faith.
The delegates also recommended that dioceses establish structures that will promote the welfare of priests, and all the pastoral agents in order to safeguard their security and to the bishops that Priestly Assembly be represented in relevant Church structures at the National, Regional and Continental levels.
NEW PEOPLE MEDIA PRODUCE AN AUDIO CASSETTE
The New People Media Centre was founded in 1989. In ten years, the centre has added many initiatives to the production of the magazine which include an Arabic insert for African readers; the Feature Service, a collection of news and articles written by Africans on African issues; gives tailored journalism courses throughout the year.
It has also opened an African Radio Service which prepares a 15-minute weekly radio program in English which are distributed monthly to local radios in English speaking countries of Africa in form of audio tapes. Each tape contains four programs for each week in the month. The programs cover different issues in order to help listeners to develop a new awareness on issues concerning Africa and beyond.
They wish to devote the year 2000 to the Jubilee and its various aspects. Issues regarding children, women, youth, society, economy will be covered. Bible and religious themes will also be covered.
These tapes can also be used in class discussion in upper primary and secondary schools.
For subscription of these audio tapes contact:
Fr. Joseph Caramazza, African Radio Service, P.O. Box 21681 Nairobi-Kenya Tel. 02-57 74 07 Fax. 56 72 30 Email: npradio@maf.org
NEWS! NEWS!
AMECEA Social Communications Department has acquired some more communications facilities:
Tel: 254-2-57 12 29 Fax: 254-2-57 15 90 Email address: amecea@amecea.org
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AMECEA Social Communications Department cannot accomplish its goals, objectives, dreams and desires without the support from all our bishops, benefactors, International Communications Associations, CEPACS, National Communications Secretaries and all our friends. It is your cooperation, encouragements, consideration, and funds that we have gone this far. We are very grateful to all of you who helped us in one way or another throughout the year.
We hope this spirit continues also in the coming year and always!