We give thanks to God for His Son Jesus, born among us, one like us, who lived and struggled against evil and ultimately died. In so doing, Jesus, the Christ, saved us all and gave us the power to live in Him through our baptism.

Sr Florence ANASO, Communications Department

At this time of the year, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you my fellow communicators for the work you have accomplished in building the Kingdom of God in the field of communications during this Jubilee Year 2000. I wish you success and God’s blessing during the coming year.

On behalf of the Communicators in AMECEA Region, I would like to thank all the AMECEA Bishops, benefactors and friends for your generous support that enabled us to carry out our duties effectively. Our gratitude to AMECEA Staff for the close collaboration and support accorded to us during the year. We trust that you will continue to support us during the coming year.

For that reason you are remembered especially in our prayers during this season of Advent. The entire staff of AMECEA Communications Department wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS

EVANGELIZING NOMADS

33 pastoral workers from AMECEA Region met in Watakatifu Wote Centre in Ngong, Kenya to share their views on how to evangelize the nomads. This workshop was held from 26th-31st October 2000. Among those present were Bishops Ambrose Ravasi and Colin Davies of Marsabit and Ngong Diocese respectively.

From the sharing it was realized that missionaries preferred to evangelize settled communities to the nomads. However, the catechists have been actively working and living among the pastoralists and conducting programs aimed at evangelizing them. There are tremendous efforts made to translate the Holy Bible and other books into the vernaculars of the nomads.

The delegates felt the importance of targeting community elders since they have tremedeous influence in decision making in these communities. They also noted that drought, insecurity and marginalization have contributed to the slow evangelization process. In recent years this has improved since the evangelizers have changed their mentality on African culture and instead made all the possible effort to learn the local language, use vernacular and include some African traditional elements in the liturgy.

In order to accommodate the nomads in future special and permanent catechumenate for polygamists who due to living in harsh conditions have been forced to marry more than one wife needs to be considered.

Since nomads are not left behind on globalization, the missionaries and the Church are called to side with them as they face uncertain future and assure them of God’s love and care.

SEMINAR ON LEADERSHIP FOR AMECEA INSTITUTIONS ADMINISTRATORS

The seminar was held on 10th - 11th November 2000 at AMECEA Secretariat. The seminar drew participants from the Institutions of Catholic University of Eastern Africa, AMECEA Pastoral Institute, AMECEA Secretariat, St. Augustine University of Tanzania and Blessed Bakanja College.

The seminar was facilitated by Bishop Patrick Kalilombe who gave a broad explanation of the vision of AMECEA founding fathers. AMECEA was established as a response to two major events. This was the period when African countries were gaining independence and Africans felt there would be hope for development and release from colonial powers. Secondly with the advent of Vatican II, there was need to transform the Church. The purpose of the seminar, therefore, was to help the participants to look back over the years identifying areas of successes and failures.

The seminar focussed on identifying appropriate skills, techniques and strategies that the church could use in preaching a new hope in Africa and reaching out to the grassroot level. The participants came up with the following resolutions as a practical step for a way forward.

TRAINING

AMECEA/ IMBISA COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING COURSE

During the year 1999, the two Regions of AMECEA and IMBISA held a three-month training course on Pastoral Communications and Social Action. This course targets individuals appointed to work in Diocesan or National offices of Communications. The course is meant to equip such individuals with basic skills in communications in a bid to enable them manage the communications offices assigned to them.

The next course was to take place in the year 2000 but to the varying nature of activities in the Conferences in relation to the Jubilee Celebrations, we have moved the course to 15th January to 15th April 2001.

We have 28 participants, 16 from AMECEA and 12 from IMBISA, of the 16 participants from AMECEA, we have three from Sudan, one from Ethiopia, two from Uganda, three from Zambia and seven from Tanzania.

OBITUARIES

TANZANIA

DEATH OF FATHER NOBERT KIJA

The sudden death of Fr. Nobert Juma Kija the former Executive Communications Secretary of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) has shaken many not only in Tanzania but elsewhere. Father Kija passed away on 19th September 2000 at 10.00 a.m. in his home diocese Shinyanga.

Father Kija was born in 1957 to a Muslim family. He later decided to become a Catholic. He was baptized on 27th February 1974. He attended Malili Primary School from 1967-1974, Makoko Seminary 1975-1978 and Nyegezi Seminary 1979-1981 for his A level. Later he attended National Youth Service for one year 1981-1982. He joined Ntungamo Seminary for his philosophy from 1982-1984 and Kipalapala Seminary for theology studies from 1984-1989. He was ordained a deacon on 15th December 1988 at Ng’wanangi Parish and later a priest on 3rd August 1989 at Chamugasa Parish.

He has worked as an assistant parish priest, Director of Lay Apostolate and Social Communications in his diocese. From 1993- 2000 he worked at TEC, for Kiongozi and Press Secretary. Since 1997-2000 he was the Executive Communications Secretary of TEC.

Father Kija has helped many dioceses in Tanzania to set up radio stations and supported catholic associations of journalists. He will be remembered for his kindness, smile, endurance, always ready to help and his great love for the church. His death surely is a great loss to us all.

He was laid to rest on 22nd September, 2000 in Shinyanga Priests’ Cemetery.

" We loved you Father Kija but God loved you more". Rest in peace.

ZAMBIA

4th NATIONAL CATHOLIC FORUM

The Zambia National Catholic Forum was held in October 2000. It had about 50 delegates, including all bishops, all pastoral coordinators, representatives of the priests, religious men and women and a majority of lay delegates that have been meeting yearly since 1997. This year’s forum looked back on the National Jubilee Congress which was held in August in Lusaka and tried to translate the pledges made then into practical pastoral orientation. The participants felt that one of the greatest need of the Church in Zambia is the formation of all the ‘tribes’ of the Church. The dioceses want to start formation programmes that help people to commit themselves personally to Christ through a deeper knowledge of the scriptures. Such programmes also need to be rooted in the culture of people and help them to translate the message.

SECAM PLENARY ASSEMBLY

The symposium made a strong appeal for an end to all the fighting in Africa and the arms trade which encourages it.

The Bishops urged national leaders to work for harmonious development and unity of the African continent which is now plagued with fratricidal and useless wars.

The Bishops denounced the responsibility of rich countries in fixing the prices of African raw materials at the level they want and at the same time constantly increasing the prices of the exports to Africa. They lamented the imposition of structural adjustment programs in Africa and the fact that letters requesting debt cancellation addressed to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and European Union were not acknowledged.

The Bishops outlined the Church’s objectives for the new millennium which are explicitly expressed in the Assembly theme "Christ our Peace". The duty of the Church is to proclaim good news to the poor, liberation to prisoners and the need for new evangelism in the third Millennium. The Bishops pledged to continue to promote human dignity and justice, speak against violation of human rights and to underline the need for ecumenical cooperation in search for peace and interreligious approach in certain situations.

In the same Assembly new office bearers were elected. Most Rev. Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, the Archbishop of Kisangani Archdiocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was reelected the President. The deputy presidents are Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria and Bishop Francisco Silota of Chimoio Diocese in Mozambique. The former 1st Deputy Secretary General of SECAM and the former and long serving Secretary General of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) Father Peter Lwaminda of Kasama Archdiocese in Zambia was elected the Secretary General of SECAM. Fathers Marcelin Lingapu of Central Africa Republic and Joao Maria Futi of Kabinda, Angola were elected as the 1st and 2nd Deputy Secretaries General respectively.

Bishop Francis Alonge of Ondo Diocese in Nigeria was elected the President of Pan African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) and Bishop Anthony Banzi of Tanga Diocese in Tanzania as the deputy president. Bishop Banzi is also the Bishop Chairman for AMECEA Social Communications.(courtesy of Fides)

SICKNESS OF BISHOP JOSEPH MUKWAYA

Bishop Joseph Mukwaya, the Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana, Uganda is suffering from bone cancer. After a period of time in Nsambya Hospital in Kampala, Uganda he flew to Germany on 13th November 2000 where he is presently getting special medical treatment at a private clinic in Augsburg. He is receiving radiotherapy, which could take about four months. Then his condition will be evaluated. Although he feels pain, the bishop was in good spirits during the telephone conversation. He joked about his Buffalo Clan in Uganda and asked about recent happenings in Eastern Africa, He sends his regards to all his friends around the world. We remember Bishop Mukwaya’s encouragement to Communicators in AMECEA Region over many years. Let us pray for his complete recovery and quick return to Uganda.

(courtesy of Fr. Joe Healey, MM)

CHRISMAS REFLECTION

Joyce Anne Kagwa

Mekonnen and his wife have been living in the neighbouring country for more than twenty years now. This Jubilee Year 2000 is not only a blessing to all but more to them since they are expecting their first born child after thirteen years in marriage. They had lost hope of ever being called dad and mum by their own blood children, but God has answered their prayer. Their dream almost is shattered when a war breaks between their original country and the country they are now living in. They are asked to leave the country as quickly as possible in the time when their child is due.

In the immigration office Mrs. Mekonnon gave birth to a baby boy. The big problem was where do they go from here.

Be prepared for anytime, anywhere the Child Jesus can be born.

Have a prayerful Advent, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

You can also read AMECEA News on World Wide Web. Our address is:

http://www.amecea.org

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