AMECEA NEWS 25/2004
KENYA
MACHAKOS DIOCESE COMMISSIONS DIOCESAN MISSIONARIES
The Catholic Diocese of Machakos has responded to a call by some bishops in
Kenya to send diocesan priests to serve as missionaries in their dioceses facing
a shortage of priest. According to Fr. Charles Kyalo of Bishop's office, this
gesture is not out of clerical abundance but as an act of generosity to needy
local dioceses. Fr. Kyalo explained that they had listened to the cry of other
dioceses, and decided to share from what they already had. He emphasized that
the arrangement was on voluntary basis.
The Diocese has commissioned its first two indigenous priests for mission in
other dioceses, has made an appeal for a third one. Rt. Rev Martin Kivuva, the
Machakos Ordinary on July 17, 2004, commissioned Fr Joseph Mutuku to Kitale
Diocese and Fr Raphael Kimeu to Malindi Diocese.
Machakos has 50 parishes, 144 senior seminarians and 115 indigenous priests. On July 17, 2004, Bishop Kivuva ordained 9 more (six diocesan and three religious). (Source: CISA)
CATHOLICS CONDEMN ABORTION
Catholics in Kenya demonstrated the importance of life when they held a requiem
Mass of the 15 aborted babies who were found in black polythene bags on Wednesday
26th May 2004 near Ngong River in South C of Nairobi Town. The Mass, presided
by His Grace Raphael Ndingi Mwana 'a Nzeki, the Archbishop of Nairobi, was celebrated
on 3rd June 2004, the feast day of the Ugandan Martyrs. Among concelebrants
were bishops Cornelius Korir of Eldoret Diocese and the Chairman Kenya Episcopal
Conference, Alfred Rotich (Military Ordinariate), Emmanuel Okombo (Kericho),
Anthony Muheria (Embu), Boniface Lele (Kitui) and Martin Kivuva (Machakos).
There were also many priests representing different Catholic Dioceses in Kenya.
In the Homily, Archbishop Ndingi reminded those present that there were to
celebrate the martyrdom of 15 souls sacrificed for the sake of convenience.
He called on the all present to pray for the leaders to condemn abortion and
not allow it at any costs. Archbishop Ndingi also asked people to pray for "doctors
to realize that their responsibility is to save life." He prayed for the
forgiveness for those responsible to shedding blood of some innocent babies.
Before the mass ended, The Chairman of Kenya Episcopal Conference, Bishop Cornelius
Korir read the Kenya Catholic Bishops Press Statement in which the shepherds
condemned abortion.
"We are gathered here today with great sorrow to mourn these our innocent
brothers and sisters done to death by the cruel hand of an abortionist…The
Catholic Church affirms the humanity of each person in the most profound manner.
The law or institution cannot confer personhood only God can and does. No one
can deny an unborn child a right to personhood just because an event - birth
- has not taken place. The most momentous event after all is conception by which
act a person is called into existence."
The bishops urged the government not to legalize abortion and to avoid giving
licenses to more Non Governmental Organization centers, which abuse the permit,
and perform abortions. They also called upon the government to ease the process
so that needy parents can adopt a child.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya Most Rev. Giovanni Tonucci in his message, read
on his behalf by Bishop Korir, condemned the campaigns going on in the country
to legalize abortion. He prayed that the Kenya be a voice for the voiceless
and called all Kenyans to unite in prayer.
During the Mass, tears flowed freely when about 2,000 people saw the small caskets, each with a name on it, carrying the remains of these innocent babies. After the Holy Mass, which took almost two hours, the Christians were invited to escort the bodies to the Lang'ata Cemetery for the final rites and burial.
MALAWI
BISHOP GERVASIO LAID TO REST
On August 18, 2004, Rt. Rev. Gervasio M. Chisendera, Bishop Emeritus of Dedza
Diocese was laid to rest. Bishop Chisendera died on August 14, 2004 after long
illness. He was Bishop of Dedza between June 1984 and September 13, 2000. Bishop
Chisendera was born in 1928 at Buluzi-Minga Village in Lilongwe District. He
was ordained priest on September 4, 1960.
He was the second Bishop of the diocese after Rt. Rev. Cornilius Chitsulo who served the diocese between 1957and 1984.
SUDAN
POPE SENDS AN ENVOY TO DARFUR
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II on July 24, 2004 sent His Grace Paul Cordes
to Sudan particularly Darfur region to bring hope and consolation to the people
and to urge the government of Sudan to find a peaceful solution to the 15 months
old conflict. Archbishop Cordes is the President of the Pontifical Council "Cor
Unum".
On the tour to Darfur, Archbishop Cordes was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique
Mbertti, the Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan and Eritrea. The delegation visited the
Governor of Nyala as prearranged but met his deputy.
Though the delegation was assured that in the recent months the situation in
the camps had improved, when they visited the Kalma Camp with the parish priest
of Nyala Catholic Parish who was to be the delegation's guide. Unfortunately
the priest was refused to enter the camp in with an excuse that the security
in the camp was not informed of any visit. The Papal envoy witnessed what the
UN Secretary General and US Foreign Secretary experience when prior to their
visit the camps were deserted as occupants (Internal Displaces Persons).
Addressing the Christians of St. Mathew's Cathedral in Khartoum on July 25,
2004, Archbishop Cordes assured them that it is the hope of the Holy Father
that the people of Darfur would be given all the basic needs for the survival
and that this war will come to end soon to ease the pain of the people.
On his welcoming address at Cathedral, His Eminence Gabriel Cardinal Wako of Khartoum Archdiocese told the faithful that Cardinal Cordes, who coordinates and animates the spirit of Charity and solidarity in the Church and the World had come to Sudan to give a message of solidarity to his brothers and sisters.
UGANDA
JOINT STATEMENT ON THE CONFLICT IN THE NORTH
A joint statement on the conflict in northern Uganda has been issued by the
participants of the Uganda-Sudan border advocacy. The group composed of civil
society, religious and traditional leaders had come together for a workshop
representing northern Ugandan and southern Sudanese had gathered at Acholi Inn,
Gulu, Uganda from July 20-23, 2004.
After deliberation on the key advocacy issues for the peaceful ending of the
devastating 18-year armed conflict in northern Uganda and southern Sudan. The
participants highlighted these among the many issues facing the two regions:
· high loss of civilian lives as a result of the conflict;
· the absence of a coherent and coordinated national and international
strategy for peacefully resolving the conflict;
· the continued abduction and use of children as soldiers and the plight
of 'night commuters' due to lack of adequate protection;
· the breakdown of social and moral fabrics, the continued displacement
in the camps, and sexual violence that have led to the growing rate of HIV/AIDS
infection;
· the geographic expansion of the conflict and the displacement of millions
of civilians in Uganda and southern Sudan
· the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the region, which
has resulted in a culture of violence;
· the increased ethnic tensions within Uganda and Sudan as a result of
the conflict was also another issue raised during the workshop.
They welcomed the unfolding peace agreement between the Government of Sudan
and SPLM/SPLA under the auspices of Inter-Governmental Authority for Development
(IGAD). They urged the Government of Uganda, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)
and the international community for the resolution of the conflict in northern
Uganda and finally stated that:
1. Although this conflict has been described as one of the worst humanitarian
crises in the world, the regional and the international communities have not
given enough attention to bring it to an end. The regional and the international
diplomatic response has been intermittent, uncoordinated and insufficient to
a large extent. We believe that the role played by the IGAD, African Union (AU),
the United States and the European Union (EU) in the region should also be extended
to resolving the conflict in northern Uganda.
2. The governments of neighboring countries and regional and international bodies should put sustained pressure on the Government of Sudan to urgently cease all support to the LRA. The absence of such support will open avenues for the peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue.
3. A lasting and sustainable peace in northern Uganda can only be achieved through a peaceful political solution. We call the attention of the Government of Uganda to the strategy of dialogue and amnesty used in bringing a peaceful end to the conflict in the West Nile region to be applied in ending the current conflict.
In conclusion they called for the immediate peaceful resolution of the conflict preceded by a ceasefire and appeal to the international community and the peace-loving people to help the warring parties in this process.
ZAMBIA
NEW SECRETARY GENERAL FOR ZAMBIA
The Zambia Episcopal Conference on June 14, 2004 appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph
Komakoma as the new Secretary General of the Conference. He takes over from
Fr. Ignatius Mwebe who has served the conference for 10 years.
Until his appointment, Fr. Joe Komakoma has been the National Coordinator for
Catholic Centre for Justice and Peace (CCJP) since 1994. He was born on April
4 1957 in Ndola Diocese in Zambia where he attended primary and secondary schools
between 1964 and 1975. In 1971, he attended Franciscan Centre in Ndola for minor
seminary before proceeding to Mpima and St. Dominic's Major Seminaries for philosophical
and theological studies.
He worked as a chaplain at the Workers' Pastoral Centre (Kitwe) from 1982 to
1988 and again 1993. He lectures on part-time basis at St. Dominic's Major Seminary
on Political Ethics and the Social Teaching of the Church and St. Bonaventure's
College he lectures Introduction to Sociology and Political Philosophy.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Theology from Urbaniana and Masters degree in Sociology from Louvain.
ZAMBIA HOSTS THE AMECEA/ IMBISA COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOP
The thirty-third Annual AMECEA Social Communications Meeting was held jointly
with Inter Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) communications
meeting. The two regions have been working closely and have even organized and
conducted communications basic training for its Diocesan personnel.
The workshop on pastoral planning and the meeting were held in Zambia from
July 12-17, 2004. Dr. Jim M. McDonnell was the facilitator of the workshop which
sixteen participants from the regions of two regions. Present too was a representative
from Catholic Media Council Africa Desk.
It was during the last annual AMECEA social communications meeting, that the
participants recommended that a workshop on strategic planning be organized
for all communications coordinators in the two regions.
The joint meeting was also a recommendation, which was made by the Catholic
Media Council (CAMECO) when they released their final report on the evaluation
of AMECEA/IMBISA pastoral communication and social action courses.
The meeting brought together communications secretaries of the National Episcopal
Conferences in the two regions.
The meeting resolved that all national communications offices must have pastoral
communications strategic plans by December this year. Also inter-regional meetings
should take place once in two years and regional meetings must take place annually.
A similar joint meeting was held in 1996 in Harare, Zimbabwe when the AMECEA
and IMBISA came together to identify the training needs for social communicators
in the two regions.
During the workshop the delegates took time off to meet the Catholic Bishops of Zambia who were meeting in Lusaka. They also visited Yatsani Television Production Studios and Radio Yatsani (Source: Ian Mwiinga)
AMECEA SECRETARIAT
AMECEA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
The AMECEA Executive Board meeting will be held in Lilongwe Malawi from September 1-3, 2004. One of the items on the agenda for this meeting is the forthcoming 15th AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Kampala, Uganda in June 2005.
ANOTHER AMECEA JUSTICE AND PEACE COORDINATOR
During the last 14th AMECEA Plenary Assembly, the Bishops proposed that a
second person be appointed to the AMECEA Justice and Peace Desk to ease the
difficult task of the desk. On July 1, 2004, this dream was realized when the
Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC) seconded Fr. James Jude Waweru of Nairobi Archdiocese
to this task. He will work with Sr. Begona Inarra.
Fr. Waweru was born in Riara, Kiambu District in Kenya on October 28, 1966.
He attended Riara Primary School for his primary education 1973-1980. In 1981
he joined Queen of Apostles Ruaraka Junior Seminary for O level and A level.
After a year discerning his vocation, he joined St. Mary's Senior Seminary Molo
for Spiritual Year in 1988. In 1989 -1990, he attended Apostles of Jesus Philosophical
for two years. On completion he was awarded a diploma in Philosophy. Between
1991 and 1994, he attended St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary for four years
theology studies. He holds a Bachelor's degree in theology from Urbaniana University
in Rome.
In May 1994 in St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Nairobi Fr. Waweru was ordained
a deacon. And on July 22, 1995, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese
of Nairobi in the Holy Family Minor Basilica Nairobi by His Grace Raphael Ndingi
Mwana 'a Nzeki.
He worked in St. John Baptist Mangu Catholic Parish as an assistant parish
priest from December 1995 to December 1998. Between September 1998 and December
1999 he was in Our Lady of Assumption in Umoja as a curate. He was later appointed
the parish priest of St. Joseph Mutunguru Parish where he worked from December
1999 to December 2002. As he worked there, he was sent to do Master's degree
in Moral Theology in the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
Fr. Waweru was inspired mostly to be a priest by his father's commitment to
church activities. He grew up seeing his father giving church his services wholeheartedly.
He was also inspired by the kind gestures of priests who worked in his home
parish when Fr. Jude was an altar boy also contributed to his love to serve
the church as a priest.
He says he would still want to become a priest if he was given another life.
To him the journey of priesthood is a deliberate effort to experience God and
to fortify once relationship with God through the pastoral responsibilities.
SECAM
AFRICA AND MADAGASCAR TO CELEBRATE YEAR OF THE BIBLE IN 2005
The Catholic Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM) has announced
that that Africa and Madagascar will celebrate the year of the Bible in 2005.
The theme of the Bible Year is Know, Love, live and proclaim the Word of God.
According to a circular sent to all the Catholic Bishops of Africa and Madagascar
and the regional and national secretaries general and coordinators of Biblical
Apostolate by the director of BICAM, it is hoped that the life and mission of
Ecclesia in Africa and Madagascar is continuously "nourished and ruled
by Sacred Scripture" (Dei Verbum no. 21) and to highlight the importance
of the Bible as a source of guide and prayer for every Christian on the continent
and the Islands.
The celebrations are planned at all levels of the Family of God from parishes,
diocesan, regional and continental. The continental one is scheduled for the
16th Sunday of the year 2005. The venue will be announced later. On the other
levels the people concerned are free to decide on the dates, duration and modality
of the celebration/the commemoration of the 40th anniversary.
The Centre recommended the enthronement of the Bible in every family or religious
community home/house; as part of the celebrations on the year. The families
in Africa and Madagascar should also read and share the Word of God daily. The
seminarians should visit homes in the near their seminaries to pray and reflect
with family members on the Bible and should assist in organizing Bible days
for the different groups in parish community.
AFRICAN AND GERMAN BISHOPS TO MEET
The 6th Meeting of African and German Bishops will take place in Ghana from October 10 - 15, 2004. The proposed theme for the conference, which a joint venture between SECAM Secretariat and the German Bishops' Conference, is "Conflicts and Dialogue Between Islam and Christianity". Participants to be drawn from among African, German and other European Bishops are expected to come up with a final document outlining the plan of action.
SYMPOSIUM OF AFRICAN CAN AND EUROPEAN BISHOPS (SECAM - CCEE)
A Symposium of African and European Bishops will be held in Rome, Italy from November 10-13, 2004 at the Salesianum Centre for Hospitality, Spirituality and Culture. The theme will be "Communion and Solidarity Between Africa and Europe". The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences in Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the Council of the European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) are organizing this important forum. Each National Episcopal Conference has been requested to send one Bishop - delegate to the Symposium.
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