AMECEA NEWS 28/2005
ETHIOPIA
CHURCH LAUNCHES THE WEBSITE
The Ethiopia Catholic Church launched its website on August 9, 2005 in the
presence of Most Rev. Berhaneyesus Sourphael of Addis Ababa Archdiocese, Rt.
Rev. Tesfaselasie Medhin of Adigrat Eparchy, Abba Tsegaye Keneni Ethiopia Catholic
Secretariat (ECS) Secretary General and the Staff members of the Secretariat.
The address of the site is http://www.ecs.org.et This will be a forum in which dioceses, national and international partners and concerned individuals could be informed about the church activities.
KENYA
CARDINAL OTUNGA'S BODY EXHUMED
The remains of His Eminence Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga who passed away
in September 2003 were exhumed and moved to Resurrection Garden in August 2005.
The process is in view of clearing some preliminaries before making a request
to the Vatican to consider him for beautification and eventual sainthood.
Cardinal Otunga, the former Archbishop of Nairobi and Kenya's first and only
cardinal died on September 6, 2003 aged 81. He was a priest for 53 years, a
bishop for 46 years and a cardinal for 30 years. His remains were later reburied
in a private burial at Resurrection Garden a retreat centre in Karen suburb
of Nairobi.
The Cardinal's remains were placed in a chapel to accord more people a better opportunity to seek his intercession. According to Most Rev. Raphael Simon Ndingi mwana 'a Nzeki of Nairobi Archdiocese, if through the intercession of Cardinal Otunga a cure is presented and accepted as the prerequisite miracle, the Church would start the process of Cardinal Otunga's beautification. (Source: CISA)
MISSIONARY SISTERS MARK 75 YEARS
The Christians of Nyeri Archdiocese and the Consolata Missionary Sisters in
Kenya marked 75th anniversary of the death of one of their earliest pioneers
to Kenya with the hope that the Church will soon beautify her. The celebrations,
according to Sr. Josephine Barbero MC, Regional Superior of the Consolata Sisters
in Kenya, Holy Masses will be celebrated in different Churches. During World
War 1 a Sr. Irene Stefani MC served in a camp hospital in Kenya and Tanzania
as a Red Cross nurse. The first Mass was celebrated in Mathari, Nyeri where
the remains of Sr. Stafani are buried on.
Sr. Stefani was born in Anfo Italy on August 22, 1891. She made her religious
profession on January 29, 1914 and the following year she was posted to Kenya.
There she joined the other sisters and fathers who had been called to assist
the wounded and the sick in the hospitals and in the camps in Kenya and Tanzania
during the World War 1.
After the war Sr. Stefani worked in Gikondi Catholic Mission in Nyeri, central
Kenya where she generously dedicated herself to the people. She died on October
31, 1930 at Gikondi of bubonic plague she contracted while visiting and giving
medicine to the people affected by the disease.
The Holy Mass was preceded over by Fr. Raphael Lombardo, IMC the Regional Superior
of the Consolata Fathers. In his homily, he said, "I am sure that because
of her holiness the Church will soon proclaim here blessed. But even now she
is a model to us,". In 1987, the Archdiocese of Nyeri initiated the cause
of Sr. Stefani's beatification.
DIOCESE TO OPEN A MEDIA CENTRE
The Catholic Diocese of Machakos opened a Catholic Media Centre on October 16, 2005 . The centre consists of a Catholic Bookshop, a Cyber Café, a facility for Basic Computer Courses, Marriage Tribunal Office and Lands Board Offices. The bookshop will stock altar wine, hosts and liturgical sacramentals among other items.
MALAWI
NEW SECRETARY GENERAL
The Catholic Bishops of Malawi have appointed a new Secretary General. Fr.
Joseph Mpinganjira assumed the office from September 1, 2005. He takes over
from Fr. Robert Mwaungulu.
The Bishops also appointed Fr. Cosmas Namphimba in the office of National Communications Secretary. He replaces Fr. Leonard Namwera who finished his term in June 2005.
RADIO TIGABANE TO GO ON AIR
Radio Tigabane in Mzuzu Diocese will go on air on November 19, 2005. The building
of the radio station started 28 months ago amidst hard work, hope and imagination
to realize the project.
According to Fr. Eugene Ngoma who has been in the forefront the broadcasting license was officially gazetted as general notice number 66 in the Government Gazette of June 1, 2005 and classified as private religious broadcasting license.
OCTOBER: MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS MONTH OF PRAYER
The month of October 2005 is a spiritual coincidence for Christians and Muslims
in Malawi which is in the grip of a severe food shortage. According to Fr. Giorgio
Gamba of the Montfort Missionaries, both Christians and Muslims are turning
to prayer with the aim of straightening the situation which threatens to get
out of hand.
The Muslims are on Ramadhan-fasting and prayer and October is the month of rosary for the Catholics. During the recent 20th debate , a two-month event organized by the Balaka Debating Club and sponsored by Montfort Media Centre of Information hunger was the theme. In that debate Fr. Gamba says "one Muslim village chief said everyone talks about hunger, (yet) no one ever comes to see what it is like when there is nothing to eat. Some suggest importing elephants from India to help cultivate the fields, others say hunger is not caused by deforestation because Malawi was hungry even before its trees were felled, other say what is needed is a change of diet and produce, but not it is too late to talk about what to do and what to plant… hunger is now an emergency , brutally present, and all that matters to find grain and how to resist until March 2006 when the next harvest is expected.
UGANDA
AUXILIARY BISHOP OF MBARARA
On October 1, 2005, Rt. Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha was consecrated as an auxiliary
Bishop of Mbarara Archdiocese. Bishop Bainomugisha was appointed by His Holiness
Benedict XVI on July 2, 2005.
Bishop Bainomugisha was born on July 12, 1961 in Kashumba, Bukanga in Uganda.
He attended Buhungiro Church School from 1970 to 1971, Kyabahesi Church School
from 1972 to 1974 and Kiyenje Primary School from 1975 to 1977. He joined Kitabi
Minor Seminary in 1978 and later Katigondo from 1984 to 1987 then Ggaba National
Major Seminary from 1988 to 1991 for theology studies.
He was ordained a priest on July 13, 1991 at Nyamitanga Cathedral, Mbarara.
Bishop Bainomugisha worked in the parish from 1991 to 1994 when he was sent
for further studies in St. Paul's University in Ottawa, Canada from 1994 to
2000 where he attained a doctorate in Canon Law.
Before his appointment Bishop Bainomugisha was Chancellor for Mbarara Archdiocese from 2000. He was also chaplain of Corpus Christ Chaplaincy of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Generalate of the Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel and the Monastery of the Poor Clares in Nyamitanga, Mbarara.
TANZANIA
MORE DIOCESES GET RADIO LICENSES
Two more dioceses in Tanzania on August 25, 2005 were granted broadcasting
licences. This move is in response to the call of the Late His Holiness Pope
John Paul II to exploit the media for deeper evangelization. Mbulu and Tanga
Dioceses received the licences from Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority
(TCRA)
Mbulu Diocese will be on air soon on testing basis.
Musomo diocese has been doing some study tour to orient the diocese on the possibility of opening a catholic radio station.
ZAMBIA
RADIO MOSI-OA-TUNYA GRANTED FULL BROADCAST PERMIT
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services in Zambia has granted
a full broadcasting permit to Radio Mosi-oa-Tunya of Livingstone Diocese. The
permit is valid for 7 years but renewable yearly. It is on 106 Frequency Modula
(FM).
The objective of the radio station is to evangelize through participation in
development needs of the people of Livingstone and surrounding areas.
The radio owe its existence and success to Diocese of Livingstone, Missio Aachen, Embassy of Finland and the local people whose participation and selfless contributions has brought the station that far.
AMECEA
THE NEW AMECEA SECRETARY GENERAL
Rev. Fr. Dr. Pius Rutechura was born on 3rd May 1956 at Kamachumu in Maleba
District of Tanzania. He comes from a family of 12 children, and his parents
are Protas Rweyemamu and Savera Kokulamuka. The first early years of his life
were shaped within the surroundings of the township of Kamachumu, Rutabo Parish
of Bukoba Diocese in the Kagera Region of Tanzania. He learnt and developed
the joys of living a simple life, sharing and being compassionate to his young
brothers and sisters, peers and schoolmates.
From an early age, he was eager and had curiosity to learn values that were
accompanied by the zeal to assist at religious activities. He was an active
member of the Rosary Crusade Union and an altar boy. He recalls, "my grand
father read and spotted talents from my inquisitiveness and the quick capacity
of grasping things, and predicted that my future will take me to serving the
wider community beyond the boundaries of my country." By that time he could
not get meaning out of such big words.
He began his primary school education at Rutabo Primary School in Kamachumu
in 1964. Looking back on those days, Fr. Rutechura recollects, "My Primary
Education background was accompanied by imbuing the spirit of self reliance,
kujitegemea that was part and parcel of building the Tanzanian Nation under
the guidance of the wise philosophy of the Founder and Father of the Nation,
Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere. My commitments and determination of pulling
efforts in the direction of seeking appropriate means of laying foundations
for sustainability of the Church's Pastoral and Social undertakings stem from
this period."
The first doors to a wider world opened up at the age of 13 when he joined
Form One at Rubya Seminary in 1971 where I completed Form Four in 1974. Minor
Seminary formation exposed him to new friendships most of which have endured
up to the present. He also developed zeal for studies and interests in extra
curriculum activities such as debating, music and gardening. God revealed to
me more wonders to him when he was selected to pursue High School studies in
Economics, History, Geography and Mathematics at Itaga Seminary in the Archdiocese
of Tabora where he completed his studies in 1976.
His formation to priesthood was shaped by the one year he spent doing the National
Service in Arusha and Kigoma in 1977. Among others, National Service taught
him perseverance and endurance under any circumstances, values that are essential
in responding to priestly ministry. Thereafter, he pursued his Philosophical
and Theological studies, and was awarded a distinction in 1984. When he looks
back at those years, he is happy to realize that at all stages of his priestly
formation were accompanied by his involvement in some extra curriculum activities
that were beneficial not only to the Seminary but also to the wider community.
For example, he was part of the team for teaching literacy to surrounding villagers,
and he developed skills of making wine that was used during feasts and celebrations
at the Seminary. Reflecting these experiences, Fr. Rutechura says, "I have
come to realize and appreciate more that the joys and satisfaction of responding
to the priestly vocation stem from the willingness to go an extra mile than
what is merely required or prescribed by the superiors or the law!"
Right from his ordination to priesthood on 13th January 1985, his ministry
was dedicated to formation of youths, seminarians and medical staff. He was
lecturer and formator at Rubya Seminary for eight years while combining with
being a Chaplain to the Rubya Nurses and Midwives College for one and half years.
He was also Bursar of the seminary for six years. From this combination of academics
and handling the material well being of the Church Fr. Rutechura gained the
experience and confidence of trusting in Divine Providence. It gives him great
fulfilment that most of the young people in whose formation he participated
are prominent people serving both the Church and the Secular world.
In 1993 Bishop Nestor Timanywa sent to pursue higher studies in Moral Theology
in Canada. The Missionaries of Africa, popularly known as White Fathers sponsored
his studies from Masters, Licentiate to Doctorate levels at the Universities
of St. Paul and Ottawa. His stay in Canada was a blessed moment of being exposed
to wider world and the African Communities he served for three years at the
African Centre in Montreal.
After completing the Doctoral Studies at the Universities of Ottawa and St.
Paul in 1998, he returned to Tanzania where he was appointed as Deputy Secretary
General of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC). He later became Secretary General
of the TEC, and served the Conference for almost seven years. From his experience
at TEC, he learnt that the Church needs committed personnel, and a lot can be
done once Bishops are determined and supportive to the causes they opt to pursue
in promoting the common good.
The trust and confidence of the AMECEA Bishops was shown in him when they elected Fr. Rutechura, as their Secretary General at Mukono, Uganda on 10th June 2005. He considers this as another surprise in his life. As he looks forward to his new assignment, Fr. Rutechura says, "In all humility I embrace this ministry and promise to work with others in promoting the ideals, Vision and Mission of the Fathers of AMECEA both the living and the dead. The foundations laid by my predecessors will continue to be strengthened for the good of the Family of God within the AMECEA Region, for the Greater Glory of God and Salvation of Humanity."
CUEA GRADUATION
About 800 students received various disciplines within the Catholic University
of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya on October 7, 2005. It was the 20th
graduation ceremony. The graduands included lay people, priests, religious men
and woman. The AMECEA Chairman and the Chancellor, Most Rev. Paul K. Bakyenga
presided over the Holy Eucharist preceding the graduation ceremony. Archbishop
Bakyenga reminded them that they should stand in God's presence and serve Him
for it is on the level of service that one will be judged at the end of this
life. He said " We shall hear either 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' or we
shall hear: 'Depart from me you accursed go into the place prepared for the
devil and his angels.'" He reminded them that refusal to serve because
one is more educated is a devil's characteristic and is false wisdom. He cited
the example of St. Paul who was very educated but served the people with lots
love and kindness.
Pro. Anna Tibaijuka, the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme addressing the gradaunds commended the Catholic Church for her commitment to promoting education in Africa. She pointed out that many political and private sector leaders were educated by Christian missionaries especially Catholic Church. She mentioned the Late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya and Late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere in Tanzania.
BISHOPS LOBBY TOUR 2005
Two Archbishops in AMECEA countries were among the delegation of CIDSE-an alliance
of 15 Catholic development organizations from Europe and North America who had
invited cardinals and bishops from developing countries for lobby meetings with
European governments in May 2005. These were Most Rev. Medardo Joseph Mazombwe
of Lusaka Archdiocese in Zambia and Most Rev. Berhaneyesus Souraphiel of Addis
Ababa Archdiocese in Ethiopia. The tour was done ahead of G8 Summit in Scotland
which was termed a success.
It was part of the CIDSE campaign on the Millennium Development Goals and the
Global Call to Action against Poverty. The campaign which brought together charities,
trade unions, faith groups, grassroots movements and women's group across 72
countries aimed at making a breakthrough on poverty in 2005 and calling on world
leaders to honour their promises on combating poverty.
At the end of the visit, a declaration entitled "Act today for our common good", was released.
NEW CONTACTS
The telephone and fax numbers of the AMECEA Secretariat have changed August 26, 2005.
Tel: +254 - 20 - 3878008 , 3878010 , 3871229, 3876910
Fax: +254 - 20 - 3878009 , 3871590
Dear Reader, kindly keep our office updated on the
change of e-mail and postal address. Also we invite
the national and diocesan communications coordinators and other collaborators
to send us news
on events in their religious congregations, dioceses and countries. Send to
amecea@amecea.org or amecea@gatewayonline.co.ke