AMECEA NEWS 29/2006
AMECEA
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS
The AMECEA Executive Board meeting will be held at AMECEA Secretariat in Nairobi,
Kenya from March 7-10, 2006. The AMECEA Honorary Patrons who are the Cardinals
in the region and the Board members are expected to attend.
The Honorary patrons are: Cardinal Adam Kozlowiecki of Zambia, Cardinal Emmanuel
Wamala of Uganda, Cardinal Polycarp Pengo of Tanzania and Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir
Wako of Sudan.
The Board members are Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga of Uganda who is the President of AMECEA, Archbishop Berhaneyesus Souraphiel of Ethiopia/Eritrea, Archbishop John Njue of Kenya, Bishop Joseph M. Zuza of Malawi, Bishop Daniel Adwok of Sudan, Bishop Alfred Maluma of Tanzania, Bishop Paul Kalanda of Uganda and Bishop Aaron Chisha of Zambia.
AMECEA 15TH PLENARY : KEEPING THE FLAME AGLOW
The 15th AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Mukono, Uganda June 3-11, 2005 focused on Responding to the challenges of HIV/AIDS within the Region. This Plenary rightly assessed a timely look back on what various Episcopal Conferences within AMECEA Region have been struggling with in the last 25 years.
The Catholic Church, sometimes accused of being silent on HIV/AIDS, is among the key players responding to both the consequences of the pandemic and search of means to stop its spread. Without blowing its own trumpet, the Church has always taken seriously the call of restoring full human dignity to all. Thus, the Findings, Resolutions and results of this august assembly are not to be shelved for future references. What the AMECEA Plenary Assembly intended was to consolidate and gather momentum on how to respond to the call of being a Good Samaritan with regards to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The proceedings and priorities of the Uganda Plenary in a booklet format were distributed to all AMECEA Bishops and all Secretariats of National Episcopal Conferences in the Region. The African Ecclesiastical Review (AFER) December 2005, Vol. 47 - No. 4 & Vol. 48 N.1 March 2006, capture well the themes that were delivered and deliberated upon during this Plenary Assembly. Findings and Resolutions of the Plenary Assembly have been shared with partners and donors. We are grateful to all supporters within and outside the AMECEA Countries.
In October 2005, Secretaries General of Episcopal Conferences in the AMECEA
set dates for a meeting with National Health Coordinators to chart out the common
framework of action. This meeting takes place at the AMECEA Secretariat in Nairobi,
May 16 -19, 2006. During the Uganda Plenary Assembly each Conference selected
areas of Organizational Development, Target Groups and Specific Action Frameworks.
This meeting provides the chance to plan and chart out together the way forward
on key issues such as developing clear Church Health Policies, HIV/AIDS, Fighting
Stigma, Advocacy and lobby Governments and the International Community to support
the Church in fighting the pandemic, ensuring accountability and transparency
in management of funds and resources. Ensuring capacity building of Church personnel
in handling HIV/AIDS matters and promote the establishment of support groups
in the Small Christian Communities.
The fire is kept aglow. Hope for survival and living a dignified life must be
kept alive. The Church leadership in the Region is committed and promises to
stand by all people suffering and encourages all pastoral agents to serve and
care for the suffering brothers and sisters in a holistic manner. It is a firm
belief that with Divine Love and Concerted Efforts, we will win this battle.
Fr. Pius Rutechura, AMECEA Secretary General
REFUGEES WORKSHOP DECLARATION
The AMECEA Justice and Peace Desk expressed concern over the rising cases of
injustice against refugees in the region. In a declaration at the end of a workshop
on peace building and reconciliation targeting pastoral agents working with
refugees in the AMECEA region held from November 25 - 30, 2006 in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, the desk called for the legislation of the Refugee Bill.
"We have noted that in most AMECEA countries governments have not legislated
the Refugee Bill which, if effected, would give more rights to the refugees,
such as the rights to employment, free movement, shelter and resettlement,"
said a statement to the bishops of the region, signed by Fr Jude Waweru, AMECEA
Justice & Peace Coordinator.
While acknowledging the support the church has given to refugees in camps and
towns across the region, the Justice and Peace Desk said the church should do
more. The statement calls on national Episcopal conferences in AMECEA countries
to advocate and lobby for the legislation of this Bill.
The statement also asked bishops in each diocese in AMECEA Region to assign
chaplains for refugees and internally displaced persons to ensure the provision
of pastoral care, counseling, trauma healing, human rights education and other
services.
The church should also put more efforts in mediating in regional conflicts
as a pro-active and sustainable means of ending the refugee crisis, the statement
said.
The AMECEA member countries are: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Djibouti and Somalia are affiliate members.
AMECEA/IMBISA JOINT WORKSHOP
The departments of Communications in the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences
in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and the Inter-regional Meeting of the Bishops of
Southern Africa (IMBISA) are organizing the 2nd Joint Workshop and meeting for
the national communications in Maputo, Mozambique scheduled for July 9-17, 2006.
The workshop will cover these topics: Budgeting and Fundraising, Project Implementation and Monitoring, and the facilitators are from CORAT Africa in Nairobi.
KENYA
ISIOLO VICARIATE GETS A SHEPHERD
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on January 25, 2006 appointed Rt. Rev. Anthony
Ireri Mukobo, auxiliary bishop of Nairobi Archdiocese as the apostolic vicar
of Isiolo. The Vicariate fell vacant after the murder of Bishop Luigi Locati
on July 14, 2005.
Bishop Mukobo was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi Archdiocese by Pope
John Paul II on December 22, 1999 and he was consecrated a bishop on March 18,
2000. Until this appointment he was the Vicar General and in charge of religious
congregations and institutes of apostolic life in Nairobi Archdiocese.
Bishop Mukobo was born on September 23, 1949 at Mufu Village in Embu District.
He was ordained priest on January 5, 1980. Between 1980 and 1999, Bishop Mukobo
worked in various parishes and posts in Colombia and Kenya.
He will be enthroned as Apostolic Vicar of Isiolo Vicariate on April 4, 2006.
CHRISTIAN WARNED OF THE BREAKAWAY SECT
A sect that broke away from the Roman Catholic Church nearly 20 years ago has
opened a mission in Nairobi. The Catholic Mission of Our Lady, Help of Christians
- Holy Cross Church on 9 Amboseli Road, Lavington, is led by followers of excommunicated
Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
In a letter to all parishes, chaplaincies and religious houses, the Catholic
Archbishop of Nairobi, Raphael Ndingi Mwana 'a Nzeki warned Catholics to keep
off the new church. "This church is staffed by members of the schismatic
Lefebvrite group which refuses to acknowledge and accept the authority of the
pope and that of the local bishops," the archbishop said in a letter dated
January 9.
In 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre chose four priests among his followers and ordained
them bishops without the necessary authorization of the pope. That was done
in conscious and direct disobedience to the Holy Father, Archbishop Ndingi's
letter says. "The sad result of the 1988 consecrations was the excommunication
from the Church of both Archbishop Lefebvre and the four bishops he consecrated.
I would like to stress that this excommunication was not a subsequent decision
taken by the Pope but, as legislated in canon 1382 of the Code of Canon Law,
an automatic consequence of the illicit ordinations." The renegade archbishop
died in 1991.
Archbishop Ndingi says many members of the Lefebvre group have returned to
communion with the Church. "Others unfortunately, including those at the
Amboseli Road church, have not."
"I therefore ask and expect that all Catholics, if they wish to worship
within the Church established by Jesus Christ and to give witness to their full
communion with the pope and the hierarchy, will abstain from frequenting this
newly opened church. May they also join me in offering fervent prayers for the
return of all of the Lefebvrites to the fullness of the faith."
According to some media reports from Italy Daily II Giornale and Catholic World News Pope Benedict XVI plans to meet the Vatican officials to discuss reconciliation with this breakaway group.
DIOCESE APPEAL FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF
The Catholic Diocese of Marsabit has appealed to well wishes to avail some
foodstuffs as ten of thousands starve to death. In the last few months over
3.5 million Kenyans have been faced by starvation and about 80 people have succumbed
to death while countless livestock dies too.
This diocesan appeal came as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
warned of a humanitarian disaster in the country if there would be no new donations.
For donations please contact the Marsabit Bishop's Office P.O. Box 6, 60500 Marsabit Tel. (254-069) 2025 Fax. (254-69) 2289
MALAWI
NEW NUNCIO FOR ZAMBIA AND MALAWI
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Msgr. Nicola Girasoli as the apostolic nuncio to Zambia and Malawi at the same time he raised his to the dignity of an archbishop.
Until his appointment he was counsellor at the Apostolic Nunciature in Argentina.
Archbishop-elect was born in Ruvo, Italy, in 1957 and was ordained a priest
in 1980.
He replaces Archbishop Orlando Antonini.
SUDAN
CARDINAL SEPE VISITS SUDAN
The Perfect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples, His
Eminence Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe paid a one-week visit to Sudan from February
17-24, 2006. The visit was initiated by Pope Benedict XVI when the Sudanese
Bishops made their ad limina visit in October 2005.
Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir, the Archbishop of Khartoum, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti,
the Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan and Eritrea, Bishops Vincent Mojwok, Anthony Menegazzo,
Daniel Adwok and a number of priests received Cardinal Sepe at Khartoum International
Airport.
In Khartoum, His Eminence presided over a Holy Mass at St. Paul's Major seminary.
Cardinal Sepe praised the priests for the great perseverance in serving people
in the midst of sufferings.
Cardinal Sepe also visited St Bakhita's Parish at Jabarona, one of the camps
for displaced peoples in Khartoum. He almost shed tears seeing the multitudes
of displaced peoples (most of whom were women and children) lined up to receive
him.
On Sunday, February 19, the Cardinal Sepe presided over Holy mass in which he
ordained deacon Sylvestro Mogga. He later traveled to Juba and was received
by Archbishop Paolino Lukudu of Juba, and president of the Sudan Catholic Bishops'
Conference.
While in Juba, Cardinal Sepe met the 1st Vice President of Sudan and the President
of Government of Southern Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit. Kiir thanked the
Cardinal for coming to Southern Sudan and asked him to convey his gratitude
to the Pope for the efforts the Holy See to help of the people of southern Sudan.
In return the Cardinal assured the Vice President that the Holy See would continue
supporting health and education projects.
In Rumbek, Cardinal was received by Bishop Caesar Mazzolari. Later the Cardinal
went to Payee in Yirol country where he officially inaugurated a new bridge
over Payee River funded by the Italian Government. The bridge connects Juba,
Malakal and Wau regions.
Cardinal Sepe also went to Wau, the first place in southern Sudan where Christianity
started in 1904. From Wau, he visited Darfur in western Sudan to see the war
affected peoples before going back to Italy.
This is the first official visit by a Holy See official after that of the late
pontiff, Pope John Paul II in October1992.
By Dominic Lang, Khartoum - Sudan
THE GOLDEN JUBILEES OF SAINT PAUL'S MAJOR SEMINARY
The Sudanese Church has celebrated two important events in her history: the
Golden Jubilee of St. Paul's Major Seminary and the Diamond Jubilee of the Ordination
of the Sudanese priests.
The Seminary opened in 1956 at Tore River, a small centre in the Diocese of
Yei and was closed in 1964 after the expulsion of all the missionaries from
the Sudan.
Five Bishops attended the celebration, three of them (Card. Gabriel Zubeir,
Archbishop of Khartoum; Vincent Majwok, Bishop of Malakal; Rudolph Deng, Bishop
of Wau) received their priestly formation at the seminary. Almost 200 priests
from the remotest corners of Sudan joined in the jubilee celebrations.
The Cardinal's homily reminded the faithful how the Seminary started in the
midst of difficulties, and how much the priests suffered in order to remain
faithful to their priesthood.
At the end of the celebration, all the seven dioceses of the Sudan (Khartoum,
Juba, El Obeid, Malakal, Wau, Rumbek, Yei), present at Comboni ground received
a young tree as a symbol of the local Church destined to grow in all the corners
of the Sudan. It also symbolises the Seminary, the heart of the Church, destined
to grow through the faithful, who must "water it" by their prayers,
and "manure it" by their sacrifices and participation.
The celebration concluded with the singing "Te Deum". The people returned home with the vision of a Church, loved by the Father, blessed by the presence of the Son, and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
By Fr. Luigi Penzo, MCCJ
TANZANIA
NYERERE: "A SERVANT OF GOD"
Tanzania's founding President Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere has been honoured
with the title "Servant of God" as a first step in the process to
pronounce him saint.
A special mass celebrated by Cardinal Polycarp Pengo of Dar es Salaam, and
attended by many Catholic Bishops and faithful in Musomo Diocese was held on
January 21, 2006 at the late president's home parish of Butiama, Musoma.
The famous humble Nyerere died in 1999 at 77 years old. He is remembered for
introducing the national policy of self-reliance based on a socialist model
of cooperative village farms. He became president in 1961 till he retired in
1985.
According to Fr. Andrzej Madry of Musoma Diocese Communications Office, the
decision to initiate Nyerere's cause arose from many requests from those who
admired his devoted Christian life.
Bishop Justin Samba of Musoma Diocese is directing the cause of beatification while Fr. Wojciech Koscienlniak is the postulator, and Fr. Ed Hayes MM is vice postulator. The theological censors involved are Fr. John Caville of Cincinati Archdiocese in USA (who has written a book on him), Fr. Laurenti Magesa and Fr. Philbert Rwehumbiza.
UGANDA
CHURCH CONDEMNS ABORTION LEGALIZING TACTICS
The Uganda Catholic Bishops' Conference has expressed a strong opposition to
the right to abortion contained in a new African Union protocol which came into
force in November 2005. This is found in their letter signed by Most Rev. Paul
Bakyenga the President of the Conference.
The protocol adopted by the second ordinary session of the African Union in
Maputo, Mozambique Article 14.2 9(c) " states parties to protect the reproductive
rights of women by authorizing medical abortion in cases of sexual assault ,
rape, incest, and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical
health of the mother or the life of the mother or the foetus". According
to the bishops the situations of severe distress mentioned above cannot create
the right to suppress an innocent life.
The Bishops encouraged Catholics to evaluate their political leaders on the basis of their stand on pro-life issues.
ZAMBIA
CHURCH DEFEND THE ARCHBISHOP
The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) defended Archbishop Medardo Mazombwe
accused of convening a meeting with political parties in Zambia. The ZEC message
explained to the Zambian people that Archbishop Mazombwe chaired the meeting
of opposition political parties in the country but he did not convene it.
According to the Bishops such meetings have taken place before even when the
ruling party now was in the opposition. The Bishops assured all Zambians they
will continue to strictly and consistently be non-partisan but have a right
to speak and contribute to the national debate on national matters. Accusing
bishops of being partisan is an old and worn out trick to silence and intimidate
them. The church will not stop to point out vices to both government and opposition
parties.
The message was signed by Archbishop Telesphore G. Mpundu, Coadjutor Archbishop of Lusaka, Apostolic Administrator of Mpika Diocese and the President of Zambia Episcopal Conference.
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