AMECEA NEWS 30/2006
Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin, reiterated the
importance of having a Catholic University when he blessed and officially opened
a lecture hall named after late Cardinal Paulos Tzadua at Catholic University
of Eastern Africa (CUEA) on May 10, 2006.
"It is so important to have a real Catholic University, which means an
institution to the service of the Church for the good of all. The Catholic factor
is open to all mankind and not just for local interest", he said.
Reflecting on the many problems countries in Eastern Africa are facing, he
called upon the university to be conscious of its responsibilities in Eastern
Africa, especially in playing a role to change the reality and to ensure that
leaders in this part of Africa were taking the right direction for tomorrow
and creating the conditions of cooperation and common respect.
Earlier, the Nuncio noted that it was good that a Chinese company was involved
in the building of the lecture hall at the Catholic University in Kenya.
The lecture hall, built at a cost of KSh. 83 Million, is dedicated to late
Cardinal Paulos Tzadua former Archbishop of Addis Ababa in recognition of his
contribution to the foundation and growth of CUEA, and for the exemplary role
he played in promoting the vision and mission of AMECEA. It has 15 classrooms
and 2 big halls, which can hold about 850 students at one time. The building
also has 4 offices for the deans, 10 offices for lecturers, and two big computer
rooms for students.
Present at the ceremony were members of the CUEA Council who were having its
meeting in Nairobi from May 10 - 11, 2006, CUEA lecturers and students, the
architect, the engineers and representatives of the Chinese Construction Company,
other invited guests. Archbishop Berhaneyesus Sourphiel of Addis Ababa Archdiocese
was a special guest and the representative of the Ethiopian Bishops' Conference.
KENYA
BISHOPS CONDEMN VIOLATION OF HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY
The Catholic Bishops of Kenya called on Kenyans to respect God's commandments. Prompted by the latest killings and stealing of public resources by some individuals the Bishops said, "Our aim has always been the transformation of the individual and society in accordance with the values of truth, justice and love. We therefore wish to express our deep concern about the number of killings throughout the country and the unacceptable attitude of many in our midst to the lives of others.
The basic commandment of God "Thou Shall Not kill" (Exodus 20-13)
is something that all of us must reflect on at this time.
Addressing all Catholics and people of good will in their pastoral statement,
the bishops also condemned the violence in form of robberies, rape, domestic
violence, banditry and all sort of violent crimes reported in the country daily.
They pointed out other vices in the Kenyan community: fraud, cheating, deprivation
of just wages and taking land or property illegally. These vices are affecting
all Kenyans. They noted that tittle was done to bring the culprits to book.
They observed that though the churches are also involved in land misappropriated
it must be corrected soonest.
The Kenya Legislators were condemned for increasing their already high allowances
when the country is experiencing famine, diseases and poverty.
The bishops appealed to Kenyans to change their ways. They called all to teach the children from an early age that stealing, deviousness and deceitfulness are wrong and sinful. They said "unless we remove all corruption deals from Kenya, urgent development and moral fibre of the country will remain elusive... This will only be possible if each one of us is honest - in relationship with God, with each other and even within self. With these principles in mind, we can build together a progressive Kenya - where all can live together in dignity, unity and peace."
KENYANS ON DEBT CANCELLATION
The Catholic Economic Justice (CEJ) and the Kenya Debt Relief Network (KENDREN)
launched campaigns calling on the Kenya Government to repudiate the debts owed
to developed countries, particularly the G8, a club of the world's eight richest
countries.
In the last two months, the two organizations, CEJ which is coalition of churches
and KENDREN, a coalition of NGOs involved in debt relief and trade rights campaigns,
have spearheaded the postcards campaign. They produced 200,000 postcards petitioning
President Kibaki through the Minister of Finance, Amos Kimunya, and Members
of Parliament through National Assembly Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo, to repudiate
the foreign debts and use the money for specified development programmes.
Kenya's debt burden stands at 750 billion shillings; the country spends 22
per cent of her budget in servicing the debt. On the contrary, Kenya spends
less amounts on important services such as education, healthcare, roads and
water. The petition also asks the government to open the public debt register,
reduce her domestic debt, and provide a comprehensive financial report on her
incomes and expenditure.
The postcards are now being returned in preparation to pass them to the Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.
BOOK ON SCCs LAUNCHED
Nairobi Archbishop and Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Pro Chancellor
Raphael Ndingi Mwana 'a Nzeki officially launched a book entitled "Small
Christian Communities Today: Capturing the New Moment" edited by Joseph
Healey and Jeanne Hinton, and published by Paulines Publines Africa in Nairobi
2006.
Speaking during the launch at CUEA on May 12, 2006, Archbishop Ndingi said,
"from that time we AMECEA Bishops declared that Small Christian Communities
was to be the new way of being Church in this part of Africa, SCCs became an
essential structure of the parish, the diocese and the Church as a whole. SCCs
have promoted the participation and sharing of the Catholic faith for all in
the parishes. Even now SCCs are a priority. When a parish is built with SCCs,
there are no spectators they are all players".
The occasion was attended by the AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Pius Rutechura, the Vice Chancellor of CUEA Rev. Prof. John Maviiri, one of the editors Fr. Joseph Healey, two contributors: Fr. Christopher Cieslikiewicz and Alphonce Amolo, the publishers, lecturers and students of CUEA and other Catholic Institutions, Church media houses, and other invited guests.
MALAWI
ITALIAN COMMUNITIES EXTEND HELPING HAND
The Italian region of Lazio and St. Egidio Community mission have started
working on the needs of over 200,000 people who do not receive food aid as the
country grapples with widespread famine.
They have also identified educational needs of children. When they visited schools
around Mapelela village they found out that some of the schools had an excess
of students while others had children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. At the same time
programmes for farming, formation, and re-launching of micro-credit businesses
were renewed.
SUDAN
US BISHOPS PLEDGE FOR PEACE IN DARFUR
The Catholic Bishops of United States of America called on elected officials
to strengthen their efforts in bringing an end the ongoing moral and humanitarian
crisis in Darfur, Sudan. They said their country cannot remain silent in the
face of killings, rape and destruction.
"Our country can and must do more, to defend and protect innocent civilians
in Darfur," said Bishop Thomas Wenski. "Anything else would be unworthy
of us as a people committed to human life and dignity."
The U.S. Catholic bishops welcome the Administration's latest efforts to strengthen
the mission of poorly funded, ill-equipped and undermanned peacekeepers from
the African Union seeking to bring some kind of protection to the helpless civilians
of Darfur. Since last year, the bishops have repeatedly urged passage of the
"Darfur Peace and Accountability Act.
In addition to some 400,000 people who have died since 2003, 2.5 million have
been driven from their homes and 3.5 million are at risk of starvation.
This message is in a statement signed by Bishop Thomas Wenski prepared for Save Darfur Rally. The rally was sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of over 150 faith-based, humanitarian and human rights organizations. Bishop Wenski is chairman of the bishops' Committee on International Policy. (Source: CISA)
TANZANIA
MBULU GETS A SHEPHERD
On April 22, 2006 His Holiness Pope Benedict VI appointed Fr Beatus Kinyaiya
OFM Cap as new bishop of Mbulu. Bishop-Elect Kinyaiya until his appointed was
the provincial superior of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in Tanzania. He
was born in Shimbwe in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1989.
The Diocese of Mbulu has been vacant since January 2005 when Bishop Juda Thadaeus
Ruwa'ichi OFM Cap was transferred to Dodoma Diocese.
The Apostolic Prefecture of Mbulu was created in 1943 and was elevated to diocese in 1953. It has a population of 924,462, of whom 257,054 are Catholics.
RADIO SEMINAR AND EXPOSE
SIGNIS Africa, AMECEA and IMBISA Communications Departments have organized a Creative Radio Seminar and Expose for the Catholic Radio Stations in AMECEA and IMBISA regions. The seminar will be held from August 7 - 11, 2006 at Kurasini Centre, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
ZAMBIA
ZAMBIAN BISHOPS PRAYS FOR THE PRESIDENT
The president of Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) and Co-Adjutor Archbishop
of Lusaka, Most Rev. Telesphore George Mpundu, sent a message of get well soon
to the president of Zambia, Mr. Levy Mwanawasa. He expressed happiness after
learning of his steady but considerable progress following his hospitalization
in the United Kingdom.
Earlier Bishop Paul Duffy conveyed in person to the Vice-President, Mr. Lupando
Mwape, the bishops Easter prayers for Mwanwasa's quick recovery.
NEW CATHEDRAL BLESSED
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa hailed the new Cathedral of the Child Jesus
at Pope Square in Lusaka as a new fountain and concrete symbol of unity of the
Catholic Church in Lusaka and Zambia.
This was in a speech read for him by Vice President, Lupando Mwape to thousands
that gathered for the blessing and official opening of the cathedral on April
30, 2006.
Archbishop Medardo Mazobwe thanked all the people who contributed to the building
of the Church whose cornerstone was blessed by Pope John Paul II when he celebrated
mass on May 4, 1989 at the same site during his pastoral visit to Zambia.
He said the cathedral would be for worship and venue for major church ceremonies,
and Zambia Episcopal Conference President and Co-adjutor Archbishop of Lusaka
Teresphore Mpundu observed that the cathedral was significant to the Catholic
Church in Zambia as it would be venue for national events.
Archbishops and bishops from all dioceses in Zambia attended, and were joined by others from Tanzania and Malawi, and a delegation from Italy.
SECAM HIV/AIDS CONGRESS
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences in Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) will hold a HIV/AIDS Congress in Nairobi, Kenya. The Congress will be held in the Catholic University of Eastern Africa from June 21-25, 2006. Eighty-seven delegates are expected in this congress.
AMECEA Social
Communications Department
P.O. Box 21191, 00505, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel. (254-20) 3871229, 3878008/10 Fax. (254-20) 3871590
Email: amecea@amecea.org or amecea@gatewayonline.co.ke