Bishop Mamza urges unity, love and collaboration among SECAM Secretariat Staff

“Brothers and sisters, we must love one another, especially as colleagues called to work together, even we come from different countries and places”, urged Most Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yola, Nigeria, during his visit at the Secretariat of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) based in Accra, Ghana.

After Christmas and New Year break, the Staff of SECAM Secretariat resumed on January 6, 2025, in Accra, Ghana.  During this first week of work in the new year, the Second Vice-President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) visited this Secretariat where he presided a holy Mass, Wednesday 8. Where also part of the celebration, SECAM Secretary General, Fr Rafael Simbine Junior, his two Deputies, Fr Alfred Bebodu and Fr Jean Germain Rajoelison, and Fr Stephen Okello of SECAM-AU Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Lay Catholic Faithfull members of the staff took part in this mass.

Without love, nothing can work

Commenting on the Holy Scriptures, Archbishop Mamza, Chairman of SECAM’s Justice, Peace and Development Commission (JPDC), recalled these words from the day’s Mass first reading: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another ” (1 John 4:11-18). Because, “if you put aside love, nothing can ever work, nothing can ever moov on” insisted the Nigerian bishop. According to him, it is essential for the staff “as community to love one another, in orther to serve God, to serve the Church, to serve humanity”. He asked everyone to commit themselves to their tasks, to serve each other and to trust in Jesus.

“Do not be afraid, because if you have love, you have no reason to fear anything, to fear how the 2025 will end”, but “try to do much better in your work, in your community, in your family, so that the year 2025 will be greater”.

During the Eucharist, the General Secretary of SECAM, Fr Rafael Simbine Junior, thanked the President of SECAM-JPDC for his exhortations and for the work in progress at the SECAM secretariat during his visit.

Charles Ayetan