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SECAM English
March 19, 2023
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the entire Church in Africa express deep joy at the news of the appointment of Most Rev. Lucio Andrice MUANDULA, who is First Vice-President of SECAM, as a member of the Preparatory Commission to facilitate the holding of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled for October 2023. This is a task of great responsibility! Indeed, this commission is asked to foster the ongoing process of renewal of the whole Catholic Church in order to be a synodal Church, a Church of communion, participation and mission. The Church in Africa and the Islands congratulate you, Your Excellency Bishop Lucio Andrice MUANDULA and pray for you in the successful completion of your mission.
March 13, 2023
On behalf of the Church in Africa and the Islands. I offer you my congratulations and best wishes for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of your petrine mission.
The Council of Cardinals was created to advise the Pope on the governance of the Universal Church, drawing on the cardinals’ deep local experience. African Continent is proud to have his dear son as member of this papal council.
March 13, 2023
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the entire Church in Africa have received with great joy the news of the renewal of the mandate of His Eminence, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM.
The Council of Cardinals was created to advise the Pope on the governance of the Universal Church, drawing on the cardinals’ deep local experience. African Continent is proud to have his dear son as member of this papal council.
All of Africa congratulates you, Your Eminence, Cardinal Ambongo, and assures you of continued spiritual and moral support to effectively carry out your noble mission.
March 3, 2023
The Synodal Continental Assembly for Africa opened this morning in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) withthe Holy Mass presided by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg and Relator General of the XVI General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, who reminded that “Synod is not about power. It is not about democracy. It is about the Holy Spirit. It is about a Church which is open to the world. Its mission is to all humanity. It is a Church which knows how to pray. It is a Church in line with the Holy Spirit
March 3, 2023
I warmly andhappily welcome you to this Continental Assembly of the Synod on Synodality. I welcome you to Addis Ababa, the political capital of Africa (headquarter of the African Union). Welcome to Ethiopia, a historic and biblical country and cradle of inculturated Christianity.
We are here to celebrate together the continental phase of this ongoing Synod on Synodality, which in the words of Pope Francis is a “journey together, in order to experience a Church that receives and lives the gift of unity, and is open to the voice of the spirit” (Address of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Opening of the Synod, 9 Oct. 2021).We have come from all over Africa and beyond.
February 28, 2023
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) wishes to inform you of the gathering of delegates from across the continent and its islands for a Continental Synod Assembly which takes place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from the 1st to 6thMarch 2023. The about 200 Delegates to gather in Addis Ababa are: cardinals, archbishops, bishops, consecrated men and women, lay people (men, women and the youth), seminarians, novices and representatives of other faiths. They shall re-look at the issues that have emerged in the DCS, share their experiences and identify what strongly resonates with the lived experiences of the Church in Africa.
February 17, 2023
SECAM Presidential Council is recomposed taking into consideration the SECAM linguistic representation.( French, Portuguese and English) So, currently, this Council is as follow:
President: Fridolin Cardinal AMBONGO (Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC)
First Vice-President: Most Rev. Lucio Andrice MUANDULA (Mozambique)
Second Vice-President: Most Rev. Stephen Dami MAMZA (Nigeria)
Treasurer: Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe kUMORDJI (GHANA)
February 6, 2023
Africa is happy and grateful for this 4th apostolic visit of the Holy Father to the continent. In fact, through his visit to these two countries (Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan), Africa experienced unforgettable days with Pope Francis.
Once again, he showed the great love that he has for Africa. Even though frail, he wanted to come to us as a pilgrim of hope, and to pray with us for peace, justice and reconciliation in Africa.
January 31, 2023
The Holy Father comes as a pilgrim of peace and reconciliation to all of Africa and in particular in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, two countries that have been suffering every kind of violence, with thousands of displaced people. With Pope Francis, Africa will dedicate almost one week of prayer for peace and reconciliation.
This apostolic journey is very unique since this is also the first Papal Visit to the world’s newest country, South Sudan. It is also unique for another reason: it is the first time that a Pope visits a country together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and Moderator of the Church of Scotland.
South Sudan will witness the visit of Pope Francis, the Archbishop Justin Welby and Rt. Rev. Dr. Iain Greenshields, who together will hold anEcumenical Celebration for peace, reconciliation, social justice and interfaith dialogue in South Sudan.
We pray for the success of this special apostolic visit.
January 26, 2023
On the first day of this session, the participants who came from all the regions that comprise SECAM took some time to share their experiences of the work done at home following the first working session,which took place from 6th to 9th December in Accra (Ghana).Some difficulties were noted especially in understanding the synod process and how to use the method of spiritual conversation. However, as time passes especially after this second session, some improvements are visible.
One of the important moments of this Session has been the reflection anew on the Document for the Continental Stage (DCS) which was sent to the Universal Church by the General Secretariat of the Synod in October 2022. In that document, the General Secretariat calls the Church to engage with an open mind in a process of prayerful listening and dialogue hence spiritual discernment as they interact with the issues raised in the DCS. This would allow the participants to deepen their knowledge of this valuable instrument of this continental Synodal journey.
The presentation of the draft of the African Synod Document was another no less important moment of this meeting here in Nairobi. The new elements gathered from the reports of the work done at home and the reflection on the Document of the Continental Stage enriched this draft, which is still work in progress.
Another great moment of this meeting was a presentation, discussion and approval of the programme of the Continental Synodal Plenary Assembly which will take place during the first week of March 2023, in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). Before the discussion of the programme, participants wanted to be sure that the delegates to the African Plenary Assembly represent all of Africa, the Islands and all the African realities.
January 25, 2023
Biblical Center for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM) based in Nairobi, Kenya is one of the vibrant departments under the Commission for Evangelization with the aim of making information concerning the Biblical Apostolate available to the Christian faithful as well as making the Word of God known, loved and lived in the continent of Africa. The Head of department, Fr. Albert Ngengi Mundele has organized a Seminar on Re-Launching the Biblical Apostolate in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya from 19–21 January 2023.The participants were Bible scholars and experts including bishops, priests and religious. During the two-day workshop, the participants shared their experiences on the biblical apostolate through group discussions and conferences.
January 24, 2023
THE SECOND WORKING SESSION ON THE DOCUMENT FOR CONTINENTAL STAGE (DCS) IS UNDERWAY IN NAIROBI, KENYA
This Second Session is to continue listening to one another and the Holy Spirit, a journey that will see the team to rework on the African Synodal Continental Document with the new insights that have come from the local churches and also to discuss a possible program for the African Continental Synod gathering, which is scheduled for the first week of March 2023 in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
January 20, 2023
Our special thanks go to God Almighty, His Holiness Pope Francis, African leaders, Chiefs and the People of God in Africa and its Islands. We say God bless you. ’Ayekoo!!’
January 13, 2023
Dear Cardinal Richard may the God of mercies grant you a well-deserved rest in His kingdom of peace and joy.
January 13, 2023
Ghana knew how to honour its illustrious son, who served his country, Africa and the world. SECAM will always be proud to have had a President of such calibre.
Once again, Rest in Peace, His Eminence Richard Cardinal BAAWOBR; may God reward you for all the good seed you have sown. We promise to continue your dreams and plans.
January 2, 2023
The Church Family of God in Africa and Madagascar welcomed with great sadness and deep emotion the news of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Saturday, December 31, 2022.
December 16, 2022
Christmas speaks God’s word to our broken, suffering world and his language is love. That fact will never change. The Bible teaches: “At many moments in the past and by many means, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets: but in our time, the final days, he has spoken to us in the person of his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the ages” (Heb. 1:1-2). Emmanuel, God with us, is the consequence of God’s love.
Christmas says: Do more for families
December 15, 2022
Merry Christmas and Prosperous Year 2023 wishes from SECAM Secretariat.
December 13, 2022
A sessão de trabalho foi facilitada pelo Padre Giacomo Costa SJ, membro da Secretaria-Geral do Sínodo no Vaticano e apoiado pela Dra. A equipa, composta por leigos (adultos e jovens), consagrados (homens e mulheres) padres e bispos de países de língua inglesa, francesa e portuguesa envolveu-se numa conversa espiritual onde, entre outras coisas, atingiram quatro objetivos principais.
December 13, 2022
La séance de travail a été facilitée par le Rev.P. Giacomo Costa SJ, membre de la Secrétairerie Générale du Synode au Vatican et soutenu par Dr Philomena Mwaura. L’équipe, composée de laïcs (adultes et jeunes), de personnes consacrées (hommes et femmes), de prêtres et d’évêques de pays anglophones, français et lusophones, a engagé une conversation spirituelle où, entre autres, elle a atteint quatre objectifs principaux.
December 12, 2022
The working session was facilitated by Fr. Giacomo Costa SJ, a member of the General Secretariat of the Synodal at the Vatican and supported by Dr. Philomena Mwaura. The team, which was made up of lay persons (adults and young people), consecrated persons (men and women) priests and bishops from English, French and Portuguese speaking countries engaged in a spiritual conversation where, among other things, they achieved four main objectives.