Christmas and New Year wishes from SECAM Secretariat!

 

We also wish all of you and your family members a joyful and spirit-filled Christmas and New Year, 2023.

 

 

Vœux de Noël et de Nouvel An de la part du SCEAM !

Nous vous souhaitons personnellement et également, à votre famille un Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année 2023 remplie de joie et de bonheur.

Soyez assurés de nos prières pendant la saison et toujours.

 

Desejos de Feliz Natal e Próspero Ano Novo da parte do Secretariado do SCEAM.

Festas felizes também aos vossos colaboradores e familiares.

Estejais certos das nossas orações.

 

 

Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior

Secretary General of SECAM

Secrétaire Général du SCEAM.

Secretário-Geral do SCEAM.

A primeira fase da sessão de trabalho de três dias do grupo de trabalho sinodal continental africano de especialistas do Simpósio das Conferências Episcopais de África e Madagáscar (SCEAM) terminou em Acra em 9 de dezembro de 2022, com 25 participantes de todo o continente africano e das suas ilhas tendo passado por um processo de discernimento da viagem sinodal na fase do continente.

La première phase de la session de travail de 3 jours du groupe de travail synodal continental africain d’experts du Symposium des Conférences épiscopales d’Afrique et de Madagascar (SCEAM) s’est achevée à Accra le 9 décembre 2022 avec 25 participants de tout le continent africain et de ses îles ayant suivi un processus de discernement du voyage synodal à la phase continentale

The first phase of the 3-Day working session of the African Continental Synodal working group of experts of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) ended in Accra on December 9, 2022 with 25 participants from across the continent of Africa and its Islands having gone through a discernment process of the Synodal journey at the continent phase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

picturesonsynodality (1)

SECAM in collaboration with Africa Synodality Initiative has organized a Synodal on Synodality in Accra, Ghana from 6-8 December 2022 on the theme ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission’. A 25-member African Synodality Continental Team met for the first working session. Spiritual Conversation in small groups was one of the methodology aspects used and through a Personal Reflection and Prayer on Initial Draft the team led by Bishop Lucio A. MUANDULA came up with an African Preliminary Draft which is to be worked on again in Nairobi, Kenya in January 2023.
[embeddoc url=”https://secam.org/wp-content/uploads/Press-Release-from-SECAM.pdf”

Meeting on Synodality Continental Stage

The Seven Synodal Continents met at the General Secretariat of Synod in Rome from 28-30 November 2022.  The Secretary General of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Rev Fr Junior Rafael Simbine represented the Africa Continent, also present were secretary generals from Asia, Europe, Middle East, Ocean, North America (Canada & USA) and South America

Secretary Generals shared continental experiences between and among themselves on their achievements, challenges and aspirations for the future and most especially the preparatory works toward the Synodal Continental Assembly during the two-day meeting in Rome.

In his report to the assembly, Rev Fr, Rafael Simbine informed them that they have collected and summarized of the regional syntheses; established the 25-member Continental Synodal Team including religious men and women and laypersons in charge of planning, coordinating, animating and leading all the activities of the Continental phase.

The first working session of this working group will take place in Accra, Ghana from 6-8 December 2022. In this working session, the 25 participants will be trained on Spiritual Conversational Method, and they will practice it in studying the Document of the Continental Stage. Praying, listening and discerning while working on this document will culminate with the draft of the African Synodal Document.

The second working session will be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 20-22 January 2023. During this session, the main work will be to share and collect the outcomes of the study of the document for the Continental Stage made by each one of these 25 persons of the animators’ team. Then, the results that they would bring will enrich the draft started in Accra. This meeting will finalize the preparations for the Continental Synodal Assembly.

The climax of the Continental Synodal Assembly will be celebrated in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia from March 1-6, 2023, and it will be attended by 155 delegates from all over Africa and the Islands. All the participants will study the document, using the same method. The conclusion would, then, be collected and used in completing the draft started in Accra. They will, then, conclude the African Synodal Document, which will be sent to Rome before 31^stMarch, 2023.

The Holy Father spoke about the importance of the ongoing synodal path, underlining the need to listen to the Holy Spirit, to one another and to everybody. He noted that this process of praying, discerning and listening in a manner of communion and participation will help build a missionary and Synodal Church; he finally gave his support and blessings and encourage them to work together for a synodal and missionary Church by tolerating vary views and differences.

The 2-day meeting ended with a workshop on Methodology of the Spiritual Conversation which allows everyone to participle in the process, giving opportunity and voice to everybody to share his/ her vision after praying, discerning and listening to the Holy Spirit. We were also taken through the Document for the Continental Stage by using the Method of the Spiritual Conversation.

 

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) is overjoyed about the recent visit of Pope Francis to three African Countries, where he was enthusiastically welcomed by massive crowds that sometimes waited patiently, stretching into the distance from the early hours, especially, in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The Holy Father himself said he was in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius from September 4-10 2019, as a pilgrim of peace and hope, while drawing the attention of the people of the three countries (and indeed the whole of Africa) to Christ as the hope of the world, and his Gospel as “the most powerful leaven of brotherhood, freedom, justice and peace for all peoples” (General Audience a day after the visit, September 11 2019).  

In Mozambique, a country that suffered so much in the past because of a protracted armed conflict, and was recently hit by two devastating cyclones killing many people, Pope Francis said, he went to “sow seeds of hope, peace and reconciliation”. This is a profound and consoling statement not just for Mozambique but other African countries in similar circumstances. And for a country preparing for elections, the Holy Father’s call for peace and reconciliation in Mozambique is timely and urgent, as expressed by Rt. Rev. Sithembele Sipuka, Bishop of Mthatha, South Africa, and 1^st Vice President of SECAM.

To overcome conflict, the Holy Father encouraged the authorities of Mozambique to tow the path of peace, “urging them to work together for the common good”, while thanking all those who worked very hard in the peace process in country, which was signed on 1^st August 2019. He similarly exhorted the young people, who gathered from different religious backgrounds to welcome him to contribute to the building of the country and the traditions of the elderly, to overcome pessimism and anxiety, and spread social friendship. In a related development, Pope Francis lauded the joy and enthusiasm of the Malagasy youth, reminding them (and all other young people in Africa) of God’s love for each of them and how precious everyone is to him. He encouraged them to look for, and strive after the good in them and in other people; to always avoid the temptations that can draw them and other people around them away from Jesus.

In Madagascar, a country rich in beauty and natural resources and animated by the traditional spirit of solidarity but marked by much poverty, Pope Francis urged the people to “overcome adversity and build a culture of development by combining respect for the environment and social justice”. Bishop Sithembele Sipuka was “glad that the Pope visited Madagascar”, which he said “is an isolated and a struggling country. It was good for the Holy Father to give his paternal attention to Madagascar. It is a lesson for us in Africa to be informed about the needful situation of neighbouring countries in Africa and to support each other”. All this invites us to step up efforts towards solidarity, which is primarly about valuing our fellow human beings and respecting who they are as individuals (Sollicitudo rei socialis, 1987).

In Mauritius, Pope Francis visited a “place of integration between different ethnic groups and cultures”. The Holy Father noted a strong inter-religious dialogue and friendship between the various faith communities, when he found a beautiful bouquet for him in the Bishop’s house sent by the Great Imam as a sign of brotherhood. Here the Pope described the Beatitudes as the identity card of Christ’s disciples, and an antidote to the temptation to selfish and discriminatory well-being. “It is also the leaven of true happiness, imbued with mercy, justice and peace”. In his meeting with the leaders of the country, the Holy Father appreciated their commitment to harmonize differences as a common enterprise and encouraged them to continue in their efforts to welcome people, and maintain and develop their democratic life. Another lesson for the entire Africa.

At the end of his visit (the second to sub-Saharan Africa), Pope Francis urged those present at the General Audience on 11^th September 2019 to thank God and ask Him that the seeds sown in the apostolic journey may bring abundant fruit for the peoples of Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius (and we make bold to add, the entire Africa).

We on our part in Africa and its Islands continue to thank God for the success of the apostolic visit and entrust it to the maternal solicitude of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary so that it may bear enduring fruits for the continent. Amen

O Papa Francisco, a 1 de Setembro 2019, tornou públicos 13 nomes de prelados a serem feitos Cardeais a 5 de Outubro, 2019. Entre eles 10 (dez) não poderão votar no próximo conclave e os outros três têm mais e 80 anos, por isso inaptos a votar no conclave, mas que, de acordo com o Papa Francisco, se distinguiram no serviço da Igreja.

Dois Bispos Africanos entre os que serão feitos cardeais são Arcebispo Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, o.f.m. cap, de Kinshasa na República Democrática do Congo e o Arcebispo Cristóbal López Romero, sdb, de Rabat em Marrocos.

Outros a serem feitos Cardeais são:

Bispo Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, mccj, Presidente do Conselho Pontifício para o Diálogo Ecuménico / Inter-religioso, Arcebispo José Tolentino Mendonça, Arquivista e Bibliotecário da Santa Sé (Igreja Católica), Arcebispo Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo – Arcebispo de Jakarta, Arcebispo Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez – Arcebispo de San Cristóbal of Habana, Arcebispo Jean-Claude Höllerich, sj – Arcebispo do Luxembourg, Bispo Álvaro L. Ramazzini Imeri – Bispo de Huehuetenamgo, Arcebispo Matteo Zuppi – Arcebispo de Bologna, Padre Michael Czerny, sj – Subsecretário para a Secção dos Migrantes e Refugiados do Dicastério para a Promoção do Desenvolvimento Humano Integral, Arcebispo Michael Louis Fitzgerald – Ex Núncio Apostólico no Egipto, Arcebispo Sigitas Tamkevičius, sj – Arcebispo Emérito de Kaunas, Bispo Eugénio Dal Corso, psdp – Bispo Emérito de Benguela.

Pope Francis on 1^st September 2019 released 13 names of prelates to be created Cardinals on 5^th October 2019. Among them are 10 who will be eligible to vote in a future conclave and three others who are above the age of 80, and thus ineligible to vote in a conclave, but who, according to Pope Francis have distinguished themselves in service to the Church.

Two African Bishops among those to be made cardinals are Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, o.f.m. cap, of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Archbishop Cristóbal López Romero, sdb, of Rabat in Morocco.

The 1^st Vice President of SECAM and Bishop of Mthatha in South Africa, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, has indicated following the nominations that, raising the Bishops to the rank of Cardinals, Pope Francis is creating an opportunity for them to be more visible and “a platform for them to be heard, and thus to be able to influence the direction of policies at higher levels of government”. He is thus optimistic that, the named Cardinals will play an important role in their countries which require the presence and participation of the Church at a higher level.

Others to be created Cardinals are: Bishop Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, mccj, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Archbishop José Tolentino Medonça, Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church, Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo – Archbishop of Jakarta, Archbishop Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez – Archbishop de San Cristóbal of Habana, Archbishop Jean-Claude Höllerich, sj – Archbishop of Luxembourg, Bishop Alvaro L. Ramazzini Imeri – Bishop of Huehuetenamgo, Archbishop Matteo Zuppi – Archbishop of Bologna, Father Michael Czerny, sj – Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald – Former Apostolic Nuncio of Egypt, Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius, sj – Archbishop Emeritus of Kaunas, Bishop Eugenio Dal Corso, psdp – Bishop Emeritus of Benguela.

A delegation from the regional conferences of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and other continental institutions have held a workshop from 27^th-28^th July, at Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda to ensure all is set for the launch of the Golden Jubilee Year of SECAM on the 29^th of July, 2018.

Some of the Bishops’ Conferences represented include the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC); Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa Region (ACERAC); Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA/CERAO); Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy of Egypt (AHCE); Regional Episcopal Conferences of North Africa (CERNA); Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA); Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA); Madagascar and Episcopal Conferences of Indian Ocean (CEDOI); and the host, the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC).

Welcoming the delegates to Uganda, the Archbishop of Kampala, Most Rev. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga said Uganda was proud to be associated with SECAM since its inception in 1969 and warmly welcomed all participants to the country, where SECAM was launched in 1969.

Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Lubango, Angola and President of SECAM, acknowledged with appreciation the initiative of the Church leaders in Africa to speak with one voice as they gathered to share ideas for the successful celebration of the SECAM Golden Year which will be climaxed in 2019.

The workshop was facilitated by SECAM’s Theological Committee (COMITHEOL). They called on all Catholics to participate in the celebrations, urging them that the Golden Jubilee year, was a call to return to our ancestral roots, a return to our baptismal promises, proclaiming the gospel in thanksgiving for who we are, remembering the progress we have made in the last 50 years and thanking God for all the continent has enjoyed.

Bishop Mathieu Madega Lebouakehan of Mouila Diocese, Gabon, and first vice President of SECAM and COMITHEOL Chairperson reiterated the need to engage the clergy, religious, and especially the laity in the activities of SECAM Jubilee explaining that such engagement of all Church members is a sure move toward the promotion of the growth and progress of the Church in Africa.

“Unity and collegiality is significant so that dioceses, national and regional conferences strive to have common activities in living through the jubilee year,” Bishop Lebouakehan emphasized.

The Golden Jubilee Year of SECAM will be launched on Sunday, July 29 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral at Lubaga in Kampala, Uganda, on the theme: Church – family of God in Africa; Celebrate your jubilee! Proclaim Jesus Christ your Savior.

Whilst in Munyonyo, the delegates led by the President of SECAM and the Archbishop of Addis Abeba, His Eminence Berhaneyesus Demerew Cardinal Souraphiel CM, planted a tree at the Munyonyo Shrine after one of their evening Masses to signify their visit and also to help in protecting the environment.

CEPACS-SECAM/FL/Vatican. 01/2016 August 1, 2016
Rev. Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ
Out-going Papal Spokesman
Vatican City

Dear Fr. Lombardi,
APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE FOR YOUR INVALUABLE SERVICES

I wish on behalf of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and in my own name to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for the invaluable services that you have rendered the Church over the years.
SECAM through its Communications Office, of which I am the Episcopal Chairman, has had very fruitful cooperation and collaboration with you since your years with Vatican Radio’s English Programme and later as Programme Director of Vatican Radio and the Director of Vatican Television and the Vatican Press Office.

Rest assured that we hold you in high esteem for your complete dedication in your work for the Church. On innumerable occasions you have with much skill and humility, as Papal Spokesman, used great diplomacy in engaging journalists on matters pertaining to the Pope and the Church in general. You did aptly explained to the media what Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis really meant to say.

As you retire as Papal Spokesman and head of the Vatican Press Office we pray that the Good Lord will grant you very good rest and reward you abundantly for having truly and uniquely served the Universal Church.

With every good wish.

Yours in Christ,

Most rev. Emmanuel A. Badejo
Bishop of Oyoo, Nigeria and President of CEPACS/SECAM Communications,

View the full album on Flickr or play the slideshow (requires Adobe Flash). Photo credits: Ben Assorow

This plenary session marks the official launch of the new interactive features of the SECAM

website: SECAM.org or SCEAM.org.

Today marks the culmination of six months of intensive work on the improved networking functionality of the SECAM.org website. The communications office of SECAM, and the newly launched CEPACS, tasked our Catholic multimedia production house, based in Cape Town, to produce a website that could serve the organization and its mission. Studying the organization – its mandate and its current realities – it became clear what digital networking tools were best suited to achieve the end goal.

If there is an organization well positioned to promote and aggregate the work and voice of the Church in Africa then SECAM is perfectly positioned for this challenging task. SECAM.org should be seen as a digital application of the SECAM mission statement. The final product has been achieved by customizing some of the most trusted and popular open-source technologies available today, to suit the structural needs of SECAM.

We are now living in the golden age of communication and the modern modes of digital communication allow for methods of consolidation and integration that were not possible in previous ages. These methods invite us to exploit them for their worth. The Church challenges us to use every good means possible to achieve her mission.

To describe SECAM.org as a website does not quite do it justice. SECAM.org offers a feature-set of integrated and customized tools that work together to help connect the Church on the African continent in new ways. 

The interactive directory, currently using the Google API, interacts seamlessly with the social stream, and the networking functionality of SECAM.org. The network also provides both a social network and a private intranet to members. Members can effortlessly build their own public or private networks, with an unlimited number of hierarchically structured sub groups, to serve their organizational needs within the Church in Africa.

SECAM.org is therefore a secure platform that primarily makes possible a simple and effective method of consolidated communication between the Regional and National episcopal offices and secondarily between other structures or organizations in the Church in Africa.

The initial challenge is to get the regional and national offices to use the network on a daily basis. It’s in using the system that the benefits will become apparent. The prospect of a rich and purposeful, multilingual and multicultural exchange aimed at consolidating the work of the Church in Africa has been the driving force and motivation. The value that this product of CEPACS offers the Church in Africa is huge and the prospects for a new and dynamic collaboration are immense.

Norman Servais – webmaster

In 2005 the late Bishop Justin Samba of the Diocese of Musoma and TEC requested the Holy See to declare Nyerere a saint.

On May 13, 2005 the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI declared Julius Kambarage Nyerere the Servant of God which was also the first step for the start of the beatification and finally canonisation to sainthood.

All along, the competent forum for the Diocesan Inquiry on the Servant of God “Mwalimu” Julius Nyerere has been the Diocese of Musoma. 

The Diocese of Musoma created the tribunal and began to interview people who knew Mwalimu. But along the way, it became obvious that the Diocese of Musoma is not in a good position to carry out this process effectively in terms of both location and resources.

The Bishop of Musoma requested the Conference and the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam to consider the shift of competent forum from Musoma to Dar es Salaam keeping in mind that Mwalimu Nyerere spent a good part of his life in Dar es Salaam, most of the witnesses are in Dar es Salaam and Dar es Salaam is easily accessible for witnesses who are found dispersed all over the country and beyond.  

On the 2 May 2014 – the Congregation for Causes of Saints issued a rescript that canonically permitted the competent forum for the Diocesan Inquiry on the Servant of God “Mwalimu” Julius Nyerere from the Diocese of Musoma to the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam. It also legitimized the change of the Petitioner of the Cause from the Diocese of Musoma to the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, legitimized in the Extraordinary Meeting held on 7 November 2013.

The Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam has nominated the officials of both the Tribunal and the Historical Commission in Dar es Salaam. With that, the rescript permitting Musoma to proceed with the Rogatory Priocess has been issued.

The consultors of the Congregation of Causes of Saints regard this cause as of maximum priority, as manifested in their unusual willingness to act so fast in transferring the competent forum to Dar es Salaam and have  expressed that the Cause of Mwalimu Nyerere is the most important cause that comes out of Africa now, a model of political holiness that is essential in the Church today.

The Face of the Conference

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) is made up of 29 Dioceses, including the Dioceses of Gaborone and Francistown (Botswana) and the Diocese of Manzini (Swaziland). Since 2013 six new bishops have been ordained. There are 31 bishops, of these two were recently ordained. There are two auxiliary bishops hopefully more are coming for the big Metropolitan areas.

Apostolic Nunciature:

Archbishop Mario Roberto Cassari, who had arrived in March 2012, left in 2015. After eight (8) months he was replaced in April 2016 by the new Nuncio to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia South Africa and Swaziland, Archbishop Peter Wells.

The Beatification of Benedict Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa

It was with great joy to the whole church in Southern Africa when the Holy Father Pope Francis announced that the Servant of God Benedict Daswa, a layman and family man , martyr , zealous Catechist, coherent educator, heroic witness of the Gospel, even shedding of blood that from now on he be Called Blessed. Being the first of such an event in the SACBC Region the news brought great enthusiasm and faith renewal in the region not only to the Catholic community but the whole country wanted to know more about this man. His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Amato, S. D. B. Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints presided over the Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God Benedict Tshimangazo Samuel Daswa, on the 13^th September 2015.

The Re-structuring of the SACBC

Guided by Africae Munus and in a spirit of prayer and reflection the SACBC, in 2014, embarked on the re-structuring process of the Conference. The major turning point in this process was to establish the Council for Evangelization.

COUNCIL FOR EVANGELIZATION

The Council for Evangelization is an umbrella body that brings Departments of the SACBC together in order to co-ordinate the activities of the Conference in line with the vision for the Conference to be more readily at the service of the Member Dioceses.

NATURE:

The Church exists to evangelize. The Council for Evangelization has been established as the central hub of the SACBC in order to promote the work of evangelization within the Conference Region. It is a direct response to the call for a new evangelization.

SACBC DEPARTMENTS

• Department for Formation, Life and Ministry of the Clergy

• Department for Christian Formation, Liturgy and Culture

• Department for Formation, Life and Apostolate of the Laity

• Department for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue

• Department for Catholic Social Action

• Department of Finance

Department for Formation, Life and Ministry of the Clergy

The Department oversees and coordinates all different bodies that have to do with promotion and recruitment of vocations, seminary formation, ongoing formation and professional conduct. The Council for Deacons, which represents the Permanent Deacons within the SACBC region.

Department for Christian Formation, Liturgy and Culture

In this Department, the SACBC has included the Catholic Board of Education (CBE). It was launched in January 2016. All the stakeholders within the Catholic education sector have joined hand to form the Catholic Board of Education. It is aimed at coordinating, maintaining and dealing with the matters pertaining to catholic ethos, legal and structural issues of education in the SACBC region.

Committee for Liturgy

A complete text for Sunday Services in the Absence of a Priest now complete and is available in English. The Regional Pastoral Conferences are busy doing the translations into various local languages. The Committee for Catechesis is about to complete the new series for Confirmation Catechesis which will be based on the Lectionary and Liturgical Seasons.

Committee for Culture: Currently, healing is the main focus of the Culture Committee. An exorcist from the US has been invited for January 2017 to workshop the bishops, clergy and the laity on Exorcism and Deliverance – a major problem

Department for Formation, Life and Apostolate of the Laity

In this Department, the SACBC has introduced the Council for the Laity in which all Diocesan Pastoral Council delegate one representative to be member of the SACBC Laity Council. The Council’s mandate is to deal with the matters pertaining to apostolate of the laity.

Family and Marriage Life: The SACBC family desk was fully engaged with the preparation and participation in the last Synod on Family. A couple from the region was sent to Rome to participate in the Synod. Also in Philadelphia, a couple from the SACBC region was sent to participate in the event. The New Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia has been received with great enthusiasm and the Council for Evangelization is looking at how to implement Amoris Laetitia.

Youth

In preparation towards World Youth Day in Poland, July 2016, the SACBC Youth office organised a mini-world youth day for those who would not participate in Poland.

It was held in Johannesburg from the 03-06 December 2015. A great number of youth representatives from all dioceses participated, and celebrated with various bishops in attendance.

Department for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue

In this Department, dialogue with both the African Traditional religion and the secular culture are the priority and efforts are underway to achieve that dialogue.

Department for Catholic Social Action

This Department has assembled all the SACBC agencies and structures which are dealing with matters of social justice. Reflects on the Catholic Social Teaching, reading the signs of the time in order to strengthen the prophetic voice of the church.

Department of Finance

The Department of Finance spear-heading the process of self-reliant, self-propagating church within the SACBC region through Bishops’ Lenten Appeal and SACBC Foundation. In line with the thrust to become a more self-sustaining Church, the Bishops themselves, have established a Solidarity Fund, to which each Bishop has committed to annually contributing one Percent [1%] of the ordinary income of his diocese. This fund is to be managed by the Bishops themselves and meant to assist some of the more Financial challenged diocese. Truly a wonderful initiative; and a great act of Solidarity. The fund is in its fourth year, growing from strength to strength and undoubtedly will go into a tremendous financial lifeline for some diocese of the Conference.

The Year of Consecrated Life:

The SACBC responded positively to the Year of Consecrated Life by celebrating with all religious on two occasions. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durban hosted the ceremony in Mariannhill Diocese during the SACBC Plenary Session on 10 August 2015 which was attended by all bishops and the great number of Institutes of Consecrated Life. The Year of Consecrated Life was closed officially in the SACBC region on 16 January 2016 during the Plenary Session. All bishops together with Institutes of Consecrated Life from both Johannesburg and Pretoria Metropolitans participated in great numbers. Each diocese had its own celebrations.

Joint Projects of the SACBC and LCCL (SA)

Joint Witness

Both the SACBC and the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life in Southern Africa have been working together from time immemorial. The two conferences hold a triennial session called a Joint Witness. In 2013, Joint Witness reflected deeply on the self-reliant church in the era of democracy in the SACBC region. At the moment, preparatory work is underway towards Joint Witness 2017.

Migrants, Refugees and Counter Trafficking in Human Persons:

The SACBC working closely with the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life (LCCLSA) and the Jesuit Refugees Services (JRS) have a made a meaningful contribution to the plight of migrants and refugees in Southern Africa. South African government is about to amend the Bill on Migrants and Refugees in the parliament with the scope of more restrictions on migration in the country. The SACBC, through its agencies and office in parliament, is working hard on research to raise some concerns with the pending amendments. With the ever growing numbers of migrants and refugees in the country, the SACBC is heightening its awareness and is consolidating its efforts with other stakeholders such as embassies and other international organisations.

Orientation Program for New Missionaries in SACBC region

This orientation programme is designed as an initial step in the sharing process of a missionaries’ insertion into the concrete realities of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference region (Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland). It takes place bi-annually at the Lumko Institute in Johannesburg.

Objectives of the Programme

It is hoped that at the end of the programme the missionary would have:

• had the opportunity to clarify for him/herself the challenges and implications of being in a new mission context different from the one he/she has been used to;

• have an initial grasp how can she/he enrich and also become enriched by the new mission context.

• Such clarification should hopefully lead to a respectful humble attitude of sharing with and openness to learn more about the country and people among whom he/she now lives and ministers,

• gained some basic knowledge and appreciation of the cultures, politics and economy of the peoples, and particularly exposure to the nature and the structures of the Catholic Church in the SACBC.

SACBC AIDS Office

The SACBC AIDS Office provides support to the Church’s AIDS response in South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland. Some of the donor funding has been accessed by the SACBC AIDS Office itself, but projects in the dioceses in all three countries also continue to receive support from other sources. With funding from PEPFAR having been reduced, the SACBC AIDS Office has also reduced its staff and some of the projects. However, main work of monitoring and evaluation is still continuing in various areas of the region.

SECAM Year of Reconciliation

When SECAM announced the Year of Reconciliation, the SACBC embraced it fully and realised that it is urgent and that the Church needs to make a substantial response thereto. The suggestions were made that the Year of Reconciliation be blended into existing programmes that the Conference was already running:

1. Family

2. Year of Consecrated Life

3. Year of Mercy

Round Table Discussions on Race, Racism and Reconciliation

Round Table discussions are being organised from time to by groups within the church and by civil society where bishops, priests and laity take part.

Pastoral Letter on Racism

The bishops have issued a Pastoral Letter on racism challenging the whole church to address seriously address racism and racial divisions in our country. To pray for peace, healing and the reconciliation.

Year of Mercy

The Year of Mercy has been well received in the SACBC region. The Conference has identified the group of priests led by the Redemptorists to be missionaries of mercy who will move in the region to preach, teach and celebrate the Year of Mercy. A pilgrimage to Rome for priests has also been organised led by the Chairperson of the Department for Clergy. A reflection day was held with bishops and all the members of Clergy Department to look at how should issues of forgiveness, reconciliation, healing and renewal be given emphasis in the lives of the clergy so that they will not only be helping others but experiencing mercy in their own lives too.

At a Conference Level: A booklet, containing stories of mercy has been compiled for distribution among the people for reflection. Also in circulation are the books from Vatican on mercy (parables, psalms and Fathers of the Church). A prayer pamphlet has also been compiled (in local languages) and distributed throughout the conference region. It contains a prayer for the Year of Mercy.

Diocesan level: Many Dioceses had a diocesan celebration to launch the Year of Mercy – these were generally well attended and captured the enthusiasm of our people as they celebrated mercy. Each diocese also devised special programmes and retreats that would further help the faithful come to a deeper understanding and lived experience of mercy.

On a Parish Level: Many bishops have also allowed each parish to celebrate the Year of Mercy in a special way. In many parishes, talks, sermons, study days, penitential services, retreats and reflections on mercy are being held from time to time.

SACBC beyond its Boarders

Denis Hurley Peace Institute (DHPI)

The Denis Hurley Peace Institute is named after South African Catholic Archbishop Denis Eugene Hurley, a critical voice of the Church during apartheid, It was established in 2005 with the blessing of the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops’ Conference, to serve people in conflict situations by ensuring that building peace addresses the root cause of conflict and that the processes by which peace is achieved respects the human rights of people.

Over the years DHPI has become a respected peace-builder in Africa and internationally, actively upholding the Social Teaching of the Church that peace is much more than the absence of war. Their work has spanned the African continent offering assistance to: Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, DRC, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland and recently also in Lesotho and Burundi. In its 10^th anniversary in November 2015, DHPI was blessed to have former South African President Thabo Mbeki giving a keynote address on the status of African politics. He challenged the church to play its critical role in peace building in Africa.

Local Election

2016 is the year for highly contest local elections in South Africa with the new EFF party. The SACBC has engaged with Election Commission to set up a forum of dialogue and collaboration in order to ensure free and fair elections in August 2016.

Challenges:

Racism

South Africa is still rocked by incidents of racism. The SACBC has organized in various moments of Plenary Sessions and Administrative Board meetings some reflections on the extent and impact of racism in the country. A commission has been set up which is looking at addressing racism through dialogue and social cohesion. A movie is being prepared by media Production Company in collaboration with the SACBC on racism and social cohesion.

Government Level:

Corruption at all levels

Poor Service Delivery

Crisis in Education

Police Brutality

Political intolerance

Social Level:

Eruption of tertiary student protests on the high fees for tertiary education.

Violent protest which lead to property destruction

High level of Anger

High rate of unemployment

Abuse of women and children

HIV/AIDS

Influx of Migrants and Refugees which leads to xenophobic attacks on the foreigners as people fight for limited resources

Moral decay of society and breakdown in family structure

Ecclesial Level

Urbanisation

Prosperity Gospel

Decline in vocations and ageing Religious Communities.

The SACBC is committed to the service of the Catholic Church in Southern Africa through its leadership, secretariat and all agencies of education, health and social development. In spite of the challenges which are daily experiences, there is a good story to tell about the SACBC in its leadership of the church in Southern Africa.

Archbishop Stephen Brislin

SACBC President

Sr. Hermenegild Makoro CPS

Secretary General

May 2016

The context of this visit is the concern expressed in our last plenary meeting, having heard reports of political instability that focused on the insistence of the president of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza to run for the third them. As we heard this resulted into violent protests, with many people being killed and others exiled. We made a resolution to request the Social Action department to do more research on the issue of Burundi, and the Denis Hurley Peace institute did this research and it was sent to all bishops. From that research we were made aware that the issue of the president seeking a third term was just a tipping point of a long political and social tension that had characterised Burundi for more than a decade.

The Denis Hurley Peace institute entered into discussion with SECAM and other regional Episcopal conferences on this matter, which led to the suggestion of a solidarity visit, under the hospices of SECAM and inclusive of regional Episcopal conferences. And SECAM, AMECEA and SACBC prepared for this solidarity visit, and from the SACBC, Archbishop Brislin, Bishops Gabuza and Sipuka went and Bishop Joseph Zziwa of Uganda came on behalf of AMECEA, and so there were 4 bishops.

After a meeting with Dr. Motshega on Thursday morning of 09 June, (on another matter) we flew to Burundi, where we were met at the airport by the delegation of the Burundi Bishops’ conference including the president of the conference on the 10 of June. Immediately on our arrival (without resting after a whole night journey) we had a meeting with all the 10 Burundian bishops who had just completed their plenary session.

It was hoped that this solidarity visit would consist of at least one of the two vice presidents of SECAM and two or three Cardinals to give it more weight. As things turned out, however, none of the two vice presidents of SECAM were able to come, and none of the expected Cardinals were able to be part of this delegation. In the absence of the expected executive of SECAM and Cardinals, bishop Sipuka in his capacity as a member of the SECAM standing committee representing IMBISA was asked to head the delegation.

From their introductory remarks, the efforts they put in preparing for our visit and their depth of sharing, it was clear that the bishops of Burundi appreciated our visit. They were visibly happy and encouraged by our visit. After stating our reason for the visit, they eagerly acceded to share with us in detail how they perceive the situation in Burundi. This is a summary of what they shared. They noted that while there has been some recovery and peace achieved since last year, the situation is not normal at all. Beneath the surface is there is anger and tension. Human rights are abused, people are being assassinated, jailed unjustly, tortured and harassed. 250 000 people have gone into exile, the space for opposition groups to organize has been closed, the independent media is not functioning (more that 100 journalists have gone into exile), leaders of civil society are under threat. More and more people are saying that they need to fight for democracy with arms. Although there are signs of hope as international pressure for open dialogue grows and the facilitation of the peace process by President Musiveme holds some promise, the situation remains abnormal. There is a strong call to return to and respect the spirit of the Arusha peace agreement of the year 2000 which Nelson Mandela helped broker in the aftermath of the civil war. That agreement was reached through participation, inclusivity and dialogue. While some aspects of it may be outdated, the spirit of the agreement should be respected and it has ensured some stability in the country from the year 2005 until last year. In seeking a third term the President has plunged the country into crisis. The Arusha agreement specifies a maximum of two terms for the President, which is also written in the Constitution. However, the Constitution also specifies that the President is elected by the people. In his first term President Nkurunziza was elected by the parliament and so he says it does not count as a first term. The Constitutional Court upheld this opinion but most people felt that the Court had been pressurized to make that conclusion. The result was demonstrations, protests, violence and an attempted coup. Many young people were involved in the demonstrations, some have fled, some disappeared, some arrested and some killed. Those arrested complain of brutal torture. The Catholic bishops believe that the only road to peace is through open dialogue, inclusivity and respect for all. They fully support the East African initiative. They have been outspoken about the repressive situation that continues in the country. One further point, the international community at time sees the problems of Burundi as arising from ethnic tensions, but Burundians now do not see the situation in that way, but in terms of a political crisis and the non-implementation of the Arusha agreement.

Our impression is that the bishops have a lot of insight about what is going on and are prophetic and not fearful. 3 of them are under threat and are guarded 24 hours by soldiers for protection. There are two things that strikes one when visiting Burundi. The first one is the presence of the armed guards for some bishops and the second one is the number of people who are using bicycles. These bicycles are not for leisure. They are used as means of transporting customers and goods. There were a number of these bicycles that had heavy burdens such as grass and logs. The weight of these items seemed to be far greater than the weight of the person riding the bicycle. This is perhaps indicative of the fact that the people of Burundi are carrying a lot of burdens in their lives. The size of the political, economic and social crisis in Burundi will need leaders willing to put the interests of Burundi as a top priority. The lack of respect and betrayal for what promotes the common of all will constitute to cause a permanent crisis in Burundi. The bishops appear to be very united in their stand and have credibility with the people of Burundi.

The following day we met the 1st Vice President of the country, who stood in for the president with whom the appointment was made. Except that he could not make it, there was not clear reason why the president could not meet us. We presented the attached statement to him. In response to our statement, the 1st Vice President (a young man in his 40s) spoke from the heart about the situation, basically saying that none of the opposition have the interest of the people in their protests, but their own. They are fighting for their own economic survival as political leadership is seen as means to survive materially. He agreed that something needs to be done to curb violence among the youth and bring exiles back home. He was however, illusive about inclusive talks among the parties concerned, and appeared to favour internal talks (which the Burundian Bishops interpret as meaning that the government wants to talk with those that they agree with, and those they do not agree with, they want to jail and kill them). The ruling party seems to be unwilling to have this dialogue with all the parties because it cannot guarantee that free and fair political completion will not lead to loss of power. And yet as long as the other parties remain dominated and excluded, there will be no peace in Burundi. The crisis in Burundi gives rise to broader questions as well, especially as many countries of Africa are going through similar crises. The Church should be proactive and not only respond when crises occur such as that in Burundi . Democracy is clearly the best form of government we have, but whether its present (western) form is suited for Africa should be questioned, and study made as to whether a more suitable form of democracy could be derived taking into account specifically African issues.

In the afternoon we met with one opposition party. We had hoped that as many as possible parties would be present but only one turned up. From their sharing, what came up as their concern is the abandoning of the Arusha accord by the government, the arresting, torturing, exiling and killing of those opposed to the government. The militarization of the youth to use as means of harassing and arresting the opposition. The dysfunctionality of the state, where even among the ruling party members there is no trust, and that between security and defense force there is distrust and actions of mutual elimination. After their sharing, we understood that perhaps the reason other parties could not come was because of fear to be targeted by the government. There is no doubt that the ruling party is determined to perpetuate political violence. One admires the courage and determination of the two members who came to speak to us. These two expressed their admiration for the clear stance taken by the Bishops of Burundi concerning the political, economic and social crisis in Burundi. The Bishops have been able to bring hope to the people of Burundi. We assured the two visitors of our support in various ways.

When asked how do they think we can be help to the situation, they asked us to help with the facilitation of dialogue among all the parties concerned, and not only those that the government picks. The bishops later confirmed that what the opposition shared was the truth. Privately, after the meeting, one member of the opposition suggested that instead of trying to convince President Jacob Zuma, we have a discussion with Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma who, he said, has a much better understanding and appreciation of the situation

In the evening we met with the bishops again, and asked them what do they think we can be of help and listed 4 things:

1. That SECAM using its observer status in AU should put Burundi situation in its agenda, and that through AMACEA advocacy be done to strengthen the East African peace initiative;

2. The we could help toward pastoral care of the refugees, (with skills, personnel and finance).

3. That we give support to their Justice and Peace Commission in order to help it operate at institutional level and for programmes, especially among the youth;

4. Financial assistance towards building a place that will be used to host meetings, conferences and training. This centre will be of great assistance in hosting talks and debates. It will be a place for training in matters relating to the Social Teaching of the Church.

5. That we should pray for them.

On Sunday we all concelebrated in a packed Cathedral the Mass of the Uganda martyrs, and towards the end gave a message which appeared to be well received (see the attached message) and in the afternoon we left, again accompanied by some bishops. Our impression is that they were happy and felt supported by our visit as indicated in the attached response to our message of solidarity.

Our word of gratitude goes the support staff from SECAM (secretary Fr. Komakoma) and AMECEA (Secretary Fr. Lugonzo and Mr. Mbandi, coordinator of Justice and Peace) and the Burundian Bishops Secretary General Fr. Lambert who did a lot of work in capturing the content of our discussion and drafting the statements. We are grateful for the excellent work of the Dominican priest, Fr. Emmanuel Ntakarutimana, who was able to do the translation in various languages. We also thank our own Mr. Danisa Khumalo for background work he did in preparing for this meeting; in retrospect, it would have been good if he had also come.

Your Eminences

Your Excellencies

PREAMBLE

It is a great honour for me to make this report to the 17^th SECAM Plenary Assembly, since my election in Kinshasa (DRC) in July 2013. I then humbly accepted your confidence in me and pledged to do my best as the President of SECAM. I pledged to make SECAM stronger by intensifying our relations with the Holy See and sister organizations in other continents. I promised that SECAM will continue to respect the principle of subsidiarity in working with the Regions and, when necessary, the National Conferences. This report, is therefore a reflection of what we have tried to do in these past three years.

It would be remiss, on my part, if I do not, from the outset, pay tribute to my brother Bishops in the Standing Committee whose commitment and dedication made whatever we achieved in this period possible. In the same vein, my appreciation goes to our Staff at the Secretariat who continued with their diligent work in spite of the well-known difficulties they face, financially, to make ends meet.

I would also like to wholeheartedly recognize the invaluable assistance we got from our cooperating partners. You all know that the funds we get from membership fees each year are only sufficient to meet half of the annual recurrent budget for SECAM. We are only able to meet our monthly obligations in terms of salaries, statutory meetings, and general maintenance. All our programmatic activities are donor funded.

With these few words of introduction, I turn to the main report.

1. HANDOVER

Immediately after the closure of the 16^th Plenary Assembly, a handover meeting was arranged between the out-going and in-coming Standing Committee. I sincerely thank my predecessor, His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal PENGO, and his team, for a job well done for the smooth and professional manner in which the handover was done.

2. VISIT TO EUROPE

Given that the 16^th Plenary Assembly had just adopted the first ever five-year Strategic Plan, which was meant to run from 2013-2018, our immediate challenge was to operationalize this Strategic Plan. The Secretariat had developed a three-year Action Plan in line with the two major Commissions, that is, Evangelisation (and all other pastoral related activities) and Justice, Peace and Development (with all the social related programmes for human development). Details of how the plan was implemented will be dealt with through the various departmental reports that will be presented to you.

The SECAM Presidency and all Senior Staff of the Secretariat went to Europe, thanks to sponsorship from MISSIO Aachen, to meet key partners to help us finance the activities enumerated in the Strategic Plan. During the visit, the SECAM Delegation had high level meetings with MISSIO Aachen and Misereor (in Aachen) and the CIDSE Directors in Luxembourg. In between, the delegation also took time to visit the German Episcopal Conference.

In summary, the discussions bore the fruit of making MISSIO Aachen the key partner for SECAM for pastoral related activities. At Misereor, a contract for the Third Phase of the Good Governance Project was signed and pledges to contribute to the financing of the same Good Governance project were received from various member organizations of CIDSE after meeting them.

3. AD LIMINA VISIT

In February, another milestone was achieved when SECAM went to the Holy See for its first ever Ad Limina visit. Fruitful discussions were held with various dicasteries and the Secretariat of State. The highlight of the visit was the Audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, on February 6, 2015. On your behalf, the Standing Committee let the Holy Father know that SECAM had proposed to celebrate the African Year of Reconciliation from 29^th July 2015 to 29^th July 2016. We also extended an invitation to the Holy Father to join SECAM in celebrating our Golden Jubilee in 2019 (Uganda). A Report of this is available in your Conference bags.

4. SECAM STATUTES

In order to fulfil the mandate given to us by the 19^th Plenary Assembly, we indeed did submit to the Holy See, the Statutes that were adopted in Kinshasa (2013), requesting for a Recognitio. The Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples sent back the Statutes with some minor comments. Our Canon Lawyers took into consideration those comments, and sent the Statutes back to Rome. You shall hear the details of this process from the Canonists later on since this issue is on the Agenda of this Plenary Assembly.

5. THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY

SECAM played a key role in the activities before and those that followed the Extraordinary (2014) and substantive Synod on the Family (2015).

1. For the Extraordinary Synod: SECAM, through the Evangelization Commission, was able to organize various consultative meetings and seminars involving Bishops, theologians, and other pastoral agents, with a view of enhancing the participation of the Church in Africa in the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops in October 2014. A booklet entitled, “Africa to the Extraordinary Synod On Family: Organic Pastoral Solidarity and Contribution”, was produced in five languages (French, English, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian), and sent, in soft copy, to all National and Regional Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar and to the African Cardinals during the week of September 15 to 20, 2014. The printed text was subsequently distributed to African Synod Fathers by a group of theologians that accompanied the SECAM Bishops to the Extraordinary Synod on the Family.

2. CCEE-SECAM: The Standing Committee and a select number of European Bishops, met in Maputo (Mozambique), at the end of May 2015, to reflect together on the Theme of “The joy of the family”. See Message of the Meeting in Appendix.

3. Preparations for The Synod on the Family: From 8-11 June 2015, in Accra, SECAM organized a Workshop for Synod Fathers from Africa on the theme “The Family in Africa: What Experiences and What Contributions to the XIV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops? The workshop attracted 49 participants of which 32 were Synod Fathers. The workshop was animated by a Scientific Committee with the support of the staff of the Secretariat. A book was produced that was distributed during the Synod and copies are still available for the Bishops who did not receive a copy. At the same workshop, a joint declaration was signed for submission to the UN General Assembly “Given the current developments on the African continent, in view of the September 25 – 27 New-York Summit for the adoption of a “post-2015 global development agenda”.

6. SECAM DAY

I am happy to announce that on 29^th July each year, we have started celebrating the SECAM Day at the level of the Secretariat. I hope that you also have started doing the same in your Regions, Conferences and Dioceses. We already agreed that a special collection is to be done on the Sunday closest to July 29 and sending 75% of the collection to SECAM.

7. THE YEAR OF RECONCILIATION

The Year of Reconciliation was launched to start on 29^th July 2015 through to July 29, 2016. A special Poster was produced by the Communications Office and distributed to many Conferences. I am sure that we shall hear more on how this special year of reconciliation was celebrated when we listen to the Regional Reports.

8. JOINT STATEMENT ON COP21

In the light of Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Laudato Si, SECAM joined all the continental bodies of the Catholic Church and the Holy See in signing a joint Statement on Climate Change addressed to the Heads of State during their Cop 21 Summit in France, in November 2015. The Secretary General signed on my behalf since I could not travel to Rome at the time due to pressing issues.

9. APPOINTMENT OF THE CEPACS PRESIDENT

After a long time of searching the Standing Committee finally was able to find a willing person in the person of Most Rev. Emannuel BADEJO, Bishop of Oyo (Nigeria) who generously accepted to serve as Bishop President of CEPACS pending ratification by this August Assembly. He is already working hard to revive CEPACS and promote the Catholic News Agency for Africa (CANAA), issues on which he will elaborate in his Address.

10. SECAM AU OBSERVER STATUS

In the period under review, SECAM has finally signed the MoU with the African Union as an Observer. We have designated the Archbishop of Addis Ababa as the SECAM representative to interact with the AU. A Liaison Office manned by a SECAM Program Officer has been opened to work closely with the Archbishop of Addis Ababa. The programme Office will say more on this issue. Suffice to say that this Plenary Assembly needs to ratify the designation of His Eminence Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal SOURAPHIEL CM, as the official representative for SECAM at the AU.

11. THE NATURE OF SECAM

Starting from Congo Brazzaville, when I attended the Plenary Assembly of the ACERAC Region, a reflection on the “Nature of SECAM” was initiative which I would like that the 17^th Plenary discusses substantively. This is in the context of SECAM having been thinking about the new pastoral challenges that arise in our Church in Africa and how to position itself adequately to respond to those challenges. The promulgation of the Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, by Pope Francis, and his call in Articles 16 and 32, for Conferences to rethink their roles, it became pertinent that we, as Bishops of African need to reflect on how we can speak together through a clearly defined and well-structured Institution. See the brief reflection attached to this report that I have had the opportunity to present to AMECEA and RECOWA-Cerao besides ACERAC.

12. NETWORKING

In the period under review, SECAM continued to interact with key Dicasteries of the Holy See, sister Conferences, especially CCEE and FABC, and our cooperating partners. We still need to strengthen these ties. We have sought to implement the Statutory obligation of working through the Regional Conferences. This was our approach when we held the Standing Committee meeting in February this year in Nairobi (Kenya).

13. PAPAL VISIT TO AFRICA

Though SECAM, per se, was not directly involved in the recent Papal visit to Africa, we managed to send teams to Uganda and Central African Republic. We are very grateful for the warm and fraternal support we received from the Episcopal Conferences of Uganda and the Central African Republic. We were able, though, to send a message of pastoral solicitude to the Holy Father on his first visit to our lovely continent.

14. CHALLENGES

The main challenge that SECAM faces is insufficient funds to be able to function normally. For instance, at the moment, we are unable to review salaries for the lowest paid staff members. Main activities we are required to fulfil (Standing Committee Meetings) are sometimes held on credit, putting SECAM in a precarious situation of incurring debts while having very low income flows.

A tragic event befell us on 11^th November 2014 when the 1^st Deputy Secretary General of SECAM, Rev. Fr. Pierre Ile Bongonda BOSANGIA, suddenly collapsed in his office and died shortly thereafter upon arrival at the nearby hospital where he was rushed. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace. He only served the Secretariat for one year in which he acquitted himself very well. We sincerely thank the Archdiocese of Kinshasa who had kindly released him to come to SECAM. It took us almost a year to look for a replacement in the person of Rev. Fr. Edouard Melchior MOMBILI, from the Archdiocese of Kisangani (DRC).

These are some of the issues I thought I would raise in my Report leaving the details of the full activities we have done since 2013 to the Secretariat Reports.

+ Gabriel MBILINGI

Archbishop of Lubango (Angola)

SECAM President

Cotonou, 17 June 2014

RE: Nature of SECAM

Your,

Eminences

Excellences

For more than ten (10) years, our Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has been thinking about its nature and the new challenges that arise in our Catholic Church in Africa.

I wish to refer to the Plenary Assembly in Dakar in 2003 where the publication of certain documents by Pope Saint John Paul II, pushed our Church to reposition itself and allow ourselves to be challenged on its nature and its action. As the Preamble of the Statutes adopted at that meeting reminds us, we can make reference to Ecclesia in Africa, which defines, quite rightly, the Church as the Church-family of God; Novo Millennio Ineunte, the document which launched the new millennium with all that it would pose as consequences. Already, the Assembly in Dakar felt the necessity for all the African Episcopate to meet at least once every nine (9) years.

The celebration of the Second Special Synod for Africa, leading to the signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae munus on African soil, in November 2011, in Ouidah (Benin), was also a good opportunity to strengthen this reflection on the nature and the challenges of the Church in Africa, for a concrete and effective commitment. The plenary Assembly in Kinshasa in July 2013, has responded to these expectations by confirming the text of Dakar and adopting the new elements brought to the texts governing our continental Institution.

At the time when we were ready to send the text of the new Statutes and By-Laws to the Holy See for the ‘recognitio‘, which was the result of our Plenary Assembly in Kinshasa, we, providentially, received the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope François which addresses, inter alia, the question of the status of the Conferences of Bishops: Evangelii Gaudium.

Two passages from this document can guide us in our reflections in rethinking the nature of our SECAM:

No. 16: “I was happy to take up the request of the Fathers of the Synod to write this Exhortation. In so doing, I am reaping the rich fruits of the Synod’s labours. In addition, I have sought advice from a number of people and I intend to express my own concerns about this particular chapter of the Church’s work of evangelization. Countless issues involving evangelization today might be discussed here, but I have chosen not to explore these many questions which call for further reflection and study. Nor do I believe that the papal magisterium should be expected to offer a definitive or complete word on every question which affects the Church and the world. It is not advisable for the Pope to take the place of local Bishops in the discernment of every issue which arises in their territory. In this sense, I am conscious of the need to promote a sound “decentralization”.”

No. 32: “Since I am called to put into practice what I ask of others, I too must think about a conversion of the papacy. It is my duty, as the Bishop of Rome, to be open to suggestions which can help make the exercise of my ministry more faithful to the meaning which Jesus Christ wished to give it and to the present needs of evangelization. Pope John Paul II asked for help in finding “a way of exercising the primacy which, while in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is nonetheless open to a new situation”. We have made little progress in this regard. The papacy and the central structures of the universal Church also need to hear the call to pastoral conversion. The Second Vatican Council stated that, like the ancient patriarchal Churches, Episcopal Conferences are in a position “to contribute in many and fruitful ways to the concrete realization of the collegial spirit”. Yet this desire has not been fully realized, since a juridical status of episcopal conferences which would see them as subjects of specific attributions, including genuine doctrinal authority, has not yet been sufficiently elaborated. Excessive centralization, rather than proving helpful, complicates the Church’s life and her missionary outreach.”

These are the two quotations that may guide us in thinking about an African episcopate able to speak together, within a clearly defined and well-structured Institution.

While keeping the existence of our Episcopal Regions, besides the wealth of our continent, is this not the time for us to transform our Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, an expression that would, moreover, be adequate with Church Law?

Moreover, when we look at other regional structures, while respecting the specificity of each continental situation outside the Episcopal Federation of Asia, Latin America has a Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) and Europe has a Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE).

By deeply analysing the remarks by Pope Francis, we will realise well that “beneficial decentralization” and “authentic doctrinal authority” which he speaks about, will be effective only in an African Church that is a very clear and well-structured Ecclesial Subject.

While waiting for the results of your reflections, from now until the end of the month of September 2014, I greet you fraternally and I would like to invite us all to be very well prepared as we go to the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops, convened by Pope Francis, on the crucial and important theme of family.

Most Rev. Gabriel MBILINGI

Archbishop of Lubango

President of SECAM

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE OF SECAM

JULY 24, 2016 NR. 3

Archbishop Mbilingi has been re-elected President of SECAM

The 17th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has ended today in Luanda, Angola with the re-election of Most Rev. Gabriel Mbilingi of Lubango, Angola as President of SECAM for a second term. First Vice-President: Most Rev. Mathieu Madega Lebouakehan, Bishop of Mouila, Gabon. He replaces Bishop Louis Portella-Mbuyu, Bishop of Kinkala, Congo Brazzaville, who did not stand for re-election.

Most Rev. Anton Sithembele Sipuka, Bishop of Umtata, South Africa, replaces Most Rev. Gabriel J. Anokye, Archbishop of Kumasi, Ghana, who also did not stand for re-election in order to concentrate on his office as President of CARITAS Africa.

The Archbishop of Accra, Ghana, Most Rev. Charles G. Palmer-Buckle has been reconfirmed as the Treasurer of SECAM.

The appointment of Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo of Oyo diocese, Nigeria last year as the President of the Pan- African Episcopal Committee of Social Communications on the Standing Committee of SECAM has been confirmed by the Assembly.

Archbishop Samuel Kleda, of Douala, Cameroon, representing the Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Region of Central Africa (ACERAC); and Archbishop Thomas Msusa of Blantyre, Malawi for the region of AMECEA- Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa stay on as members of the Standing Committee.

The Assembly, held from July 18-24, 2016, had as its theme: The Family in Africa, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: In the Light of the Gospel. The theme was chosen with particular reference to the two recent Synods on the Family and the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation: Amoris Laetitia.

Among the participants were Cardinals, Bishops, Secretaries General of National and Regional Episcopal Conferences in Africa, Resource Persons, representatives of Partner Agencies and other Continental Episcopal Conferences.

The Assembly was opened with an Eucharistic Celebration at the Holy Family Parish in Luanda. It was presided over by the President of SECAM, Archbishop Gabriel MBILINGI of Lubango, Angola on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.

The Vice-President of Angola, Ing. Manuel Vincente was the Guest of Honour during the official opening ceremony. He appealed for closer collaboration between the Church and State for the promotion of integral development on the continent of Africa.

There were goodwill/solidarity messages from the Apostolic Nunciature in Angola, MISEREOR, MISSIO Aachen, CAFOD, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Biblical Federation (CFB) and Caritas Internationalis. The rest were: The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE), Africa Family Life Federation (AFLF) and the Association of Africa Catholic Women Organisations under the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO).

The first part of the Assembly comprised Talks and Workshops for the bishops on some topics of the sub-theme: New Pastoral Challenges Facing the African Family Today and Finding New Ways of Evangelising the Families. The topics were: a) The Case of Cape Verde by His Eminence, Arlindo Cardinal GOMES FURTADO, Archbishop of Santiago of Cape Verde Verde). b) The African Perspective by Most Rev. Emílio SUMBULELO, Bishop of Uije, Angola; and c) Influence of Modern Media and New Ideologies on the Family in Africa Today by Most Rev. Emmanuel A. BADEJO, Bishop of Oyo, Nigeria and President of the Pan-African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS).

A general topic on: Making SECAM a Stronger and more Committed Family of God in our Continent was presented by His Eminence, Philippe Cardinal OUEDRAOGO of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The Assembly was also an opportunity for the bishops to discuss various issues pertaining to the Family in Africa, new ideologies, inter-religious dialogue, and the socio-political situation on the continent.

The participants at the Plenary denounced the state of instability and insecurity in some African countries – South Sudan, Burundi etc., and appealed to political and other civil authorities to ensure peace, democracy and good governance.

The second part of the Assembly was the business session where, reports from the various Commissions/Departments of SECAM Secretariat were presented in plenary session. Other reports received were those from CARITAS Africa, SECAM-AU Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; the Catholic News Agency for Africa (CANAA),Documentation and Information Management, and the New Features of SECAM’s website.

The Assembly adopted a number of Resolutions and Recommendations; a Final Message and a Communique addressed to all people of goodwill. (See full text of the Message attached).

SECAM’s 17th Plenary Assembly concluded with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

The bishops of Africa expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Government and people of Angola, the Church and the Local Organising Committee of Angola for all the support in the holding of a successful Plenary Assembly.

The next (18th) Assembly, which will mark the 50th Anniversary of the founding of SECAM will take place in Kampala, Uganda in 2019.

The 16th Plenary Assembly was held in July 2013 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo under the theme: The Church in Africa at the service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace.

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Prepared by: Benedict Assorow, Director of Communications

Luanda, July 23, 2016

The UNIAPAC Africa is a regional association, proclaimed on February 26, 2010 in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, which has its headquarters.
Based on the teachings of the Social Doctrine of the Church and inserted in UNIAPAC International, founded in 1931, whose headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium and is represented in 36 countries, UNIAPAC-Africa’s mission is to contribute to building a more just and humane Africa , based on ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, through the formation and transformation of man as a whole…. Download Powerpoint

Mutual aid association established on christian values and solidarity, proposing an assistance for the health in the world… Download powerpoint