SECAM ADVANCES ITS 2025-2050 VISION THROUGH KEY INITIATIVES

SECAM ADVANCES ITS 2025-2050 VISION THROUGH KEY INITIATIVES

Editorial of SECAM NEWS, Year 2026, No 10

By Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) is taking concrete steps to translate its 2025-2050 Vision into action through initiatives aimed at strengthening biblical evangelization, Catholic education and evidence-based pastoral planning across the continent.

Among other developments, three key initiatives emerged from the Symposium’s second Standing Committee session of 2026, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from October 18 to 22, alongside the launch earlier in October of a pilot project to collect data on the Catholic Church in Africa.

Strengthening Evangelization through the Bible

On October 19, SECAM President, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, blessed the foundation stone for the new headquarters of the Catholic Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM/CEBAM).

As SECAM’s official body for the biblical apostolate, BICAM promotes biblical activities and the translation of the Bible into African languages.

Investing in Catholic Education

During the Nairobi session, SECAM established a Commission for Catholic Education, following recommendations from its 20th Plenary Assembly in Kigali in July 2025 and the First Continental Conference on Catholic Education in Africa, held in Addis Ababa in August 2026.

The Commission will strengthen collaboration among Episcopal Conferences, regional bodies, Catholic educational institutions, religious congregations and other ecclesial structures.

Building a Church that plans with reliable data

On October 8, SECAM launched a two-year pilot data collection project in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in collaboration with the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

The project seeks to establish a reliable database covering the Church’s human resources, ecclesial structures, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and social services. Experience gained in these two countries will guide its gradual extension across Africa.

Reliable data will help the Church assess its realities, identify pastoral needs, set priorities and make informed decisions.

Together, these initiatives reflect SECAM’s commitment to a coordinated, informed and mission-oriented Church. By strengthening the biblical apostolate, promoting Catholic education and developing reliable continental data, SECAM is laying practical foundations for its Vision 2025-2050: a Church better equipped to evangelize, form people and contribute to Africa’s transformation

Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior

Secretary General of SECAM

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