Message of The 18th Plenary Assembly and Golden Jubilee of SECAM

by info recowas August 6, 2019

Message of The 18th Plenary Assembly and Golden Jubilee of SECAM

MESSAGE “That they may know Christ and have life in abundance” (Jn 17:3; 10:10). The celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa …

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MESSAGE

“That they may know Christ and have life in abundance” (Jn 17:3; 10:10).

The celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and its 18th Plenary Assembly took place from 19 to 29 July 2019, in Kampala (Uganda), on the theme “Church Family of God in Africa, celebrate your jubilee, proclaim Jesus Christ your Saviour”. At the end of this Plenary Assembly, which was devoted to pastoral reflections on the theme “That they may know Christ and have life in abundance” (Jn 17:3; 10:10). We, the Pastors address this Message to the Church Family of God in Africa and Madagascar

The Jubilee, a Time of Thanksgiving
We give thanks to God the giver of life for all his goodness bestowed on Africa, “the new homeland of Christ” (Pope Paul VI); strengthened by his word and the sacraments, we surrender ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
We are grateful to God for the pilgrimage of Pope Paul VI to Kampala in memory of the Martyrs of Uganda in 1969, during which he addressed a strong message to Africa: “You Africans are now missionaries to yourselves, the church of Christ is well and truly planted in this blessed soil”. “You may and you must have African Christianity.”
We give thanks to God for the missionaries past and present who have helped Africa to know Christ “the Way the Truth and Life” (Jn. 14:6).
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Holy Father Pope Francis. In his Message he encourages SECAM to continue to be of valuable service to the local churches throughout the entire continent of Africa. We are also thankful to the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples.
We express our sincere thanks to the Catholic Church in Uganda, which through her pastors, men and women religious, the lay faithful, and the youth, has shown us very generous hospitality.
We are sincerely grateful to the people of Uganda, the President of the Republic with his Government and the Parliament for their warm welcome, hospitality and support during our stay here in this beautiful country.
We equally grateful to the media, security agents and all the bodies that have contributed to the success of this Jubilee.

The Jubilee, a time of communion
Since the launch of the Golden Jubilee, we have experienced with joy a true communion of Christian communities, priests and religious congregations of the continent with SECAM.
This communion is rooted in our common faith in Christ our Saviour through the Holy Spirit. The prayer of the Jubilee and the reflections proposed for each month have given rise to a spiritual dynamism, reinforced by the memory of our holy martyrs of Uganda.
The presence in Kampala of Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, men and women religious and lay faithful from various countries in Africa, Madagascar and Islands, Europe, America and Asia, demonstrates the universality of the Church which is rooted in the death and resurrection of Christ.
This Jubilee was also a time of ecumenical communion, as witnessed by the presence among us of the representatives of our sister Churches. In giving up their lives to and for Christ, the martyrs of Uganda of all Christian denominations had already invited us to live according to the will of Christ: “May all be one, so that the world may believe” (Jn 17:21).
The Golden Jubilee of SECAM is a commitment to the service of reconciliation, justice and peace which promotes communion and pastoral solidarity which enables us to stand together against: ideological colonization, land grabbing, political and democratic destabilization, human trafficking, terrorism and arms trafficking, etc.

III. Jubilee, a Time of Hope

Confronted with the anguish of our people, SECAM from its beginning aimed at being a sign of hope, especially for families and our countries.
The family founded on the union of man and woman remains the first place of evangelization; that is why SECAM has kept insisting on its importance, vocation and nature as ordained by God (cf. Gen. 2:24).
Through its socio-pastoral instruments such as Caritas, Justice and Peace Commissions and the various bodies and actors engaged in the promotion of integral human development, SECAM continues to commit itself to the pastoral care of migrants and refugees, and to the protection of integral ecology (cf. Laudato Si). It also highlights the socio-political dimensions of evangelization and calls on politicians and governments to work for the wellbeing of their people.
The martyrs of Uganda remind us of the importance of remaining faithful to our faith in Christ and to our baptismal commitment. They are also models for all the baptized, especially the catechists.
Children and the youth are crucial in the work of evangelization. They need to be given special attention and quality Christian education to make them effective witnesses to Christ.
Women have an irreplaceable role and place in the Church and society. Their participation in education and evangelization is indispensable.
To keep alive the momentum of the Jubilee, SECAM will issue an important document, the “Kampala Document” which will help the people of God to deepen their knowledge of Christ our Savior and make him known as the Way, the Truth and the Life.
We entrust Africa and the mission of the Church to Mary, Queen of Africa; may St. Joseph, the Martyrs of Uganda, and all the Saints of Africa and Madagascar obtain for us a renewed zeal to follow Jesus Christ. May the Jubilee we have just celebrated be for us the springboard for a new life in Jesus Christ, and for service of the gospel in Africa and the world. Amen!

Given in Kampala by SECAM on the 28^th July 2019

Signed by:

His Eminence Philippe Nakellentuba Cardinal Ouédraogo,

Archbishop of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

President

COMMITMENTS AND EXHORTATIONS

Church Family of God in Africa, this Jubilee is a time of grace. It invites us to hold firm to our faith and undergo conversion. To this end we commit ourselves:

To invest more deeply in the biblical, theological, moral and spiritual formation of all the baptized; to nourish them with the word of God and the sacraments, so that they may make the gospel penetrate all aspects of life. Encouraged by the example of the African saints, may they resist the diverse attractions of the new religious movements and ideologies that are contrary to the Catholic faith.
To make the Jubilee a springboard for the new evangelization, through the participation of the Small Christian Communities, pious societies and new forms of religious associations.
To promote further the pastoral care of the family so that it can bear prophetic witness within the society.
To promote the human formation and the professional, moral and spiritual education of children and the youth and to help them to be more deeply rooted in the values of the gospel in order to prevent them from engaging in all forms of fundamentalism and violence.
To take into account in the evangelizing mission of the church the new forms of information technology and the traditional means of communication and to evangelize them.
To strengthen ecumenical communion among the different Christian denominations, and to promote interfaith relationship.
To deepen collaboration with our political leaders and call them to accountability so as to put our human and natural resources at the service of development, reconciliation, justice and peace; to address the problem of migrants, refugees and all who are still victims of slavery and human trafficking.

Furthermore;

We encourage the religious communities, under the umbrella of the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (COMSAM), to live true to their vocation and to bear witness to the Church’s mission of evangelization; we urge missionary exchange among the different dioceses of the continent, particularly with those of North Africa and to maintain contact with the universal Church.
We recommend that the formation of priests should aim at helping them to develop a deeper personal intimate relationship with Christ, human and spiritual maturity, a sense of service and accountability and passion for the mission of the church.
We urge the laity, men and women, to become more deeply involved in the mission of transforming the society, drawing inspiration from the Gospel, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Social Teachings of the Church.
We encourage the particular Churches to engage in the formation, accompaniment and guidance of civil servants and politicians in their respective locations so as to fight against corruption, promote good governance and better management of human and natural resources.
We urge Christian communities to be more attentive to interpersonal relationships, to sharing, to the struggle against misery; to be involved in the pastoral care of health, both spiritual and physical; and to be committed to responding to integral ecological challenges of our time.
We urge researchers to intensify studies of African Traditional Religions, Islam, new religious movements, secret societies and problems posed by the belief in witchcraft.
We urge our institutions of formation to make SECAM better known.
May the expected Kampala Document be widely circulated and become a reference text for our mission.

Given in Kampala by SECAM on the 28^th July 2019

Signed by:

His Eminence Philippe Nakellentuba Cardinal Ouédraogo,

Archbishop of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

President

by info recowas May 24, 2019

Résolutions et Recommendations de la 3ème Assemblée plénière de la RECOWA-CERAO

RESOLUTIONS ET RECOMMANDATIONS Nous, évêques de la RECOWA/CERAO (Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa/Les Conférences Episcopales Réunies de l’Afrique de l’Ouest), sommes heureux de tenir notre troisième Assemblée Plénière à Ouagadougou, …

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RESOLUTIONS ET RECOMMANDATIONS

Nous, évêques de la RECOWA/CERAO (Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa/Les Conférences Episcopales Réunies de l’Afrique de l’Ouest), sommes heureux de tenir notre troisième Assemblée Plénière à Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso, du 13 au 20 mai 2019, sur le thème : La Nouvelle Evangélisation et le Développement Humain Intégral dans l’Eglise Famille de Dieu en Afrique de l’Ouest. Au terme de nos travaux, échanges et prières, nous prenons les résolutions et faisons les recommandations suivantes :

1. Vie de la RECOWA/CERAO

Nous nous réjouissons du processus qui a abouti à la création de la RECOWA/CERAO. Nous nous engageons à capitaliser la riche expérience et les acquis de l’AECAWA (Association of Episcopal Conference of Anglophone West Africa) et de la CERAO (Conférence Épiscopale Régionale de l’Afrique de l’Ouest) au profit de notre nouvelle institution. Nous avons partagé notre enthousiasme pour la bonne marche de celle-ci à travers les débats autour de la révision de ses statuts. Nous nous engageons à soutenir ceux qui ont la charge de conduire notre organisation. De même, nous exprimons notre ferme volonté à contribuer financièrement à sa prise en charge.

2. Collaboration avec la CEDEAO

Nous saisissons la main tendue du Président de la Commission de la CEDEAO, Son Excellence Monsieur Jean Claude Kassi BROU, lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture, pour collaborer avec la RECOWA/CERAO en vue de la promotion d’un développement humain durable dans la région. Nous nous engageons à poursuivre les efforts pour renforcer nos liens avec elle, par la mise en place d’un cadre permanent de concertation.

3. Jeunesse, foi et migration

Nous réaffirmons notre engagement dans la pastorale de la jeunesse qui constitue la plus grande partie de notre Eglise Famille de Dieu. Nous sommes conscients de leur désir de bonheur qui pousse beaucoup d’entre eux à la migration et des drames que ce fléau entraine. Nous engageons notre église, pasteurs et communautés, à être du côté de la jeunesse, en lui prêtant une oreille attentive, en encourageant toutes les initiatives qui fixent les jeunes dans leur terroir et à y trouver leur épanouissement, en promouvant leur formation professionnelle et technique.

Dans le même sens, nous demandons aux gouvernements d’investir réellement dans la jeunesse avec des programmes prioritaires pour les jeunes et de les protéger contre les idéologies qui les attirent dans des réseaux terroristes et criminels.

4. Laïcat

C’est avec joie que nous avons accueilli les laïcs à travers les responsables du Conseil Régional du Laïcat de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CRLAO). Nous les encourageons à investir davantage les milieux de la politique et de l’économie, en s’appuyant sur la Doctrine Sociale de l’Eglise. Nous nous engageons à les accompagner et à les soutenir dans la mise en place de leurs structures dans nos pays respectifs. En outre, nous demandons aux familles chrétiennes d’être des lieux d’évangélisation et d’éducation aux valeurs chrétiennes et africaines.

5. Les Etats

Nous exprimons notre gratitude à nos dirigeants politiques pour les efforts qu’ils font pour conduire nos peuples dans la paix, l’unité et la réconciliation. Face au constat des remous politiques surtout lors des élections, et à la suite des initiatives prises par le bureau sortant de la RECOWA/CERAO, nous les invitons à renforcer la bonne gouvernance, en particulier, à respecter la Constitution et le Bien commun, et à promouvoir le dialogue politique et le développement intégral et équitable des peuples.

6. Vie consacrée

Nous nous félicitons de la vitalité de la Vie consacrée dans notre Eglise Famille de Dieu et nous apprécions sa précieuse contribution à la mission. Nous exprimons notre profonde gratitude à toutes les personnes consacrées de leur témoignage prophétique. Nous les encourageons et nous en appelons à la communion avec l’Eglise Famille de Dieu dans nos diocèses. Nous nous engageons à un meilleur accompagnement de la Vie consacrée et au discernement judicieux des nombreux charismes.

7. Message de la Congrégation pour l’Evangélisation des Peuples

Accueillant le message de Son Excellence Monseigneur Protase RUGAMBWA représentant la Congrégation pour l’Evangélisation des Peuples, nous nous engageons à relever les différents défis de la Nouvelle évangélisation en Afrique qu’il a soulignés, en particulier les défis économiques, religieux et pastoraux.

8. Atelier avec Peter Kodwo Appiah Cardinal TURKSON et ses collaborateurs

C’est avec beaucoup d’intérêt que nous avons recueilli les éclaircissements et les exhortations du Cardinal TURKSON, Préfet du Dicastère pour le service du Développement humain intégral, et de ses collaborateurs. Nous sommes convaincus de la nécessité de travailler à la prise en charge financière et matérielle de nos églises, pour mettre fin à la mentalité de la dépendance. Tous les évêques s’engagent à prendre des initiatives dans ce sens et à créer les conditions favorisant l’emploi des jeunes en particuliers. Nous affirmons notre disponibilité à travailler avec les partenaires mus par le souci de l’entreprenariat social et de l’investissement à impact social. Nous nous engageons également, pour parvenir à un résultat efficient, à investir dans la formation des ressources humaines nécessaires.

Enfin, nous félicitons les entrepreneurs et investisseurs chrétiens et nous les encourageons à continuer leurs efforts en vue de la promotion d’entreprises à impact social en particulier au bénéfice de la jeunesse.

Ouagadougou, le 18 mai 2019

by info recowas May 24, 2019

Resolutions and recommendations of the 3rd Plenary Assembly of RECOWA-CERAO

RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMANDATIONS We, Bishops or the RECOWA-CERAO (Regional Episcopal Conference of West AfricaLes Conférences Episcopales Réunies de l’Afrique de l’Ouest), are happy to hold our third plenary assembly in Ouagadougou, …

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RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMANDATIONS

We, Bishops or the RECOWA-CERAO (Regional Episcopal Conference of West AfricaLes Conférences Episcopales Réunies de l’Afrique de l’Ouest), are happy to hold our third plenary assembly in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from May 13th to May 20th 2019, on the following theme: The new evangelization and the promotion of integral human development in the Church family of God in West Africa. At the end of our works, discussions and prayers, we take resolutions and make recommendations as follows:

1. The life of RECOWA-CERAO

We are delighted in the process that brought about the creation of RECOWA-CERAO. We make the commitment to capitalize the rich experience and gains of AECAWA (Association of Episcopal Conference of Anglophone West Africa) and of CERAO (Conférence Épiscopale Régionale de l’Afrique de l’Ouest) to the profit of our new institution. We have shared our enthusiasm for its smooth running as we debated on the revision of its statutes. We make the commitment to support those who are appointed to conduct our organization. In the same way, we express our firm will to financially contribute to its running.

2. Collaboration with ECOWAS

We take the stretched hand of the president of the ECOWAS commission, his excellency Mr. Jean Claude Kassi Brou, at the opening ceremony, to collaborate with RECOWA-CERAO in view of the event of a durable development in the region. We make the commitment to continue making efforts to reinforce our collaboration with it through the creation of a permanent concertation framework.

3. Youth, faith and migration

We reaffirm our commitment in the pastoral of the youth that constitute the biggest part of our church family of God. We are conscious of their desire of happiness that leads many of them to migration and to the dramatical consequences of that plague. We commit our church, pastors and community, to be on the side of the youth, as we lend them an attentive hearing, as we encourage all the initiatives that keep the youth in their land and contribute to their wellbeing, and as we promote their technical and professional training.

In the same way, we require from the governments to invest really in the youth with programs for the youth in priority and protect them against ideologies that draw them to terrorist and criminal networks.

4. The laity

Itis with a great joy that we received the lay through the leader of the regional laity council of West Africa (CRLAO). We invite them to get more into the world of politics and economy, having as reference the social teaching of the Church. We make the commitment to accompany them and support them in creating their structures in our countries. Furthermore, we require that the Christian families be places of evangelization and of Christian education.

5. The States

In face of notice of the political bustles, especially during elections, and after the initiatives taken by the outgoing bureau of the RECOWA-CERAO, we call on our political leaders to good governance, especially to the respect of the constitution and of the common good, and to provide for political dialogue and integral and fair human development of the peoples.

6. The priests

We express our deep gratitude to the priests for their generosity in discharging their missionary work. We exhort them to always bear witness to a life given to Christ, in the humble service of his people. We also call them to make themselves available for the missionary work for the evangelization of our Region.

7. Consecrated life

We congratulate ourselves of the vitality of consecrated life in our Church family of God and we appreciate its precious contribution to mission. We express our profound gratitude to all the consecrated people for their prophetic witness. We encourage them and we call for communion with the church family of God in our dioceses. We make the commitment of a better accompaniment of consecrated life and the judicious discernment of the many charisms.

8. Message of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the peoples

Welcoming the message of His Excellency Bishop Protase Rugambwa, representing the Congregation for the Evangelization of the peoples, we make the commitment to take up the various challenges of the New Evangelization in Africa that he has mentioned, especially the economic, religious and pastoral challenges.

9. Workshop with Peter Cardinal TURKSON and his collaborators

Itis with great interest that we gathered clarifications and exhortations of Peter Cardinal TURKSON, prefect of the dicastery for integral human development, and his collaborators. We are convinced of the necessity to work to the financial and material handling of our churches, to put an end to the mentality of dependence. All the bishops make the commitment to take initiatives in that sense and to create conditions favoring youth employment in particular. We affirm our availability to work with partners concerned with social entrepreneurship and of social impact investment. We also make the commitment to invest in the formation of necessary human resources in order to attain efficient results.

At last, we congratulate the Christian entrepreneurs and investors and we encourage them to continue their efforts in view of the promotion of enterprises with social impact and to the benefit of the youth in particular.

Ouagadougou, May 18h, 2019.