|
|
African Catholic Voices
An initiative of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network
|
|
-
Editorial: Walking Together for a Vital Church in Africa and in the World"
-
II Biannual Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral Life, July 18 to 23, 2022
|
|
- Video message of Pope Francis
|
|
|
Walking Together for a Vital Church in Africa and in the World
|
|
 |
The II Biannual Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral Life was a success. Walking Together for a Vital Church in Africa and in the World, was the theme for the Congress.
The Spirit of God was indeed at work.
We walk together for progress, unity, collaboration and mutual understanding.
Pope Francis sent a video message to the congress.
Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops also sent
|
|
|
|
a video message to the participants at the congress.
Many people attended the congress from different parts of the world.
In this edition we share with you the highlights of the congress.
|
Sr. Kinikonda Okemasisi
(Editors)
|
|
|
|
Walking Together for a Vital Church in Africa and in the World |
|
|
II Biannual Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral Life, July 18 to 23, 2022 |
The II Biannual Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral Life, was held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi, Kenya from July 18 to 23 under the theme “Walking Together for a Vital Church in Africa and in the World. It was a success story. The Spirit of God was indeed at work. |
Emilce Cuda speaking during the congress
The five-day congress organized by of Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) brought together about 200 theologians, scholars, pastoral agents and social justice leaders from Africa, Asia, Canada and the United States of America, Europe, and Latin America. The congress participants gathered for a joint dialogue on themes related to synodality, the role of women, the rights of children and the future of the church.
The main participating universities and partners included the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (host); Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, Catholic University of Zambia, Center d’ Etudes des Religious Africaines de L’Unversite Catholique du Congo, DePaul University, Chicago, USA, Durham University, Durham, England, University of Vienna, Austria, Veritas University, Abuja, Nigeria, Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of St Bernardine, Taipei, Taiwan, Adamson University, Manila, Philippine, L’Institut de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus, Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Concilium.
The congress participants arrived at the Rudix Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya at different times but with a lot of enthusiasm and zeal for the congress. From the arrival, one could tell that the participants were up to mission and vision of the congress. The hotel provided a friendly and serene atmosphere with adequate facilities that included internet services. Fr Stan Ilo together with Sr. Mumbi Kigutha took the lead and provided the direction before, during and after the congress. Every participant felt a sense of belonging. Sr Leonida Katunge was on the ground and ensured speedy and effective transportation of the participants from the airport to the accommodation facility.
In his welcome address the Coordinating Servant of PACTPAN, Fr Prof Stan Chu Ilo said, “The presence of a large number of delegates from outside Africa, including the Concilium Board of Editors, representatives from the Holy See, and some of the most important theologians and scholars in the World Church from every continent in the world, is a priceless gift of solidarity to the Church in Africa today. The rich array of influential scholars, practitioners, church leaders and frontline pastoral and social agents from Africa at this Congress, are legible markers of the diversity and impact of Christian prophetic witness in Africa today. Our gathering is truly a model of what Pope Francis has called “a culture of encounter” or what I will rather call, Pope Francis’s African Ubuntu for global fraternity and solidarity.”
In a video message to the congress, Pope Francis urged the participants, “Bring out the best of you in these reflections so that the result will be a surprise, so that that African creation that surprises us all can be born. Because Africa is poetry…. May the Holy Spirit inspire you - may paths emerge from this congress that the Church needs: paths of missionary, ecological conversion, peace, reconciliation, and transformation of the whole world.”
Also, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops in a video message on July 19, 2022 to the participants at the congress said, “You African Theologians, you have an important task and a significant contribution to make for the renewal of a Synodal church. An African Theology of Synodality would be a lasting contribution to the development of a Synodal church in the third millennium. Your African contribution in your continent can bring a solid contribution to the whole church.”
Sr. Mumbi Kigutha, organizing secretary of PACTPAN remarked that it is often said that the future of Catholicism is in Africa, Asia and Latin America. “However, our cries and our joy, our hope, and our lamentations, our wisdom and our intellect are more often than not lacking in many global spaces.” “It is for this reason that we are delighted to have representatives from these sister continents, who share so much in common with us, that together with them and with our allies from the global north, we may demonstrate that the African church and her people have indeed come of age, that the Holy Spirit is alive and active and that we have much to offer to the global church and society.”
|
Some participants at the congress |
Emilce Cuda, an Argentine theologian and co-secretary of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Holy See’s official representative to the congress, said the gathering “is a great moment to listen to theologians from Africa,” alongside other theologians from around the globe. “We are awaiting a new way of theology.” “Not another theology, we must be clear, but a new way to understand a theology that speaks to concrete realities” of people such as war, poverty and climate change.
Most Rev Sithembele Sipuka, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mthatha, South Africa, and member of the board of advisors of PACTPAN underscored the role of the congress as “to help us to effectively evangelize, to make people relate to God according to who they are as persons and as Africans so that they feel at home in being Christian and Catholic, and then together with them in the light of their discovered dignity, they get to address those things as true faith-filled.”
Sister Dr Josée Ngalula said that: “The Congress is very important because in the process we have to listen to what is going on in the church today. Not only in the books. To bring all of us together and from all over Africa, is a great opportunity for our church to hear from the people of God, from their everyday life in our parishes and small Christian communities but also those people who are in the margins of the church,”
Congress Participation
The paper presentations and discussions at the congress were based on the following PACTPAN Research Units: (1) At the foot of Cross, (2) Let the Children come to me, (3) Vital Church, (4) Palaver and Synodal Church, (5) The Church of Now, (6) LGBTQ, (7) Mass Killings and Genocide. The participants were limited to a ten-minute presentation and fifteen minutes for the palaver, during the concurrent sessions and discussions.
Eucharist Celebrations during the Congress
The Inaugural Mass of the Holy Spirit was presided over by the Archbishop of Nairobi Archdiocese, Most Rev Philip Anyolo while the closing mass was presided over by Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha Diocese, South Africa. The students of the hosting university animated the liturgy throughout the congress. The Kiswahili songs during the Mass provided a unique contribution to African music and flavour.
|
Opening Mass of the Congress, July 19, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
The following received awards during the congress for their outstanding contributions in the development of Africa:
- Bishop John Okoye (Nigeria),
- Fr. Clement Majawa (Malawi),
- Fr. Laurenti Magesa (1946-2022) (Tanzania),
- Prof. Paulin Poucouta (Cameroon),
- Fr. Patrick Alumuku (Nigeria),
- Fr. Francis Appiah-Kubi (Ghana) and
- Sr. Florence Adetoun Oso (Nigeria).
Others include,
- Sr. Angelique Namaika and the Pious Association of Blessed Anuarite of Compassion of Dungu-Doruma, (Democratic Republic of Congo),
- Sr. Jane Wakahiu (Kenya),
- Mama Rose Ochieng (Kenya),
- Sr. Rosemary Nyirumbe (Uganda),
- Sr. Anne Béatrice Faye (Senegal)
,
- Sr. Josée Ngalula (Democratic Republic of Congo),
- The Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa, (ACWECA),
|
|
|
|
- Bishop Eduardo Kussala (South Sudan),
- Bishop Sithembele Sipuka (South Africa),
- Rev. Joseph Healey (USA),
- Lutheran Bishop Laurie Carson (USA),
- Prof. Mary Getui (Kenya) and
- Dr. John Yee Chan (Canada).
A Final Statement of the Second Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral life was issued at the end of the Congress.
The Congress was deemed unique as well as being the largest so far in the recent past in Africa. The rich array of the scholars, Church leaders and frontline pastoral and social agents from Africa was a living testimony of what the vision of Pan African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) is all about.
The vision of PACTPAN is to bridge the gap between pastoral practices, scientific, and multi-disciplinary works in the continent. It is about coming together of African Catholic scholars, pastoral agents, and social justice leaders to follow the footprints of God in the African continent by listening to the hopes and cries of our people and paying attention to where God is at work amidst our faith communities and the wide African society.
|
|
|
|
Video Message of His Holiness Pope Francis For the II Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral Life, Nairobi, Kenya 18-23 July, 2022 [July 19, 2022] |
|
Pope Francis during a video message on July 19, 2022
Sisters, Brothers of the Pan-African Catholic Theological and Pastoral Network:
I am delighted to hear about this meeting at the Catholic University of East Africa in Nairobi. I know that you are meeting for the II Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral Life. It is a sign of hope that theologians, laity, priests, men and women religious, bishops have taken the initiative to walk together.
Coming together to discern what God is telling us today, not only to meet challenging needs with certainty, but also to make African dreams come true (social, cultural, ecological and ecclesial dreams) is already a sign of an outgoing African Church. Continue your efforts.
In my visits to Africa, I have always been impressed by the faith and resilience of these peoples. As I commented during my trip to the Central African Republic in 2015, “Africa always surprises us.” Bring out the best of you in these reflections so that the result will be a surprise, so that that African creation that surprises us all can be born. Because Africa is poetry.
The wisdom of the African ancestors reminds us for this important call that "mountains never meet, but people do." Let us continue on. Together. Accompanying one another, helping one another, and growing together.
Coming together to discern what God is telling us today, not only to meet challenging needs with certainty, but also to make African dreams come true (social, cultural, ecological and ecclesial dreams) is already a sign of an outgoing African Church. Continue your efforts.
May a wisdom theology, as you propose, be the good news of mercy for the poor and nourish people and communities in their struggle for life, peace and hope.
May the Holy Spirit inspire you - may paths emerge from this congress that the Church needs: paths of missionary, ecological conversion, peace, reconciliation and transformation of the whole world.
And I bless you all.
God bless us all.
May the Virgin be with us.
And please don't forget to pray for me.
Thank you.
|
|
III Pan-African Catholic Congress
The III Pan-African Catholic Congress shall be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 2024. The members are encouraged to participate actively in the activities of the network to promote the African palaver and the synodal church.
PACTPAN New Projects
The following New Projects will be launched soon.
Pan-African Youth Digital Synod: Building Bridges Across Africa
Watawa wa Taa: Reimagining and Revitalizing African Religious Life for women
Living Ancestors: Compilation of biographies of African Catholic Sisters
|
|
|
|
All the congress participants are heartily appreciated for their rich and inspiring presentations and discussions that led to a very successful congress.
Allow us to mention by name the outstanding efforts made by the coordinating servant of the Network, Fr Stan Chu Ilo, the organizing secretary, Sr. Mumbi Kigutha, coordinating secretary, Sr. Teresa Kiragu, the hosting coordinator, Fr Prof Richard Rwiza and Sr. Leonida Katunge that led to the success of the congress. In the same vein, we appreciate all the leadership of PACTPAN. Glory to God for a fruitful congress.
|
|
|
Some participants at the congress |
|
|
|
Planting of a tree during the congress |
|
|
|
|
Visit to Paulines, Nairobi, Kenya. |
|
|
|
FINAL STATEMENT OF THE SECOND PAN-AFRICAN CATHOLIC CONGRESS ON THEOLOGY, SOCIETY AND PASTORAL LIFE
Preamble
1. Gathered at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya for the Second Pan-African Congress on Theology, Society, and Pastoral Life from July 18 – 23, 2022, members of the People of God from the following African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and people in solidarity from all other continents, we affirm the vitality of the Catholic Church in Africa as a sign of hope for the world.
2. Following the inaugural Pan-African Congress on Theology and Pastoral Life held at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Nigeria from December 5-8, 2019, dedicated to sharing the inspiration to accomplish the works of God (Jn. 6:8), the participants in Nairobi reflected on the theme: “Walking Together for a Vital Church for Africa and the World.” This founding moment established new relationships, some of which have developed into on-going collaborations and common interests. This is the beginning of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN).
3. The vision of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network is to bridge the gap between pastoral practices, scientific, and multi-disciplinary works in the continent. It is about listening to God, the cry of our Mother Earth, and to the concerns of our people, in order to help them live flourishing lives rooted in our Christian faith and our African spiritual and religious traditions. Our active listening explains the choice of the theme of this second Congress “Walking together for a vital church in Africa and in the world” which focused on Synodality; the experiences of African women and children; and the challenges and prospects of building a vital Church in Africa.
4. This Congress was significant because it was preceded by the General Assembly (July 16-18, 2022) of the Editorial Board of the international Catholic theological journal, Concilium. This is the first time that such a meeting has been held in Africa. Concilium was founded in 1965 by Catholic theologians to promote the theology of the Second Vatican Council and to contribute to new ways of doing theology in response to the signs of the times. We are grateful that the board members actively participated in the deliberations of this Congress.
The Harvest of the Pan-African Congress
5. We recognize the resilience of the African family amidst the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. We mourn with many families who lost their loved ones. We continue to support our people with prayers and solidarity in these difficult times, and we call on all our churches, and governments to support families as they struggle to rebuild their lives.
6. We recognize the crucial role of women in society and the Church in Africa, as well as the priority of children who suffer so much abuse and who are at the center of family and community care as a sign of the new humanity for which we all hope.
7. We welcome with gratitude the message addressed to the Congress participants by His Holiness, Pope Francis at the Inaugural Mass for the opening of the Congress. We embrace fully his call for a synodal Church and commit our theological and pastoral reflections to advancing processes and practices for a synodal Church in Africa.
8. We also appreciate the messages of the Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Mario Grech, and the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) in which they underlined the wisdom of African theology for a renewed humanity in its commitment to life, justice, and reconciliation for all.
9. We have reflected on the themes of synodality; concerns, aspirations, hopes, and achievements of African women; our African children and their hopes and aspirations aimed at the flourishing of their lives in society. We have also considered the ways of being a vital church relevant to the context of Africa. As part of African life and thought, we commit ourselves to continue to develop these themes in the coming years.
10. We call on local churches, social movements, universities, artists, and all persons to develop networks for mutual recognition, collaboration, and transformation of global society. This appeal will be actualized through local practices inspired by a culture of encounter, listening, discernment, and pastoral accompaniment in the spirit of the Church as Family of God and Salt and Light (Matthew 5: 13-16).
11. Within this time together, the participants at the Second Pan-African Congress, through embracing the palaver and reverential dialogical process, were able to harvest the following fruits under the thematic focus of the Congress:
Synodality:
12. In view of Pope Francis’s invitation to the whole Church to embrace Synodality, this Congress reflected on various aspects of being a synodal Church in Africa. The collective dialogues among the participants at this Congress have focused on multiple issues, among others; the mutual collaboration of institutes of religious life and Catholic universities in our countries; the developing processes of palaver and reverential dialogue in the local churches; the new models of leadership of communities and institutions that are so necessary for the renewal of the churches; the recognition of the place of the laity, especially the place of women; the social dimension of synodality that includes interaction with the protagonists of civil society; and the experiences of accompaniment with diverse human experiences marked by poverty and marginalization in need of friendship and hospitality.
13. With joy, this Congress has identified many positive initiatives playing out in our ecclesial communities, and social contexts. However, we have also noticed how much road ahead we still have to traverse in order to reach that place of flourishing for all persons who call Africa their home. The “plague of clericalism” for example, in some of our ecclesial communities, is a major obstacle to walking together as a family of God. It works against inclusion of all persons in the mission of the Church. The urgent and complex social problems that afflict us show how important it is that the synodal spirit –“walking together”–becomes a source of inspiration for ethical, ecclesial, and political commitments.
To be continued next edition
|
|
Fr. Prof. Laurenti Magesa
(1946-2022)
|
Fr. Prof. Laurenti Magesa, a Catholic priest of the diocese of Musoma, Tanzania and a renowned theologian went back to God on August 11, 2022, when he had just retired from active teaching at Tangaza University College Centre of Leadership and Management (CLM), Nairobi, Kenya.
Many world theologians, Christians and non-Christians eulogized Prof Laurent Magesa for his great wisdom. He was a great scholar, a father of humility and gratitude, a mentor, and a role model to many.
He was very accommodating, caring and a good listener. He always lifted up the people who sought for his wisdom. Many of his attributes are available in many media platforms for further reading and appreciation.
|
|
Fr Laurenti Magesa (1946-2022)
Fr. Magesa, we appreciate you.
May God reward you.
Rest in peace.
|
|
|
Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) |
PACTPAN provides a forum for conversation and collaboration for African Christian scholars, clergy, religious and pastoral, health, and social justice workers who are interested in working towards a better future for the African continent.
|
|
|
|
Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
