AMECEA NEWS

Mr. Martin Chiphwanya,
CCJP National Secretary

Civil Society Organisations from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region have been challenged to address stateless and at the same time protect statelessness persons.

The call has been made at a two day workshop for civil society organizations organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Lawyers for Human Rights in Pretoria, South Africa. Malawi is being represented at the workshop by Episcopal Conference of Malawi’s Justice and Peace arm, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and Centre for Hunan Rights Rehabilitation (CHRR).

According to Article 1 (1) of the 1954 convention on the status of stateless persons, a stateless person is the one who is not considered as a citizen by any state under the operation of the law.”

CCJP National Secretary, Martin Chiphwanya said that the workshop will enable his organisation engage policy makers on what needs to be done in ensuring that the laws do not perpetuate stateless and discrimination.

“There is need to review our laws on citizenship to ensure that they do not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, marriage or religion. Experts have to be engaged and take a comprehensive look at our laws,” said Chiphwanya in an email communiqué from South Africa.

Chiphwanya observed that birth registration has to be comprehensive to ensure that all newly born children are properly protected so that they do not fall victim to statelessness at any point.

Delivering his key note presentation, Dr. Matthias Reus, a Senior Regional Protection Officer for UNHCR, emphasized on the need to enlist support for the protection of statelessness people.

The workshop which according to Chiphwanya has created a common understanding of state and the right to nationality attracted other civil society organizations like Save the Children, University of South Africa and Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council.

CCJP which participated to the workshop is mandated to promote awareness of human rights, justice and peace in the communities the church serves hence ensure that there is a

Creation of a God–fearing, just and peaceful Malawian society that promotes integral development and lasting peace that will contribute to the common effort of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and the whole church.

By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer

The National Health Coordinator of Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Sr. Matildah Mubanga, DoR has appealed for more support in the construction of a nursing school at Lumezi in the diocese of Chipata.

Sr. Mubanga, DoR said that the nursing school will initially take 40 students out of which priority will be given to the local people from the diocese of Chipata.

“The project is big one for the diocese of Chipata, it needs help from cooperating partners to see it to its completion,” She said adding that Manos-Unidas of Australia has pledged to support the building of a classroom and a dormitory.

She further explained that the shortage of nurses in Mission Hospitals that are run by the Catholic Church has compelled them to look for a lasting solution, which is to build a training institution for nurses who would eventually serve in the Catholic Mission hospitals upon completion of their training.

“When government trains nurses, priority is given to staffing government institutions leaving our missions hospitals under-staffed,” she said.

The Diocese of Chipata is expected to start the construction of a Nursing School at Lumezi Mission Hospital in Lundazi District and the project is expected to be completed in 2018. It will be offering a 3-year diploma course in Registered Nursing.

Chipata Diocese hence will be the 5th diocese in the country to own a nursing school. Other diocese include Mpika, Mansa, Lusaka and Monze.

By Mwenya Mukuka, ZCCB, Communications Officer

Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo, Chairman of KCCB

Due to societal ills, political animosities and school unrests in Kenya, priests have been challenged to emphasize and instill virtues among Kenyans.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the rectors, formators and bursars workshop at Resurrection Garden in Nairobi on July 26, Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Bishop of Homabay Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo said injustices, corruption, violence, acts of terror and destruction of properties experienced in the society and the current school unrest is fuelled by lack of moral values.

Bishop Anyolo called on the formators to teach the upcoming priests chastity, self-restraint, charity, diligence, forgiveness, kindness and humility so as to radiate the same in other people’s lives.

During this Year of Mercy, Bishop Anyolo called for more collaboration among seminaries, rectors and priests at large for a more enhanced spiritual growth.

Rev. Fr. Fernando Domingues,
Secretary General of Pontifical
Societies of St. Peter Apostle

In his speech, Rome based Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter Apostle Fr. Fernando Domingues called on the formators to always give their best to the seminarians and to accept their call with humility and generosity without retreating from their responsibilities.

The meeting brought together about 70 participants among them formators of the semiaries, rectors from the minor seminaries and from the seven major seminaries across the country. The Major seminaries are; St. Thomas Aquinas Nairobi, St. Augustine’s Seminary Mabanga, St. Mathias Mulumba Tidinyo, St Mary’s Seminary Molo, Christ the King Seminary Nyeri, St Joseph and Blessed Bakanja Seminary.

By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications, KCCB

Very Rev. Fr. Seyoum Fransua,
New Pastoral Commission
Director of Ethiopian
Catholic Secretariat (ECS)

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia has appointed Very Rev. Fr. Seyoum Fransua as the new Pastoral Commission Director of Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat (ECS) as of September 1, 2016.

According to an introduction letter sent to AMECEA Secretariat by ECS Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Hagos Hayish, the Pastoral Director is also the Deputy Secretary Generalas per the ECS revised Constitution.

“Fr. Seyoum, in addition to his new responsibility, will continue to serve on his capacity of deputy secretary general and national director of pontifical mission society of Ethiopia,” the letter said.

The letter further states that, Fr. Seyoum has qualitative educational background and solid experiences of leadership and it is because of this educational and experience maturity, that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference is entrusting him with the responsibility of leadership of coordinating, facilitating, representing, capacity building and monitoring and evaluating the pastoral ministry of the Ethiopian Catholic Church.

By Sr. Immaculate Tusingwire, AMECEA Online News

Rev. Fr. Steven Payne, OCD, PhD
Principal Tangaza College

Tangaza University College which is owned by a number of religious congregations in Kenya and has been a constituent college of the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) for nearly 20 years is hoping to become an independent university by the end of the year 2016.

The current Principal, Rev. Fr. Steven Payne, OCD, PhD, said that the institution which was inaugurated in August 1986 has submitted all the documents required by the Commission for University Education in Kenya.

CUEA is the only private university in Kenya with constituent colleges. Fr. Payne told AMECEA Online News that in late October 2013, the Commission for University Education in Kenya met with CUEA and all its constituent colleges. “They informed us that ‘constituent college’ status is meant to be temporary, and that therefore, if we wished to continue operating, we would need to choose whether to become simply a campus of the mother university or to apply for a charter”.

Tangaza University College

Upon deliberations, the owner congregations decided to apply for the university charter and the institution has been working towards that since late 2013. “We are far along in the process now, we have given the commission a draft charter, draft statutes, they have come for the initial inspection, we have responded to all of their suggestions and there will be another inspection to make sure that we did what they said; and so our hope based on what they said to us is that we could be getting the University Charter before Christmas, sometime during the next semester,” Fr. Payne said.

Tangaza College is planning to merge with another constituent college of CUEA, Marist International University College (MIUC), which is run by the Marist Brothers in Africa and Madagascar. “Sometime last year Marist International University College approached us and said they wanted to join with us as we become a university. So we are having a merger between the two institutions,” Fr. Payne explained describing the merger as a good fit because both Tangaza and MIUC were founded by religious congregations and influenced by their charisms.

“Our focus is not to try and compete with CUEA but to complement one another and build a nice synergy,” he explained, adding that one significant difference between CUEA and Tangaza is that CUEA belongs to the AMECEA Bishops while Tangaza belongs to Religious Congregations in Kenya. And just as in most dioceses where diocesan institutions and the institutions run by Religious Congregations complement each other, Tangaza hopes to complement CUEA.

He further emphasized that Tangaza has its own special mission, vision, and values, rooted in the charisms of the founding and participating congregations, though open to all people of good will. This is what defines its identity which it wishes to safeguard. Its motto is: “Teaching Minds, Touching Hearts, and Transforming Lives”.

Tangaza University College, initially known as Theological Center of Religious, was started to offer theological formation to students from the religious congregations, due to lack of space in the diocesan seminaries to accommodate the growing numbers. But from the beginning it also embraced the broader goal of training men and women, religious and lay, for many forms of servant leadership in the contemporary church and world.

Currently the institution offers a doctoral degree, master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, diploma programs and a number of certificate programs in School of Theology and its various institutes, which include the Institute of Social Communications, the Institute of Social Ministry in Mission, Christ the Teacher Institute of Education, Institute of Youth Studies, Institute of Spirituality and Religious Formation, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies, and the Centre for Leadership and Management.

By Pamela Adinda and Sr. Immaculate Tusingwire AMECEA Online News

Group photo of the Participants of training on NFP

The Natural Family Planning (NFP) training has been hailed as ideal in teaching couples and families to be faithful and also lowers the spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony in Lodwar where early marriage and polygamy is rampant, the Bishop of Lodwar Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich said that the training enhances communication of joy, cheap compared to artificial methods, scientific and easily reversible. “When couples learn natural family planning methods, they become more connected to one another and also faithful, it also reduces chances of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases.” He said.

Meanwhile, addressing the graduates at JJ Mc Carthy Centre in Nairobi, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) - National Family Life Coordinator Mrs. Theresa Abuya urged those commissioned to impart the correct natural family planning knowledge to couples to enable them space the births of children and to encourage couples to accept each pregnancy and every child as a gift from God, by promoting pro-life values.

At the same time, KCCB General Secretary Very. Rev. Fr. Daniel Rono called on the teachers not to depart from the doctrine of the Catholic Church as well as authentic principles and guidelines as set out in approved literature by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The training of Natural Family Planning (NFP) began more than five years ago and has so far seen more than 200 candidates being priests, sisters, couples and family life coordinators from 23 dioceses graduate in training couples in NFP and other family life education that promote moral values, love and principles in families.

The teachers who graduate commit themselves to encourage married couples to meet their mutual responsibilities to each other and to their children through education and counselling.

They are also trained to be role models by foremost being users themselves and by living and promoting the moral values, principles and to promote Natural family planning in marriage for the enrichment of the couples and the benefit of every child, thus promoting an atmosphere of love and security for the family.

Some of the trained couples who are now teachers of NFP attended the workshop with their children who are evidence of how the program works and gave testimonies that they were even able to get children of the preferred gender using the method.

By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications KCCB

Group Photo of Malawian Youth with Bishop Musikuwa

Fifteen Malawian Catholic youths who travelled for the World Youth Day (WYD) accompanied by Rt. Rev. Peter Musikuwa Bishop of Chikwawa Diocese and two other Priests have returned home from Krakow in Poland on Wednesday this week.

Upon their arrival back in the country they had a thanks giving mass at Catholic Secretariat presided over by Bishop Musikuwa.

The national youth chaplain who accompanied the youth to Poland Rev. Fr. Frank Mwinganyama said the trip was wonderful and a success because the Malawi delegation raised the country’s flag and deepen their faith.

Malawi Youth with Polish Families

“We were warmly welcomed in the Diocese of Opole where we participated in a number of festivals and did some charitable works. Many families received us in their homes where we were happily accommodated,” said Fr. Mwinganyama.

He said while in Poland, they had an opportunity to visit some shrines and celebrated mass.

Fr. Mwinganyama also said they had an opportunity for cultural interaction with fellow youths from other countries like Brazil, Colombia and France where they had food eaten together and displayed some traditional dances.

Group photo of Malawian Youth with Polish youth during WYD

According to Fr. Mwinganyama who is also the youth chaplain for the Archdiocese of Blantyre, the Eucharistic celebration that was presided over by the Holy Father Pope Francis was centred on the theme “Mercy” hence challenged youths all over the world to be ambassadors of Mercy by serving others.

“Go out of your comfort, your computers, expensive gargets and comfort of your homes to serve others,” Pope Francis said.

The Pope said youths should make use of the opportunities they have by developing personal relationship with Jesus.

Also during the mass, Pope Francis commended Saint John Paul II for introducing the World Youth Day.

Pope Francis has since announced that Panama in South Asia will host the next World Youth Day which comes in 2019.

Prince Henderson-ECM Communications Officer

The AMECEA Department of Justice Peace and Caritas has embarked on a program to build the capacities of Church agents on rapid response to emergency especially in conflict scenarios.

Ethiopian Catholic Bishops Conference is the first beneficiary of the program under which 22 agents of evangelization from various dioceses in the country were given a four-days training under thetheme “Rapid Emergency Response in Conflict Situations.”

According to Mr. Antony Mbandi, the Coordinator of AMECEA Justice Peace and Caritas Department, the objective of the training is basically to equip the participants with capacities for rapid response in the times of emergency especially in conflict scenarios

The training which took place in Ethiopia entailed covered about Causes of Conflict, Conflict analysis framework, Conflict mapping, Conflict dynamics, historical assessment of Conflict as well as stakeholder analysis vs conflict. They also studied about Advocacy for peace, Peacebuilding and reconciliation Social cohesion and Governance

The training program is based on the recognition of AMECEA Justice Peace and Caritas department on the need to build capacities of the church agents in the region specifically in responding to the social-economic issues with a focus to the Catholic Social Teachings.

The training in Ethiopia was facilitated by the SECAM Liaison Office in Addis Ababa in conjunction with the Ethiopian Bishops’ Conference.

Mr. Mbandi explained that the training which is supported by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will take place across the AMECEA conferences and it is hoped that AMECEA Justice Peace and Caritas Department will continuously build the capacity of AMECEA conferences to deal with issues on Justice Peace and Caritas work.

By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News

The Communications Department of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) is planning to celebrate 50^th World Communications Day in a special event that will be held on August 6 at the Catholic Secretariat in Kurasini, Dar-es-Salaam.

According to the Nation Communications Coordinator of TEC Mr. Mr. Bernard James the celebrations are meant to recognize the importance of communication within and outside the Church as it is necessary to make such celebrations to bring the various stakeholders of the information with the entire community to share the opportunities and challenges of new media in this age of globalization and the new evangelization.

The celebrations will be held under the theme, which is inspired by the message of the Holy Father Pope Francis for World Communications Day 2016 “Communication and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter.” The guest of honour at the celebrations will be the Permanent Secretary at the Tanzanian Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports.

In addition, Mr. Bernard explained that event will begin with Eucharistic celebrations followed by discussions about the challenges and opportunities of the media in the new evangelization and globalization. They will also meditate and deliberate on the message of the Holy Father for 50^th Communications world Day. This will be followed by a small fundraising to support KiongoziNewspaper, the weekly publication of the Bishops’ Conference.

The Catholic Church in Tanzania has recognized the importance of the new media. And this led to the establishment of the Communication Department under which TEC works to transmit information to the faithful through various media entities, including Kiongozi newspaper.

Also Communications Department coordinates and integrate instruments in all media that are owned by the Catholic Church through the Dioceses and organizations within the Church.

Some of these media organizations include Tumaini Letu Newspaper, Radio Tumaini and TV Tumaini, owned by the Archdiocese Dar es Salaam, Radio Maria Tanzania, Kwizera (Diocese of Rulenge-ngara), Chemichemi (Diocese Sumbawanga), Faraja (Diocese of Shinyanga ), Ukweli (Morogoro Diocese), Habari Njema (Mbulu Diocese), Fadhila(Tunduru-Masasi Diocese), St. Augustine University of Tanzania (Mwanza), Huruma (Tanga) and Mwangaza (Archdiocese of Dodoma) and Lipo newspaper Rumuli (Catholic Diocese of Bukoba).

By Sarah Pelaji, TEC

AMECEA Justice Peace and Caritas
Booklet for Election Monitoring

As Zambia goes into polls to elect the President and members of the National Assembly on 11^th August, 2016, AMECEA Justice Peace and Caritas Department is set to join Zambian Conference of Catholic Bishops ZCCB to undertake election monitoring exercise.

According to Mr. Antony Mbandi, Coordinator of AMECEA Justice Peace and Caritas Department, the exercise is an initiative of the department in collaboration with Zambian Catholic Justice and Peace Commission. He says that the objective of the exercise is knowledge exchange, capacity building and feedback to the Bishops Conference in Governance especially on the electioneering process in the region.

“So far we have confirmed representatives from Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya conferences whereby National Coordinator of Justice and Peace Commissions will travel to Zambia to partake in the exercise,” Mr. Mbandi said. From AMECEA, Secretariat, Mr. Mbandi together with Sr. Tabitha Wambui, ASN, who is the Programs Officer for Caritas will be leading the delegation from AMECEA Conferences.

He further explained that the development is an initiative of the AMECEA Justice Peace and Caritas department with approval of AMECEA Executive Board and the exercise will basically involve election monitoring and report submission to the conference.

President Edga Lungu of Zambia and his Running mate

In addition, he said that AMECEA Justice and Peace Department hopes to consistently build this process into the work of the department.

“The department would wish to achieve more into the future especially on building of democracy and good governance in the region but we are curtailed by resources and we hope we can in the near future find partners who are willing to work with the church regionally to improve the justice, peace and social economic development of our communities,” he said.

Meanwhile the department has published a booklet for guidelines for observers in election monitoring. The purpose of the booklet for standardization of the election monitoring exercise throughout the AMECEA Region.

Among the issues highlighted in the booklet includes terms and references for the observers which among other things explains the mandate and structure of the observers and the Code of conduct; the main duties of observers as well as the criteria for briefing which has been adopted from EU Election Monitoring Policy.

The Booklet is currently being distributed to all AMECEA Conferences and will be used for the first time in Zambia.

By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News

Group Photo Participants of AMECEA Capacity Building
Workshop for Bishops

AMECEA Secretariat in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has conducted another Capacity Building workshop for AMECEA Bishops. The training was attended by bishops from Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, South Sudan and Zambia took place in Nairobi beginning Tuesday 2^nd to Friday 5^th 2016.08.05

Among the topics covered during the workshop which was facilitated by the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) included:

• Meaning and Importance of Strategic Pastoral Planning in the Church

• Investments

• Strategic Pastoral Planning Process, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Integral Human Development

• Leadership in the Church Institutions

• Social Pastoral Communications

According to Ms. Christine Mbugi Coordinator of AMECEA Capacity building, the attendance was quite low compared to what they had anticipated. She attributed this to the fact that the training was initially scheduled for June but was postponed due to unavoidable circumstance. As a result, some of the Bishops who were supposed to attend could not make it for the second schedule due to one reason or the other.

Despite the low attendance, the training was quite a success and resourceful according to the participants who spoke to AMECEA Online News. Rt. Rev. Moses Hamungole Bishop of Monze- Zambia, said that the training was a good opportunity to share, learn and discuss a number of issues pertaining to management of which they as steward of their various dioceses are confronted with.

He emphasized that it came at an opportune time for some of them who are just coming in as Bishops, while a good number of them have had to learn the hardest way from experience. Nonetheless he said that the inputs were quite resourceful.

Group Photo of some of the Bishops who had attended
the Capacity Building Workshop in Nairobi and paid a
visit to AMECEA Secretariat in Nairobi

Bishop Hamungole’s sentiments were echoed by the new Bishop of Zomba, Malawi Rt. Rev. George Tambala who said that the topics were very rich in terms of resourceful information. He also appreciated the diversity of the topics as well as the facilitators who consisted of the clergy, religious and the lay people.

Bishop Tambala highly recommended the incorporation of the seminarians into the program so that the same knowledge is imparted on them who are prospective priests and stewards of the Church.

“It’s high time we brought in the issue of formation of seminarians. If we could find a way in which this program can embrace our seminarians then it would be very efficient,” he said.

By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News

Mr. Martin Chiphwanya,
ECM National Secretary, CCJP

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has announced the appointment of Martin Chiphwanya and Martin Mazinga as new national secretaries for Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) respectively.

The two have until their official appointments, been working at the respective commissions in acting capacity since July 1 2016.

According to statements from the office of ECM Secretary General, Fr. Henry Saindi, (PhD), the appointments follow a plenary which took place in June this year in which Bishops decided to confirm the two.

“I call upon all the diocesan, local and international partners to give the two all the support they need to succeed in their new positions,” reads the statement in part.

Both Chiphwanya and Mazinga joined ECM’s CCJP and CADECOM as national programmes coordinators.

Mr. Marin Mazinga, ECM
National Secretary CADECOM

Chiphwanya replaces Mr. Chris Chisoni who resigned from his post while Mazinga replaces Carsterns Mulume who is now the Director of Social Development, a position introduced under the new strategic plan for ECM.

As national secretaries, the two will be responsible in coordinating projects under their commissions at national level and in all the eight dioceses in Malawi.

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) was founded in 1992 to promote awareness of human rights, justice and peace in the communities that the church serves. Its mission to create a God–fearing, just and peaceful Malawian society that promotes integral development and lasting peace that will contribute to the common effort of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and the whole church.

On the other hand, the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) was established in 1984 as Caritas Malawi. In 1999, Caritas Malawi was renamed CADECOM but remains a member of Caritas Internationalist.

Its mission is to create awareness and empower disadvantaged men, women as well as the youth at all levels to undertake development which is integral, gender and environmentally sensitive, sustainable and which promotes justice, human dignity and self-reliance with the active participation of the people themselves so that they take up the responsibility of their own destiny.

By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer

The African Regional Conference on Families is expected to take place in Nairobi, Kenya between 22nd and 24th of September 2016. The congress will be a platform to celebrate the African Family, deliberate on what is currently ailing the African Families and look for a way forward.

In an Interview with Waumini News Today, the President for African Organization for Families Anne Kioko said her organization is concerned by the recent concerted push for legalization of abortion and implementation of controversial Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as per the UNESCO agreement.

Kioko expressed fear that the children’s innocence is taken away by multiple UN agencies, federal and local governments and school administrations that are implementing, promoting and funding CSE programs that sexualize children in many African Countries.

“These programs go way beyond regular sex education and are designed to change all the sexual and gender norms of society. They openly promote promiscuity, high-risk sexual behaviour and sexual pleasure even to very young children.” She said

She revealed that pro-family organizations have also started online petition to urge respective presidents to pull out from the agreements.

The congress is being organized by Africa Organization and World Congress of Families in partnership with The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, Global Institute for Family Integrity (Cameroon) and Foundation for African Culture Heritage (Nigeria).

By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications, KCCB

Rt. Rev. George Tambala, Bishop of Zomba

Rt. Rev. George Tambala, the Catholic Bishop of Zomba, has challenged the Church to focus more on holistic evangelization that would ensure rounded service to the people of God rather than playing complementary role to the government when it comes to social services.

“We have always talked about complementing government efforts, personally I think that we as the Church are not only there to complement what others are doing, we have a mission and we should look at the whole thing from the mission of the Church,” said Bishop Tambala in an interview with AMECEA Online News in Nairobi Kenya, where he had attended a Capacity Building Workshop for AMECEA Bishops on Management skills.

Bishop Tambala further clarified that he has no problem with the church complementing the government on development initiatives, however while doing so the mission of the Church should be in the forefront.

“It’s fine to complement, but it shouldn’t mean that we only remain at the level of complementing the government effort, by waiting and see what kind of space they can give us; this is not right, we have to be guided by the mission of the church which requires that we go flat out with the Gospel of Christ to evangelize through word and service and whatever comes in become part of the evangelization, whether we complement or not.”

Bishop Tambala who described his diocese as a potential bread basket of the country said that there is a lot of potential in the region that if well exploited could bring a lot of economic development not only to Zomba people but the whole country.

Tambala explained that Zomba has three areas of potentials, first is the highlands where there is potential for tourism at Zomba plateaus, a very unique and beautiful scenery. The second is Lake Chilwa, an inland land which has proved to be very good for a lot of things including rice farming. Already

“There are rice growing schemes which were introduced by the Taiwanese and the Chinese who came some years ago. The rice growing in Zomba can be a huge source of income if fully exploited,” he said adding that the third potential is the fertile lands along the banks of River Shire which needs to utilized.

So why is the economy not picking?

“The issue is very simple; the paralysis has to be set by our government but also at the same time there is need to increase education and make awareness of the available resources. If all the potentials are fully utilized, Zomba can be the bread basket of the country,” the Bishop said.

Zomba the former capital city of Malawi is situated in the Southern part of Malawi. According to Bishop Tambala, the diocese which has 15 parishes has a Catholic Population of 300,000 according to the latest statistics. The diocese like the majority of other areas in the country has numerous challenges which include poverty, discrimination against women, early marriages and cultural superstitions among others.

“We have an urgent need for new catechesis and new ways of catechising people because time have change and the scenario that was there forty years ago is not the same. We have young who because of the new technology need new approach to the pastoral care,” he explained.

The diocese is in the process of drafting a Strategic Pastoral Plan, which will be a pointer to the main priorities. It is expected to be launched in January 2017.

By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News

Photo of the participants during the sessions

Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission (ECC SDCO) organized an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capacity building workshop, for government and project experts in ECC SDCO Coordinating Office of Soddo. The training was organized by SAFE project with support from EU and Caritas Belgium.

According to Ato Kinfu Guta, project coordinator, the training aimed at supporting the district implementing partners with developing resource centers using IT technology.

“Such short trainings allows partners to refresh their minds with updated ICT knowledge which allow them to keep up with the latest technology in maintaining data and using digital means to collect and analyse agricultural information that will be used as a baseline information for project implementation and plan,” he said

The participants came from the agricultural office and planning sector of 3 districts namely Damot Pulasa, Dugna Fango and Boloso Sore districts of Wolyta Zone of South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State where “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement through Integrated Recovery Support Mechanisms (SAFE) project is being implemented.

The 4 days training was followed by a 1-day discussion session with Zonal and District representatives, unemployed rural youths who get off farm job by the project and project development workers. The discussion allowed beneficiaries to raise some of their challenges to concerned bodies for further success and it also created an open space for experience sharing among beneficiaries and development workers from different districts.

During the occasion, the zonal and district representatives commended ECC SDCO for the successful implementation of SAFE stating that it has brought about visible changes in the lives of household headed families and unemployed youth by providing them alternative means of income. It was also stated that one of the beneficiary youth groups is selected based on its success to be presented as a model group at a regional level.

The project includes increased livestock productivity, increased assets and income from livestock for women, better market opportunities for cooperatives for livestock and livestock products, off-farm job creation for unemployed rural youths, build the capacity of the Woreda government offices and community institution.

By Makeda Yohannes, CBCE Communications and Public Relation Office, Ethiopia

The government asked the media professionals to give factual information in news and be more compassionate and humane when it comes to news delivery as this helps in healing.

These sentiments were expressed by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Professor Ole Gabriel Elisante during the celebrations of the 59^th world Communication Day organized by the Social Communications Department of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC).

"when news comes with compassion and humane, it heals but when it is brutal and ruthless, it wounds more. Therefore, rather than just writing because one has the power of the pen, it is very important to consider the effects of information to all who are concerned,” said Professor Elisante.

The permanent secretary who was the chief guest at the function requested the Church and all stakeholders who have invested in information to accompany their staff as they strive to cope with the pace of technology growth while putting emphasis on the need to set a framework to help protect cultures against the misuse of communication technologies.

He added that the pace at which technological change is happening is very rapid and this threatens the culture and heritage of many people especially the younger generations.

"Control of the misuse of technology is vital in protecting our culture and generation. We are heading to a time when our children will even fail in their exams not because the parent is unable to provide quality education, but because the child has spent all their time on the internet thereby neglecting their studies which should be a priority," he cautioned.

Meanwhile the Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, Rev. Father Raymond Saba noted that communication, and especially the media, has power which if utilized properly, can promote unity and development among the people in a community.

Initially, while delivering the homily, during the Eucharistic celebrations on the same day Fr. Joseph Matumaini explained that the celebration of the 50th world Communications Day provides an opportunity to Catholic Media Practitioners to examine whether they have carried out their mandates in a way that would bring people closer to God.

"The Catholic Media has a responsibility to must bring people closer to God. They must vessels of evangelization through which the goodness of God radiates thereby bringing people closer to him. It is obvious that we will meet various challenges, therefore as Catholic Media Practitioners we must have a vision, mission and strategic plan which will guide us towards that which we want to achieve and also on how to deal with the realities," he explained.

Tanzania Episcopal Conference marked the 50^th World Communications Day on August 6, in a colourful event which was attended by various Catholic Media houses in Tanzania and which provided an opportunity to reflect upon the message of Pope Francis on World Communications 2016. The celebrations were held under the theme “Communication and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter.'

By Pascal Mwanache, TEC

Rt. Rev. John Alphonsus Ryan,
Bishop-Elect of Mzuzu

Rt. Rev John Alphonsus Ryan, Bishop-elect of Mzuzu diocese, has said that he is open to different communities and ideas in regards to priorities that would see the diocese move to the next level in terms of development. Speaking to AMECEA Online news in Nairobi where he had attended a Capacity Building Workshop for Bishops on Management, Bishop Ryan who is a member of the Kiltegan order said that he expects priorities for the diocese to emerge after a lot of consultation.

“I cannot say that I am going in with a fixed idea but I am open to listen to different communities and different ideas and I hope that we will do a lot of wide consultation and part of that will emerge our vision and plan of action,” he said.

Coming from academic background to a pastoral Bishop Ryan said even though he was teaching at Mzuzu University, he was very much engaged with the pastoral work within the diocese of Mzuzu where he has served for close to 40 years.

“I was in the Parishes during the weekends doing the ministry and was also running a community centre in Mzuzu beside the University. The community centre has since been turned to a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO),” he said adding that he was also in the diocese commission for education.

According to the soft spoken Bishop Ryan who before his appointment was head of the Mathematics Department, in the University of Mzuzu, where he specialises in coding theory, the biggest challenge of Mzuzu diocese is its vastness, the diocese is very big geographically hence it is difficult to reach all the different corners. He however observed that one of the major strength is the vibrancy of the lay community in Mzuzu.

“I believe that we have something special in our liturgies, which is very much alive with song and dance and the laity are fully involved and that is a huge strength because the laity run the Church and so in one way it is very comforting for me to know that the laity are so vibrant and so involved in the whole diocese.”

As he steps into the big shoe left behind by his predecessor, the Late Bishop Joseph Zuza, who died in a road accident, Bishop Ryan says that he will strive to match up to the task armed with the spirit of the Holy Father Pope Francis and the example of his predecessor.

“Bishop Zuza was a man of the people as he was able to interact with everyone from the lowest to the highest. It is a challenge that I would hope to somehow follow and I am very much encouraged by the Holy Father Pope Francis who has the same philosophy of simple living and he talks about having the smell of the sheep. So I hope to follow the same footprints.”

The diocese, which has 11 parishes and is situated in the northern part of Malawi comprises of the northern districts of Rumphi, Mzimba, Nkhata Bay and part of the central district region of Kazungu.

By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News

Following the previous workshop and community issues identification survey conducted in 2014 on HIV and AIDS awareness creation, the Caritas department of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) will once again conduct a thematic seminar for HIV/AIDS Focal Persons and Program Managers at diocesan level, to deepen their understanding of the latest trends in HIV/AIDS infections and interventions among youth.

The two-day workshop, which will be held in Kisugu a suburb located in Entebbe town, will be conducted from August 17-19, 2016. Over 30 participants from nine dioceses across the country have so far confirmed participation in the workshop.

Mrs. Helen Chanikare, the Program Manager of the UEC Caritas department said that the aim of the workshop is to empower diocesan stakeholders to sharpen current efforts by Caritas in addressing the HIV/AIDS challenge in the communities where they work and share best practices on change in behavior among youth.

“The seminar will provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to share experiences and enhance their understanding of emerging issues in HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation as well as those targeting the youth in particular,” she said.

The workshop will also assess the extent to which the invited dioceses, which includes Gulu, Nebbi, Arua, Hoima, Kiyinda-Mityana, Lira, Kampala, Lugazi and Kasese have implemented their work plan.

Cognizant of the fact that behavior change is crucial to influencing HIV/AIDS trends in Uganda, the seminar will enable Caritas staff to develop a road map to guide all actors at national, diocesan and community level to work together towards influencing a change in behavior among the youth in their communities. The focus on youth is based on the fact that currently they are the most-at-risk segment of the population, with infection rate among them standing at about 38.9 percent.

Meanwhile, two resource persons from the Uganda Virus Research Institute of AIDS and Mildmay Uganda will give a talk on two different topics which includes Current Trends in Infection and Mitigation of HIV/AIDS and Communications and Community Response on HIV/AIDS respectively.

By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference

Group photo of the workshop participants

Catholic Media Managers in Malawi are currently meeting at Bishop Chitsulo’s Conference Centre in Chipoka, Salima for a ten-day audience research workshop organized by the Research and Social Communications Commission which is under the Social Development Directorate of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).

Opening the workshop on Monday, Rt. Rev. George Tambala ECM Bishop Chairman for the Research and Social Communications Commissions challenged Catholic media houses to ensure that they keep the identity of the Church.

“This audience research workshop has been organized for us to build our capacity as managers of the Catholic Media Houses. It aims at enhancing an understanding among us the station managers that audience research is very important for enabling the station to flourish by satisfying our audiences and stakeholders,” said Bishop Tambala, who is the Bishop for Zomba Diocese.

He said the workshop which will end Friday (19th August) will help Catholic Media Houses to see linkages between satisfying audience and stakeholders and attaining financial sustainability.

According to Bishop Tambala, the workshop will also give a practical experience of how to plan and do audience research in areas of reach for each Catholic media house.

“Let it build our capacity that we can measure, understand and develop our audiences. The aspect of feedback is very important in communication. It is by knowing one’s readers’, listeners’, viewers’ feedback that we as Catholic Media Houses can fine tune our programming to suit the needs of our audience while at the same time suit the magisterium of the Church,” he said.

Facilitator of the workshop Dr. Nancy Booker said the course is designed to equip media managers for community radio stations in Malawi and for the Catholic Church in particular with research knowledge, skills and competencies to enable them effectively carry out audience research.

“It will enhance the participants’ skills in planning, organising, executing and analysing audience research data, and using the data to help them make content, staffing, pricing of advertising and sponsorship and other key media decisions,” said Booker, who is a senior lecturer and Chair for Journalism and Communication Department at Multimedia University of Kenya.

Dr. Booker said participants will also get acquainted with ethical issues that are likely to arise in their work as they conduct audience research to inform their programming and content decisions and that new technologies and their use for audience research will also be explored.

Apart from Dr. Booker, another facilitator is Dr. Graham Mytton from United Kingdom who began his research career in Tanzania and then Zambia and has worked for several years as a broadcaster in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service, including Focus on Africa. From 1982 to 1998 he was Head of Audience Research at the BBC World Service.

Rev. Father Gabriel Jana of Radio Alinafe of Lilongwe Archdiocese described the workshop as crucial, eye opener and beneficial to Catholic Media Houses.

"This training will equip me with knowledge in conducting research, on how to measure our readership base and its needs. As an institution we will have the capacity to know our audience and deliver publications whose content meets the needs of such audience," said Godfrey Maotcha, another participant from Montfort Media.

The workshop is being attended by at least 30 managers including priests who are Directors of Catholic Media Houses that includes Radio Alinafe, Radio Maria Malawi, Radio Tigabane, Tuntufye FM Radio, Luntha Television, Montfort Media and Likuni Press.

The Research and Social Communications Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi is implementing the Audience Research project for Catholic Media Houses with financial support from Stem Van Africa in collaboration with Catholic Media Council (CAMECO).

By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer

Photo credits: William Mponda-ECM Audio-Visual Officer

Most Rev. Ignatius Chama,
Archbishop of Kasama

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has launched yearlong celebration of 125 years of Catholic faith in the country under the theme: ‘125yrs of God's Love and Mercy’.

August 2016 marks 125years since the coming of the first Catholic Missionaries to Zambia in 1891 at Senga Hill Senga district at Mambwe-Mwela outstation of Mambwe mission in the Arch diocese of Kasama.

This was where the first station was set by the white Fathers and there lies a grave of Fr Acilles Oost, a Dutch missionary of the congregation of White Fathers who was among the first three priests to arrive at the station. The final celebration will be held on 15 July, 2017 in Lusaka.

Speaking at the launch of the celebrations which coincided with the feast of the Transfiguration, on Saturday, August 6, the Archbishop of Kasama, Most Rev. Ignatius Chama noted the challenges the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) faced.

“They found people enslaved by fear of being raided by other tribes which included the Swahilis and Bemba worriers. They found people whose able-bodied sons and daughters had been taken into slavery leaving mainly children and the old. They found people deep in witchcraft accusations and ritual killings. They found people who had no schools, no hospital,” Archbishop Chama expressed.

He further said that the Missionaries of Africa also found people who were marrying off their daughters to polygamous unions even at tender ages, and people who had succession disputes resulting into tribal killings.

He however said that the missionaries brought to the natives the Good News of the Kingdom of God, the Good News of hope of living decent and secure lives on earth.

“They brought the message of transfiguration so that at the end these people could be looked at by God the Father and say to them you are my beloved sons and daughters; enter into the life prepared for you,” he said.

Archbishop Chama however observed that society is till bleeding with the same wounds the missionaries found.

“We still have early marriages in all our tribes. For some it is even considered to be important as part of culture and custom. We still have slavery of polygamous unions, witchcraft accusations and witch hunting which unfortunately in some cases leads to murder of innocent people.”

“We still have children not accessing schools due to long distances to nearby schools and lack of infrastructure, women and girls sold into prostitution to make ends meet,” he added.

Meanwhile speaking on behalf of Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) President Archbishop George Mpundu, Bishop Clement Mulenga, SDB announced that Cardinal Fernando, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples will come to Zambia for a solidarity visit in honour of the 125yrs of the Catholic faith in Zambia from 7th-10th November, 2016.

Cardinal Filloni will grace the 2016 National Catholic Forum and celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Child Jesus in Lusaka.

Among the Zambian Bishops who were present at the launch of the Jubilee celebrations included Bishop Clement Mulenga, SDB of Kabwe Diocese, Bishop Justin Mulenga of Mpika Diocese and Bishop Patrick Chisanga of Mansa.

Also present was the President of the republic of Zambia Edgar Lungu.

By Mwenya Mukuka, ZCCB Communications Officer

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ETHIOPIA: Catholic Church encourages using ICT for a more efficient development work

TANZANIA: Compassionate in News heals, the government says

MALAWI: Stepping into the Big shoes of his predecessor, Bishop Elect of Mzuzu is open to all ideas in regards to development in the diocese

UGANDA: UEC Caritas department to conduct seminar for HIV/AIDS Program managers at diocesan level to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS issues

MALAWI: Catholic Media Managers Receiving Training on Audience Research

ZAMBIA: ZCCB Launches Celebrations of 125 Years of Catholicism in Zambia