By AMECEA Online News Reporter
AMECEA Bishops recently embarked on a solidarity visit to Eritrea from 30th, October – 5th November, 2017 in order to express their solidarity with the Church in Eritrea in their concerns and challenges.
According to Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, the visit which was part of the resolution endorsed by Bishops during the 18th AMECEA plenary held in Malawi in July, 2014 and organized by the Bishops member of AMECEA Executive Board aimed at: bringing the greetings and love of all AMECEA members and to share the rich values of the Catholic Church in Eritrea; encouraging the socio-pastoral work of the Church in Eritrea and listening to their needs and demands and inviting the Church in Eritrea to join in the coming 19th Plenary Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 13th-23rd January 2018.
The Solidarity Team that visited Eritrea included: His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi and Patron of AMECEA, Kenya; His Grace Thomas Luke Msusa, Archbishop of Blantyre Malawi & Vice-President of AMECEA, His Grace Michael Didi, Archbishop of Khartoum, Sudan/South Sudan, His Grace John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu, Uganda, His Excellency Joseph Anthony Zziwa, Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana, Chairman of AMECEA Justice and Peace and Caritas department, Uganda and Very Rev. Fr Ferdinand Lugonzo, Secretary General of AMECEA.
From the Eparchy of Keren, Eritrea Abba Uqbagaber Woldeghiorghis told AMECEA Online News that, the delegates visited the Catholic Eparchy from 1st– 2nd, November, 2017. They appreciated the warm welcome they got from the community and were very much touched by the spirituality of the faithful and rich liturgical ceremony. They said that, the unity of the Clergy, Religious Congregations and Laity is exemplary stressing the need to be united, firm and to work with courage against all odds.
The team met with the Religious Leaders (Muslims, Orthodox and Evangelical) at Regional level. They had long and mutual discussion that culminated with a recommendation to have Inter-Religious cooperation and unity whichis the best instrument of love and respect.
The delegates highly appreciated the Social services (education & health) of the Eparchy. ‘We see that your schools and health institutions are open for all beneficiaries without any ethnic or creed discrimination,” they said
AMECEA encouraged all Government officials to foster good working relationships with the Church and to create a good atmosphere for mutual dialogue adding that, the Church is advocating for the poor and the marginalized in the endeavour of being the ‘voice of the voiceless’.
The six delegates planted Olive trees as a sign of peace and prosperity for the Continent of Africa and good memories of their visit to the Eparchy of Keren.
The team also paid a courtesy visit to the Minor Seminary, St. Agnes Orphanage, St. Ann Sisters and their school, De La Salle Brothers community and St. Joseph Secondary school, met with Religious Leaders and Diocesan Priests and Religious personnel working in the Eparchy and concluded with prayers at the Shrine of Mariam Deari.