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| Mr. Fritz Zuger from USCCB receiving a token of appreciation from Sr. Silpher at AMECEA Secretariat |
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
Secretary General of AMECEA Rev. Fr. Anthony Makunde has expressed immense gratitude to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for the collaboration, solidarity and support that the AMECEA Region continues to receive through the USCCB Special Sub-Committee for Africa.
He expressed these sentiments during a meeting of all AMECEA Secretariat staff members with Mr. Fritz Zuger from the USCCB who is currently visiting East Africa Bishops Conferences.
“On behalf of the Bishop Chairman of AMECEA and Member Conferences I sincerely thank the Bishops of the United States and the entire Catholic Community for their commitment to give a hand to their brothers and sisters in the African content so that the Church may continue making progress,” Fr. Makunde told Mr Zuger, adding that Europe and the USA including Canada evangelized the African continent and have continued supporting Africa in the spirit of collaboration and solidarity; of sharing pastoral experiences faith, and culture.
Fr. Makunde further said that the relationship between the Church in mission land and the Church in Europe and the United States is not only about projects. He noted that Mr Fritz Zuger’s visit to AMECEA Secretariat, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) and others is not only about monitoring the implementation of the projects but also enhancing the spirit of collaboration, cooperation and solidarity between African Bishops and the USCCB.
“The impact of the collaboration and fraternal relationship we have had is quite evident. On behalf of the AMECEA region. I request that you convey our gratitude to the US Bishops and to those who are working in the special committee for Africa.”
“We are also grateful for the presence of His Eminence Joseph William Cardinal Tobin of Newark, New Jersey who joined us during the 19th AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in July last year. His presence among us was a sign of great collaboration, support and solidarity between the Bishops of the United States of America and those of the AMECEA Region.”
On his part, Mr Fritz Zuger indicated that having worked for the subcommittee for the past ten years, he was convinced that the collaboration between USCCB and the African Bishops is more about building relationships and that the grant program which has to do with money is the least.
“It is important to have relationships with each one of you and to build relationship is not about business, it is not about the projects,” he said, adding that more than 80% of his work is building relationships that makes it possible to work together.
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