The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) participated in the conference that discussed Pastoral Issues that affect Marriage and Family life in Africa held in in Cotonou, Benin from 14th to 17th June 2014.
AMECEA Secretariat was represented by the Secretary General Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, and the Pastoral Coordinator Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga.
Speaking with AMECEA Online News, after arriving from Ghana, the AMECEA Pastoral Department Coordinator, Fr Febian Pikiti saidthat the conference which was organized by the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) was part of preparation for the the Extra-Ordinary Synod on Marriage and Family life to be held in Rome.
He said that the conference focused on the contribution of the Church in Africa to the forth-
coming Extra-ordinary Synod.
 |
| Participants |
Fr Pikiti further said that the Conference in Cotonou, aimed at enabling the African Episcopate to share common preoccupations affecting marriage and family life in Africa and to propose a pastoral response that will provide guidance for the future of the Church. The Conference offered insights concerning the future of family life, the cultural values that can enrich our understanding of marriage and proposed practical pastoral responses to the concerns that were raised by the Holy Father in Africa.
Pope Francis called for the convocation of the Extra-ordinary Synod in order for the Church to re-affirm her commitment to the promotion of the true meaning of marriage and family life as inspired by the Sacred Scriptures. Indeed, the family is the smallest cell and vital unit on which society and the Church is founded. It in the family where life is received and nurtured in order for a every individual person to assume obligations, roles and responsibilities with the context of the social fabric. However, this institution is facing many challenges today and it is for this reason that the Holy Father has called for the Extraordinary Synod to be held in October this year as a preparation for the Ordinary General Synod in 2015.
During the Conference, the Bishops, Africa theologians and the laity listened to theological presentations and held discussions in small groups following the themes or topics that the Holy Father Pope Francis has provided as guiding questions. They appear as follows :
1. The Diffusion of the Teachings on the Family in Sacred Scripture and the Church’s Magisterium.
2. Marriage according to the Natural Law.
3. The Pastoral Care of the Family in Evangelization.
4. Pastoral Care in Certain Difficult Marital Situations.
5. On Unions of Persons of the Same Sex.
6. The Education of Children in Irregular Marriages.
7. The Openness of the Married Couple to Life.
8. The Relationship Between the Family and the Person.
9. Other Challenges and Proposals
The Conference was also attended by the Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, H.E John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the SECAM President, Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Lubango, Angola, Archbishop of Cotonou, Brian Udaigwe, Benin and other Bishops.
As a follow-up from this Conference, the AMECEA Pastoral Department has organised a Workshop on Marriage and Family Life, as an in-put from AMECEA Countries.
The Workshop which will be held in Nairobi from 25th to 28th June 2014 will be attended by 40 delegates from all the AMECEA Member countries, except Eritrea. This Workshop is aiming at providing for the AMECEA Episcopate a comprehensive synthesis of the pre-occupations, propositions and pastoral approaches that aimed at strenthening marriage and family life in Africa today.
Meanwhile,In order to express this pastoral solidarity between the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar, (BICAM) the Pastoral Coordinator of AMECEA, Fr. Febian Pikiti MULENGA, had a meeting with BICAM Director, Fr. Yves-Lucien Evaga Ndjana to discuss areas of collaboration in promoting Biblical Pastoral Ministry.
Fr Febian Pikiti said that the Meeting which was held at SECAM Secretariat in Accra, Ghana on 12thJune 2014 deliberated on promoting pastoral programs for Biblical formation for various pastoral agents at various levels of the Church and Bible animation programs among many issues.
AMECEA Pastoral Department expressed commitment in the following areas:
a. To work together in strengthening structures and activities of the Biblical Pastoral Ministry at regional, national, diocesan and parish level in the AMECEA Countries.
b. To create a network of collaboration among the departments of Biblical Pastoral Ministry for the purpose of sharing experiences, resource material and initiatives for Biblical Apostolate.
c. To take Bible Animation for Children and Youth as a priority at all levels of implementing Biblical Pastoral Ministry in the region.
d. To collaborate in equipping National Coordinators of Biblical Pastoral Ministry with the capacity to enhance Biblical Apostolate and make “BICAM Biblical Apostolate Programmes” known.
e. To strengthen the link between BICAM and the Coordinators at the National Conferences.
Biblical Apostolate aims at accompanying the Church as Family of God to uncover the hidden treasure of God’s Word, fall in love with it and experience its inner transforming power. As the disciples were inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit continues to be the inner-power of the Word of God. “Such in the force and power of the Word of God that it can serve the Church as her vigour, strength for the faith, food for the soul and lasting fount of spiritual life” (DV 21). Biblical Apostolate is supposed to influence and affect all facets of the Church’s life and mission because it is the anchor of the nature and work of the Church.
SOURCE: AMECEA Pastoral Department