The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Rev Fr Nicholaus Segeja, a lecturer of Theology at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) to be a new member of the International Theological Commission.
Fr Segeja who is incardinated in the Archdiocese of Mwanza, Tanzania is heading Pastoral department at CUEA. He is among the new members of the commission which will serve commission for the period of 2014 -2019; and among the 3 members of the commission coming from Africa. Other members with their countries of origin in brackets are: Rev. Terwase Henry Akaabiam, (Nigeria) and Rev. Koffi Messan Laurent Kpogo, (Togo).Speaking to AMECEA Online News Fr Segeja was grateful to God and to the Holy Father for the appointment which is a sign of trust on him.
According to the information released by Vatican Information Service on 20thSeptember 2014, the Holy Father also renewed the mandate of a number of members from its previous five-year term making the commission to have a total of 30 members.
The International Theological Commission was instituted in the fulfillment of the proposal made by the first Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, by Pope Paul VI, on 11 April 1969. The task of the Commission is that of helping the Holy See and primarily the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in examining doctrinal questions of major importance.
The Commission is composed of theologians from diverse schools and nations, noted for their knowledge and faithfulness to the Magisterium of the Church. The members, which number no more than 30, are nominated by the Holy Father ad quinquennium after having been proposed by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation and after consultation with the Bishops’ Conferences.
The Commission gathers in assemblea plenaria at least once per year, but work is also done by means of subcommittees. The results of the studies are presented to the Holy Father and delivered to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for its appropriate use.
SOURCE: VIS and AMECEA Social Communications