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| Group Photo of the SECAM meeting participants with H.E. Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi |
Participants of the just concluded Pan African Meeting of Catholic Women have praised the event terming it a tremendous opportunity for women to participate more in Reconciliation and peace building processes both in the family, the community, the Church and the whole of Africa.
Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting on Wednesday in Nairobi, a representative of the women said that the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has made a very good start by involving African women in the process of reconciliation especially during this year of reconciliation.
Ms. Yetneberesh Nigussie from Ethiopia, who was chosen to speak on behave of all the participant said that the meeting has seen women from 18 countries in Africa speak in one language of peace, the language differences notwithstanding. “The mothers, religious woman, the young women even on social media, the professional women in their careers have proven that the Christian message of peace is actually achievable. We have made commitments to promote the social teachings of the Church having the Principles of Human Dignity, Universal destination, Common Good to all as well as solidarity and subsidiarity,” she said.
Ms. Nigussie expressed hope that God will work in the women to bring a tremendous impact in the reconciliation process despite the fact that women are traditionally believed to be disadvantaged and weak.
“We know that women are not the prime actors of conflicts but they are the prime victims. We hereby commit ourselves to make sure that the Catholic Church through the women will make a point to the world where mothers can be cited and meaningfully invited to contribute to ending conflict and human suffering in Africa,” she said.
On behalf of African Women Ms. Nigussie appealed to the clergy to support them in prayer and guidance that will take them into light of uncovering the shadow of peace and reconciliation.
As a show of their commitment, the women wrote an appeal letter through SECAM to the Government and the people of Burundi expressing their sympathy to the loss of life and human Suffering in Burundi and other African Countries following the conflicts over electoral process.
A copy of letter that was sent to AMECEA Online News says in part, “… Informed about the violence that is happening in Burundi and other African Countries, it is with deep sorrow that we deplore the loss of human lives… We therefore with one voice condemn all the killings happening in those countries and call upon those governments to do everything in their power to stop all killings and protect the lives of all the innocents.”
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
