AMECEA Pastoral department has sponsored the 2ndInter-diocesan Peace & Cross Border Evangelization Conference which took place in Lodwar Diocese from 8thto 10th December 2013.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News the AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator Fr. Febian Pikiti said the conference is part of the initiatives the department is taking to relieve the people of God affected by cross border conflict in region.
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| Group Photo of the Conference Participants |
Fr. Pikiti said that all the affected dioceses fall under AMECEA region, thus making the problem to be considered AMECEA problem. Fr. Pikiti was grateful for the support he received from ‘USCCB- Pastoral Solidarity Fund for Africa’ which enabled the department to organize the conference in collaboration with the diocese of Lodwar.
The conference which was officially launched by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya Most Rev. Charles Daniel Balvo who was the main celebrant at the opening Eucharistic celebrations on 8th October, brought together participants from seven dioceses from the border countries of South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopiahad a total of 75 participants.The seven Dioceses included Torit in South Sudan, Kotido and Moroto in Uganda, Vicariate of Jimma Bonga in Ethiopia; Nakuru, Lodwar, Kitale and Ngong in Kenya. Ngong Diocese is however not part of the Inter-diocesan Peace & Cross Border but attended the conference in order to borrow a leaf of good practice as it intends to come and implement the same when the get back home.
The conference activities included reports from the member dioceses on their activities for the past one year and it included success, challenges and future plans. This was followed by presentations and talks on various issues ranging from insecurity, cattle rustling and cross border peace initiatives.
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| Participants during the Conference |
The conference endedwith the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the three ordinaries present at the conference. These are the host Bishop of Lodwar Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich, Rt. Rev. Marco Gebewedhin of the Jimma Bonga Vicariate of Ethiopia and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Torit, Msgr. Thomas Oliha.
The MOU said in part; “While the parties shall partner and cooperate in the implementation of Inter-diocesan Peace & Cross- Border Evangelizationin the hope of having Sustainable Cross Border Actions for Peace, they also agree to collectively own the process and outcomes of the project.”
It also stated that the process leading up to signing the agreement included discussions during the two Inter-Diocesan conferences already organized by the Diocese of Lodwar for the same.
The MoU, was established as a framework for collaboration and partnership between the said partiesand is guided by the following binding conditions and principles:
a. Collective Ownership
b. Mutual Accountability
c. Mutual Trust and Openness
d. Continuity
e. Solidarity and collective action
f. Adherence to the guidelines and principles espoused for the joint actions and projects for which the collaboration and corporation is secured and as stated in the Project documents
g. The principles of the social teaching of the Church
h. Adherence to the agreed timelines for delivering the inter-diocesan peace and cross border Evangelization activities.
The MoU will be binding for a period of four years, 2014-2018 and its purpose and scope is to highlight the different roles and responsibilities the Diocese of Lodwar and other cross border Dioceses will play as partners in the implementation of Sustainable Cross Border Actions for Peace.
Lodwar which is the lead Diocese has been mandated to play the role of coordinating and monitoring by providing technical backstopping and guidance to the implementing dioceses as well as facilitating the process of information sharing among other technicalities.
AMECEA Secretariat was represented by the Coordinator of Pastoral Department Fr. Febian Pikiti and Coordinator of AMECEA Justice and Peace Desk Fr. Jude Waweru.
Source: AMECEA Social Communications