ETHIOPIA: Thousands gather for 19th AMECEA Plenary Opening Ceremony Mass in Addis Ababa
AMECEA Bishops in Procession at the Opening Mass of AMECEA 19th Plenary Assembly
Thousands of enthusiastic faithful gathered on Sunday 15th, July, 2018, at Mary Mother Help of Christians Parish in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to celebrate the Opening Ceremony Mass of the 19th AMECEA (Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa) Plenary which is underway in Addis Ababa City.
The Parish overflowed with jubilant Ethiopians, both young and old, who flocked the venue as early as 7am to witness the Opening Ceremony that was celebrated in an open-air Mass.
It was a unique celebration as it was celebrated in Oriental-Ethiopian Rite from the beginning to the end. It began at about 9.45am with a grand procession of cardinals, bishops, priests and deacons from the AMECEA region and other countries. The procession received a rousing welcome from the flag-waving faithful amid cheers and joyous hymns sang in Ethiopian language, as they made their way to the altar. The rousing mood at the venue was beyond control despite the scorching sun during the day.
Liturgy
The Mass was a brilliant tableau of gold and white, added with a touch of red roses beautifully placed on the floor of the altar. The Chairman of AMECEA, His Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel, also the Archbishop of Addis Ababa led the Mass concelebrated with the Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, His Excellency Luigi Bianco and three Cardinals: His Eminence John Cardinal Njue of Kenya, His Eminence Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako of South Sudan and His Eminence Joseph Cardinal William Tobin of United States of America as well as a host of Archbishops and bishops, priests and deacons from AMECEA Countries and other parts of the world.
In his speech, Cardinal Berhaneyesus said hosting the 19th AMECEA Plenary in Ethiopia is a moment of grace and blessing.
“Through the preparation period of the last four years the Church has lived a moment of grace by organizing different workshops and assemblies, moments of prayers for peace, unity, human dignity and forgiveness in our religion,” Cardinal Berhaneyesus said amid cheers from the congregation.
“We have prayed also for our country Ethiopia which was passing through a turbulent moment due to the feeling of the people for improper handling of diversity,” he added.
Reflecting on the theme of the 19th AMECEA plenary, “Vibrant Diversity, Equal Dignity and Peaceful Unity in God in the AMECEA Region”, the Cardinal said the Church has a mission to heal the wounds of violence and to play her prophetic role: building peace, justice and reconciliation in the region.
participates during the Opening Mass
“Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya and other countries in the region suffer violence and conflicts between different ethnic groups and we are witnessing these situations and this worries us so much. In the world of so much civilization, human intellectuals and technological advancement, experiencing these terrible situations is so alarming that our Church is questioning herself what could be her role as a promoter of vibrant diversity, human dignity and equality and peaceful unity,” he explained.
Appreciating diversity, the prelate said the Catholic Church herself is a symbol of diversity, urging everyone to promote and respect it.
The Cardinal also thanked the Ethiopian Catholic bishops, clergy, religious men and women, lay faithful, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and all Ethiopians of good will for accepting to host and help in the preparations of the 19th AMECEA Plenary.
The colorful celebration was graced by representatives of AMECEA partners, and delegates from different Church institutions: delegates from Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Missio AACHEN, Missio MUNICHEN, Roman Curia, United States Conference of Catholic Bishop (USCCB), SIGNIS, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and CAMECO.
Others are Church in Need, International Missionary Society, Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA), International Young Christian Society African Coordination Team, International Young Christian Workers Coordination Team and CAFOD among others.
~End~
Jacinta W. Odongo
