ETHIOPIA: CAFOD, CRS committed in Supporting and Strengthening Partnership with AMECEA Region
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Catholic Relief Service (CRS) have commended the work done by the Bishops in AMECEA region promising more support of the bishops’ initiatives and strengthening of partnership within the region.
In their solidarity messages to AMECEA Bishops during the opening of the 19th AMECEA Plenary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 15th, July, 2018, CAFOD Head of International Development Group Maria Gonzalez promised the bishops of CAFOD’s willingness and commitment to work with them in the implementation of 19th AMECEA Plenary Assembly resolutions.
Gonzalez stressed that, CAFOD is in solidarity with the Bishops of AMECEA region to take up the prophetic call of the Holy Father to enter into dialogue and to redefine progress towards an integral human development, on issues such as Climate Change, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, migration and human trafficking, extractives, with particular concern for the “cry of the earth” and “cry of the poor”.
“We are committed to promotion of the “localization” of aid and we are working hard to ensure that CAFOD staff are both professional and have a “formation of the heart,” she said adding that, “we are seeking a closer collaboration with other sister Caritas and CIDSE agencies, and to have more coordinated support to National and Diocesan Caritas and Justice and Peace Commissions.”
She also commended the signing of peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea and asked bishops to continue praying for peace in South Sudan.
Meanwhile, the CRS President Sean Callahan appealed to the Bishops to continue praying for peace in Africa and to carry on with their prophetic role as Church leaders to ensure solidarity and unity amongst them through peace building.
“There are many expectations placed upon the Church at this critical time in history. We, as a Church, must ensure that we are prepared, that we use the talents of the universal Church to resolve the challenges we face in AMECEA as a region and in our own countries. We cannot do it alone, and we must use all the resources available to us,” Gonzalez said.
She asserted that, in this way the Gospel mission in accordance with the themes of the Assembly will be fulfilled and the Church will reap the benefits of the vibrant diversity of the Church and the people they serve, by ensuring that the human dignity of all people is equally respected both within and outside the Church, and by promoting peaceful unity through openness and love.
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By Sarah Pelaji, Addis Ababa
