ETHIOPIA: ECS Secretary General thanks AMECEA for choosing Ethiopia as host of 19th AMECEA plenary
Rev. Abba Hagos Hayish, CM, Secretary General of the Ethiopia Catholic Secretariat (ECS)
The Secretary General of the Ethiopia Catholic Secretariat (ECS), Rev. Abba Hagos Hayish, has thanked the AMECEA Executive Board for choosing Ethiopia as the host country. This comes one week after the 19th AMECEA (Association Member Conferences of Eastern Africa) Plenary Assembly kicked-off in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In an interview with AMECEA Online News, Tuesday 17th July, 2018, Abba Hagos said that the Ethiopia Catholic Bishops’ Conference has amply proven its capability of hosting the 19th AMECEA Plenary Assembly which began on 13th July, 2018.
He termed the Plenary a prestigious event and said that Ethiopia is very confident about its future cooperation with other AMECEA countries.
“I would like to thank the AMECEA Executive Board for selecting Ethiopia to host the 19th AMECEA Plenary Assembly. They trusted us as a Conference and I believe we have done our level best in terms of preparations, although in the beginning we were a bit nervous because it’s our first time to host this Plenary,” said Abba Hagos adding. “This will strengthen our collaboration with other countries in the AMECEA region.”
He also praised the involvement of the Ethiopian government and the laity who includes the youth, volunteers and people of good will, who contributed towards the successful event.
“The Ethiopian government, the Catholic Community at large, religious from different denominations and all people of good will played a big role in the organization of this event. I would, therefore, like to thank them for their immense support during the preparation and for their prayers. They gave financial support and great ideas on how to organize,” he said.
Fr. Hagos further stated that hosting the Plenary is a big privilege as Ethiopia has got the chance to show the world their rich culture and hospitality.
“The Opening Ceremony Mass was celebrated in Ethiopian Rite and this was an opportunity for us to show case our rich culture and show the best of our country,” he explained.
The 19th AMECEA Plenary Assembly has attracted participation of over 350 delegates from eight AMECEA countries. Other participants are the Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, His Excellency Luigi Bianco and four Cardinals from the AMECEA region: His Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa and the Chairman of AMECEA, 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.
The event will conclude on 22nd July, 2018, with a Closing Ceremony Mass to be held at Nativity Cathedral, and a Dinner Reception hosted by H.E Dr. Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, President of Ethiopia, at the National Palace later the same evening.
~End~
By Jacinta W. Odongo
