UGANDA: Pilgrims of Saint Michael hold inaugural Poverty Eradication seminar in Africa
As part of its efforts to promote the development for a better world and to solve the problem of poverty, the Pilgrims of Saint Michael of Canada, a non-profit religious institution, held its first-ever seminar in Africa on eradication of poverty.
The seminar, which was held from January 21-24, 2019 at St. Mary’s National Major Seminary, Ggaba in Kampala, Uganda, ran under the theme ‘Render unto everybody his due by means of a social dividend given to all’. It attracted over 50 participants from Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Togo and hosts Uganda.
The four-day event focused on the means of putting into application the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church teaches principles of social justice but leaves to the faithful the task of finding concrete ways of implementing these principles.
who was the chief guest at the function
delivering his speech
Philbert Bagilimana, the Africa Coordinator of Pilgrims of Saint Michael of Canada said the seminar was aimed at helping participants discuss ways on how to increase awareness and knowledge in poverty reduction at country, regional and international level.
“Last year we organized a similar seminar in Canada but, unfortunately, many African participants failed to secure visas. Thus we decided to bring it here to Uganda for the first time to discuss the global dimensions of poverty,” he said adding “… that means each one of us plays a major role in making that goal achievable, making every citizen whether in public or private sector responsible for eradicating poverty,” he said.
In his speech, Rt. Rev. John Kaggwa, bishop of Masaka Diocese who was the chief guest, said that poverty is indeed an issue that affects the entire humanity.
“This seminar has enabled us to look into this subject of poverty not merely from certain stereotypes but from a variety of perspectives. We need to look into the future of our country and young people to see that everyone is given the best,” Bishop Kaggwa said.
According to various estimates given in the presentations made during the seminar, 30 to 50 percent of people in Africa live in poverty, some in abject poverty. There are gross inequalities of income and wealth and the gap is widening.
Participants, therefore, discussed different aspects of distribution of income and wealth and reflected upon the need for structural changes; how to modify the financial system of a country to put a definitive end to the terrible dilemma of poverty amidst plenty; the ever increasing debt of all countries in the world; and how to insure that everyone has, at least, the necessities of life as co owner of the natural resources of his country and co-heir of progress and inventions.
The seminar was also graced by Rt. Rev. Mathieu Madega Lebouakehan, Bishop of Mouila Diocese in Gabon, and First Vice President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
The Pilgrims of St. Michael were founded in Canada in 1939 by Louis Even (left) and Gilberte Côté-Mercier (right) to promote the development of a better world, a more Christian society, through the diffusion and the implementation of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, in every sector of society, especially the economic field.
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