UGANDA: Preparations Underway For Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
Barely three weeks after successfully organizing the 2019 Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations the Catholic Church in Uganda is preparing to host another high-profile event, the 18th Plenary Assembly and Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) from July 20-29, 2019.
In an announcement issued to the media on Sunday, June 23 by Rev. Fr. Philip Odii, the head of Publicity and Communications Committee in-charge of organizing SECAM celebrations, the members of SECAM Standing Committee and Core staff are expected to arrive in the country on July 19, while the delegates will report on July 20 and depart on July 29.
He said that the Catholic Church in Uganda has invited the general public to participate in the Opening and Closing Eucharistic celebrations due next month.
“Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) invites all People of God and well wishers to the Opening and Closing Masses of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM),” reads the announcement in parts.
“The Opening Mass will be on Sunday, 21st July, 2019, at Lubaga Cathedral in Kampala, while the Closing Mass will be on Sunday, 28th July, 2019, at Namugongo Catholic Shrine.”
He further noted that the Opening Ceremony will be held on July 21 at Munyonyo Speke Resort Hotel at 3.00 pm adding that “From 22 to 27 July, the delegates will be at Munyonyo for their 18th SECAM Plenary Assembly.”
The UEC has formed several key committees which include Protocol & Security, Liturgy, Publicity and Communication, Construction and Sanitation, Transport as well as Welfare to spearhead the SECAM celebrations. All these Organizing Committees are headed by Msgr. John B. Kauta, Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference.
On May 10, the Chairman of the UEC, Rt. Rev. Joseph Anthony Zziwa launched a fundraising drive in a bid to raise approximately US $270,145 (Uganda shillings one billion) towards the preparations and actual celebrations. He appealed to all the Catholic faithful and people of good will for financial support.
Over 400 international guests from Africa, Europe, America and Asia are expected to attend the nine-day event that will bring together delegates such as Apostolic Nuncios, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops among others. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is expected to grace the celebrations
The SECAM celebrations will be under the theme “Church, Family of God in Africa, Celebrate your Jubilee! Proclaim, Meet and Welcome Christ your Saviour.” The objective of the jubilee is to thank God for His wonders and marvellous deeds, the gift of Baptism and of the Church, to ponder on the progress made so far, with the aim of deepening the roots in Christ.
SECAM is a fruit of the efforts of African Bishops who during the second Vatican Council (1962-1965) resolved to build a continental structure to unite the Church in Africa and promote collaboration in pastoral ministry. The Association was officially launched on July 29, 1969, at Lubaga Cathedral by Pope Saint Paul VI when he visited Uganda.
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By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
