KENYA: Tangaza University College Hosts The First Of The Three Continental Conferences In Preparations For 400th Anniversary Of Propaganda Fide
Tangaza University College, a Constituent College of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) from 23rd to 27th September hosted the first Continental Conference in preparation for the celebrations of the 400th Anniversary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Commonly known as Propaganda Fide scheduled for 2022. Similar conferences will be held in Latin America in 2020 and Asia in 2021.
The Conference which was held under the theme: Mission in Africa, Evangelizing the Future was organized by Missio Aachen in collaboration with the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome and Tangaza University College in Nairobi.
According to Rev. Dr. Joseph Caramazza, the DVC Designate-Administration and Finance at Tangaza University College, the purpose of the conference was to bring together a selected number of academicians to analyze the status of evangelization in Africa, and propose possible way forward. Invited speakers were given a chance to present their papers, which were discussed by the attendees after which final editions will later be published.
In his message to the conference participants read on his behalf by Rev. Fr. Paul Steffen, SVD, Prof Friar Leonardo Sileo, OFM, Magnificent Rector of Pontifical University Urbaniana assured the participants dedication and the utmost attention to the results of their work from the conference.
Prof. Sileo indicated that “Evangelization in Africa calls for the end of the future but also of a concrete journey into the future. The year now of the evangelization in Africa on this perspective is also the year now of our missionary renewal of the whole Church.”
He indicated that this particular conference focused on three key areas namely building the future, which underscores the complex and key activities of bringing the Gospel close to the real social cultural and technological context; secondly the question of women’s role in the life and mission of the Church today which is of a particular importance and an opportunity for missionary renewal; and finally the relationship between the Gospel and the future of the humanity visible in the symbiosis between the mission and integral development of humanity.
Speaking on behalf of Missio, Dr. Klaus Vellguth explained that they planned in such a way that the three continental conferences, in Africa (2019), in Latin America (2020) and in Asia (2021) will culminate into an intercontinental conference to be held in Rome in 2022.
Dr. Klaus also gave a brief overview of the foundation of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples which he said was founded by Pope Gregory XV in 1622 to counter-act the loss of influence the Catholic Church had suffered from due to the spread of Protestantism that of course in Europe.
“The congregation’s focus on Europe quickly changed because soon after it was established, the Church in Europe found itself in an awkward situation. At the end of the 30 years of war, which had taken a heavy toll on lives the fragile balance had not been achieved between the Christian churches,” Dr. Klaus pointed out.
Among the papers presented at the conference included History of the relationship of Propaganda Fide and African local churches. The other papers were presented under various categories. These included Evangelization and Inculturation category, under which the papers presented included: Revelation & Inculturation; the Environment: a new frontier for evangelization; Religion and faith in Africa: a Case for Christian African Identity and last but not least, An African Understanding of Canon Law.
The Second Category was The Female Face of Mission, under which the papers presented included Women in the History of the Mission; Female Transformation of Misson, Challenges to Mission, and finally Theorising Mission: to Develop a Female Missiology.
The Third Category was Mission and Development and the papers presented included Evangelizing Economy, Evangelizing Politics, An Integral Notion of Mission for the Teaching of Theology and the Formation of Pastoral Agents.
The fourth Category was Mission and Development which had only one paper under the title Mission: a Lasting Challenge in Africa Today. This was presented by Rt. Rev. Seyoum Fransua, Apostolic Vicar of Hossana-Ethiopia.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
