AMECEA: “Let us be of Value to AMECEA Region,” Says AMECEA Secretary General at 2021 Annual Planning
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
During the annual planning meeting for the Secretariat of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) in Nairobi, the Secretary General Fr. Anthony Makunde has challenged each department to be of value to the Church in the region by making significant contributions for future generations.
“I appeal to you, let us be of value to the region and leave a legacy behind. We know our targets and strengths let us continue with the spirit of dedication,” Fr. Makunde who has been AMECEA’s Secretary General since July 2018 told the staff members adding, “We should also strengthen our cooperation, our fraternity and move together.”
Being beneficial to the region Fr. Makunde emphasized, “We need to come up with an organizational thinking, an organizational planning and an organizational implementation to help us move as a team and as an association.”
He continued, “As AMECEA Secretariat we are instruments for the region and working tools for our member conferences. Our role therefore is to coordinate pastoral activities that are common.”
Fr. Makunde acknowledged that Covid-19 pandemic halted most activities for the Secretariat which required travelling and meeting colleagues in the conferences but appreciated the efforts made by departments to quickly respond to the pandemic by embracing digital technologies and continue implementing the 2020 plan.
“The year 2020 was challenging to us. We were caught unprepared with the pandemic and closed ourselves for nearly a year so much that we couldn’t go to the conferences,” he said and continued, “We are grateful to the Social Communications Department, the USCCB Catholic Communications Campaign and the Healey Family Foundation who supported our IT (Information Technology) office to help us move forward amidst the pandemic by enabling the Secretariat and member Conferences to have the equipment to conduct some activities and meetings virtually.”
Fr Makunde also thanked Missio Aachen for supporting the Secretariat in its pastoral response to the Coronavirus pandemic, particularly in giving psycho-social support to the priests, frontline workers and other affected members of the Church through the radio-based group therapy program.
He asked the Secretariat staff to continue taking Covid-19 precautions and to respect the government and Ministry of Health (MoH) Covid-19 guidelines so as to protect themselves, their dear ones and neighbors.
“My appeal to you, let us not lose hope, let us keep our faith and continue to ask for Divine intervention,” the Secretary General underscored and requested the staff to continue praying for the entire region which is experiencing great loss of bishops, priests, Religious men and women and lay faithful who are succumbing to Covid-19.
Among the activities planned for the year, the Nairobi-based Secretariat focused on events in view of preparation for the 20th AMECEA Plenary Assembly slated for July 2022 in Tanzania. The departmental staff of AMECEA brainstormed on the theme of the plenary assembly and role of AMECEA Secretariat.
During the meeting which took place from January 18 to 21 at Subiaco Retreat Centre in Nairobi, the Secretary General also acknowledged the support of AMECEA’s traditional donor partners including United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Pastoral Solidarity Fund, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), and the Propaganda Fide among others, who have also been hit hard by the pandemic but still managed to support AMECEA activities.
