SECAM: “Solidarity and Episcopal Collaboration,” Key Highlights for SECAM Day
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As the Church in Africa and Madagascar marks the 52nd anniversary since the birth of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), a continental body of bishops, the President of the association has emphasized “oneness” so that members can “foster and promote communion, solidarity and episcopal collaboration.”
“From the beginning, God envisioned and destined all humankind to be one single family, under one Father,” reads part of the message signed by SECAM president Philippe Nakellentuba Cardinal Ouédraogo.
“lt is the same oneness that the Holy Father Pope Francis has underscored in his third Encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti and has fervently pleaded with humankind all over the world for a renewed commitment to universal brotherhood, friendship and solidarity,” the message continues.
The Cardinal on behalf of the bishops has appealed to all people of Africa and Islands to “eschew anything that divides us, and imbibe everything that puts God first in our lives, and nurtures true brotherhood and sisterhood throughout the continent and the Islands.”
“Let us adopt an inclusive culture and worldview rooted in Christ, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, master nor slave,” Cardinal Ouédraogo the Local Ordinary of Ouagadougou Archdiocese, Burkina Faso, emphasized referencing St. Paul’s letter in his message shared with AMECEA online Thursday, July 29.
Addressing members of the Association, the Cardinal reminded all prelates in Africa, Madagascar and beyond that SECAM is an episcopal collective property and all bishops have a “shared responsibility.”
“With a leading role in its spiritual, financial and material welfare, our collective interests in, and sacrifices for the Symposium are necessary to achieve its goals,” Cardinal Ouédraogo disclosed adding, “We earnestly urge each brother Bishop to strengthen our communion and commitment to SECAM, and to ensure that the Kampala Document and its exhortations are reflected in the pastoral programme of the local or particular Church.”
SECAM whose mission is to promote the Church’s role as a sign and instrument of salvation and to build the Church as a Family of God in Africa by fostering communion, collaboration and joint action among all the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and the Islands through Propagation of Faith, human development, ecumenism, formation and consultation has two days to mark SECAM day this year, that is Thursday, July 29 and Sunday, August 1.
In his message the President disclosed the challenges faced by members of the Church in Africa and the Islands including the “distressful and traumatizing experiences caused by different variants of Coronavirus (Covid-19), ongoing wars, terrorist attacks and other violent clashes (that) have resulted to loss of life and property in different African countries.”
“Countless numbers of our sons and daughters have been brutally murdered and numerous others are living in dehumanizing conditions, perpetual fear and anxiety,” Cardinal Ouédraogo stressed adding that “While we bemoan the plight of our people everywhere, we also call for renewed courage and trust in our omnipotent, loving and merciful God.”
“Let us all turn to God our Father today, 29th July 2021 and on 1st August 2021 to thank him for his sustained blessings and protection, for the gift of one another, the gift of mother Africa and the gift of our Catholic faith,” he appealed and continued, “Let us also solemnly beseech him for the end of the Corona virus pandemic (Covid-19), so too violence, torture, kidnapping and other crimes committed by individuals and groups in Africa and beyond.”
On behalf of the prelates in the continent, Ouagadougou’s Local Ordinary appreciated all the Church Family of God in Africa and the Islands for their commitment to Evangelization in all its forms, in spite of the prevailing trials on different fronts and the efforts made by the respective governments to contain the vicious spread of Coronavirus, encouraging leaders to continue working hard to protect people’s health.
The Thursday message has asked for a briefing session to be held on SECAM at one of the annual meetings of each Regional, lnter-territorial or National Episcopal Conference.
