AMECEA: Tanzanians a Welcoming People: AMECEA Executive Board Observes as Preparations for 20th Plenary Are Being Finalized
Andrew Kaufa smm
At the extra-ordinary meeting which has just taken place, three weeks to the 20th AMECEA plenary assembly that is to be held in Dar es Salaam from July 9th to 18th, members of the Executive Board have expressed gratitude to the Catholic bishops, the Church and Tanzanians in general for their hospitable culture.
The sentiments come after AMECEA Executive Board members noted the efforts that have been made so far to ensure that the forthcoming 20th plenary assembly is successful; members and delegates are safe from any possible health threat and their security is guaranteed.
In his address to Tanzania Episcopal Conference which was also gathering for their national plenary at the same venue Kurasini Centre, Bishop Charles Kasonde of Solwezi Diocese the current Chairman of AMECEA Executive Board said: “We are grateful for your generosity and for hosting the plenary. Despite the Covid19, you remained focused to ensure that the 20th plenary assembly which shall focus on the implementation of the Laudato Si in the region physically takes place here.”
Bishop Kasonde expressed his gratitude to the President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference Most Rev. Gervase Nyaisonga for according AMECEA Executive Board to meet with the bishops, Consecrated persons and laity who gathered for their national plenary assembly.
“As a regional body, AMECEA stands for our pastoral solidarity in eastern Africa, where the 9 conferences come to show their togetherness, share about the joys and efforts of evangelization. Our coming is to create synergy for what you have prepared so that the plenary does not only become an empty gesture,” he continued adding, “We are very happy to be with you. We are here to look at the synergy of your preparatory program and ours so that together we can move forward.”
“Tanzania is an oasis of peace. The smile of the people of Tanzania including the immigration officers at Nyerere International Airport is indeed an attestation of how peaceful the Tanzanians are as a nation,” said Bishop Kasonde.
On behalf of Tanzania’s Catholic Conference of bishops, Most Rev. Paul Runangaza Ruzoka who is the Archbishop of the Diocese of Tabora thanked the AMECEA Executive Board for coming to appreciate what the Church in Tanzania is doing in preparation for the 20th AMECEA plenary, twenty years since the country last hosted such an assembly.
“Your coming reminds us of the good relationship we have as the Catholic Church in the region of eastern Africa. I understand that some of you are coming to Tanzania for the first time. I am sure that when you come again on July 9, 2022 for the plenary assembly, you will know us better and feel welcome,” added Archbishop Ruzoka.
Taking turns, all the members of AMECEA Executive Board highlighted Tanzania’s hospitable culture and conveyed their gratitude to the Church in Tanzania.
“We are most grateful to be here this morning especially as we all finalize the preparations for the 20th AMECEA plenary,” said Archbishop Maurice Muhatia the Ordinary of Kisumu Diocese, Kenya, who also serves as chairman for the University Council of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, CUEA.
“This is truly my first time in Tanzania but I would like to thank the Conference of Tanzania for this welcoming spirit. I also bring greetings to you from your brothers and sisters and the Bishops of Eritrea,” said Archbishop Thomas Osman OFM Cap. the Ordinary of Barentu Eparchy.
Adding to that, Most Rev. Michael Didi the Archbishop of Khartoum in Sudan underscored Tanzanians as peaceful people as he said, “Even the Policemen at the airport, I saw them smiling, which is not usual to see a policeman smile in other countries.”
Bishop John Oballa Ngong Diocese, Kenya, concurred with Archbishop Osman in his sentiments, “We normally stay in peace with Tanzanians, especially with the Archbishop of Arusha. In addition, I am impressed that even the laity are aware about our forthcoming plenary. Upon arrival, I met one Catholic woman working at the Cooperative Bank and I was surprised that she knows about the Plenary and offered to withdraw some money from her account for my upkeep while I am here in Tanzania.”
On their part, Bishop Noel Fransua of the Apostolic Vicariate of Hossana in Ethiopia and Bishop Evans Chinyemba of Mongu Diocese in Zambia further confessed their appreciation of Tanzanians as hospitable people.
“Greetings Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel CM the Archbishop of Addis Ababa,” said Bishop Fransua while Bishop Chinyemba added: “I too am in Tanzania for the first time and I thank you for the hospitality.”
Accompanying the AMECEA Executive Board members were the heads of AMECEA academic, formation and pastoral institutions who also commended the Church in Tanzania for being supportive to their organizations – Prof. Fr Steven Mbugua who is the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Fr Peter Mouldy Zingari the Rector of Blessed Bakanja Seminary and Fr Michael Rop the Director of AMECEA Pastoral Institute (API).
“I thank God for this opportunity to meet the leadership of the Church in Tanzania, the Church which we have great admiration for. I thank you for the consistency in supporting API. In fact, since its inception, we have never lacked students from Tanzania. I therefore thank you very much, and ask you to continue supporting the institute,” said Fr Michael Rop on his part.
With the arrival of delegates scheduled for 9th July, the 20th AMECEA Plenary Assembly shall be held at two different venues. The study session that will focus on the implementation of the Laudato Si, environmental care and integral human development shall be held at Nyerere International Convention Centre from the 11th to 13th July 2022, while the bishops business session shall be held at the Capuchin Centre, Msipadzi from the 14th to 16th July 2022.
According to Tanzania government’s Ministry of Health, there is no threat of Covid19 in the country. However, at the airport, delegates are required to show their Covid19 vaccination certificate or a valid PCR test, including yellow fever card.
The organizers are also reminding the delegates who have non-communicable diseases or any health regime not to forget their carry-on medicines.
“July is considered to be the best time for visiting the city of Dar es Salaam,” said Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi the Ordinary of the Archdiocese considering that the temperature will range between 18 degrees at sunrise and 30 at sunset.
