AMECEA: Executive Board Meet to Plan for the Years Activities

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

At their first meeting of the year, the Executive Board members of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) met to deliberate on the region’s activities for the year 2023.

While addressing members of the board drawn from the member conferences in the region during the two-day Executive Board meeting from 11-12^th May, at Donum Dei, Nairobi, AMECEA Chairman Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde of Solwezi Diocese in Zambia invited the members to think of ways on how the region can collaborate and grow in unity.

“This our first board meeting for the year 2023 gives us the opportunity to review the past year and settle on the activities we would want to do this year,” Bishop Kasonde said adding, “The meeting also gives us the opportunity to think about the issues in our various conferences as delegates, including the plans we have and what we can do together in order to grow the spirit of AMECEA-ness, of oneness in love and unity.”

He highlighted some of the challenges the conferences are facing saying, “We are struck with the war in Sudan which our brothers and sisters are going through. Let us continue praying for peace to reign.”

The Chairman explained further that, “As AMECEA, we pay condolences to Malawi on for the loss of many who were involved in Cyclone Freddy; we pray for the recovery for those who were affected, those who have passed on to rest in peace and for those who are sick for their quick recovery.”

Cyclone Freddy reached Malawi on Sunday, March 12, whereby torrential rains and winds caused death of hundreds of people and over 600 people injured. It also left thousands of families homeless with their houses, farms and animals completely destroyed. Several of private, government and Church infrastructure including family houses, bridges and roads were also destroyed.

Talking about the other AMECEA conferences during the opening session, Bishop Kasonde mentioned Kenya which has suffered both drought and floods in different parts of the country and Ethiopia conferences which has also been experiencing political conflict.

In their first Executive Board meeting held last year after the appointed during the 20^th Plenary Assembly in Tanzania, the Chairman had asked members to embrace the responsibility they were given with Commitment and zeal.

“Let us take up our responsibility with commitment and zeal to fulfill our mandate and ensure the pastoral relevance of our member episcopal conferences is actively presented,” the Local Ordinary of Solwezi Diocese told the board members during their first meeting at the Clergy home in Kenya’s capital Nairobi that took place from 18- 19 October, 2022.