AMECEA: Upcoming Webinar to Discuss How Bishops Can Be More Synodal in The Mission of the Church in Africa
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Following the ongoing Synod on Synodality that aims to strengthen the Church in her mission of evangelization, a webinar scheduled for Thursday, April, 18, will deliberate on various ways in which Bishops can be more Synodal in the mission of the church that is emphasizing journeying together.
The webinar has been organized by the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) in partnership with the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) the Pan-African Committee for Communication (CEPACS), and in collaboration with the African Synodality Initiative (ASI).
From the Synthesis Report after the first phase of the Synod on Synodality that took place in October 2023 in Rome, the delegates dedicated seven chapters to the episcopate stressing that Prelates are key in making the Church more Synodal. Based on this, the upcoming webinar therefore allows for a deeper reflection on the steps to take for the Church in Africa to grow in Synodality.
The panelists for the Thursday session will include The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya and for South Sudan, Most Rev. Hubertus Maria van Megen who will share on his understanding of the ministry of the Bishop, criteria for selection of Bishops, formation, and whether anything needs to change. Archbishop George Justice Anokye of Kumasi Archdiocese, Ghana, and the former President of Caritas Africa, will share personal experiences on how the Church can listen to those who feel excluded, especially the poor (SR. 4), and victims of injustice, what the ministry of the Bishop in a Synodal Church entails and finally make recommendations.
Mrs. Evaline Ndeana Malisa, President of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organization in Africa (WUCWO), which is the mother body of Catholic Women Associations (CWAs) will share on the experiences of Catholic women in working with the bishops, priests, and men in the Conferences and suggest how the ministry of the bishop can be more Synodal in mission.
The President of CEPACS Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Oyo Diocese, Nigeria will give the opening remarks while Fr Anthony Makunde, the Secretary-General for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) will give a background on where we are currently in the Synodal journey towards the second phase to be conducted in October 2024.
The webinar will be translated simultaneously into French and English by Mr. Theophan Marube, and moderated by Fr. Andrew Kaufa the Social Communications Coordinator for AMECEA.
The webinar will commence at 1600hrs EAT/ 1500hrs Rome time.
Kindly register through the link: https://shorturl.at/hnxQX
