Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Washington (Agenzia Fides) - Through its Pastoral Fund of Solidarity for the Church in Africa, in this month of July 2007 the Catholic Church in America will donate $ 628,000 to support 51 programmes on that continent. This was announced in a letter by Bishop John H. Ricard of the diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee who is chairman of the US Bishops' Ad hoc Committee for the Church in Africa. In the letter Bishop Ricard recalls that "the Church in Africa is that part of the universal Church which is experiencing the most rapid growth but at the same time, the part of our family in the faith most in need. Its spiritual wealth unfortunately goes hand in hand with its material poverty". The Bishop said the money will "help the Church in Africa meet her present needs and achieve her enormous potential."
The funds will support pastoral projects, formation of seminarians, ongoing formation for priests, Catholic education, catechesis, media projects. The countries to benefit include Ghana, to support education programmes; Malawi, to help catechists, leaders of youth groups and church associations; Rwanda to purchase catechisms; Sudan for pastoral activity ; Zimbabwe for the formation of catechists.
The Pastoral Fund of Solidarity was established in November 2004 by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the United States to meet the needs of the Church on the continent of Africa. The fund is built up with special collections, appeals donations and various charity events and volunteer initiatives. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/7/2007; righe 18, parole 260)
