Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Fides Service) - On the 40th anniversary of the Ad Gentes Decree issued by Vatican II and the 10th anniversary of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, the Bishops’ Conference of Congo has organised a Tertio Millennio International Missiology Congress which is now taking place in Kinshasa. The Congress 11 - 17 July opened on Sunday with an address by Cardinal Frederic Etsou, Archbishop of Kinshasa, the reading of a message from Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples followed by a conference by Nigerian Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja who is President of SCEAM (Symposium of Bishops’ Conferences of African and Madagascar).
In his message Cardinal Sepe said that at the beginning of the Third Millennium mission is still “the greatest concern of the universal Church”, adding that he hoped the Congress “would produce concrete proposals to give new impulse to missionary efforts and activity” and discern, through dialogue with modern times and modern culture, “new ways and methods for the Church to be missionary”. The Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples mentioned a few general guidelines to strengthen missionary activity first of all “necessary and urgent” formation for mission workers, bishops, priests, religious and laity to enable them to be “missionary agents of quality, authentic witnesses to the faith, authentic living stones on which to build the Church”. Cardinal Sepe recalled that the Church in Africa faces precise challenges: sects, Muslim extremism, and economic under-development. “For a mission of in depth evangelising the Church in Africa must solve the difficult problem of funds and apply incisive pastoral.”
Presenting the Congress, which has the theme “the future of missionary activity ad gentes, prospects for the 21st century”, the President of the Organising committee, Bishop Tharcisse T. Tshibangu of Mbuji Mayi who is also President of the council of administration of the Catholic University in Kinshasa, said that the objective was to discuss missionary activity today and formulate proposals for a fruitful renewal of energies and efforts of missionary activity. The Congress is called “Tertio Millennio” because it refers explicitly to the task assigned by Pope John Paul II to the Church’s mission for the third millennium, described above all in the apostolic letter “Novo Millennio Ineunte”.
The first part of the Congress, 11 - 14 July is discussing the continental problems and prospects of mission. The many themes on the agenda include: Missionary teaching and exhortations of the Popes from Benedict XV to John Paul II; the Council decree ad Gentes and prospects for missionary activity in the 21st century; Prospects for mission in Africa; Interreligious and intercultural dialogue and the mission of the Church; Church and Globalisation; present day situation of mission and continental prospects; role and responsibility of African women in the Church and in society, integral development of Africa; the Church “Family-of-God”.
The second part of the Congress, 15 - 17 July will focus on the challenges of mission and theological research in Africa. Numerous themes addressed will include: New evangelisation and in depth evangelisation; Liturgy and Sacraments in the Church in Africa; Formation of missionaries ad intra and ad extra; The future of missionary congregations and institutes; African religious congregations; lay missionaries today; Missionary spirituality. The Congress will close on Saturday 17 July with the reading of a general report, resolutions and recommendations. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/7/2004; Righe 45 - Parole 583)
