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Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - The President of the Symposium for the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Card. Polycarp Pengo, Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, issued an appeal to all the African Episcopal Conferences to give concrete evidence of the commitment to make the Church in Africa the height of its evangelising mission. The Cardinal also invited the Secretary Generals of SECAM to present their practical suggestions or recommendations for implementing the results of the Second African Synod, particularly in reference to the Message and the Propositions from the Synod, in expectation of the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.
These exhortations are contained in a message which was presented, on behalf of Card. Pengo, by the Secretary General of SECAM, Fr François-Xavier Damiba, during the opening ceremony of a five day meeting of Secretary Generals in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), from 17 to 20 March. The theme of the meeting, organised by SECAM and hosted by the Episcopal Conference of the DRC, was: “The role of Secretary Generals in the implementation of the Message and the Final Propositions of the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa.”
Several speakers intervened during the meeting. These included the Secretary General of the International Catholic Migration Commission, Johan Ketelers, who stressed the need for the Church in Africa to seriously consider the challenges faced by Africans who emigrate to Western Countries. The Church, said Ketelers, should encourage African Governments to create a favourable environment for the people, especially for young people, to allow them stay in their Countries, instead of fleeing to other States in search of greener pastures or for jobs that often are not available to them. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/3/2011)
