Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Fides Service) – “Before the end of 2005 we will establish the Continental Conference for Religious Life in Africa” Father Richard Francois Missionaries of Africa Superior General tells Fides Service, chairman of “Meeting for African Collaboration” MAC. This announcement comes at the end of a meeting of religious in Nairobi 7-11 July (See Fides 10 July 2003). “From the meeting there emerged a determination to go ahead with this very ambitious project. African religious men and women want to take in hand the future of religious life in Africa. We realise in fact that continental problems need continental answers” Father Richard said.
“At the operative level we asked delegates from Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon to prepare a draft statute for the Conference and to contact National Conferences for suggestions. We chose delegates from West African countries to facilitate contacts” Father Richard said.
The creation of a Continental Conference for Religious Life in Africa will mark the arrival of a journey started more than 30 years ago. In 1974 the Bishops of Africa created a forum for meetings between the African episcopate and members of consecrated life in which they could reflect together on everything concerning evangelisation and the life of the Church in Africa. The forum is called MAC - Meetings on African Collaboration (in French RCA). The objectives were laid down as follows: exchange of information; studies of important points; examination of plans of action, priorities; suggestions for better collaboration; the influence to be exercised by Generalates on their Institutes and by SECAM (Symposium of Bishops Conferences of Africa and Madagascar) to make this collaboration a practical reality, or to promote the putting into practice of certain options taken by MAC/RCA. The following are members of MAC/RCA three superior generals of male religious congregations and three superior generals of female religious congregations.
During a meeting in Abuja March 2002 with the SECAM Standing Committee MAC and the Bishops assessed the position of Consecrated Life within the Church in Africa and the future of religious life in Africa. They noted the remarkable growth of consecrated life in Africa, the number of congregations present on the continent (both local and international; the number of consecrated persons; the number of young people joining consecrated life; the contribution given to the life of the Church in many areas: pastoral work, education health, development. It was agreed that this development must be encouraged and fostered through increasing dialogue and collaboration both between religious themselves and also the bishops, mutual help in initial formation, ongoing formation, formation in view of specialised functions.
To take up these challenges at the end of the Meeting SECAM Bishops asked MAC to undertake the steps necessary for the establishment of Continental Conference for Religious Life in Africa. LM (Fides Service 11/7/2003 EM lines 39 Words: 451)
