Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Algiers (Fides Service) - The situation of the Catholic community in North Africa and the tragic experience of migrants were the main topics discussed by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the Northern African Region (CERNA) in Algiers 9 to 12 February.
“The Bishops” the final statement reads “thanked God for being present with his Spirit in the fragility of our communities”. The foreign members of the Catholic communities in North Africa “workers, students, migrants and even prisoners, together with the local Christians of our countries bear witness to the Good News” the statement says.
“Our specific vocation in the Maghreb is to draw towards our Churches, volunteers, religious, priests and lay people from every continent” the Bishops continue.
With regard to the tragedy of thousands of migrants who use North Africa as a stepping stone for Europe the CERNA Bishops say: “Christians in the Maghreb, many foreigners themselves, understand the suffering of migrants. The Bishops wished to go further than the immediate sentiment of helplessness in the face of the complex phenomenon of migration. In response to Holy Father’s recent first encyclical we pray God may give our communities the strength to practice concrete charity when circumstances make migrants our neighbour.”
Therefore “the Bishops will continue to help the Christian community be more aware of the problem of migrations, involving in this task members of our community who come from Sub-Saharan Africa. We suggest this theme should be included in the discussion at the next Synod for Africa”.
At the meeting Bishop Gabriel Piroird of Constantine, Algeria, reported on the Synod of Bishops on the ‘Eucharist, Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church’ held last October which he attended as representative of CERNA. He said there had been testimonials of how the Eucharist was a source of strength for overcoming trials and offering and accepting forgiveness.
During the meeting the Bishops elected as new CERNA President Archbishop Vincent Landel of Rabat, capital of Morocco; vice-president Bishop Alphonse Georger of Oran; third member of the standing committee Bishop Maroun Lahham of Tunis; and secretary general Fr. Daniel Nourissat of Rabat diocese.
The next CERNA Conference will be held in Tunis 26 to 29 October. The Bishops will discuss the Lineamenta for the Synod for Africa, practice of Christian charity in the light of the encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” by Pope Benedict XVI and the evolution of Muslim/Christian religions. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/2/2006 righe 41 parole 477)
