AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - The missionary path of the Church in Africa: French-speaking Africa Mission Congress

Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - To help the Church in Africa in her mission to evangelise, a Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa was held in Rome in 1994 from 10 April to the 8 May, on the theme “The Church in Africa and her evangelising mission towards the year 2000: (Acts 1,8)”. The Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa containing the fruits of the special Synod was signed by Pope John Paul II in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 14 September 1995. Since then a series of meetings and initiatives in Africa have put into practice the guidelines and directions in that Exhortation. Pope Benedict XVI confirmed the decision taken by Pope John Paul II on 13 November 2004, to convoke a Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa: “I am very confident that this Session will effectively give an additional impetus to evangelization to the consolidation and growth of the Church and to the promotion of reconciliation and peace on the Continent of Africa.” The Pope said during his general audience on 22 June 2005.
In this context in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) a Mission Congress, was held from 15 to 19 November 2006, promoted by the CERAO (Regional Bishops Conference of French speaking West Africa) on the theme “You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth. To carry my word and gather the dispersed children of God”. The Congress was attended by representatives of 9 of the 11 CERAO member countries as well as guests from Gabon, France and Vatican. A total 161 participants in all including bishops, priests, religious and some lay people listened to a series of conferences focused on Mission underlining the importance of the Church-Family-of-God and its efforts to undertake is mission ad intra e ad extra in west Africa. Themes for reflection included: formation of agents of evangelisation, inculturation, witness, missionary cooperation among Churches in the South and with Churches of the North, self-reliance, building of a Church-Family-of-God, intensifying the missionary spirit. Various National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies reported on initiatives for concrete progress in the liturgical, pastoral and catechetical field and also shed light on difficulties with regard to personnel and means .
At the end of the Mission Congress in Ouagadougou, held between two Special Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops for Africa and amidst preparations for the Pan African Mission Congress this month in Tanzania, the participants approved recommendations for the Bishops of CERAO: include courses of missiology in institutes of formation and prepare teachers in this subject; encourage a missionary spirit in formation of catechumens; boost national and diocesan PMS efforts for missionary animation and cooperation; increase awareness of the duty to evangelise and that the aim of the Christian life is holiness.
Resolutions adopted included: carry the fruits of the Congress to respective countries, dioceses and parishes; study contents in the ambit of the activity of national and diocesan Pontifical Mission Societies offices, with sessions in missiology; foster ever closer cooperation with other Christians and promote dialogue with other religions to build together a society of justice, peace and solidarity; promote reconciliation and sharing of mission experience among Churches; make known the Pontifical Missionary Union, the soul of the Pontifical Mission Societies. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/1/2007; righe 44; parole 585)