SECAM FOUNDED in July 1969 to preserve, foster and promote communion, joint action and collaboration among all Episcopal Conferences of Africa and its Islands.
The 15th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) took place in Accra, Ghana from July 26 to August 2, 2010. After the Plenary a Press Release was issued as follows: PRESS RELEASE From July 26th to August 2nd, 2010, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) held, in Accra, Ghana, its 15th Plenary Assembly which was also the occasion for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of its establishment. About 200 Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and the Lay Faithful from within and outside Africa participated in the sessions under the theme: « SECAM at 40 : Self-Reliance, the way forward for the Church in Africa. » The deliberations which took place in an atmosphere of prayers and fraternal communion, started with a solemn eucharistic celebration chaired by the President of SECAM, Polycarp Cardinal PENGO, Archbishop of Dar-Es Salaam, with the assistance of Peter Cardinal APPIAH TURKSON, President of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, Archbishop Robert SARAH, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and Most Rev Léon KALENGA, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana. In his homily, the President of SECAM laid special emphasis on the importance of the theme of the Assembly and pointed out that the theme was not only about material Self-Reliance but also pastoral and spiritual in Africa which is faced with many challenges. The Mass was followed by the official opening session chaired by the Vice- President of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, on behalf of His Excellency John Evans Atta-Mills who was away at the African Union Summit that took place in Kampala, Uganda. The speeches made at the opening session called for a reflection on the situation of numerous crisis plaguing the African Continent and for solutions to bring the continent out of underdevelopment and put it on the right track. At the beginning of the reflections, exchanges and discussions, the Assembly listened to goodwill messages and encouragement from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Sister Episcopal Conferences–like the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CECE), partner agencies: MISEREOR, Catholic Release Services (CRS), African Federation for Family Action (AFFA), and others. The first part of discussions was dedicated to the evaluation of 40 years of life of SECAM with a key note address delivered by Archbishop Peter SARPONG, Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, presentations on mangement for self-reliance, workshops in groups was led by the facilitators of CORAT- Africa. These facilitators sought to bring out solutions to implement in order to arrive at a real self-reliance of the church in Africa at the continental, diocesan and parish levels. Peter Cardinal APPIAH TURKSON gave a summary of the teachings of the social encydicals of Benedict XVI: Deus Caritas est and Caritas in Veritate. After this part which is purely technical, the Assembly was dedicated to the statutory activity with the reports from the structures of SECAM. The President, Secretary General and the officials of other SECAM offices presented their reports. This was followed by a moment of exchanges and suggestions. Mrs. Marguerite PEETERS, Director General of the Institute for Intercultural Dialogue Dynamics explained to the participants the origins, stakes and risks of the new post modern ethics marked by secutarisation, ambiguity of language and philosophy of discourse of the United Nations Organisation. Monsignor Tony ANATRELA, psychoanalyst and consultant of the Pontifical Council for the Family made a presentation on the topic « Caritas in Veritate and the theory of Gender. » For the speaker, faced with moral and anthropological destabilisations which generate the relativism of the dimensions where the transcending dimension of development is denied and truth is rather linked to a power system, only the teaching of Caritas in Veritate can contribute to an anti viral element against this ideological virus which is the theory of Gender. Friday afternoon on 30th July, a delegation of about twelve participants led by Cardinal Polycarp PENGO, President of SECAM was received by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Prof. John ATTA-MILLS who affirmed the will of his government to continue to work with the Catholic Church in order to promote the spiritual, moral, intellectual and socio-economic development of peoples. Other invited guests later during the Assembly introduced their organisations. They are namely, COMITHEOL, APECA, ASUNICAM, RADIO VATICAN, SIGNIS Africa and the Executive Director of the World Youth day celebrations in Spain. The Assembly expressed its condolences and solidarity to the National Episcopal Conferences of Congo (CENCO) after the sinking of a boat in a river which claimed about 160 lives. The Assembly adopted a number of resolutions and recommendations calling for a renewed concrete commitment for SECAM to attain the objectives which it has set for itself. The Assembly has also renewed the mandate of the management team of SECAM to for a three- year term in office as follows:
The next Plenary Assembly will take place in Kinshasa, DRC in 2013.
CONTACTS: Rev Fr. Francois-Xavier DAMIBA,Secretary General SECAM official site Departments: Social Communications Theological Committee Laity Coordination Board Catholic Education Regional Episcopal Conferences, Members of SECAM
Episcopal Conference of French West Africa, CERAO,
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Association of Episcopal Conference of Central Africa.