Sr. Jecinter Olweny

Most Rev. Charles G. Palmer-Buckle the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana while addressing the delegates at the 20th Plenary Assembly of Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has suggested the need for institutionalization of SECAM Day every July, to be celebrated with Holy Mass, media engagement, and awareness campaigns in every parish and diocese across Africa and proposed the establishment of “Friends and Benefactors of SECAM” to promote, support and enhance global recognition of SECAM’s work.

“July 29 may be launched in the week or at the start of the month with much media publicity with parish and diocesan involvement as much as possible, and of course climaxed, at best, with Holy Mass in the Cathedral”, he narrated, and explained further that “The focus the celebration is to present and market SECAM as a continental body of importance and necessity to the Church.”

Apart from fund-raising for the continental body, efforts may be made to form “Friends and Benefactors of SECAM” home and abroad, whose remit will be to pray regularly for SECAM, and support the continental body and market or advertise its activities,” Archbishop Buckle said.

Reflecting on the sub-theme, “Know SECAM, Love and Like SECAM, Support SECAM and Participate in its Mission”, the Archbishop asked Prelates from across the continent to own SECAM not just as an institution but as a movement rooted in the Spirit of Synodality, Communion, and Mission.

“We are SECAM as long as we belong to our local episcopal conferences. We all matter, and whatever concerns the Church mystical, here and universal, must concern us one and all and at all times. This sense of belonging calls on us to own SECAM and to love it as well as live it. It is now your turn and mine to uphold SECAM. After fifty years of existence, SECAM has to become a household word for the Church-Family of God in Africa, and that is also what underpins the Kampala Document”, he narrated.

Giving his speech on the second day of 20th Plenary, the Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana focused on the “Church-Family of God, Journeying in Synodality and Beyond”, and urged local ordinaries in Africa to make a deliberate effort in growing the Church in Africa to be truly Family of God, and called for serious discussion over the same in symposiums, synodality, journeying in a synodal Church in communion, participation and mission and greater interest to be taken in academic research, scholastic work and be included in ratio studiorum of Seminaries and all ecclesiastical formation.

He acknowledged the dwindling of Christian Church in the West and the growing vocations in Africa, and noted that it is time for SECAM and the entire Church in Africa to put their acts together in the spirit of Ubuntu and “share their wealth of vocations, youth exuberance, vitality and creativity as well as liturgical innovations”, for the benefit of the entire Church.

In his speech, he also reminded the delegates that they are being called to be missionaries to themselves and beyond, and to cultivate an “African Christianity” and bring Africa’s experience of Christ to humanity despite the formidable challenges.

Recalling SECAM’s birth during the Second Vatican Council, the Archbishop noted that African bishops recognized the need for a unified platform to address common pastoral concerns and evangelization.

SECAM comprises 8 regional assemblies and 38 episcopal conferences, representing 758 bishops, including 29 cardinals and over 281 million Catholics.

By Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA