Nairobi, 23 October, 2019 / 11:44 pm (ACI Africa).
The realization that a number of Church personnel in the world’s second most populous continent are struggling with stress and trauma has occasioned the convocation of a continental conference, the first ever in Africa, in view of deliberating on psychological and psychospiritual counselling in the Church context, stakeholders have told ACI Africa.
“We have a lot of partners in the Church in Africa and over the last years we had more and more Church people – Bishops, Sisters, Brothers and Priests who have emotional and psychological problems,” a delegate from German-based Missio Aachen, Dr. Matthias Vogt told ACI Africa in Nairobi, Tuesday, October 22.
Tracing the phenomenon of trauma in Africa to experiences of protracted conflicts, Dr. Vogt explained, “In Africa, I think the main problem is the many wars that African countries face, the political crisis, civil wars and we have so many traumatized people here in Africa that it’s really hard for the healers – the priests and sisters serving these people – to cope with their own emotions and impressions in their daily work.”
“That is why I find it particularly relevant to find solutions for Church workers here in Africa,” Dr. Vogt added, justifying the Missio-sponsored conference that has brought together some 60 participants from Anglophone Africa.
The conference aims at developing solutions to the challenge of trauma among Church personnel in Africa, to be achieved through the identified partners, Dr. Vogt who works in the Foreign Department of Missio Aachen disclosed to ACI Africa.