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Residents of Umunze, a community in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria, are gripped by “fear and uncertainty” following the military's invasion of their churches on August 18, disrupting public worship in various places, including some Catholic Parishes in Ekwulobia Diocese.
A huge pastoral gap exists among women Religious serving in non-Catholic institutions, a Kenyan Catholic Nun has said, and proposed that the Church addresses the pastoral needs of Catholic Sisters serving in non-Catholic settings, especially when designing Diocesan and national pastoral programs.
The Pontifical charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, has condemned a recent terrorist attack on a Church in Burkina Faso that claimed the lives of 26 people, many of them Christians.
The recently concluded National Eucharistic Congress (KEN 2024) in Madagascar has been hailed as a “unique moment” for the Indian Ocean Island nation that fostered a “deep sense of unity and spiritual renewal.”
The first-ever resident Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan who was appointed in May this year has expressed his eagerness to serve in the East-Central African country, noting that he looks forward to the success of his mission in the world’s youngest nation.
Nigerians need to explore ways of addressing the root causes of bad governance in their country, a Catholic Bishop in the West African nation has said.
A Nigerian Catholic Priest has expressed concern over the increasing involvement of Catholic Nuns in unapproved non-denominational ministries, with some claiming they encountered miracles after visiting the ministries.
Désiré Cardinal Tsarahazana, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Toamasina in Madagascar, has defended the country’s traditional family values and marriage, including the concept of procreation and the union between a man and a woman.
Catholic Priests in Nigeria have been cautioned against “mutilating” Liturgy by introducing aspects of their cultures in Liturgical celebrations.
The Synod on Synodality, which started off as a pastoral issue, bringing on board every baptized member of the Church, has now become a “theoretical” topic for intellectuals, the Archbishop of Cameroon’s Catholic Archdiocese of Bamenda has observed.
Fostering fraternity can go a long way in addressing the negative effects of disunity in families as well as wounds resulting from a life of sin, Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina of the Catholic Diocese of Antsirabé in Madagascar has said.
The Catholic Bishop of Buea Diocese in Cameroon has “strongly” condemned the killing of police officers in the country’s Southwest region following an attack on their security post located in his Episcopal See.
Childhood traumas are likely to lead one into sexual behaviours that a Nigerian American Catholic Sister has referred to as “inappropriate”.
The Archbishop of Cameroon’s Catholic Archdiocese of Bamenda has faulted claims that the Church in Africa is only influenced by culture when taking a position on controversial topics, especially those raised in the ongoing multi-year Synod on Synodality, which Pope Francis extended to 2024, with the first phase, 4-29 October 2023, having concluded with a 42-page summary report.
Pope Francis has appointed Sr. Inês Paulo Albino of the Institute of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) as the new Secretary General of the Pontifical Society for Missionary Childhood (PMC).
Pope Francis has expressed solidarity with the thousands of people affected by Monkeypox (Mpox), especially those in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who he describes as “so tried”.
The August 23-25 National Eucharist Congress (KEN 2024) in Madagascar, the third in the country, could go a long way in strengthening the faith of the people of God in the country, the Cardinal in the Indian Ocean Island nation has said.
The August 23-25 National Eucharist Congress in Madagascar, the third in the country, can help the Indian Ocean Island nation “achieve” peaceful co-existence, a Catholic Archbishop in the country has said. In his homily during the opening Mass of KEN 2024, Archbishop Benjamin Marc Balthason Ramaroson underscored the need for spiritual renewal and highlighted the role of the Eucharistic Congress in achieving fraternity in Madagascar as important. “This congress will help us achieve fraternity in our country and the world. The world is already destroyed in every way and needs healing,” Archbishop Ramaroson said, and added, “If we want fraternity to reign in this world, we must first change ourselves.” To achieve this transformation, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana said, participants in the Eucharistic celebration that was held at Kianjasoa stadium needed to arm themselves with three essential virtues: “generosity, service, and truth.” On his part, President Andry Rajoelina expressed his gratitude and that of the State for the Catholic Church's contribution to society. “It is only fair that the State supports the actions of the Church in return, as it does a lot for the well-being of the population,” President Rajoelina said. He said fraternity is “important and worthy of consideration for us to take on the tasks and challenges we will face, for the development of the country.” The President of the Indian Ocean nation donated a 5-hectare land to the Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana. The Malagasy Metropolitan See plans to build facilities on this land to assist the residents. President Rajoelina also promised to contribute to the construction of the St. Francis of Assisi Church. Meanwhile, in his message to participants of the Eucharistic Congress, the President of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity and Pastoral Care at CEM, Archbishop Jean de Dieu Raoelison, called for staying “away from anything that may cause division and strife because Christ has united us all as one in Himself on the Cross.” “Take advantage of this Congress to gain strength to approach all people and to approach God,” Archbishop Raoelison said. He implored, “May faith in Jesus Christ in the Eucharist fill our hearts and be reflected in our lives.” The Malagasy Catholic Archbishop further implored, “We wish a holy pilgrimage for all of us participating in this National Eucharistic Congress and may this great celebration bring good results for our souls. May the Blessed Virgin Mary help and support us to examine carefully in our hearts.” Organized under the theme, “Fraternity to Heal the World: You are all brothers and sisters (Mt 23:8),” the August 23-25 Eucharistic Congress aims to restore the value of fraternity among the people of God in the Indian Ocean Island nation.
The newly elected president of the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) has, in her acceptance speech, called for synergy among members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) in the region.
More than ever before, the Laity in Africa is seeking more involvement in the Church, the Vice Superior of the Ghana Province of the Society of African Missions, (SMA) has said, noting that lay people on the continent are no longer satisfied with being “mere consumers of sacraments”.