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Africa
Educating Women Guarantees “power to the family, society”: Religious Leaders in Kenya
The importance of empowering women through formal education was a key highlight of last Friday’s interreligious conference that sought to educate women on making their voice heard within religious spaces and in society under the theme, “Religious Minority Rights and (Inter-)Religious Literacy from a Women’s perspective.”
Pope Francis Appoints His Representative in Zimbabwe
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Paolo Rudelli who has been serving as the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the European Council in Strasbourg, France, to be his representative in the Southern Africa nation of Zimbabwe.
Cameroonian Cardinal Says He Respects Decision to “no longer be mentioned” in Euch' Prayer
Following a decree by the Local Ordinary of Cameroon’s Douala Archdiocese, Archbishop Samuel Kleda, to put an end to the mentioning of Christian Cardinal Tumi, Archbishop emeritus of the same see, in the intercession during Eucharistic celebrations in his Archdiocese, the Cardinal has expressed his appreciation for the period he was mentioned and termed the January 22 decision Archbishop Kleda’s “right and I respect it.”
Kenya’s Murang’a Diocese Launches Yearlong Celebration of “the Word of God”
Inspired by the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God, which Pope Francis established through his September 30, 2019 Apostolic Letter “Aperuit illis” to be marked by Catholics across the globe on January 26, Kenya’s Diocese of Murang’a launched a yearlong celebration of the same event Saturday, January 25.
Bishop in Uganda Bans Use of “dangerous plastic bags” to Wrap Church Offertories
The directive by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda that his country’s security agencies enforce the ban on the use of polythene bags into the second year, a Bishop in the East African country has banned the use of plastic bags, popularly known as “kaveera” in wrapping Church offertories, advocating for the use of decomposable materials that are friendly to the environment.
African Church Leaders’ Efforts for Electoral Truth, Justice “a noble fight”: A Reflection
A week after the Catholic Church in Togo was denied an observer role in the upcoming presidential elections by the government, an African missionary serving in the West African country has termed as “a noble fight” efforts by the Church on the continent to pursue truth and justice during elections.
In Nigeria, “fasting, prayer” Declared in Honor of Murdered “simple, devout Pastor”
Following the January 20 killing of the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of the State of Adamawa, the Catholic Bishop of Yola that covers Adamawa State has declared three days of fasting and prayer in honor of the murdered church leader, described by a Catholic priest who knew him personally as “a simple and devout Pastor.”
Revival of South Sudan’s Ecumenical Network on Course, Church Officials Optimistic
A two-day forum bringing together members of the Ecumenical Network South Sudan (ENSS) in Juba has given hope to the revival of the religious entity that engages internal and external partners in view of advancing priority needs in the world’s youngest nation, Church officials at the meeting have told ACI Africa.
Sunday of the Word of God: Kenyan Priest Urges Revival of Sunday School, Bible Stories
At a time when the Catholics across the globe are preparing for “the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God" on Sunday, January 26 as instituted through Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Motu proprio "Aperuit illis", the Kenyan Priest heading the national Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) is calling for the revival of Sunday School and the reading of Bible stories to children, a practice that goes a long way in instilling the Bible reading culture among children.
Urgent “need to sustain culture of genuine interreligious dialogue”: Nigerian Prelate
At a conference bringing together a section of members of Nigeria’s Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP), the Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama has recalled the challenges of religious intolerance, extremism and violence in his country and called for genuine dialogue between members of different religions as the way to peace in Africa’s most populous nation.
Uganda Most Hospitable for Refugees, Hosts Most Displaced in the Region: Jesuits’ Report
The East African nation of Uganda is the most welcoming and hospitable country in the region for vulnerable refugees and immigrants seeking sanctuary from neighboring countries, members of the Society of Jesus (SJ) in Africa and Madagascar have confirmed at their three-day Conference held in Nairobi that concluded Wednesday, January 22. The conference also revealed that Uganda hosts the greatest number of displaced people including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees and asylum seekers.
First-Ever Congress of Clergy in Ivory Coast Planned for July, Donations Requested
The Episcopal Commission for Clergy, Seminaries and Pastoral Care of Vocations in the West African nation of Ivory Coast has announced an Extraordinary Congress on the life and ministry of priests, the first-ever, at the beginning of the second half of the year and called on well-wishers to donate toward the course viewed as “a new beginning in spiritual growth.”
Nuncio Encourages Bishops in Southern Africa to “become models of the joy of Christ”
At the ongoing Plenary Assembly of the Bishops in Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland, the Papal representative in the region, Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells outlined, on Wednesday, January 22, five characteristics of missionary episcopate that the Holy Father desires of serving Bishops as explained in Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and that “the bishop must become a model of the joy of Christ.”
Jesuits in Africa Commit “to welcome, protect, promote, seek integration of migrants”
At the conclusion of a three-day conference in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, participants, mainly Jesuits ministering in Africa and Madagascar and their collaborators, resolved to show hospitality to migrants, refugees and the internally displaced within the African continent, welcoming, protecting, promoting and seeking their integration in society.
Pope Francis Wants 'holistic approach' to Middle East, UN Security Council Told
Pope Francis is concerned about the worsening situation in the Middle East, and is urging a continued commitment to dialogue in the region, a senior Vatican diplomat told the United Nations Security Council Wednesday.
To Mark Centenary of Focolare Founder’s Birthday, Members Recall Her “unity” Legacy
On Wednesday, January 22, the centenary birthday of Italian-born Chiara Lubich who founded the Focolare Movement, various members have reflected on the significance of this celebration and recounted her legacy through messages that are inspired by the goal of the 76-year-old movement of spiritual and social renewal, which is “to promote brotherhood and to achieve a more united world in which people respect and value diversity” in the light of Gospel values.
Why the Southern Africa Bishops’ New Pastoral Plan is Important
As the Church leaders in Botswana, South Africa, and Swaziland prepare to officially launch their new Pastoral Plan this Sunday, January 26, the President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) that brings together the three countries, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka has explained why the new pastoral plan, which will replace the one that has guided evangelization activities of the Church in the region for the last 30 years, is important.
“It is an affordable good quality education”: Comboni Missionaries in South Sudan
In a country with high levels of illiteracy, the provision of education by Catholic Church institutions is helping in guaranteeing a future of many young people amid challenges occasioned by the protracted civil conflict, ACI Africa has gathered.
African Church Leaders Condemn Chemical Abortion Tests on Burkinabé Women
After research initiatives on the effectiveness of abortion-inducing tablets for women who are at least 12 weeks pregnant failed to take off in the U.S., a research organization based in the same country decided, a couple of years ago, to cross several borders to the West African country of Burkina Faso to conduct the study, testing chemical abortion on women with limited resources, ACI Africa has established.
Comboni Missionaries in South Sudan: Contribution to Nation Building, Challenges
Since the founder of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus and the Comboni Missionary Sisters (Verona Fathers and Sisters), Italian-born St. Daniel Comboni launched his plan “save Africa through Africa” and was consecrated Bishop as Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa in the second half of the nineteenth century, his institute has had an outstanding legacy in Sudan and South Sudan through the activities of its members.
