The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) is bringing to the knowledge of Catholics the gathering of delegates from across the African continent and its islands for a Continental Synod Assembly, taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 1to 6, 2023. This was made known in a press statement dated February 27, 2023, signed by Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior, Secretary General, Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar. It was revealed in the release that the Continental Assembly is a continuation of the Two Working Sessions held in Accra, Ghana and Nairobi, Kenya to prepare the draft of the African Synod Document. The statement read in part: “The Assembly, which is guided by the Synod’s call to the Universal Church to communion, mission and participation aims at engaging the delegates from the Church in Africa. This is to enable them continue with the dialogue and discernment process on the pastoral issues that were captured in the Working Document for the Continental Stage (DCS), a synthesis of the reports that the universal Church submitted to the General Secretariat of the Synod in Rome.”
According to the statement: “The about 200 Delegates to gather in Addis Ababa are: cardinals, archbishops, bishops, consecrated men and women, lay people (men, women and the youth), seminarians, novices and representatives of other faiths. They shall re-look at the issues that have emerged in the DCS, share their experiences and identify what strongly resonates with the lived experiences of the Church in Africa. “By the end of the Continental Assembly, SECAM shall be in a position to give the contribution of the Church in Africa to the General Secretariat of the Synod in Rome, which is in the process of drafting a working document. Therefore, the contribution of the Church in Africa following this Continental Assembly is key for the first Session of the Synodal Assembly, which is scheduled for October, 2023 in Rome.” “We appeal for the collaboration of Catholic media in all regions during the assembly to ensure that the people of God are kept abreast of what is happening, especially the experience of their delegates during the Assembly.” The release further submitted.
