Synod for Africa nears conclusion

With just a few hours to the conclusion of the II Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, the delegates have released a message to the PEOPLE OF GOD prior to the final document to be read and voted for tomorrow morning in the Synod hall.

In their detailed message covering areas that featured iduring the three-weeks Synod, the delegates have reiterated their call for true healing., justice, peace and reconciliation in Africa, calling it "no longer a ‘dark’ continent but a continent of hope'.

The statement was presented to the international press at the Vatican by Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja Nigeria, bishop Youssef Ibrahim Sarraf Caldean bishop of Egypt and bishop Francisco Joao Silota of Chimoio, Mozambique together with Fr. Federico Lombardi, head of the Vatican Press office.

The messages contains 7 distinct parts.

Acknowledging that Africa forms part of the global Church, the message urges the global church to continue its solidarity with Africa, all as members of the Family of God.

The message challenges the African bishops to prioritize on issues of reconciliation, justice and peace and making them a pastoral agenda of each diocese.

Terming the priests as necessary and close collaborators of the bishops, the Synod Fathers have urged them in this year dedicated to them to renew their commitments and be true signs of reconciliation and peace by harmoniously living together regardless of their tribal differences.

To the public leaders, the Synod encourages them to participate in church work through promoting common good even while in those public offices.

The synod fathers have also described the Christian families, Catholic Women, Catholic Men, youth and Children as agents of evangelization.

On HIV/AIDS, the Bishops, through the 'Synodal' message, highlight how the church has been involved in this ministry with love and care and applauds many people who take care of the infected and the affected in our land.

Stating that it is now time for Africa to rise up, the message recognizes the efforts to liberate Africa of any kind of bondage or alienation. It however regrets sad crises in Somalia and the Great Lakes region.

The Synod fathers have also expressed great concern on the poor leadership in Africa that has led to destruction of our environment, arms dealing, human and drug trafficking, among other evils bedeviling Africa, calamities that have led to immense poverty, misery and diseases; influx of internally and externally displaced persons, brain-drain to the developed world, wars and bloodshed, et cetera.

In total, the Synod fathers' message has 43 points and ends with a prayer

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Comboni Missionaries elect new superior

Fr. Rodrigue Enrique Sanchez was last evening elected the new superior general of the Comboni Missionaries replacing Fr. Terresino Serra who has served in that same capacity since 2003.

During the ongoing chapter of the congregation taking place at the Generate in EUR, Rome, Fr Rodrigue was elected by the delegates to head the over 1700 member-strong congregation that is spread in all continents of the world.

Until his appointment, Fr. Rodrigue was working as head of Costa Rica and Guatemala in Latin America.

Born in 1958 in Mexico, Fr Enrique has worked in Chad, and has lectured in Peru. His term takes effect immediately and will run for six years.

The Congregation started by St. Daniel Comboni in 1867 has strong roots in Africa for which it was founded under the founders motto 'AFRICA OR DEATH'

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Bishops' Solidarity with the suffering in great lakes

As the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops draws to its close, issues that prompted the convocation of the Synod still continue to affect the church in the region.

This was demonstrated when the Synod Fathers together with the Holy Father sent a message of solidarity to the Bishops of the Great Lakes region and expressed sorrow at the persistent wars in the region and the great suffering of the people there. The Synod Fathers expressed their great concerns over the plight of the child-soldiers, orphans and refugees in general.

In their letter, the fathers hoped that at the intercessions of the African saints, Africa would once again experience a lasting peace and that justice would come in those areas and that hearts might be open to the grace of reconciliation with God and neighbour.

The letter was sent to the Episcopal Conferences of Sudan, Uganda, Chad, DRC and the Central African Republic.

Meanwhile, the Synod Fathers are making the final touches to the document that will finally be presented to the Synod Secretariat for Holy Father to finally adopt and later exalt.

The Synod ends on Sunday October 25, 2009.

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Pope opens door for Anglican fraternity

Pope Benedict XVI has given a nod to the realization of a full communion with the Anglican Church by accepting an Apostolic Constitution that allows for Anglicans to easily become Catholics.

In a statement released on Tuesday Oct. 20, 2009 by Cardinal William Joseph Levanda, President of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith in the Vatican, (formerly headed by the then Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI) many groups of the Anglican clergy and faithful have written to the Holy See, requesting to enter into full visible communion with the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Levanda said that the Catholic Church in the forthcoming document provides for the ordination of married former Anglican clergy as Catholic priests. However, the Cardinal clarified that historical and ecumenical reasons precluded the ordination of married men as bishops.

The document that is yet to be released to the public is said to seek to balance ‘on one hand the concern to preserve the worthy Anglican liturgical and spiritual patrimony and, on the other hand, the concern that these groups and their clergy will be integrated into the Catholic Church’.

The Cardinal however, clarified that ‘the unity of the church does not require a uniformity that ignores cultural diversity…’

He said that in the Constitution that is now in the final phase, contains proposals to form Personal Ordinaries (dioceses) with structures similar to that of the Military Ordinariates to take care of the brethren who formerly were of the Anglican faith and have since joined the Catholic Church.

In a statement jointly released in London to coincide with the announcement in Rome by Archbishop Vincent Gerald Nichols of Westminister and Dr. Rowan William, archbishop of Cantebury, the two Anglican leaders, confirmed the announcement and said the announcement brought to an end a period of uncertainty for groups that had requested to enter into full communion with the catholic church. The two leaders went on to appreciate dialogue that has gone on for over 40 years between the Catholic church on one hand and the Anglican on the other.

History
The schism (split) that led to formation of Anglican church (church of England) away from mother Catholic Church came in the sixteenth century when King Henry VIII declared the Church of England independent of Papal authority. However, it was only in the mid-nineteenth century that the interest to enter into dialogue developed.

In 1982, the Anglican Diocese of Amritsar of India and some parishes in the United States maintained the Anglican identity but entered into the Catholic Church under some guidelines approved by Pope John Paul II.

This latest development does not however change the Catholic opposition to ordination of women or the ordination of gay priests.

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Malindi Diocese celebrates life of their late Bishop

Following the death of Rt. Rev. Francis Baldacchino, the Bishop of Malindi and the subsequent burial in Malta, His Lordship Philip Anyolo, the acting Chairman of Kenya Episcopal Conference, presided over Holy Mass at the newly renovated Cathedral of Malindi on Sunday 18 October, 2009.

The solemn Holy Mass was attended by a large number of the faithful of the diocese who, since they didn’t have the opportunity to go to Malta,(where the late was buried on October 14, 2009) came to celebrate the life of the late Bishop Baldacchino.

The liturgy was organized very well. At the end of the Mass there was a great joy as the sadness that had clouded the faithful was lifted up. It was for them like the funeral Mass they never attended and at the end of it all they commended their late Bishop into the Hands of the Lord.

On behalf of all the bishops in Kenya, Bishop Anyolo, who was accompanied by Fr. Dominic Kimengich, the acting Secretary General Kenya Episcopal Conference, encouraged the faithful to be firm in their faith and to cherish the time the late Bishop shared with them as their shepherd.

“The motto of Bishop Baldacchino was: they may be closer together and therefore it becomes an incentive for them to remain united as one family of Christ,” he said.

He exhorted the clergy, the faithful and the religious in the diocese to continue the good work that Bishop Baldaccchino had left behind.

“Also, pray so that the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, may give you another shepherd when the time comes who will carry on with the mission of the Church in the Diocese of Malindi,” said Bishop Anyolo.

The faithful of Malindi are now anxiously waiting for the shepherd who will be their administrator during this time of “Sede Vacante”, since even the office of the Vicar General ceased with the death of the Bishop.

Bishop Anyolo assured them that the Church will take care of that concern as soon as possible.

The late Bishop Baldacchino is well remembered for many spiritual, pastoral and social development developments he initiated, since he became the Shepherd of the newly established diocese of Malindi in 2000.

From the seven parishes that were there when he took over as the Bishop of Malindi, now there are seventeen parishes that make up the diocese. From the one local clergy that was there, now there are ten diocesan priests together with missionary priests ministering in the diocese.

A very modern pastoral center and the diocesan secretariat bear testimony to the legacy of a hard working bishop that had great vision for the diocese of Malindi.

Vicar General Rev. Fr. Albert Buijs, Fr. Ambrose Muli and Fr. Peter Karanja, the assistant Parish priest of the Cathedral have continued to work tirelessly to ensure normalcy of things following the untimely death of the Bishop.

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Pope Benedict marks World Mission Sunday

The Church exists to proclaim the message of hope to all of humanity, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI said on World Mission Sunday October 18, 2009, at St Peter's Square, Vatican, after leading pilgrims in the Angelus prayer.

The Holy Father called on the Church through-out the month of October to rediscover her mission and led by the Holy Spirit to continue proclaiming a message of justice, peace and joy to all.

In the church calendar, October is dedicated as the month of missionary outreach/work.

The pontiff paid tribute to agents of evangelization who have given their lives to the missionary work but continually face hardships, even persecutions.

He said he is looking forward to the outcome of the Synod of Bishops for Africa being held in Vatican, terming the emerging issues so far discussed as a manifestation of extreme sacrifice and love for Christ and His Church.

The Holy Father, who has been attending the proceedings of the meeting, called on the visiting pilgrims to join in special prayer for the Synod and Synod Fathers.

Meanwhile, the Synod entered its third and final week today. The Holy Father is scheduled to celebrate the concluding mass of the Synod on Sunday 25th October at the St Peter's Basilica in Rome.

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KEC-CS Press Statement: Religious Dress in Catholic Schools

"On 13th August 2009, His Eminence John cardinal Njue, Chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference and all the Catholic Bishops in Kenya wrote a letter to all Catholic public Sponsored and private schools informing them that the issues of HIJAB in schools needs consultation. Consequently, they asked that the STATUS QUO – BEFORE the issuance of the circular from the ministry of education – BE MAINTAINED in these schools until an agreement is reached amicably. Thus, they instructed that the code of dressing, as per the admission requirements be adhered to in all Catholic schools.

"Earlier Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley, Bishop Chairman, Kenya Episcopal Conference Commission for Education and Religious Education, had written a letter dated July 15th, 2009 to the permanent secretary, ministry of Education, questioning the directive that the permanent secretary had issued regarding religious dressing on July 14th, 2009 and called for dialogue and consultation before implementation. He also recommended strongly that the directive and implementation be withdrawn.

"The need for consultation and dialogue arises from the fact the Catholic Church has her own religious traditions, discipline and philosophy of education that is cherished and held in all catholic schools. This is what has made Catholic schools what they are. For that reason, the Church has to be involved in any decision that might affect her directly or indirectly. In addition the directive was issued without taking into consideration the views and concerns of the Catholic Church and other Christian churches.

"It is a well known fact that Catholic schools all over the country are open to all children regardless of their social status or religious affiliation. This is why the Church is careful to maintain a certain degree of uniformity in her schools for the good and interest of all as she endeavours to build one people and one nation.

"Therefore, the recognition of any religious emblem is and should be subject to consultation with sponsors of the respective schools. Otherwise, it means that the sponsor’s role is no longer recognized by the ministry of Education and this is against the 1968 Education ACT (Revised 1980) which has not been repealed. In this matter of the religious dressing, therefore, the Catholic Church is requesting that her rights and concerns be respected and the issue be subjected to consultation and dialogue by all stakeholders in education with the aim of reaching an amicable agreement.

"We wish to point out that any concern as to why the Catholic Church has not implemented the circular of the permanent Secretary – Ministry of Education – in her public sponsored and private schools should only be addressed to the chairman of Kenya Episcopal Conference and not the heads of the respective institutions.

"In conclusion, we pray that this matter of the Hijab he handled with reason and respect, avoiding confrontation and threats, for harmonious co-existence – taking into account that our children are about to sit for the National and end of the year examinations."

Signed

Rt. Rev. Phillip Anyolo
Ag. Chairman; Kenya Episcopal Conference
17th October, 2009

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‘Sudan conflict due to Inequality’

The people of Sudan are yearning for lasting peace, Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, archbishop of Khartoum has told the Synod of Bishops in Rome.

In his presentation, Cardinal Wako said that Africa now needed courage, to realize all the dreams that the continent has, among them the search for peace.

“The problem between South and North Sudan was a problem ranging from inequalities in development between North and South to inequalities of opportunities accorded to the people of the two portions of the country by the central government,” said the Cardinal, adding that religious and racial differences did not mitigate the situation in the country.

The cardinal lamented the isolation of Sudan by the international community and by NGOs saying that those left to suffer were the population. He criticised those who have taken sides in the conflict subjecting the weak to even greater suffering.

On the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that was signed in 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya, Cardinal Wako said that though conflict had ended, the country still experienced great uncertainty with a very delicate peace in the Sudan.

He prayed that the ongoing Synod of bishops ‘would draw a genuine road map for the salvation of Africa.’

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Comboni Missionary dies in Juba, Sudan

Comboni Missionaries are mourning loss of one of their missionaries in Sudan, following a fatal road accident.

Fr. Giovanni Fenzi died early on Thursday morning Oct. 16, 2009, after being involved in a road accident near Southern Sudan Capital, JUBA.

According to Fr. Paulino Mondo Twesigye, the Deputy Provincial of the Comboni Missionaries in Kenya, Fr. Giovanni was traveling from the airport where he had accompanied a colleague, Fr. Guiseppe Ciannini, who was travelling to Nairobi.

Fr. Fenzi was alone on his way back from the airport after dropping Fr. Ciannini at the airport, when the accident occurred at around 2am in the morning.

Fr. Giovanni Antonini, who had worked with the deceased in Sudan, and is currently based at the Comboni Missionaries New people Media centre in Nairobi, described the late as very dedicated in his pastoral work among the people on Nuba hills in Sudan, where he ministered most of his priestly life.

Born in 1946 in Italy, Fr. Giovanni Fenzi was ordained to priesthood in 1974, and went to work among the Nuba people in 1976 in the diocese of Elobeyd.

“He was fond of a transistor Radio which he carried most of the time, until one time, the Sudanese government forces fighting the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) suspected him of using the same (which they mistook for a phone) to contact SPLM rebels,” Fr. Antonini told CANAnews.

This led to him being expelled from the country in 1990, which, he later returned to and continued with his missionary work.

Until his death, Fr. Fenzi had been working at the Comboni Procure in Juba.

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Church sends goodwill message to Hindu community

The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran has sent a message of goodwill to the Hindu community on the occasion of feast of DIWALI to be marked this weekend.

In his message, Cardinal Tauran prayed that the festival of lights (Diwali) would strengthen fellowship among all faiths and bring blessings of happiness and peace to all.

In line with the traditions of the church council, the Cardinal proposed a common reflection on the need to work together for integral human development which he defined as ‘advance towards the true good of every individual, community and society, in every single dimension of human life: social, economic, political, intellectual, spiritual and religious’.

“The respect for others implies recognition of their freedom; freedom of conscience, of thought and of religion,” said the Cardinal.

He further prayed that all people of goodwill would join together and dispel any hindrance to a true vision of co-existence, religious harmony and integral development for each and every person.

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Archbishop Celli: Promote church communications in Africa

The president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli wants the bishops of Africa to support and encourage church communications in the continent.

Speaking to the delegates attending the ongoing Synod of Bishops for Africa, Archbishop Celli appreciated the growth that the catholic communication has experience since the last synod of bishops in 1994.

The archbishop said today, Africa has over 160 catholic radio stations broadcasting in 32 countries as opposed to only 15 in 1994, when the last synod for Africa was held.

However, to enhance better communication in the African church, Archbishop Celli has asked for the synod fathers to invest more in training communicators and support the creation of associations of Catholic communicators.

“Time has come for the fast growing media culture to be evangelized and to enter into dialogue with those in the ministry,” he said.

Archbishop Celli addressed the synod of bishops as the gathering entered the crucial phase of group works in readiness for the unification of the propositions by the general secretariat next week.

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Cardinal Njue: Reconciliation a must for Kenya

Reconciliation in Kenya has not been easy, but it is a path that we must all walk and as a church encourage people to take.

This was said to day by Cardinal John Njue during an international press conference at the Vatican during the ongoing Synod of Bishops for Africa, who also chairs the important information committee of the ongoing Synod

Flanked by Cardinal Napier of South Africa and the popes spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, Cardinal Njue recounted the experience Kenya went through after the 2007 elections terming it as having been a difficult time for Kenya and challenging one for the church in the country.

Respect from Donors
Asked about donors who come to our African countries with hidden agenda, Cardinal Njue said that we all needed help from well intentioned donors, but called for respect from them.

"Whatever came from outside must also respect the local culture and the dignity of the people being helped," he said.

He said farmers are being subjected to great injustices for not being rewarded for their hard labour in their farms by those in western market.

HIV/AIDS interventions
Cardinal Napier of South Africa said the church had set up different institutions to offer accurate information on HIV/AIDS; care for the infected; get more involved in programs offering ART as well as prevention programs to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.

To the married, the Cardinal reiterated the call for faithfulness and to those yet to get marriage, he called for abstinence.

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The Late Bp. Baldacchino buried

The late Bishop Francis Baldacchino of Malindi was finally laid to rest yesterday (October 13, 2009) in a send-off befitting a faithful servant during a funeral Mass presided over by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue the chairman of Kenya Episcopal conference at the Maltese Capital, Valleta.

The burial was also attended by among others Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa (Kenya), Bishop Philip Sulumeti, the Vice chairman, Kenya Episcopal Conference and Bishop Paul Darmanin of Garissa.

The Cardinal paid glowing tribute to the late Bishop Baldacchino, whom he said he will be remembered for his selfless service as a missionary in Kenya.

Cardinal Njue described the late as a being 'not only the Bishop of Malindi but a very faithful member of the Kenya Episcopal Conference where he dedicated his energy, wisdom and knowledge at the national (Kenya) Catholic Secretariat, specifically in the Secretariat’s Commission for Inter-Religious dialogue, an area he was an expert.

“May his pastoral zeal , now that he is gone become ours and continue through us who are alive,, that all his pastoral dreams for the Diocese of Malindi may come to fulfillment. ,” said cardinal Njue in his message of condolence.

Bishop Baldacchino who until his death was the ordinary of Malindi was laid to rest in Malta, his land of origin.

At the same time, the clergy, religious and the faithful in the former Bishop Baldacchino's diocese of Malindi celebrated a requiem Mass to coincide with the burial at the Diocese’s St. Anthony cathedral. The Mass was celebrated by the Diocese’s Vicar-General, Fr. Albert Buijs, who said the diocese had lost a humble, faithful shepherd.

“His works speak for themselves, from education to development to pastoral. We have 5 parishes when we were given this diocese in 2000, now, our dear bishop leaves behind 14 Parishes,” said the Vicar-general.

The Diocese will be celebrating another Requiem Mass on Sunday, October, 18.

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Stand up against death penalty, Church told

Bishop George BIGUZZI, bishop of Makeni and president of the Episcopal Conference of Sierra Leone has urged the Synod Fathers to unequivocally call for total and universal abolition of the death penalty.

Speaking at the Synod of Bishops in Rome, the bishop criticized the brutal treatment of war prisoners and the recruitment of child soldiers calling them crimes against humanity.

“The prophetic voice of the church is needed even when there were no many listeners," he said.

Traumatic Conflict
Meanwhile, Bishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu diocese in Uganda recounted the violence that children in his Gulu diocese have had to bear.

As a result of armed conflict in the region between the government and the Uganda’s Lord’s Resistant Army (LRA) rebels, Bishop Odama said that between 20,000-30, 000 children have been abducted and called for respect for life.

Gulu diocese, the birthplace of Joseph Kony, commander of LRA rebels, has experienced immense suffering, with 90% of the population being displaced as a result of the conflict.

Africa, a Missionary Continent
Speaking at the same gathering, Fr. Speratus KAMANZI, Superior General of the Apostles of Jesus said Africa had now become of age and has become a missionary continent.

He saw the prophecy of Pope Paul VI in 1969 in Kampala, of Africans being missionaries to themselves, as being fulfilled. However, Superior of the Apostles of Jesus which has 400 members, called for more support and encouragements for these missionaries.

He further criticized immigrants to Europe and America, disguising themselves as missionaries, yet are not mandated by any church authority.

HIV/AIDS Stigma too heavy to bear
The AIDS Pandemic has not escaped the attention of our church fathers either.

Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa lamented how people have become tired of hearing or even of talking of HIV/AIDS, including church ministers.

Terming the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS as 'too heavy for anyone to bear alone', Archbishop Lele called for a concerted approach to the pandemic.

He urged the church leaders to be more available to mentor the youth.

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Cardinal Njue, Bishops attend Bp. Baldacchinno’s Burial

The burial of the late bishop of Malindi, Bishop Francis Baldacchino takes place today at 1500hrs (Kenyan time) in the island of Malta where the bishop was born.

Kenyan delegation attending the burial led by Cardinal John Njue left Rome on Monday (October 12, 2009) evening for the burial.

Together with Cardinal Njue was Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa and Bishop Philip Sulumeti, who are attending the Synod of Bishops in Rome.

Meanwhile, the clergy in the diocese of Malindi in Kenya, the religious men and women as well as the Christians are celebrating a Requiem Mass today at St. Anthony Cathedral to celebrate the life well spent of the diocese’s late Bishop Baldacchinno.

According to Fr. Ambrose Muli, Father-in- Charge at the cathedra, The diocesan Vicar –General Fr. Albert Buijs will be celebrating the Mass at 1300hrs (Kenyan time), concelebrated by the clergy in the Diocese.

“The Mass is respect to our Bishop. We are celebrating it to run con-current with the burial that is taking place in Malta today,” said Fr. Ambrose.

At the same time, the diocese is planning for another diocesan Requem Mass, that will bring together faithful from different parts of Malindi Diocese on Sunday.

Bishop Philip Anyolo, the acting Kenya Episcopal Conference Chairman, who was to celebrate today’s Requiem Mass with the clergy will now celebrate the one scheduled for Sunday.

Fr. Ambrose termed the mood in the diocese as sad. “He is our only Bishop we have known in our diocese, as he was our first shepherd here. We would have felt a little better if he was being buried here. But God does as He wills. Malindi Diocese is young, and we ask for prayers,” he said.

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Cardinal Njue advocates for good Constitution

His Eminence John Cardinal Njue has said that many countries in Africa are struggling under bad governance, where hunger for power leads to impunity, corruption, and manipulation of people.

While addressing the Synod Father during the ongoing Synod for Africa on Monday October 12, 2009, Cardinal Njue described bad governance as the ‘cancer’ in Africa, blaming it for impoverishing Africans.

He challenged the African public to engage more vibrantly to create just systems of governance through good constitutions.

He criticised leaders who would rather stick to constitutions that give them unchecked power leading to anarchy and dictatorship.

While appreciating the national accord reached in Kenya last year, the Cardinal criticized the slow pace of the proposed reforms, declaring that the ‘time for action was NOW’.

Talking on the same theme of governance, Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Cardinal Napier, O.F.M., Archbishop of Durban,South Africa Spoke of the new form of dictatorship that has take root in Africa.

While appreciating that coup d’état had decreased in Africa, the Cardinal spoke of the form of dictatorship this time led by the liberators. He said that those who were liberators are now the modern dictators.

Cardinal Napier said that political parties had themselves become the new dictators and have been seizing power in African as it recently happened with ANC in South Africa.

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Archbishop Okoth: Reconciliation a priority in Kenya

Unless Kenyans embrace healing and reconciliation and treat it as a priority, the country would easily revert to lawlessness and bloodshed.

Addressing the over 240 Synod delegates who included Pope Benedict XVI over the weekend, Most Rev Bishop Zacchaeus Okoth, Archbishop of Kisumu recalled how Kenya has been torn apart, with neighbours turning against neighbours, tribes against tribes and even family members against their own kinsmen.

In reference to the post election violence which rocked our country early last year, the Archbishop Okoth recounted to the attentive audience how people were killed, women raped and the numerous destruction of property which followed.

Although this reality is still fresh in our country, the archbishop said that it was time the church in Kenya provided a clear direction on the reconciliation process.

In the same sitting, the Bishop Philip Sulumeti of Kakamega received a thunderous applause by the Synod delegates when he spoke of the need for more involvement of women in the life of the church.

“The church is slowly losing out on women for not making them more participatory, responsible and authentic and visible in our church,” said the bishop, challenging the delegates to make an honest reflection and appreciate the role of women in the church.

The bishop, who is also the vice chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference praised of the women in Kenya for being the work force behind Agricultural and domestic duties

He appealed to the special assembly of Bishops for Africa to give ‘quality formation to empower women and to open for them all social careers which traditions and modern society tend to exclude them without reason’

He called on men to undergo a ‘radical change and a fundamental conversion’

The synod started the second week this morning.

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Requiem Mass, Burial for Bp. Baldacchino on Tuesday

The Catholic Diocese of Malindi, Kenya, will be celebrating a requiem Mass on Tuesday 13 October, 2009, for their late shepherd, Rt. Rev. Francis Baldacchino, OFM Cap, who passed away early on Saturday 10 October, 2009.

According to Fr. Peter Karanja Kamau, assistant Priest, St. Anthony cathedral in the diocese, the diocese will also hold another requiem Mass on Saturday 17 October, 2009.

At the same time, the burial of the late bishop is to be held on Tuesday 13 October, 2009, at Malta Island.

His Eminence John Cardinal Njue and several other Bishops are expected to attend the burial in Malta.

The Acting Chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, Bishop Philip Anyolo is expected to preside over the requiem Mass in Malindi on Tuesday.

While officially announcing the demise of the late Bishop on saturday, Bishop Anyolo expressed profound sorrow for the loss.

And at the on going Synod for Africa in ROME, Archbishop Nikola ETEROVIC, Secretary of the Synod, broke the sad news to the Synod fathers on Saturday, paying a glowing tribute for the work the late Bishop was doing in Kenya.

The late Bishop passed away while under going treatment in Marsa, Malta Island, off Italian coast in the Mediterranean Sea, after suffering from heart and liver complications.

It is in this same Island, where the late Bishop was born on July 6, 1936. He was ordained priest on March 18, 1961, and appointed Bishop of Malindi on June24, 2000, whereby, he was ordained the Diocesan shepherd on September 2, 2000.

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Cardinal Antonelli: “Repulse Anti-life ideologies”

Recalling the Holy Father’s inauguration mass homily in which he decried what he described as ‘exporting spiritual toxic waste’ to Africa from the first world, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family Cardinal Ennio Antonelli called on the African church leaders to be vigilant against ideologies spread by reproductive health centres and some media houses all aimed at the destruction and annihilation of the family.

He said that some international institutions and organisations pretend to advocate for the rights of women and children, but they have other hidden agenda in Africa.

Bishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Abeokuta in Nigeria said neo-Pentecostalists have invaded the continent and are busy luring the youth into joining them, away from the Catholic Church.

He appealed to the Church leaders in our continent to ensure that no one was ‘anonymous’ in the parishes and that all should feel belonging to the church.

Bishop Adewale said that there was need to create a ministry in each parish that attended to the concerns and needs of the young executives and professionals targeted by neo-pentecostal groups.

Africa, Land of saints

And Archbishop Angelo AMATO S.D.B, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints described Africa as a land of saints.

Recalling the heroism of the Martyrs of Uganda, the wisdom of St Augustine and the witnessing of St Giuseppina Bakhita and many others, all sons and daughters of our continent, Archbishop called on the church leaders to promote more heroic witnesses to the faith in Africa.

22 nations in Africa have 44 beatifications and canonizations in process, 13 Blesseds, 4 venerables and 27 servants of God, among them being Mwalimu Julius Kabarage Nyerere from Tanzania.

Meanwhile, the delegates attending the synod have written a letter of solidarity to the Archbishop and people of war torn region of Bukavu, a letter that was read out at the start of Thursday’s Synod sessions.

On Wednesday, this week, the Archbishop of Bukavu, DR Congo, Mons. Francois Xavier Maroy Rusengo had appealed for solidarity and support from the delegates for his wounded diocese.

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Stand up for prophetic mission, African church told

Bishop Louis Portella Mbuyu of Kinkala and Chairman of the Episcopal Conference of the Republic of Congo has called on the church in Africa to rediscover her prophetic voice.

Addressing an audience of 244 Synod fathers this morning, the Ordinary cautioned that when overwhelmed by so many injustices and exploitations, the church might stop being moved by this and become used to it, no longer speak and thus abdicating her role as the "voice of those without voice".

Bishop Mbuyu said that the church could only offer this prophetic mission if she herself was a ‘reconciled community’.

He said that the church must always be the base where reconciliation is always present.

Meanwhile, Rome is all ready for the recitation of the Rosary with the Holy Father For Africa and With Africa.

The Holy father will lead in this special prayer and be joined by various university students live via satelite on Saturday starting at 6pm Kenyan time.

Students from many universities, including the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, CUEA are expected to participate.

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