2009 Africa Synod
Africae Munus: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
Posted January 3rd, 2012. This article from the Oct-Dec 2011 edition of Around Africa, by Aniedi Okure, AFJN Executive Director
Encouragement for the Church in Africa and a challenge to the Universal Church
On November 19th, 2011, in the Republic of Benin in West Africa, Pope Benedict XVI published the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus which means Africa's Commitment, marking the climax of the Second Synod of Bishops for Africa (2009). The exhortation builds on the theme of the First Synod of Bishops for Africa, Ecclesia in Africa (1994) which focused on the "Church as Family of God". It described the family as a place of belonging, dialogue and solidarity, a place where everyone feels welcomed and the uniqueness of each member is respected and nurtured. The Second Synod places special emphasis on the theological themes that are integral to the family of God – personal reconciliation, building a just social order and promoting peace through living the beatitudes. Africae Munus notes that the family is the place that propagates the "culture of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation" (#43).
Africae Munus is presented as a two part address. Part one which includes many elements of Ecclesia in Africa opens with "Behold I make all things new" and highlights what the Pope sees as a new dawn of Christian maturity on the African continent. Part two focuses on the constituent members of the Church – clergy, consecrated persons, men and women missionaries, lay pastoral leaders, the elderly, youth and children – and challenges Church leadership to recognize and embrace their gifts so as to give an appropriate and holistic response to the pastoral needs of the time, and to lead by example rather than just teaching.
Read more: Africae Munus: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
Mumemo Declaration: A New Pentecost for Africa
As many of our readers know, the second Africa Synod which was celebrated in Rome this past October was not an event, but a process. That process continues and we want to share with you the latest! The Mumemo Declaration is communique sent as a result of a meeting of African development and justice and peace organizations who met in Maputo from May 23-26 to discuss how to put the outcomes of the Second Africa Synod of Bishops into practice.
The Consultation, ‘The Second African Synod- A Pentecost for the Church in Africa, was attended by about 135 participants, including two Cardinals, 42 Bishops, priests and lay people from 46 countries of Africa. It was sponsored by Caritas Africa and SECAM.
Read the full declaration here.
The Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, “the African Reconciliation Project”: The role of Missionary Institutes
Written by Paul Saa-Dade Ennin sma, posted on January 29, 2009A member of the SMA General Council, Paul Saa-Dade Ennin, participates regularly in reflection sessions organised by SEDOS[1] of which he is an active member. As a preparation towards the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, he shared his thoughts on the theme of the Synod in an article for publication in the Sedos bulletin. He has revised his article in the light of the conclusions of the Synod. Published here is the revised edition. [email protected], For more on the synod visit www.yesafricamatters.org
Introduction
It is almost 15 years since the First Special Synod of bishops for Africa was held in Rome and the fruits made available in the post synodal exhortation “Ecclesia in Africa” of Pope John Paul II. The first synod for Africa did confront a lot of the challenges facing the African Church and the African continent today: evangelisation, the family, Justice and Peace, the mass media, war and conflict, the debt burden and the arms trade, corruption and dictatorship, the youth, disease and refugee situations etc. However, one can term it, without any fear of contradiction, as “the special synod on Inculturation.” The propositions of that synod opened a wave of discussion on how the Gospel, the Word made Flesh, can become incarnate, meaningful and relevant to the people of Africa through an inculturated evangelisation. The ecclesiology of “Church as Family of God”, one of the fruits of the synod, remains one of the main ecclesiological themes in Africa today.
The Second Special Synod of bishops for Africa has just taken place in Rome from the 4th to the 25th of October 2009, under the theme “The Church in Africa in service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace”. The Final message of the Synod and the Propositions are now available to us. As we wait for the post-synodal exhortation of the Holy Father, I will like to share with you my thoughts on the need for reconciliation in Africa and the role missionary Institutes in Africa can play in this delicate but vital mission of the Church. I shall do this from my own point of view as an African who is a member of an International missionary Institute.
Why a Second Synod for Africa?
As Pius Rutechura puts it, “in convening the Second Synod of Africa, the interpretation is that the Church in Africa has an unfinished agenda!”[1] That agenda is in the area of reconciliation, justice and peace. The Instrumentum Laboris asserts that “the present synodal assembly is to be considered in the continuing dynamics of the preceding one.”[2]
Reflections on the Synod: Where to go from here?
Posted On December 4, 2009
By Rocco Puopolo s.x., Executive Director
The Second Special Assembly of Bishops on Africa ended in Rome on October 25th. But the process continues, and the main agents are those who continue to commit time and talent to this Synod. Bishops from around the world gave more than 3 weeks of their time in Rome, and it was no vacation. They took a serious look at issues ranging from challenges for family, to resource exploitation, trade imbalances, debt, climate change, women in Africa, conflicts, poor governance, migration, corruption, globalization, health challenges, and insufficient media coverage of the real Africa with all its lights and shadows. You have faithfully followed the Synod’s events through this newsletter and the website www.yesafricamatters.org. So, now what?
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