Eastern Africa's Catholic Bishops Commit Next Four Years to Young People as Top Pastoral Priority
The Catholic Bishops of Eastern Africa have committed the next four years of their regional pastoral mission to accompanying young people, making them their top pastoral priority as they seek to strengthen the Church through listening, dialogue, and synodal accompaniment in one of the world's youngest regions.
“You are few in this hall, but you are not few in God's eyes or in this Assembly. You stand here to represent thousands of young Catholics across the 11 countries in Eastern Africa who could not travel to Kenya, but whose hopes you carry. Your Bishops are seeing you and listening to you,” he said. Encouraging them to embrace their vocation in the Church and society, the AMECEA Chairman cited St. Paul's exhortation to Timothy: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. ”Reflecting on AMECEA's 65-year journey, Bishop Kasonde described the regional association as the realization of a vision of ecclesial collaboration that continues to unite the Church across national borders. “Sixty-five years ago, the Bishops of Eastern Africa dared to imagine a Church working together across our borders and cultures. Today, here in Kenya, we are the fruit of that dream. For 65 years of growth in faith, in numbers, and in holiness across our member Episcopal Conferences, God alone be praised,” he said. He also thanked Pope Leo XIV for his spiritual closeness to the AMECEA Plenary Assembly through his representative and expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church in Kenya for accepting to host the gathering on short notice. (Story continues below)Turning to the challenges that the region faces, Bishop Kasonde said the AMECEA Plenary Assembly could not overlook the suffering caused by conflict, displacement, and violence. “Our hearts cannot ignore the wounds of our region and our world—conflict, displacement, families torn by violence,” he said. Entrusting the region to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he prayed that the gathering would contribute to peace in Eastern Africa. “Through Mary, Queen of Peace, we ask God for peace in every troubled corner of Eastern Africa and that this Plenary itself become an instrument of that peace,” he said during the opening Holy Mass of the 21st AMECEA Plenary Assembly on July 19. On his part, welcoming participants in the Plenary Assembly to Kenya, the Chairman of theKenya Conference of Catholic Bishops(KCCB), ArchbishopMaurice Muhatia Makumba, reaffirmed the Church's confidence in young people and encouraged them to play an active role in the life of the Church and society. “The Church loves you, and we invite you to participate fully in the life of the Church and the life of your respective countries, that we may grow together in love, in justice, in unity, in faith, and in moving our society forward based on our Catholic and Christian values,” Archbishop Muhatia said. The host of the 21st AMECEA Plenary Assembly, ArchbishopPhilip Subira Anyoloof theCatholic Archdiocese of Nairobi(ADN) described the gathering as “a great blessing and an honour” and invited participants to model their synodal journey on the disciples' encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. “May we find Him within us. May we feel our hearts burning as we listen to Him. Above all, may we continually discover Jesus as the disciples of Emmaus did at the breaking of bread,” Archbishop Anyolo said. He encouraged young people to remain steadfast in faith despite contemporary challenges. “Do not be afraid to live your faith to the full. Allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you and guide you to joyful and courageous witness,” the Kenyan Catholic Archbishop said. AMECEA comprises the Episcopal Conferences of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, with Djibouti and Somalia participating as affiliate members. During the week-long Assembly, Bishops and delegates are examining key pastoral and social issues affecting young people, including governance, unemployment, migration, social exclusion, safeguarding, mental health, evangelization in the digital age, and missionary vocations. The Plenary is also to review the implementation of previous resolutions, consider reports from the AMECEA Secretariat and its institutions, deliberate on revised statutes, approve its final resolutions and communiqué, and elect a new AMECEA Chairman. The Assembly is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, July 26, with a closing Eucharistic celebration to be presided over by the AMECEA Chairman to be elected during the ongoing Plenary Assembly. The current Chairman of AMECEA, Bishop Kasonde, wasre-electedduring the July 202220th Plenary Assemblyof the nine-nation eight-Conference Association that was held in theCatholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.