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Africa Summit in Baltimore: AFJN discusses Synod follow-up with members of St. Matthew’s Parish
Posted on June 9, 2010
By Rocco Puopolo, s.x, Executive Director
The latest Africa Summit was held at St. Matthew’s Parish in Baltimore on May 23rd. The parish committee organized an afternoon gathering to learn more about the proceedings and the outcomes of the recent African Synod held in Rome October 2009. Sr. Hewit Tesfagiorgis, a Comboni Missionary Sister and former intern at AFJN, coordinated the various Africa Diaspora groups that are part of this parish, with the interest and support of Fr. Joe Muth, the Pastor of St. Matthew’s. It was Pentecost Sunday, and after the 11:00 am Mass, around 40 people gathered for lunch and input by Fr. Rocco. The Synod of Bishops was seen as a "new Pentecost” so it was very appropriate that St. Matthew's gathered on this feast.
The process and the public message of the Synod were presented, highlighting, among other things, the concerns that the Bishops had for pastoral care to Diaspora in countries like USA. A general overview was given of the many propositions generated by the Synod Fathers. Proposals ranged from creative ways to bring the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation to social reconciliation in Africa, concern for children affected by wars, highlighting the role of women in the Church, addressing the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, looking at the need for good governance and the challenge to educate government leaders to their responsibilities as political leaders, the establishment of Church liaison offices with each government on the continent much like AFJN, creating formal relations with the African Union, and a concern about the lack of good media coverage by the press of African issues. These propositions were presented to the Pope at the conclusion of the Synod and will be included in a document that will be published later this year.
After the presentation on the Synod, participants were asked to work in groups to discuss and come up with practical responses as a local church to one of the concerns of the Synod that interests them. The list of concerns were 1) support for farm policy change to encourage local African farmers, 2) the continued need for education for boys and girls in Africa and the rooting out of corruption, 3) better direct service to people in need through local parish support or national support such as CRS, and 4)lastly, practical ways of getting local media, both Catholic and secular interested in African issues that we are interested in and concern us.
At the end of this exercise a final presentation was made to the group on one practical issue that the Africa Faith and Justice Network is presently engaged: encouraging more congressional sponsorship for the International Violence against Women's Act (H. R. 4594 and S. 2982). This was one of the asks to Congress for our lobby day at this year’s AFJN conference. These bills are before Congress for consideration and need more co-sponsors.
The day proved to be very helpful and informative. It enabled the participants to discover that they are a voice in our church and society and have an important role to play in bringing peace and justice to the peoples of Africa. There was great interest in a follow up meeting with a wider representation from other parishes in the Baltimore area some time in the future.
This parish summit was just one of a growing number of regional gatherings to bring Africa to the grassroots. Over the past four years AFJN has encouraged local members to initiate regional Africa Summits. There have been Africa Summits in Chicago and Cincinnati. A sampling of past issues are: “Why Africa is important in our world,” “The Oil Industry in Africa,” “Development in Africa,” “Women in Africa,” “Youth and the future of Africa,” “HIV/AIDS in Africa,” “The Church in Africa,” “US policy toward Africa” or a current piece of legislation before Congress. AFJN is always ready to assist in underlining the importance of advocacy and education, in order to help participants take the next step from not only knowing more about a particular situation in Africa, but as a citizen getting involved in bringing greater justice and peace to Africa through the advocating for fair and just relations between the US and African countries in these practical ways.
If you are interested in coordinating a similar Africa Summit in your parish or region, please contact Fr. Rocco by email at director@afjn.org or by phone at 202-884-9780.
This article was originally published in the May-June 2010 edition of Around Africa.
New Leadership at Missionaries of Africa and the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus
The Africa Faith and Justice Network congratulates the Missionaries of Africa and the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus on their recent general chapters where their newly elected general superiors are from Africa for the first time. Our warmest good wishes go to both communities.
Missionaries of Africa Generalate, Rome, 31st May 2010 – 
Father Richard Baawobr, elected Superior General .
Father Richard Baawobr was born in Nandom-Lawra, Ghana, on the 21st June 1959. He joined the Society of Missionaries of Africa, making his novitiate at Fribourg in 1981-1982. He was then sent to Totteridge, London, for theology. He took his Missionary Oath on the 5th December 1986 and was ordained to the priesthood at Ko, Ghana, on the 18th July 1987. His first appointment in Africa was to Livulu, Kinshasa diocese, Congo. He stayed there for four years.
He then went to Rome for Scripture studies (4 years), then to Châtelard, Lyons, France, for training in Ignatian spirituality. He was appointed as a member of the team of the Kahangala Spiritual Year, Tanzania (1996-1999).
In 1998, Father Baawobr participated in the General Chapter as delegate for Tanzania. From October 1999, he was in charge of M.Afr. students doing theology in Toulouse. He took a Sabbatical in 2002-2003 to continue work on his doctorate in Holy Scripture (which he successfuly obtained in November 2004). He came to the 2004 Chapter as delegate of the French Province and he was elected 1st Assistant General (2004-2010). Father Richard is the first African Superior General of the Society.
From the website of the Missionaries of Africa
Sr. Veronica Openibo of the Sisters of the Holy Child of Jesus was elected in April as the Society Leader (Superior General) of her community. She is pictured here with her new council, (l to r) Sr. Carmel Murtagh, Sr. Veronica, Sr. Carmen Torres and Sr. Monica Adigwe. Sr. Veronica is the first sister from Africa to be Society Leader of the Holy Child Community. She is no stranger to leadership. She served as a member of the Society Leadership Team from 1992-1998 and was also the Leader of the Society’s African Province from 1986 to 1992. She also served as the President of the Nigerian Conference of Women Religious, which is the leadership conference of women religious in Nigeria, from 1990-1992. The Team takes office this summer.
From the website of the Sisters of the Holy Child of Jesus
AFJN Highlights for 2009!
· Continued research and promotion for the restorative justice project, which will culminate in the publication of a book in 2011.
· Annual meeting as part of Ecumenical Advocacy Days and honored Ms Jennifer Davis of South Africa with the 2009 AFJN Award.
· Submitted updated policy recommendations on the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Administration and the Congress to assist in bringing peace and stability to that country.
· Offered support and leadership to Congo Global Action Network, which monitors the Congo in more depth.
· Succeeded in bringing of your voices and concerns to achieve significant changes in the military language in the LRA/Northern Uganda legislation.
· Leadership in the resist AFRICOM campaign, which continues to raise voices in opposition to the efforts of some in our government to militarize our relations with Africa in the name of shortsighted security concerns.
· Coverage and analysis in Rome of the Special Assembly for Africa (the Second African Synod) in October. AFJN has been a leader in spreading the word on the propositions coming out of the Synod that contribute to peace, justice and reconciliation for African people. See www.yesafricamatters.org for more.
· Our first public lecture in honor of Fr. Bill Dyer, held in November and entitled Justice, Reconciliation and Peacebuilding: Seen through African Eyes given by Fr. Clement Aapengnuo of Ghana.
Thanks!
Bishop Dowling Receives Honorary Doctorate
On May 22nd, Bishop Kevin Dowling, C.RR.S., Bishop of Rustenburg, South Africa and 2005 recipient of the AFJN Faith and Justice Award, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of
San Francisco, a Jesuit University. He will also be the University's commencement speaker, chosen for his dedication and advocacy on HIV/AIDS in Africa. We offer our congratulations to Bishop Dowling!
Recap: Africa Summit in Cincinnati
Posted on April 15th, 2009
On Saturday, March 28th,
over 150 people gathered at Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati,
Ohio for the second annual Africa Summit. This
celebration was
sponsored by the Archdiocesan offices of Mission, African American Catholic
Ministries, and Catholic Social Action. A planning committee
that involved representatives from the sponsoring offices, university
professors, Africa Diaspora and local Catholic communities aided in
shaping the day. Catholic Relief Services personnel, Paul Miller
and Dan Griffin, as well as AFJN Executive Director Fr. Rocco Puopolo contributed
to the day as well.
The day consisted of two keynotes: “Why Americans should care about Africa” by Paul Miller of CRS and “African Empowerment Locally and Globally” by Dr. John Kalubi, the director of the Africa & African American Studies Department at the University of Cincinnati. Complimenting these keynotes were 10 opportunities for workshops with topics ranging from: African Immigrants and Refugee Stories and How Americans Respond; The State of Education in Africa Today; African Economics: A Challenge of Trade, Debt, Business and Culture; A Conversation for Youth; African Health Care Issues and Solutions; Africa Hotspots: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Northern Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea/Ethiopia; African Spirituality and Interreligious Dialogue; African Women; Racism in America; and Networking for Local African Empowerment.
The
day ended with a Celebration of the Gifts of Africa in song and prayer
at Mass, lead by Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati and Bishop
Gabriel Mante of the Diocese of Jasikan, Ghana (a twinning partner with
the Archdiocese of Cincinnati). Choirs from Nigeria, Burundi,
and the African American Community of Cincinnati provided the music.
At the end of the liturgy and responding to traditional gifts given
to the him, Archbishop Schnurr said that he was so very honored to be
at this celebration of Africa and that the most appreciated gift
that he received that day was the presence of these members of the African
Diaspora as part of the Church of Cincinnati.
The Goals for the Summits in Cincinnati are:
- to obtain a deeper understanding of the current issues facing Africa and her people here in the U.S. and there in Africa today,
- to learn to advocate on behalf of Africa,
- to celebrate the gifts of Africa,
- to begin building bridges between African and African American communities both Catholic and non-Catholic,
- to develop links of solidarity with Africa between individuals, church groups, and other institutions,
- to empower a core group of individuals to carry on the spirit of the African Summit.
At AFJN, we hope that Africa Summits can be hosted in other cities in the US where there are significant numbers of the African Diaspora as well as persons interested in raising the profile of Africa, her gifts, as well as her challenges. Those interested, please contact Fr. Rocco Puopolo at director(at)afjn.org.
Mshomba Authors New Book "Africa and the World Trade Organization"
Cambridge University Press just published AFJN Member and LaSalle University Professor Richard E. Mshomba's new book "Africa and the World
Trade Organization." The book highlights many of the WTO's past efforts at development, and African interactions with them.According to Mshomba, "The objective of this study is to examine the World Trade Organization (WTO) - its enforcement mechanism; its broadened mandate, illustrated by the Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS); agriculture in the Doha Round of the WTO; the WTO's pursuit of additional agreements; and its endeavor to streamline assistance to developing countries through an "Aid for Trade" scheme - all in the context of Africa."
Click here to read more and to buy the book.
Mourning the Loss of Fr. Bill Dyer, M.Afr.
Lately, in the context of the
political campaigns and conventions, we have heard the phrase speaking truth to power. On Wednesday August 27th,
confreres, friends, and colleagues of Fr. Bill Dyer gathered at Ascension Church
in Bowie, MD to
celebrate the life and ministry of one of us who spoke truth to power
courageously and consistently. There
were an overwhelming number of testimonials that were received from colleagues
in the greater Washington area as well as from
Africa that spoke of his wit, passion, and witness to Christ in all he did to
promote justice and fairness for the peoples of Africa. Bill served in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Tanzania,
Niger, and Sudan. The lives and struggles of those he came to
know and love in Africa fueled his passion for
justice here in DC. He fearlessly but
respectfully spoke truth to power, no matter where, no matter what, and no
matter who. His focus was on Christ and
how we as Christ's disciples are commissioned to reach out to the poor, give
voice to their plight if they are unable, and more.
Bill didn't want a "big show" for his funeral. He may not have had the chance to leave "precise" instructions on this celebration since death came sooner than anyone thought, but enough of us knew his mind to know that the celebration was above and beyond his preferences. But he deserved what was done and we needed to celebrate the gift of his life in this manner. To the community of the Missionaries of Africa, his family, especially his sister Dorothy and her husband Joe, the parish community of Ascension in Bowie, and his many friends and colleagues here and in Africa, we thank you for sharing the gift and life of Bill Dyer with AFJN.
This celebration was held at Ascension Parish, Bowie, a parish community where Bill began serving only two years ago. But his service in Bowie was more to Bill than an occasional weekend to help out. Rather, they adopted him as one of their own and grounded his priestly ministry in their call to service and love.
Fr. Rocco Puopolo, s.x.
Executive Director
Jesuit-led shareholder movement advocates Cheveron to develop and implement Human Rights Policy
The Jesuits, organizational members of AFJN, recently
introduced a shareholder movement that received a strong 24% vote at Chevron’s
annual stockholder meeting. Gas and oil companies have recently come under a
lot of pressure for their human rights violations. This Jesuit-led movement has
been working to convince Chevron to develop a comprehensive and transparent
human rights policy. While Chevron has passed some human rights initiatives,
this movement of shareholders urges the company to create a more detailed
policy that is integrated into all aspects of the company. This movement also
acknowledges the need to make more than a humanitarian argument for Chevron to
institute a policy change; therefore, it asserts that the implementation of
better human rights standards by Chevron would also be a smart business
decision. It would “address threats to shareholder
value before they arise.” As a result of receiving 24% of the vote on their
initiative, the religious investment community expects to see the establishment
of a comprehensive human rights policy by Chevron. The company is heavily
involved in crude oil production in
To read the full press release from the Jesuits
Young People and AFJN
Where do we go to meet and invite younger folks to be part of the Africa Faith and Justice Network? Here in the USA we have approached university students over the past two years to engage them in advocacy for Northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last year’s Northern Uganda Lobby Days attracted over 700 young people to come to DC and make their voices heard on the Hill. Three college campuses are now affiliated in some way with AFJN: Notre Dame and St. Mary’s University in Notre Dame, IN and Loyola University of Chicago, IL. Significant contacts have been extended to 4 other campuses: University of Illinois, Chicago; Dayton University in Dayton, Ohio, Xavier University of Cincinnati, Ohio and American University here in DC.
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