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Ethiopia: Ethiopian Catholic Church Symposium |
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Written by Fr. Jean-Marie Bilwala-Kabesa, Imc
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Tuesday, 04 March 2008 |
 “…As the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. (…) In my name, they will drive out demons; they will speak new languages…” (Mk 16, 14-17)
Some months ago, the Ethiopian Episcopal Conference took time to reflect on the ongoing reality of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia. They came out in favour of making the evaluation firstly among themselves, then in their respective dioceses or Vicariates. It is obvious to assert that the world keeps on provoking several challenges in our daily lives. Seemingly, the movement can be compared to “hurricane”. It is also true that it affects the Church. To give answer to that movement, several methods came into the mind of the Vicariate leaders. There you are, one month ago, all of us, included Christians, Sisters, were obliged to give answers to the questionnaires prepared by the Vicariate. That was the type of method chosen by the Vicariate of Meki.Thus, on Meki Vicariate side, from February, 26th to February 28th -2008, we were gathered in Gighessa (Pastoral Centre) to respond to the necessity of the Vicariate. It could be called “Meki Vicariate Synod”, but it was advised to be called “Symposium” due to lack of the juridical aspects. The Symposium involved full of religious, priests, sisters, brothers, lays, and the Meki Vicariate Bishop himself. During the opening ceremony of the Symposium, the Bishop firstly thanked the Almighty God for that precious moment and event in his Vicariate. Then, he appreciated the good work of each of us, keeping on inviting all of us to participate actively with a view to building up the Vicariate, manifestation of God work here in the earth. It is for the first time to get that sort of moment in our Vicariate. In general, the Symposium was well organized, prepared and guided by one Jesuit Father, Reverend Father Groom, s.j. In the end, after reflecting a lot on the “daily life” of the Vicariate of Meki, we ended the Symposium with some proposals for the future. Thanks to the Bishop of Meki, Abraham Desta, for the initiative to make all of us together, thought, shared together and found proposals as was in the first Council of Jerusalem when Peter and Paul faced the problem to evangelize the pagans. We hope that the blessings of God will be on us so that we can be capable to respond to the mission given by Jesus-Christ to His disciples (Mk 16, 14-17). Amen!
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Last Updated ( Monday, 03 March 2008 )
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