ETHIOPIA: Church Set to Host 19th AMECEA Plenary Meeting

ADDIS ABABA MAY 18, 2018(CISA)– The Ethiopian Bishops Conference is set to host the 19th Plenary Assembly of the AMECEA (Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa) scheduled for July, 2018 in Addis Ababa.

The executive board members have expressed satisfaction with the preparatory work done by the host conference which will be hosting the plenary for the first time in the history of AMECEA.

According to AMECEA news, the board members expressed these sentiments in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, at a meeting which took place from 15th to 19th May, 2018, with the preparatory committees from AMECEA Secretariat in Nairobi and from the Ethiopian Bishops Conference.

According to the Ethiopia Catholic Secretariat (ECS) Secretary General Very Rev. Abba Hagos Hayish, over 90 percent of the preparatory activities have been achieved.

The AMECEA Secretary General, Very Rev. Fr Ferdinand Lugonzo, confirmed that majority of the delegates have confirmed participation in the Plenary Assembly.

He explained that the theme of the plenary, which is “Vibrant Diversity, Equal dignity, Peaceful Unity in God in the AMECEA Region,” was guided by the persistent conflict in the region.

Those expected to attend include all the patrons of AMECEA, representatives from USCCB, Missio Aachen, Missio Munich, CAMECO, Church-in-Need, CAFOD, Miserior, Porticus Africa, Healey Foundation, CRS, International Medical Missionary Skills, Prefect of the Congregation of the Catholic Education, Congregation of Propagation of Faith, Dicastery on Promotion of Integral Human development, Prefect for the Congregation for Oriental Churches, Italian Bishops Conference, President for the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, Radio Vatican, SECAM as well as neighbouring Bishops conferences of Rwanda, Burundi, DRC and IMBISA.

The opening Mass will be at the Ethiopian Millennium hall which is a government facility with a capacity of more than 30,000 people while the closing Mass will be held at the Nativity Cathedral in Addis. The plenary Assembly Meeting will take place at the UN Economic Commission for Africa.