African and European bishops meeting in Liverpool
CCEE-SECAM Seminar
Liverpool, 19-23 November 2008
“I was a stranger and you made me welcome” (Mt 25:35)
Migration as a new opportunity for evangelisation and solidarity
Following the Cape Coast (Ghana) seminar on slavery and the new forms of slavery (13-18 November 2007), the meetings between European and African bishops continued with a seminar on the theme Migration as a new opportunity for evangelisation and solidarity.
The seminar took place in Liverpool, 2008 European Capital of Culture, and was part of the CCEE-SECAM quadrennial project (2007-2010) which began following the First CCEE-SECAM Symposium (Rome, Italy, 10-13 November 2004). The project focuses on collaboration between European and African bishops and aims to deepen their common responsibility for evangelisation and the human promotion of their respective continents and the world.
The Seminar, promoted by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and with the collaboration of various aid agencies, was hosted by His Grace Mgr Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool.
During the course of the meeting Councilor Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of Liverpool, addressed delegates.
The meeting offered many opportunities for prayer and visits to local communities.
Themes
Around 40 participants, representatives of European and African episcopates, Vatican dicasteries and aid agencies, reflected in particular on the following themes:
- The welcome of strangers in the Bible: biblical-theological perspective.
- Africa-Europe migration in the global context.
- European and African policy and migration.
- Slavery in history and new slaveries.
- Pastoral care of refugees, workers and student migrants - a comparison of experiences.
- Pastoral approaches in a multi-cultural situation - diocesan multi-cultural experiences.
- Collaboration between the Churches of Africa and Europe.
What is CCEE?
CCEE is the Council of the Bishops´ Conferences of Europe. Its members are the current 33 European Bishops´ Conferences, represented by right by their Presidents, and the Archbishops of Luxembourg and of the Principality of Monaco and the Bishop of Chisinau (Moldavia).
The President of CCEE is Cardinal Péter Erdö, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Primate of Hungary. The Vice-Presidents are Cardinal Josip Bosanic, Archbishop of Zagreb, and Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Archbishop of Bordeaux. The General Secretary is Fr Duarte da Cunha.
The Secretariat is based at St Gallen (Switzerland).
Members of the preparatory commission:
His Eminence Cardinal Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb (Croazia), CCEE Vice-president; His Lordship Mgr Gérard Defois, Bishop Emeritus of Lille (France); His Lordship Mgr Tom Burns, Bishop-elect of Menevia (Wales); and Fr Duarte da Cunha, CCEE General Secretary.
Link:
What is SECAM?
SECAM is the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar and comprises the national episcopal conferences, the nine regional episcopal conferences and the assemblies of the Eastern Rite Catholic hierarchy present in Africa.
The SECAM President is Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania). The first Vice-President is Mgr. Francisco Joào Silota, Bishop of Chimoio (Mozambique); the second Vice-president is Cardinal Theodor Adrien Sarr, Archbishop of Dakar (Senegal). The General Secretary is Fr. François-Xavier Damiba.
The Secretariat is based in Accra (Ghana).
Members of the preparatory commission:
His Grace Mgr Gabriel Mbilingi, Archbishop of Lubango (Angola); His Eminence Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr, Archbishop of Dakar (Republic of Senegal), SECAM Vice-president; His Grace Mgr Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop of Accra (Ghana), SECAM Treasurer; and Fr. François-Xavier Damiba, SECAM General Secretary.
Link:
Seminar introduction
Introduction: Cardinal Josip Bozanić, Archbishop of Zagreb, CCEE Vice-president (pdf)
Archbishop Patrick Kelly offered a theological perspective on the seminar:
"In seeking a biblical foundation for the concerns that have brought us together, migration, land, resources, we may not be satisfied because we have one or two comfortable texts. During the Synod on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church two convictions were held in tension: we may not be true to the Lord Jesus and set aside the Old Testament: but we may not be true to that purpose of the wisdom and love of God that comes to fullest light when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1,14) and refuse to face up to this delicate task: what in the Scriptures belongs to a particular time and place and what is for all times and all places."
Archbishop Kelly: Biblical and theological perspective - CCEE/SECAM meeting (pdf)
Migrants can find consolation in the Holy Family
On the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the third day of the international conference on migration, the Archbishop of Accra, the Most Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle was the principal celebrant at Mass in the parish of Christ the King, Childwall.
In his homily, he said that: “As we talk about refugees, migrants, exiles, strangers, aliens – we see in the Holy Family a consolation. God turns what is negative into a positive.
“Mary and Joseph had to flee into Egypt. When they came back they could not settle in Jerusalem. They went to live in Nazareth. They were forced migrants.
“Our God knows what migration is; he has experienced what it is to be a refugee; a forced migrant.
“As we reflect and pray about these issues, please pray for us. Pray that Mary who experienced forced migration, protector of her son, intercede for us bishops.
Our desire is that: “migration is turned into a moment of grace.”
Feast of Christ the King
Archbishop Patrick Kelly’s homily on the Feast of Christ the King - the final day of the international conference on migration and the day he celebrated his 70th birthday.
Archbishop Kelly's homily on the Feast of Christ the King (pdf)
Public debate on Slavery in History and New Slaveries
Slavery has been with us for a very long time – you need only open the scriptures to come face to face with slaves said the Archbishop of Accra, the Most Reverend Palmer-Buckle at the opening session of the public debate on slavery.
“Trade in human persons is a shocking offence against human dignity and human rights, “ said the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Archbishop Marchetto. “It is an affront to human values to all countries and peoples.”
“Slavery is evil,” said Archbishop Palmer-Buckle of Accra. “Whether we can ever eradicate evil in humanity is another story. When evil is individual, is collective, is cultural, is structural, is systematic and can even become political. These are all various parts we need to be addressed.”
“People need to be informed about what is evil. Not just intellectually, culturally, but from a psychological perspective. We as a Church cannot limit ourselves pastorally. We are called to inform and form. We are called upon to deal with the cultural, structural format of this evil; intellectually and psychologically.”
On the importance of public apologies for slavery, the Archbishop of Ghana said: “My great grandfather was kept as a slave, and saw freedom. In that context he got education. It’s come out positive. My duty is to help others to begin to look more positively.”
International Catholic leaders praise inner-city asylum work
On the second day of the international SECAM-CCEE conference on migration taking place in Liverpool, Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor at the church of St Anne’s – an inner-city parish which offers a place of sanctuary to new arrivals in the city and asylum seekers.
Homily: Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor’s homily, St Anne’s, Liverpool (pdf)
In his homily, the Cardinal spoke of the opportunity that migration can present to the Christian: “Only last week two Bishops from Zimbabwe joined our own Bishops meeting and during that, they expressed their thanks that the Church in this country has been so welcoming to those who have come from abroad. That made me proud and at the same time reminded me – and all of us – of the opportunity migration can present to the Christian – a true chance to welcome God in both friend and stranger.”
Church in Europe and Africa has a valuable contribution to make to migration
The Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly has welcomed bishops from across Europe and Africa to Liverpool for a conference on migration.
The four cardinals, seven archbishops and sixteen bishops have gathered in Liverpool for a five-day international conference which aims to promote understanding and co-operation between the Church in Africa and Europe. The theme of the SECAM-CCEE conference is migration as a new point of evangelisation and solidarity.
During their stay in Liverpool, the church leaders will spend time with asylum seekers and people who have recently settled in the city. Archbishop Kelly said that it was particularly fitting that the conference was taking place in Liverpool because of the city’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. “Our story has had its dark days, so this is a significant movement which allows us to take hold of our history in humility and truth to go forward and find new ways of reconciliation,” said the Archbishop.
Choral Evening Prayer
Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, Wednesday 19 November, 4pm
Celebrant Archbishop Patrick Kelly.
Here is an extract from the homily at opening evening prayer. The Most Reverend John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria:
“For a variety of reasons, both positive and negative, religion has become a hot topic in our world of today, even at the highest level of the United Nations. The question raised by St James as regards what is “pure and unspoilt religion in the eyes of God our Father’, is both crucial and topical. He offers two criteria which are still valid today: to reach out to those in need, and to keep a clean mind in the midst of the moral turmoil of our days. For those of us who consider religion important not only for us but for the good of the entire humanity, we have to see this renewed interest in religion as an opportunity to re-establish its true image, as a “pure and unspoilt religion in the eyes of God our Father”.
Homily: Most Rev John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria (pdf)
Public events
The seminar is being held at LACE (the Liverpool Archdiocesan Centre for Evangelisation), Croxteth Drive, Sefton Park, Liverpool, L17 1 AA.
Friday, 21 November
Public debate on Slavery in history and new slaveries. Interventions from: Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, and Archbishop Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle of Accra (Ghana)
Saturday, 22 November
9am: Round table discussion on The pastoral care of refugees, workers and student migrants. Comparison of experiences;
2.30pm: Round table discussion on pastoral approaches in a multi-cultural situation. Experiences of dioceses living through the multi-cultural dimension
Participants
Click on the link below to download/view the full list of participants for the CCEE/SECAM seminar in Liverpool:
Participants attending the CCEE/SECAM seminar on migration, evangelisation and solidarity
CCEE-SECAM Quadrennial Project (2007-2010)
Following the November 2004 Symposium CCEE – SECAM collaboration is proceeding with a quadrennial project (2007-2010) on the theme “Communion and solidarity between Europe and Africa in the age of human mobility”.
As a result of this, a preparatory commission has already met on a number of occasions to outline the programme for this project including seminars in Europe and Africa on the following themes:
- Slavery and new forms of slavery – towards a culture of life and the family (on the 200th anniversary of the end of slavery).
- Migration (from Africa to Europe and from Asia to Africa and Europe) as a new opportunity for evangelisation and solidarity.
- Pastoral collaboration between Africa and Europe. The new situation of the mission ad gentes. Exchange of personnel and formation. Vocations.
- The proclamation of the Gospel, cultures and religions.