By Fr. Johnston Mlambo
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) celebrates its 55th anniversary today.
Founded on July 29, 1969, in Ggaba, Kampala, Uganda, SECAM was born from the aspirations of young African bishops during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) who sought to speak with one voice. This desire culminated in the creation of SECAM, a continental structure aimed at presenting the African vision to the entire Church.
Recognizing the importance of such an association for Africa, the Congregation for the Evangelisation of the Peoples invited the presidents of regional Episcopal conferences for consultation in 1968.
The following year, the first-ever visit of a Pope to Africa provided a timely opportunity to launch SECAM officially. His Holiness Pope Paul VI was welcomed to Kampala for this historic event.
The choice of the word “Symposium” instead of “Conference” was deliberate. The founding fathers of SECAM wanted to emphasize their desire for communion and fellowship. The term “symposium,” derived from Greek, signifies a meal or banquet.
In his opening speech, Paul Cardinal Zoungrana used the image of the Eucharistic table, which gathers the community of brothers, to explain the concept.
This imagery planted the seeds for the “Church as Family of God,” a concept declared in 1995 as particularly fitting for Africa (Ecclesia in Africa, n. 63).
During the celebration of SECAM’s Golden Jubilee in Kampala, Uganda, in 2019, the Church in Africa thanked God for His countless blessings.
The Church resolved to deepen her knowledge of Christ and follow Him more closely, striving to receive the fullness of life He brought to humanity (John 10:10).
The Golden Jubilee was also a time for the African Church to return to her baptismal roots in Christ and His Gospel, emphasizing dependence on God through the Word and the Eucharist, guided by the Holy Spirit.
In Congo Brazzaville, where regional and national Secretaries General were meeting, the anniversary was celebrated alongside the 80th anniversary of St. Anne Basilica.
The Secretaries General had the opportunity to concelebrate Mass at the Basilica with bishops from neighbouring countries.
The Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Bienvenu Manamika Bafoua Kouahou of Brazzaville, saw the participation of ten bishops from Gabon, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and local bishops from Congo Brazzaville.
At the end of the Mass, a message of solidarity from the Vice President of SECAM was read.
He highlighted the importance of unity and collaboration in Africa, stating, “Africa is the Church of tomorrow and therefore needs to strengthen its structures of collaboration and join hands to build a strong Church whose turn to evangelize the world has come. Such a Church calls for a self-reliant Church.”
The celebration underscored SECAM’s enduring commitment to fostering unity and collaboration within the African Church, setting a strong foundation for future evangelization efforts across the continent.
