Resources for the 2009 Second African Synod

 

 

The 2009 Second African Synod took place in Rome on 4-25 October, 2009 on the theme "The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace."

 

Two reformatted Summary Documents can be accessed here:

 

        I.  "MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD" 

        II. "PROPOSITIONS OF THE 2ND AFRICAN SYNOD"

 

Below are a number of additional resources and articles for those who want to know more.   Father Joe Healey who has compiled most of these items, highly recommends the website:

 

"Yes Africa Maters": http://sites.google.com/site/yesafricamattersorg/

 

 

1.         Follow-up articles (edited) from the National Catholic Reporter

 

a.      To bongos and bass guitar, pope calls Africa an 'immense spiritual lung'.

 

b.      "The Church and the New Reality of Africa, No Longer the Beggar of the World"

 

c.      Africa's dynamism real but also deceptive, cardinal says

 

d.      Obama's election a 'divine sign,' African bishop tells synod

 

e.      Synod leaders: Church needs to get its house in order

 

f.       African bishops examine 'practice of power, authority'

 

g        Number of Hungary in the World tops 1 Billion

 

 

2.        Books and Booklets

 

a.      AMECEA Synod Delegates Workshop: Shaping the Prophetic Voice of the Region. Proceedings of the AMECEA Synodal Delegates Workshop. Nairobi, Kenya. 2- March, 2009 (Nairobi: Privately printed, 2009).

 

b.      The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace: In Light of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. The Proceedings of the 10th Interdisciplinary Theological Session (2008) (Nairobi: CUEA Publication, 2008).

 

c.      The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace: Preparing for the Second African Synod. Harare: African Forum for Catholic Social Teaching (AFCAST), 2009.

 

d.      A Commentary on the Lineamenta ("Guidelines"). Synod of Bishops II Special Assembly for Africa. The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. Prepared by the Justice and Peace Commission. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2007. See also the Swahili Version: Ufafanuzi wa Lineamenta. Mkutano wa Pili Maalum wa Sinodi ya Maaskofu wa Afrika. Kanisa Barani Afrika Katika Huduma ya Upatanisho, Haki na Amani. Imetayarishwa na Tume ya Haki na Amani. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2007.

 

e.      Healey, Joseph G. "Innovations and New Trends in Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Africa Today," Hekima Review, 40 (May, 2009), 85-100.

 

f.       Healey, Joseph. "New Learnings in Animating a Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Model of Church in Africa Today," African Christian Studies (CUEA), 24:2 (June, 2008), 7-37.

 

g.     Healey, Joseph and Laurenti Magesa. "Making Africa Matter: Previewing the 2009 African Synod," Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Website, September, 2009.

http://www.maryknollsociety.org/index.php/articles/2-articles/424-preview-2009-second-african-synod

 

h.     Henriot, Peter and Dominic Liche. Church in Africa: Relevant and Credible? The Challenge of the Second African Synod (Lusaka: Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, 2008).

       http://www.jctr.org.zm/downloads/2ndAfricanSynodBook.pdf

 

i.      Henriot, Peter. "Hopes for the Second African Synod," Hakimani e-Newsletter, September, 2009, 3-4. http://www.jesuithakimani.org/e_news/0909/enews_0909.pdf

 

j.      Henriot, Peter. Second African Synod: Zambian Pastoral Implications.  Presentation at Diocese of Monze Pastoral Meeting. 12 May 2009. http://www.jctr.org.zm/Events.html

 

k.     Instrumentum Laboris ("Working Paper") for Synod of Bishops Second Special Assembly for Africa. The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace (Vatican City: Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 2009 and Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2009).  http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20090319_instrlabor-africa_en.html

 

l.      Justice, Reconciliation & Peace. Kenya Lenten Campaign, 2009 (Nairobi: KEC Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, 2009).

 

m.    Lineamenta ("Guidelines") for Synod of Bishops Second Special Assembly for Africa. The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace (Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2006). http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20060627_ii-assembly-africa_en.html

 

n.     Majawa, Clement. African Christian Reconciliation in the Light of Yao Traditions (Nairobi: CUEA Press, 2009).

 

o.     Mejia, Rodrigo. We are the Church: Sharing in Small Christian Communities (Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2009).

 

p.     Proceedings of the 16th AMECEA Plenary Assembly on "Reconciliation Through Justice and Peace." Lusaka, Zambia from 27 June to 7 July, 2008 (Nairobi: Privately printed, 2008).

 

q.     Rodriguez, Carlos. "The Second African Synod:  Seeking Reconciliation Peace for the Continent," Leadership, July, 2009, 10-13.  http://www.combonimissionaries.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/second-african-synod-leadership-magazine-july-issue.pdf

 

r.      Special Issue of Hakimani: Jesuit Journal of Social Justice in Eastern Africa, 05/09 (January to June, 2009) on "Promoting Themes of the 2nd African Synod." Contains nine special articles on the synod including: Joseph Healey, "Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Promote Themes of 2009 Second African Synod" (4-11); Ignatus Ikunza, Overcoming Violence: Complexity, Complacency, or Complicity? A Reflection on Our Collective Response to Human Catastrophe" (12-32); C.A. Mumma Martinon, "Women in Conflict Management" (33-39); Joseph Wandera, "Xenophobic Conflict in Africa: Ethical Implications (40-47); and Andrew Omona David, "Northern Uganda Peace Process: Why Parties Involved Have Failed To Reach a Compromise" (61-69).

 

s.      Summary of the Instrumentum Laboris 2009. Synod of Bishops II Special Assembly for Africa. The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. Compiled by Paulino Mondo and John Webootsa. Prepared by the Justice and Peace Holy Trinity Kariobangi Catholic Parish. Nairobi: Privately Printed, 2009.

 

t.     Thesing, Ken. "Promoting Restorative Justice in Africa," Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Africa Region Newsletter, June, 2009, 6-7. http://www.maryknollafrica.org/newsletter/Maryknoll_Africa_2009_June.pdf

 

u.     "Towards the 2nd Africa Synod." Position Paper of IMBISA (Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa) on the 2009 Synod of Bishops Second Special Assembly for Africa. Harare: Privately Printed 2009.

 

 

3.        Links to Websites

 

Africa Matters: Together with Africa: A Celebration of Hope (sponsored by the Catholic Task Force on Africa --CTFA): http://africanmatters.googlepages.com

African Faith and Justice Network (AFJN): www.afjn.org

African Forum for Catholic Social Teaching: www.afcast.org.zw

AMECEA: http://www.amecea.org

Catholic Information Service for Africa (CISA): http://www.cisanewsafrica.org

Google Search Engine: www.google.com

Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR): www.jctr.org.zm  

Jesuit Hakimani Centre: www.jesuithakimani.org

Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Africa Region: http://www.maryknollafrica.org

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC): www.maryknollogc.org/togetherwithafricacelebratinghope.html See special section on "Together with Africa: Celebrating Hope"F

SECAM/SCEAM: http://www.sceam-secam.org

SEDOS: http://www.sedosmission.org

Vatican: http://www.vatican.va

Vatican Information Service: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html

Vatican Roman Curia Synod of Bishops: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/index.htm

ZENIT: http://www.zenit.org

                   Yes Africa Maters: http://sites.google.com/site/yesafricamattersorg/
 

 

 

Updated:

 

Windhoek, Namibia

30 November, 2009