Over 400 Bishops, cardinals jet in for SECAM golden jubilee

KAMPALA - Over 400 bishops expected to attend the 50-year celebrations of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) have started arriving in Uganda.

The celebrations expected to run up to July 29, 2019 under the theme: Church, Family of God in Africa, Celebrate your Jubilee, Proclaim, Meet and Welcome Christ your Savior, have attracted delegates from all over the world. The celebrations will end on July 28 at Uganda Martyr's Shrine Namugongo in Wakiso district.

The Catholic Secretariat in Nsambya has confirmed that so far, over 150 delegates have arrived in the country and are expecting 110 today.

 
Robert Cardinal Sarah, a prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, from Rome arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Friday night and was received by the Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, head of laity, Gervase Ndyanabo, secretary-general of Episcopal Conference, Msgr John Baptist Kauta, and parish priest of Uganda Martyrs Shrine Munyonyo, Fr Ulman Wojtek aka Fr Male, among others.

Cardinal Sarah will officially raise the Uganda Martyrs Shrine Munyonyo to the rank of Minor Basilica on July 29.

Left to right: Parish Priest of Uganda Martyrs Shrine Munyonyo, Fr Ulman Wojtek aka Fr Male, Robert Cardinal Sarah and Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga

 
With an aim of bringing together Catholic Bishops of Africa and Madagascar to speak with one voice, SECAM was established by young African Bishops during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). It was launched in Uganda in 1969 by Pope Paul VI now (Saint Paul VI), the first Pope to visit Africa in July 1969.  It is now 50 years since that historic moment was held in Kampala.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officially open the conference on Sunday afternoon.