III AFRICAN CONTINENTAL MEETING
THE FUTURE OF CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICA AND IN THE WORLD. Catholic Action in Africa, launch out into the deep, look to the future with courage!•UGANDA – Lugazi, 5-9 August 2006

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From 5th to 9th August 2006 the III African Continental Meeting – promoted by IFCA Secretariat – was held in Uganda in the diocese of Lugazi.
There were delegations of CA associations and movements from Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Rumania and Italy as well as from the different dioceses of Uganda. They were welcomed by H.E. Msgr. Matthias Ssekamanya, Bishop of Lugazi and President of Uganda Episcopal Conference and by H.E. Msgr. Christofer Kakooze, President of the Commission for the Lay Apostolate.
The theme of the meeting was: “The future of Christianity in Africa and in the world. Catholic Action in Africa, launch out into the deep, look to the future whith courage!”. The Gospel reference “You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world” was taken from the theme of the Second Special Synod of the Bishops for Africa.
The participants bishops, priests, laypeople belonging to CA and to other associations and movements, deepened the theme of the Lineamenta, recently proposed to the African Church in preparation to the III Assembly. They paid a special attention to the call to be fully aware of the laypeople’s vocation: called through Baptism to become co-responsible in the Church to be witnesses of Christ in the world, called to assume the glorious duty to evangelize one’s own continent “at the service of reconciliation, justice and peace”.
The highest moment of the meeting was the Eucharistic concelebration at Numugongo Shrine in the Solemnity of the Transfiguration, presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio H.E. Msgr. Christophe Pierre. The examples of Charles Lwanga and his lay companions, who witnessed their faithfulness to Christ through bloodshed, is extremely relevant and remains a shining example for the laypeople of the III Millennium both in Africa and in the world.
At the opening of the meeting as well as at Namugongo, H.E. Msgr. Francesco Lambiasi, IFCA Ecclesiastical Assistant and ICA General Assistant, read the encouraging message addressed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the participants and to the whole CA in Africa through Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State.
The Council documents, especially Apostolicam Actuositatem, Christifideles Laici and Lineamenta, were the thread running though the moments of reflection, confrontation and dialogue. There emerged the urgency of well prepared lay people, qualified according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, as well as the following priorities: basic formation in the parishes, in the small communities, at diocesan level; promotion of peace, reconciliation and solidarity at national and international level; formation of leaders in socio-political and economical spheres; building the Church as a family and working with Christian families, rediscovering the laypeople’s mission, educating according to the Christian values and caring for the Catechesis, involving youths.
The presentation of the associative realities both of the African and the European countries and of the ecclesiastical regions of Uganda was very interesting. It was followed by the presentation of CA vocation with a special reference to both the Council teaching – the “four notes” of AA 20 – and the postconciliar Christifideles Laici n. 30 and 31, up to the “three duties” entrusted by John Paul II to the CA of the III Millennium in Loreto in 2004: contemplation, communion and mission.
From the reflection upon the “four notes”: ecclesiality, lay status, organicity and cooperation with the Hierarchy – which are to be known and developed – raised the urgency for CA to continue, qualify, spread the laypeople’s formation, as recalled also in the Lineamenta (cfr n. 66): an overall formation which should make the most of the Social Teaching of the Church, nourished by the prayer and which should become pedagogy of holiness for the laypeople in their ordinary daily life; a formation for children, youth, adults, families, school, through the preparation of contents, methods, instruments, proposals.
In today’s context of a multiplicity of associations and new movements, the validity of an association such as CA, a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, was confirmed, with full respect for all the other lay associations.
A CA which is “one” in its common characteristics and “diverse” in its need to be inculturated and organized in forms appropriate for the different realities. This can foster the “spirituality of communion” in cooperation with the Pastors and at the service of unity and “to witness the beauty of a living faith that transforms the daily life and offers itself in an attractive way to all those who demand the reason of hope that lives in us believers” (from the Holy Father’s Message).
A privileged way to walk along together was picked out: the twinnings, the exchanges among “sister CA” at the service of “sister Churches”, in order to make diocesan laypeople grow, with a special attention to the youths: mature and co-responsible laypeople, with wide horizons open to solidarity.

At the end of the meeting the participants thanked the Holy Father, assuring him of their commitment, affection and faithfulness, at the school of Aquila and Prisca, of St Charles Lwanga and his companions, of so many laypeople who have lived fully their own vocation in cooperation with the apostles in the history of the Church as well as today.