News Archives » Africa
October 16 is World Food Day! October 15th, 2009
October 16th is World Food Day. Celebrate using multimedia, songs, and liturgical and reflection materials found on the JPIC Passionist website.
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October 16 World Food Day: Materials and multimedia.
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Zimbabwe Bishops Call for National Reconciliation October 12th, 2009
The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued a pastoral letter: “National Healing and Reconciliation – God can heal the wounds of the afflicted”. The pastoral statement released on October 1 says, “Zimbabweans have been divided by disagreements on how national resources and social goods are to be owned, used and distributed. At the centre of economic conflicts has been the distribution and re-distribution of land. The post independence economic downturn that was partly caused by the experimentation with structural adjustment programmes and the crisis of leadership that has continued to dog our country led to frustration.”
Read the letter (Download PDF)
Have you prayed for the Africa Synod today? October 5th, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday celebrated a special mass to open a month-long synod of African bishops to discuss their continent’s conflicts, social injustice and poverty under theme: The Church in Africa at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace.” Pope Benedict praised Africa’s rich cultural and spiritual treasures, calling them a “spiritual lung” for the world. Almost 200 bishops from 53 African states have gathered to discuss how the Catholic Church can help resolve the continent’s social injustices.
Yes Africa matters, an initiative by the Catholic Task Force on Africa in Washington DC, of which the Oblate JPIC office is a member, brings YOU the latest information from the Synod especially through a Live daily blog on the African Synod by Fr Rocco (AFJN) and reflections published by religious communities in Rome.
There is a diverse representation by the Synod for Africa; amongst the participants is U.S. Catholic Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta, leaders from Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches in Africa; director general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Jacques Diouf, a Muslim, who will address the assembly and Rudolf Adada, the former head of the Joint United Nations-African Union Peacekeeping Mission for Darfur, Sudan.
Stay tuned!!
‘Global Impact and Vulnerability Alert System’ Warns of Increased Poverty Ahead September 29th, 2009
The severity and pervasive character of the economic crisis continues to push millions into poverty, reversing some of the hard-won development gains of the past decade, according to a new United Nations report on the impact of the crisis.
The report – Voices of the Vulnerable: the Economic Crisis from the Ground Up – supplies a sobering picture of the crisis’ impact on people and households around the world. The key message of the report is that, while we may be seeing the “green shoots” of recovery, the economic crisis far from over for hundreds of millions of people around the globe.
The report and supporting materials are available online at:
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Civil Society Organizations Engage IMF on Governance Reform September 29th, 2009
On September 8, 2009, representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) met with the IMF Executive Board in an informal seminar at Fund Headquarters to discuss CSO recommendations on IMF governance reform. New Rules for Global Finance is coordinating the consultations, known as the Fourth Pillar Process. The Missionary Oblates, an active member of New Rules, was represented at the meeting by Seamus Finn, OMI.
The IMF just published an article about the consultation which is available in English, French and Spanish:
