Introduction

The Post-Synodal Council of the Special Assembly for Africa, which was elected at the end of the Synodal Assembly, came together to solicit an initial evaluation of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa three years after its publication.

To assess the impact of this document on the continental level has not been an easy task. Indeed, the continent has undergone many episodes of violence and has seen diverse difficult situations: political crises, dangerous and explosive socio-political events, fratricidal wars, battles between armed factions, the overthrowing of governments, etc. The evils suffered by Africa in the past, and those which are still afflicting the continent today illustrate, if need be, the urgency of implementing the Apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Africa.

If the responses to the questionnaire were a little late in arriving and relatively few in number, the reasons are principally to be found in the state of African society and in the fact that the process is only in its initial stages and is being approached with creative attitudes towards promotion ? in the Church and society ? than simply taken as an occasion to introduce another document. Such work demands time. The reason this evaluation is richer than the previous one is because three years have passed, and little by little, after the reading of reports and the proceedings of diocesan Synods, favourable elements are just now emerging which show signs that the teachings contained in the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation are being implemented.

The following summary, compiled from the information received, is intended to give an idea of the progress accomplished thus far and to provide an overview of the situation on the African continent.

1. THE RESPONSE OF THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES

Unlike the situation which existed at the time of the previous report, response this time to the questionnaire was considerable. Reactions came from 23 out of 35 national or international Episcopal conferences (70%); from 5 out of 6 regional conferences (83.33%) from one associated regional Episcopal Conference (100%); and from the Episcopal body for the continent S.E.C.A.M. (100%). Thus, the resulting material provides a rather complete view of the situation on the continent, despite the fact that some regions might not be represented (e.g., the geographic region around Egypt, and that of the two Congos and Rwanda).

2. REACTIONS

The responses re-confirm that the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia in Africa, is still being received with enthusiasm in the Church by clergy, consecrated persons and the laity in general.

As for non-Catholic Christians, the information reveals, in the course of generally favourable initial reaction, the full range of response, from indifference to great appreciation.

The reception of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation by the Islamic world and that of Traditional Religion was rather modest and limited to local settings. Some Muslims only expressed an interest in the aims and results of the Synod in an attempt to discover a mistakenly perceived hidden agenda, that is, the destruction of Islam.

3. WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION OF THE TEXT

Distribution was left to each local Episcopal Conference; a great part being devoted to activities related to the document?s contents. Some Episcopal conferences (2) did not distribute it at all, considering it a document for the exclusive use of the Bishops. A good number reproduced it in local-language editions and distributed it widely. In addition to publishing the full text, some issued simplified, economic versions for those among the faithful who might be less schooled. To assist individual and communal reflection, still others published booklets presenting the major themes of the Apostolic Exhortation in a brief two-page format, followed by questions for discussion or thought. A second part of the same booklet included extracts from the Apostolic Exhortation. These booklets have been a great success in those countries which have utilised them. theological faculties and major seminaries have been asked to compose a guide for reading the Apostolic Exhortation. Episcopal conferences which have national publications or access to magazines have published simple commentaries on various aspects of the post-Synodal document. Generally speaking, however, major distribution was done on the local, diocesan level.

The text was also distributed in the course of numerous academic conferences, seminars and workshops on selected Synodal themes, lasting from a week-end to an entire week, open to clergy, women and men religious, and the laity. Where some developed this kind of initiative on the regional and national level, the major activity in this regard took place on the diocesan and parish level in works which display the vibrant character of dioceses and parishes, serving as leaven in the dough. One local Church even held a national congress on the document.

There were two major obstacles in the diffusion of the document: finances and culture. The first resulted from the excessive cost to disseminate the document in the mass-media, whether by written means (newspapers, publications) or the spoken word (radio, TV); the second problem resulted from the sheer number of local languages, which was further impacted by the lack of schooling in a sizeable portion of the population. It appears, however, that imagination, creativity and the spirit of local initiative contributed to a concerted effort to make the document accessible to the greatest number of people.

4. PROJECTS ACCOMPLISHED OR IN PROGRESS

1) AD HOC STRUCTURES FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE DOCUMENT

Responses indicate that the majority of Episcopal conferences have established special commissions concerned with the Apostolic Exhortation. Such Commissions exist only on nationally but also on the diocesan level. Some Episcopal conferences have linked this commission to the one involved in preparing for the Great Jubilee in the year 2000. Other Episcopal conferences decided to appoint a diocesan co-ordinator to apply various points presented in Ecclesia in Africa or to direct diocesan pastoral plans based on Ecclesia in Africa.

Some Episcopal conferences chose not to create supplementary structures (preferring to entrust work to existing pastoral offices), so as not to burden the limited number of personnel and material resources.

Finally, one Episcopal Conference is working to establish a Catholic university to apply the directives of the Apostolic Exhortation. A significant number chose to hold a diocesan Synod or to undertake a pastoral plan on the diocesan or national level. In this way, every aspect of the life of the diocese is animated according to Ecclesia in Africa. Pastoral plans are generally understood to encompass a minimal period of 5 years so that the pastoral plan can become well-rooted in the local ecclesial realities (parishes, movements, groups, small Christian communities, etc.)

2) PROJECTS

At first, certain Episcopal Conferences had some difficulties in putting into practice the conclusions of Ecclesia in Africa. These difficulties often arose internally from a problem of finances and from outside influences prevalent in some societies: injustices, the expansion of Islam, widespread existence of witchcraft, the aggressiveness of some separated brothers (in particular those calling themselves "evangelical") on matters associated with the faith. So as to meet the challenge posed by these difficulties, the Episcopal Conferences chose the instrument of dialogue in truth. Thus, the projects accomplished or those in the course of realisation fall into the following categories: structures, formation and exhortation.

(a) STRUCTURES

i) Establishment or re-animation of national diocesan and parish commissions:

? Biblical Commission: starting a biblical pastoral ministry; organising programmes of biblical formation for students (cf. Ecclesia in Africa, 58);

? Commission for Evangelisation: aiming to strengthen the work of evangelisation and to enliven the missionary spirit;

? Liturgical Commission: issuing rituals for the sacraments, taking into account elements of inculturation; publishing booklets to Christianise former burial rites;

? Justice and Peace Commission: organising sessions of formation for the laity; issuing of informational pamphlets; giving a new impetus to small Christian communities; sponsoring forums on the national level on subjects associated with society, for politicians, business men and members of government agencies; providing formation programmes for civil life and formation in the social doctrine of the Church for laity involved in these matters;

? Commission for Education and Catholic Teaching: issuing of national catechisms according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Ecclesia in Africa;

? Commission for the Family: starting a local pastoral programme for the family; creating Christian associations for discussion and hospitality; sponsoring professional matrimonial counselling; instituting a "Day for the Family";

? Commission for Development

? Commission for the Mass-Media: organising session of formation; assisting in the formation of personnel for local radio stations; establishing local radio stations; creating programmes;

? Commission for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Dialogue: sponsoring prayer meetings and gatherings to get to know one another (parish level); on the national level, re-grouping diocesan delegates and delegates of national associations so as to generate a national, concrete plan of action.

? Commission for Inculturation: collaborating with the Liturgical Commission to inculturate liturgical rites, prayers and blessing; doing research in inculturation on the diocesan and national level; sponsoring programmes to sensitise future workers to inculturation in Apostolic work; certain parts of the Mass have sometimes been suggested for possible inculturation: penitential rite, proclamation of the Gospel, offertory, acclamation after the consecration, communion; study of particular themes: ancestors, spirits and marriage;

? Commission for Culture: studying problems linked to faith-culture-life in the local context and proposing avenues for reflection, action and research;

? Commission for the Lay Apostolate: organising programmes of lay formation in keeping with Ecclesia in Africa;

? Commission for Health: exercising a ministry to the sick and a campaign of information on certain health problems and issues, such as AIDS and the lack of proper hygiene.

ii) Diocesan or National Synods

Similarly, a number of dioceses and Episcopal Conferences ? as seen above ? decided to hold diocesan or national Synods in order to put into action the conclusion of Ecclesia in Africa. At this time, some have taken place and others are about to occur. The conclusions of these events become, in turn, the basis of local pastoral initiatives in the future. The church as Family is the most often cited notion, which serves as a gradual introduction to all the themes of the Special Assembly and of Ecclesia in Africa. One Episcopal Conference has called for the celebration of a national Synod every four years so as systematically to put into action Ecclesia in Africa.

iii) National or Diocesan Pastoral Plan

Those choosing not to hold local Synods have often instituted in its place a pastoral plan to be accomplished over several years with a designated topic of study each year. In this regard, the often-preferred subject of the family allows the opportunity to take up a number of crucial questions for communities: inculturation, unity of communities in the face of tribalism, formation of the various persons comprising the family (laity, clerics, religious), communication, sacraments and new ministries, financial self-sufficiency.

iv) Association or Community

Signs point to an alive and growing Church with new lay associations involved in promoting the development of the local Church and rich in institutes of consecrated persons with a particular charism ? "the promotion of community witnesses of the Church as Family of God in the various categories and surroundings of society".

v) Various initiatives

Some recommend a celebration during the Jubilee Year 2000 to coincide with the anniversary date of the Synod (14 September); others suggest a Church-Family Award in film-making so as to encourage those in the industry in Africa to seek the promotion of the person and the family.
 

(b) FORMATION

The list of initiatives which have been accomplished, or are in the course of realisation, is impressive. These programmes indicate the extensiveness of the efforts taken in the various local Churches to make all the faithful and those in pastoral positions aware of the recurring problem of ongoing personal formation.

At the prompting of diverse diocesan, national and regional commissions (cf. Above), a noteworthy array of seminars, workshops, Conferences and sessions, which present the themes and main points of Ecclesia in Africa, are being offered to the faithful, especially to the clergy, consecrated persons and lay formators. The response to these undertakings and to their availability has been ? and is presently ? exceptional and enthusiastic.

Moreover, the formation of future pastors and other pastoral workers is to be re-worked entirely to conform to the conclusions of Ecclesia in Africa. Similarly, catechetical directories are progressively being published which have been revised and corrected according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Ecclesia in Africa.

Finally, the most noteworthy initiative is without doubt the establishment of a Catholic university whose goal is to enable the lay faithful to make a notable contribution to society by following the indications of Ecclesia in Africa. In its initial stages, the fields of learning have been chosen with the good of society as their primary goal: economy, law, science of education, agriculture and medicine.
 

(c) EXHORTATION

In addition to the proposed plans for formation, the Pastors, in their pastoral and Synodal programmes on both the national and diocesan levels, have sought to fortify and encourage their faithful by means of Pastoral Letters, treating subjects of pastoral importance and a timely character (justice, peace in society, economy, political life, corruption, etc.). A major part of the Conferences have made great use of this instrument.

To facilitate the application of the directives of the Apostolic Exhortation various meetings and diocesan assemblies (diocesan days) have been organised. Similar initiatives have also been sponsored nationally and regionally.
 

3) PROGRAMMES PLANNED

Projected plans included diocesan or national Synods and pastoral programmes on the diocesan or national level. Several Episcopal Conferences have tried to plan a common pastoral projected on the national level.

For greater effectiveness and efficiency, some Episcopal Conferences call for the re-structuring of the continental Episcopal body ? S.E.C.A.M.

Attempting to realise the conclusions of Ecclesia in Africa, several Conferences have stated among other priorities the financial self-sufficiency of their particular Church and greater attention to the solidarity among the particular Churches of the same geographic area.

Faced with the phenomenon of the sects, certain Episcopal Conferences advocate the establishment of small Christian communities which, humanly speaking, might offer a welcoming atmosphere to persons, make them more responsible and provide for their development.

Some Episcopal Conferences have already decided to call, in two years? time, a National Catholic Convention for Bishops, priests, religious, lay people in charge of various programmes, youth, Catechists and theologians, so as to assess and evaluate the work of putting into action Ecclesia in Africa.
 

5. THE SYNOD CONCLUSIONS AND CIVIL LIFE

Since there is such a diversity of local situations, generalisations are impossible. Some countries speak of good Church-State relations; others mention problems associated with justice and peace and a weak dialogue as a result of a period of revolution; sometimes, because of her position in favour of justice, the Church is considered an ally of government opposition and is therefore treated as such by the local government; others still speak of obstacles arising from the disturbing propaganda of Islam or of the attempts to impose Islamic holidays on all non-Muslim countries.

CONCLUSION

To end this brief report, it is obvious that the Church in Africa is sincerely seeking to apply the conclusions of the Special Assembly to the difficult situations plaguing the continent. The preliminary efforts, set forth in the preceding report, have no need to be re-started but rather continued and developed under the watchful guidance and counsel of the local Pastors. The Synods scheduled to take place, or those being held, will not be without their fruits and, thanks to them, will bring about a deeper rooting of the Gospel of Christ in African soil so that the Church in Africa, strengthened with authentic witnesses of the Risen Christ (cf. Acts 1,8), can fulfil her evangelising mission towards the year 2000.