In this year of Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, from 9 to 15 September 2016, was held in Kigali, at the Kabuga Divine Mercy Sanctuary, the 3rd Congress of Africa and Madagascar on Divine Mercy under the theme: « Divine Mercy: Source of hope for the New Evangelization in Africa. » Five hundred and seventy nine (579) people from 24 countries participated, namely Rwanda, Poland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Togo, France, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Gabon, Tanzania, South Sudan, Benin, Malawi, Ivory Coast, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Guiney Conakry, Mali and Nigeria.
Supported by Divine Mercy and accompanied by His Holiness Pope Francis, represented by His Eminence Laurent Cardinal MONSENGWO PASINYA, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa, surrounded by his Eminence Robert Cardinal SARAH, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments, his Eminence Philippe Cardinal OUEDRAOGO, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ouagadougou, 20 bishops and over 120 priests, Rwanda has lived a favorable time of Divine Mercy.
The Congress program was made of conferences, the Eucharist, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confession, the Hour of Mercy, the show around the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the popular missions in places of misery, the act of consecration of Africa to Divine Mercy and the pilgrimage to Kibeho.
The main theme of the Congress was developed around three chapters: the doctrinal foundation, the burning challenges of the African society and the Divine Mercy as source of hope for the New Evangelization in Africa.
The very competent speakers have made it clear that:
- The Divine Mercy is the central theme in the Bible that expresses the identity and nature of God.
- Teaching on Divine Mercy draws from the source of the Tradition, the Magisterium of the Church and the witness of the lives of saints.
- Despite the countless challenges that the world is facing and Africa in particular, the Divine Mercy is the source of justice, peace, reconciliation, dialogue and inner healing, and it is the source of hope and happiness for human beings.
- The Family, which is the Divine Mercy’s home is undermined and threatened by globalization and its effects.
This Congress did not limit itself to challenges of time, but has tried to suggest some big orientations for the New Evangelization, that can be resumed in:
- Deepening the knowledge about the Divine Mercy through the Sacred Scriptures, teaching of the Magisterium and testimony of the saints.
- Spreading the Divine Mercy message wherever it is not yet known to counteract the problems that Africa is facing.
- Making an effort in doing corporal and spiritual Mercy acts, to relieve the misery of our neighbors and witness the merciful love of God.
- Joining forces to defend the family and publicly fight against the deadly ideologies that destroy family values, even if it may be costly or have serious consequences.
At the end of the Congress some recommendations were addressed to the pastors of the Church in Africa and to the Congress organizers to:
Avail the documentation on the Divine Mercy and the Social Doctrine of the Church accessible to the believers and if possible in their local languages.
- Strengthen family ministry at all levels, aiming at having proximity pastoral.
- Increase efforts so that ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue initiatives go down to the base.
- To help the believers to deepen the theme of the liturgy and the sacraments as channels of Divine Mercy.
- Establish and strengthen financial solidarity associations where the poor receive unsecured bank loans.
- Support for youth and children camps to tell them about Divine Mercy at early age.
- Publish as soon as possible the works of this 3rd Congress on Divine Mercy to allow participants to go deep on discussed themes.
This Congress is a decisive step of our churches in Africa and Madagascar in their willingness to face with insight pastoral, economic, cultural and ethical challenges, from a point of view of the New Evangelization. The act of consecration of Africa to the Divine Mercy pronounced in four languages and signed by the Special Envoy of the Holy Father, his Eminence Laurent Cardinal MONSENGWO PASINYA is a sign of trust that together as one the Church of Christ in Africa can give new signs of hope. All the Congress participants, bearing the light of Christ, the image of Mercy, and the prayer of consecration of Africa to the Divine Mercy, were sent in mission to be the bearers of hope among their brothers and sisters. They have taken each one his way back, in joy and convinced that “From this ocean of mercy, graces will spread over the whole world” (Diary 1777).
Father Stanislas Filipek, sac
Congress Coordinator