At its September meeting, the Presbyteral Council of the Joliet Diocese chose "Solidarity with the Catholic Church in Africa" for its social justice goal for 2002-03.
In November 2001, the full body of the United States Catholic Bishops approved the document, "A Call to Solidarity with Africa" developed by the Committee on International Policy of the USCCB. In this document, the United States Bishops asked each diocese and parish to:
Pray for the Catholic Church in Africa - the fastest growing Catholic population in the world:
- 130 million African Catholics
- 600 Black Bishops
- 7,000 Black priests
- 20,000 Black seminarians
Educate ourselves on the issues concerning Africa and become involved in public advocacy, especially in the areas of: debt relief increased funding for HIV/AIDS treatment.
Develop Diocesan and Parish twinning programs.
Bishop Imesch has had, for some years, a twinning relationship with Archbishop James Odongo and the Archdiocese of Tororo in Uganda. There is opportunity for this relationship to be further cultivated and expanded. Additional opportunities for solidarity with Africa are featured in this campaign.
The Joliet Diocese Solidarity with Africa Campaign seeks to respond to this call. The campaign packet delivered to each priest in the diocese contains extensive education materials, advocacy backgrounders, and suggestions for parish solidarity projects. It is the hope of the presbyteral council that these materials will be distributed to the appropriate parish staff and committees who together with the clergy will formulate a response.
Fr. Ray Lescher, member of the council stated, "Our brothers and sisters in Africa are in a time of great and desperate need. As we build a relationship of solidarity with them, we can make a difference."
Solidarity Campaign Materials
www.paxjoliet.org |
