SECAM officials said Catholic universities should be “true educational centers that pursue the formation of human beings that respects the ultimate human goal and the interests of the society to which they belong.”
SECAM Kampala Papers “Catholic educational institutions must be centres for the transmission of knowledge filled with truth, underpinned by Christian conscience and guided by the social teaching of the Church,” said Father Simunbine.
A priest from the Catholic Diocese of Xai-Xai in Mozambique said Catholic educational institutions have the mission of spreading and disseminating the Gospel message of Jesus Christ across different cultural spheres.
“This document challenges the entire educational world to reflect the humble and collaborative example set by Jesus Christ and his disciples and to present faith as an attractive option,” F. Simbine said at a seminar entitled “Promoting the Evangelizing Mission of Catholic Universities”.
Regarding the Second Vatican Council Declaration on Christian Education, the Secretary-General of SECAM said: Gravissimum Educationrecognized that “Catholic schools serve diverse cultures and must proclaim the Gospel not only through words but also through the exemplary lives of their educators.”
The seminar, held from June 4 to 7, discussed the increasing secularization of Catholic educational institutions, particularly due to Western influences.
It was also an opportunity to strengthen the Catholic identity and mission of Catholic schools and universities in Africa and Madagascar, and to ensure that the Church’s educational institutions remain committed to evangelization and the formation of future generations in the Gospel spirit of freedom and charity.
Participants broke into small groups to answer questions on topics such as “Catholic University Identity and Global Challenges” and “The Role of Pastors in Educating and Developing Faithful Communities at Catholic Universities.”
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communications. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Jude currently works as a journalist for ACI Africa.
