The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 1 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 Table of Contents The African Family from the Experience of a Catholic Couple in Ethiopia By Abel Muse and Tenagnework Haile………………………………………………...3 Family in the Context of Evangelization: Challenges and Opportunities from Sub- Saharan Africa By Mbiribindi Bahati Dieudonné, SJ………………….….…………...……………14 Notes on the Synodal Document “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization” By Nicholas Hamakalu..…..……………………………………………..…………….36 Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Promote Family and Marriage Ministry in Eastern Africa By Joseph G. Healey, MM…………………………………………………………….49 The Image of the Family in Chimanda Ngozi Adiche’s Purple Hibiscus and its Implications for Families in Today’s Africa Adolphus Ekedimma Amaefule……………………………………………………....157 The Gospel of the Family: From Africa to the World Church Philomena N. Mwaura……………………….………………………………………..182 Family and Marriage in Kenya Today: Pastoral Guidelines for a Process of Discussion and Action. Results of the Consultation in Kenya on the 46 Questions in the Lineamenta (guidelines) on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World………………………………….……………………………………………...200 2 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 The African Family from the Experience of a Catholic Couple in Ethiopia By Abel Muse and Tenagnework Haile Abstract Africans should preserve the noble family life, traditions and cultures that they inherited from their forefathers. They need to exercise it and live it for themselves rather than imitating the culture and living style of others. Each African country has its unique tradition and culture that some may not perceive as their riches. But when these values are observed from the outside they are very much appreciated and very much liked. Each African country should look at its inner richness, keep it and make it grow. There are some harmful traditional practices that need to be tackled in a way that assures the betterment of the citizens. This article treats the situation of the African family today, the two authors’ personal experience as a Catholic couple with three children in Ethiopia, Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in an Ethiopian context, pastoral recommendations for families and marriage at the October, 2015 Synod of Bishops and the authors’ future plans as a Catholic family. 1. Reflections on the African Family Today a. How is the African family today? Our reflections on African family does not give a full picture of the continent, but we would like to share few things about the African family today. Africa is a continent with enormous and diversified rich cultures and life styles. The continent is rich with a 3 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 lot of resources. There is good opportunity for its people if there can be good leadership where people can enjoy the common good together. b. What are the opportunities for African families? African families have rich and noble cultural values where families help each other, live together and take part in all social, political and economic affairs in times of difficulties and joys. Wedding celebrations and other social activities become part of the community and are shared in common. Guests are welcomed at any time without prior appointment. Sharing meals with those who do not have something to eat. Sharing from the little things we have. There is hope for African families because the situation in many countries is changing and improving. Good governance, democracy, opportunity for education and development is emerging. c. Some of the challenges that African families face All available evidence shows Africa to have been the cradle of human life. This is the greatest gift Africa has given to the world. Africa has been an admired continent in fighting the hostile environment in order for its people to survive. There was a time when Africa was self-reliant. The Creator adorned it with wonderful riches. Yet contemporary Africa is the “sick” continent of the world as explained by Peter Kanyandago in Marginalized Africa: An International Perspective.1 Many African countries have suffered and still suffer as a result of war, ethnic conflicts, poverty, social, political and economic problems, human trafficking, migration, disease, etc. This has created instability and insecurity where families are not able to enjoy peace and live together in harmony and unity. 1 Peter Kanyandago (ed.), Marginalized Africa: An International Perspective, Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2002, p. 54. 4 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 d. Polygamy In some of the African countries polygamy is exercised and takes place mostly in rural areas. In some African countries polygamy is seen positively because it is believed that it creates multiple alliances with different families that also can have a stabilizing effect on the institution of marriage. But it is not true because women are very much oppressed and they are the first victims to carry the burden. Husbands go to different wives turn by turn while wives remain alone until their turn comes. There is no an opportunity for the women of polygamous unions to enjoy life. Also it gives a bad example to the young generation where young men have a tendency of having two or three girlfriends at a time. e. Abortion In the past in Africa having many children has been considered as wealth and a blessing from the Creator, but in the contemporary Africa it is becoming like a curse. Many families are not willing to bring up children because of the poverty that prevents them from feeding their children. This can lead them to have abortions. This situation gives a way for many clinics to provide abortions at all age levels. In many parts of the continent there are billboards written “Mothers and Children Health Care” but inside the curtain the picture is different from what is written outside. It is a place where thousands of innocent children lose their lives without any protection from the mother or other concerned bodies. Some children are thrown to the roadside hoping that someone will pick them up. In this case there are thousands of orphans in our African nations that create a huge social problem. f. What should be done for the future? 5 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 The Catholic Church needs to urge the governments and people of good will in different countries of Africa that God given lives should be respected. Enhance adequate knowledge and teaching about the sanctity of marriage. All leaders of our nations should come up with a good heart and think of their people and work together with church institutions to protect families. If there are no families there are no children, if there are no children there are no nations. The family is the core for all humanity. In Ethiopia we are blessed by having Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, CM, the Archbishop of Addis Ababa, as the second Cardinal of Ethiopia and now also the Chairman of AMECEA.2 He supports family values very much. 2. Our Personal Experience as a Catholic Couple with Three Children in Ethiopia We are a Catholic family in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Mrs. Tenagnework Haile (wife) is directress of a private elementary school and Mr. Abel Muse (husband) is the Family Life and Laity Ministry Program Coordinator at the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat (ECS). We are blessed with three boys and celebrated our 25th Silver Jubilee Wedding Anniversary on 15 February, 2014. After doing my pastoral studies in Eldoret, Kenya I was assigned as trainer of catechists in Meki Diocese, Ethiopia. That was the time I approached Tenagnework Haile to marry her. She comes from a strong Orthodox family where her father built St. 2 AMECEA is an acronym for "Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa." It is a service organization for the National Episcopal Conferences of the nine English-speaking countries of Eastern Africa, namely Eritrea (1993), Ethiopia (1979), Kenya (1961), Malawi (1961), South Sudan (2011), Sudan (1973), Tanzania (1961), Uganda (1961) and Zambia (1961). The Republic of South Sudan became independent on 9 July, 2011, but the two Sudans remain part of one Episcopal Conference. Somalia (1995) and Djibouti (2002) are Affiliate Members. AMECEA is one of the eight Regional Episcopal Conferences of SECAM (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar). 6 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Summer, 2015. Volume 7, Number 1 Michael Church for the public. We came to an agreement and together with her family prepare to get married in the Catholic Church. a. Family meetings and union Every procedure went accordingly to the Ethiopian culture where the future husband sends the elders to the family of a girl to bring a big pot filled with pure honey, a blanket embroidered locally, cloth for parents and family members of the girl and cash worth two thousand birr. A golden chain with a cross is presented and then afterwards it is given to the girl. After having the Ethiopian cultural ceremony we attended pre- marriage preparation lessons in the church and got married in the Cathedral of Addis Ababa Archdiocese in 1989. b. What about our life afterwards? As husband and wife we came to understand that we are one body, not two anymore as it is written in Genesis 2:24: “They shall become one flesh.” This has remained deep within us. Over the years life was not as smooth as we thought it would be. There were ups and downs, hardships in our daily life, but by the grace of God we tried to overcome them and celebrated the 25th anniversary year of our wedding.