On December 1, we commemorated World AIDS day. At age 91, on this year's World AIDS Day, the indefatigable Professor Emeritus, Fr Michael Kelly, S.J. of the Zambia-Malawi Province shared a powerful message with the world instilling reassuring hope that we shall overcome this and all other pandemics including COVID-19. Fr Kelly shows the link between HIV and AIDS and other global problems like climate change and COVID-19 showing how they exacerbate HIV and AIDS but also demonstrates the power of united humanity to stop these crises. Fr. Kelly shared this message via the Professor Michael Kelly Annual Lecture on HIV and AIDS.

By Anastasia Makunu, JCAM Communications

On November 27th, several students from Hekima University College converged at the Post Graduate Auditorium of Hekima Institute of Peace and International Relations (HIPSIR), to join in, on a virtual graduation ceremony held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya. Hekima University College is a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).

Dr. Marcel Uwineza SJ, from Rwanda-Burundi Region (RWB) reflects on his current mission to Hekima University College, where he is teaching Theology. This interview was done by Thierry Manirambona SJ. 

Thierry: How do you feel about being back to Hekima as a lecturer? 

Dr. Marcel: The question about feelings can be subjective! However, as I look back, I feel consoled in the Ignatian sense and I am most grateful to God for the journey thus far. I am indebted to Frs. Ganza and Orobator for the mission I have received. I thank both Frs. Karekezi and Ganza who sent me for advanced studies. The latter can be demanding and I am cognizant of several people who cared and asked how I was doing in the ascetical doctoral program and those who joined to celebrate my success at Boston College. It is wonderful to celebrate others! It is a sign of freedom.

Africa Task Force for the Vatican COVID-19 Commission expert Fernando Saldivar, S.J has called for the need to curb capital flight and illicit financial flows (IFF) out of Africa. Mr. Saldivar, who is also the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network-Africa (JENA) Global Policy and Advocacy Officer, insists that the money lost by Africa as IFFs could generate new funds to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and to finance the much-needed social spending on the continent.

By Jude Forbi SJ, ITCJ

On November 21, 2020, Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, celebrated Mass in the Chapel of the Jesuit Institute of Theology (ITCJ). During the course of the mass, he instituted first and second-year theologians into the ministries of lector and acolyte, respectively.

Institution into these ministries signifies both the spiritual development of the candidates who have cultivated a deep devotion to God’s Word in Scripture and the Holy Eucharist as men aspiring to ordained ministry as well as their commitment to evangelization, bringing the word of God and the Holy Eucharist to the people of God.

Jean-Pierre Gandaf Walle SJ, AOC

The Hekima Jesuit community, the Pallotines community and the Montfort Missionaries in Kenya are full of joy and gratitude to God for the gift of new lectors and acolytes called to the service of the Church. 17 lectors and 18 acolytes were instituted on Saturday, 7 November 2020 during a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Father Joseph Oduor Afulo, SJ, the outgoing Provincial of the Eastern Africa Jesuit Province (AOR). The liturgical celebration took place in the Chapel of Hekima College with adherence to the health guidelines by the Ministry of Health in Kenya and WHO regarding Covid-19.

From Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) & Xavier Network,

The preoccupation with Corona and the postponement of the COP 26 meeting at Glasgow raises concern that efforts to combat Climate Change are postponed as well.

Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, and Fr. Franck Janin SJ, President of the Xavier Network sent a letter to the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a second one to the President of the African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Council of the European Union, Angela Merkel and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

By Father Alex Muyebe SJ, JCTR

On September 22nd 2020, The Zambian Government applied to holders of its US$3 billion in Eurobonds to defer debt service payments for six months while it works on a debt-restructuring strategy. This period covers three coupon payments whose due dates are 14th October, 2020, 30th January, 2021 and 20th March, 2021, on the respective bonds. On 14th October, 2020 Zambia missed paying its coupon of US$42.5 million on $1 billion of dollar bonds due in 2024.

By Jesuit Refugee Service East Africa

When Fr Arrupe saw the suffering of Vietnamese people fleeing their country in outrageous conditions in 1980, him and the Society of Jesus followed God’s call to assist these people and help them on their journeys. That is how, 40 years ago, the Jesuit Refugee Service was founded. Soon after that, JRS came to our region, Eastern Africa, locating their headquarters in Nairobi to assist the wave of Ethiopian and Somali refugees at the time. From then, JRS has kept growing rapidly, as a practical and spiritual response to the sufferings of refugees. Today, JRS is present in 56 countries worldwide, with the mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees, IDPs, and anyone ever obliged to flee their homes forcefully.

Vatican Covid-19 Commission Africa explores leadership in Africa through this campaign "A Better Kind of Politics"

By Jesuits Justice and Ecology Network

In the Encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis sees politics as one of the most valuable forms of charity because it is placed at the service of the common good. Politics which expresses the right form of populism recognizes the importance of people. This recognition of people sees them as an open category, available for discussion and dialogue. The Pope encourages efforts that will engender policy that is “with” and “of” the poor (n. 169).