Wednesday, April 1, 2009

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY — An educational summit on Africa, held at Purcell Marian High School on March 28, gave participants the opportunity to learn more about the situations faced by our African brothers and sisters on the continent of Africa as well as in southwest Ohio. The event was sponsored by the archdiocesan Mission Office, Office of African American Ministries and Catholic Social Action Office.

Father Jim Schutte, right, pastor of St. Leo the Great, St. Joseph, and San Antonio Chapel, looks over some of the African art for sale at the Africa summit with other attendees. (Courtesy photo)

The morning keynote speaker, Paul Miller, Africa team leader and policy advisor for Catholic Release Services in Baltimore, spoke on “Why Americans Should Care about Africa.” In the afternoon keynote address, John Kalubi, director of the African and African-American studies department at the University of Cincinnati, discussed “African Empowerment Locally.”

Those in attendance also had the opportunity to choose from among 10 workshops for two break sessions. They included such topics as African immigrant and refugee stories, the state of education in Africa, African economic issues, African health care issues and solutions, African spirituality and inter-religious dialogue and the spiritual and cultural gifts of African women.

After the summit Coadjutor Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr presided at Mass at St. Francis de Sales Parish, with Bishop Gabriel Mante of the Diocese of Jasikan, Ghana, concelebrating. Food and fellowship followed in the Purcell Marian High School cafeteria.

On the homepage: Pictured from left are Father Tom DiFolco, Bishop Gabriel Mante, Deacon Royce Winters, Coadjutor Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, Deacon Daniel Thomas and Precious Blood Father Benedict Magabe, who celebrated Mass at St. Francis de Sales Parish after the summit. (CT/Tony Tribble)

Click here to view more photos from this event.