Session on Safeguarding of Minors for the Missionaries of Africa of the Southern Africa Province (Lusaka, Zambia: 13-30 June 2025)
Thursday, June 19th 2025
In today’s morning session, Ms. Augusta Muthigani, Africa Regional Expert from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, gave a presentation on the Universal Guidelines Framework of The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Her presentation was quite enriching and revealing. She highlighted the complexity and magnitude of various forms of abuse that occur in homes, schools, communities and places of worship. In response to the above, she explained the Universal Church’s guidelines on safeguarding. This translates the Church’s commitment to addressing the abuse crisis. In implementing these guidelines in our various mission contexts, the cultures and laws of our countries of mission must be taken into consideration with the sensitivity and respect they deserve.
In the afternoon, our confrere Lamec Ciza, Safeguarding Delegate for South Africa, gave a presentation on assessing the safety of our mission places. Fr. Lamec presented to us concrete tools that we need to implement in our places of mission such as codes of conduct, safeguarding statements, declaration forms, reporting procedures and contacts as means of safeguarding the people of God entrusted to us.
The day ended with the Holy Mass presided over by Fr. Gilles Efiyo. In his homily drawn from the readings of the day, he reminded us that we are all children of the same Father and that we have been betrothed to God through our baptism and ministerial calling. If we internalise this, then safeguarding should truly be our commitment.
Safeguarding is our commitment
By: Okunola Michael, M.Afr., Claude Nsengiyuva, M.Afr., Eric Kambale, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.