Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa Region (ACERAC) gets new offices

The Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa Region often known by its French name of “Association des Conférences Episcopales de la Région de l'Afrique Central,” (ACERAC) will next year, in February 2015, have new offices to be inaugurated in Congo Brazzaville. This is according to information published at the weekend by Congo Brazzaville’s Catholic online magazine, “La Semaine Africaine.”

Aristide Ghislain Ngouma writes in “La Semaine Africaine” that the brand new building is being funded entirely by the Congolese state. The new offices will be the seat of ACERAC.

The President of the Congo Episcopal Conference, Bishop Louis Portella Mbuyu of Kinkala Diocese recently met republican President Denis Sassou-NGuesso to finalise details. Bishop Mbuyu was accompanied to the meeting by ACERAC Secretary General Abbot Mesmin-Prosper Manssengo. President Sassou-NGuesso has accepted the invitation to officiate at the inauguration of the new offices, next year in February.

During the same meeting, which took place in the presence of the President’s diplomatic advisor, Martin Adouki, the head of state was presented with a book containing the proceedings of the last 10th plenary assembly of ACERAC which was also held in Congo Brazzaville. The book is a summary of reflections of the Bishops of Central Africa on the family.

Over thirty active Bishops from the six countries of Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Congo Brazzaville comprise ACERAC.

(Fr. Paul Samasumo, e-mail: [e-mail])