Sub-Sahara African Catholics in the Maghreb

Catholic Bishops of North Africa or the Maghreb region have been reflecting on the African dimension of their communities. The information is contained in a final communiqué at the end of the Bishops’ regional plenary meeting. The Bishops were meeting under the auspices of CERNA, which stands for the Conférence Episcopale de la Région Nord de l’Afrique. The meeting was held in Tangier, Morocco last week. 

"Our communities of those who originate from sub-Sahara Africa are becoming more numerous and in some cases they represent 50 to 90% of our [Catholic] communities," the Bishops say in the communiqué. They note that  North African states have always been, "traditionally countries of emigration but were now transit countries and slowly are becoming host countries [countries of destination]," The Bishops say.

The Bishops say, the Church in the Maghreb sees issues of migration as both a challenge and an opportunity.

"It is a joy to us that the Church is becoming more universal; less European; is more rejuvenated and that there is this South to South ecclesial exchange," the Bishops affirm. They attest that priests and the religious from countries of sub-Sahara Africa are now fully inserted into the Church of North Africa.

"With various pastoral workers coming together from different cultural backgrounds, what is needed by all is to learn, know and esteem each other's diversity," reads the final communiqué 

The Bishop also say the mission of the Church in North Africa is, “not only focused on the spiritual support of its congregations but also on the testimony of Christ's love for all, by coming into contact with our Muslim brothers and sisters…It is not easy because of the reality of prejudice and the fact of racism," note the Bishops. 

Nevertheless, the Bishops make reference to certain representations of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Vladimir found in many shrines of the region. According to the Bishops, the painting of Our Lady of Vladimir is often represented carrying in her arms the infant Jesus with one hand painted white and another, black. They  Bishops conclude that this Marian image symbolises the future of the Church in North Africa.

The meeting was presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Constantine and Hippo in Algeria, Paul Desfarges. 

To emphasise the growing links between the Church in North Africa and that of sub-Sahara Africa, the next meeting of CERNA will be held next year in Senegal. 

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Source: Agenzia Fides