The 2025 extraordinary meeting of CAMSA took place in Addis Ababa from February 20 to February 21, 2025. Each day commenced at 6:30 with Lauds, followed by Holy Mass, and concluded at 18:45 with the prayer of Vespers. The agenda for the meeting included:
- Matters arising from PANAF;
- Matters arising from the General Chapter 2024;
- The assembly of the lay brothers;
- Missionary course;
- Formation course for formatters;
- Proposed agenda for the next meeting;
- Fraternal collaboration among formation houses within CAMSA;
- Possibility of opening new missions within CAMSA;
- Possibility of a Lay Brothers Assembly within CAMSA;
- Any other business.
The meeting was officially opened by Br. Gebrewold Gebretsadik, the general councilor for Africa, who started by highlighting the necessity of convening this extraordinary meeting of CAMSA. He explained that the meeting was essential due to the urgent preparations required for the 2027 PANAF. Consequently, he urged the members of the assembly to focus their attention on the preparation of PANAF 2027, which must have a significant impact on the Capuchin life in Africa by identifying our challenges and proposing solutions for the future.
The outcomes of the meeting were as follows:
- The date for PANAF 2027 has been set for February 1 to February 6, 2027, to be held in Addis Ababa at St. Francis Friary. Six themes will be discussed, which include: The importance of human relationships in Africa and the Capuchin identity; Fraternal economy in the context of growth in human relationships; Training our youth to develop both human and Franciscan relationships; Mission as a collaboration in human and fraternal relationships; Capuchin brothers’ relationships with local Ordinaries; Justice, Peace, and the Integration of Creation in Africa. In addition to identifying the themes, twenty-one potential resource personnel have been nominated to develop these themes. The preparatory commission, consisting of thirteen members and one coordinator, has been formed. The assembly has entrusted the preparatory commission with the responsibility to examine the budget necessary for the meeting and to finalize all other related matters, as well as to initiate communication with the resource personnel with the aim of commencing the development of the themes. The proposed motto for the meeting is, “Let us start again” or “With the help of God, we can.”
- The Assembly has resolved to establish a communication office equipped with its own website and all essential tools, ensuring that communication and information flow efficiently and swiftly among the members.
- Fourteen lay brothers are set to attend the meeting in Rome. The Assembly advised that when superiors select participants, they must consider that the individual chosen should be proficient in English, Italian, or French, and be able to confidently articulate their thoughts while embodying our charism.
- The missionary course program is scheduled to occur in Kampala, Uganda, from June 14 to August 9, 2025. Participants will include one representative each from EACC – Eritrea, Namibia, and Tanzania, along with two representatives from CONCAO.
- The formation course for formatters is set to take place in Cotonou, Benin, from June 29 to July 8, 2025, lasting for two weeks. Each circumscription is required to send one formator who is currently working in the formation house.
The meeting will be adjourned on February 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM.