What started barely a year plus five months ago have elected their executive to steer the affairs of the Lectors in the country. The interim executive put their affairs straight and has been recognized by Catholics and the Bishop of Banjul. They are a set of people who proclaim the Word of God in Church and outside the Church as the need may be. They were commissioned by Bishop Robert Patrick Ellison at Kunkujang given the orders to proclaim. Their interim executive headed by Ernest Anthony Mendy moved the Network ahead and has been seen as a force to recon with in the Church. They have a new executive and are now forging ahead in the right direction.

Austin Kanjia, the Networks interim Secretary General recounted their successes for the past One year and five months in office. The elections then followed suit.

Austin Kanjia says, “The idea of the Network came about during the exchange that existed between St. Therese and St. Charles’ Lectors. The idea was sold to St. Kizitos’s, St. Charles and Star of the Sea. A few dedicated members were sent to go and sell the ideas to these sister churches. This was a sure sign of success from the onset.

Holy Spirit Church, St. Michael’s parish and Holy Cross parish could not still reply whether they want to be part of the Network or not. But we have not relented still.

During the course of the year, we tried hard to meet every month to organize churches to partake in the proclamation of the Word of God in different churches, which has earned us a remarkable name and have been recommended by many, making us a force to recon with in the diocese.

When we noticing its success, we wrote formally to the Bishop of Banjul, Bishop Ellison, introducing ourselves, the executive invited in his office to talk about the idea formally. He embraced it and was then to operate formally in the name of the Church

The interim executive made it possible for over Two Hundred of its members to be formally instituted during the 8th of December 2008 Kunkujang Mariama pilgrimage. This sent the signal to all that we were here to stay and to make a mark in the life of our dear Church.

We had the quest to strengthen other members who have not had the chance to join the Network or are in the network but are full of constraints. We have dispatched members to Brufut and are now proud to say that they have been empowered and are now going ahead with what they gained from the Network. We also sent members to St. Peter’s Lamin but it has not yielded any fruit to write home about yet, our friends there should wake up. Kololi and Holy Cross are in the pipe line for the visit. We have it to visit Star of the Sea, Cathedral, Holy Family, Blessed Sacrament and others too.

Our commitment has brought us recognition and are now included in diocesan functions. Meanwhile we have organized one big retreat for our members at the Holy Family Church at Bakau and there were recommendations from that retreat that we train our members and modalities are put in place for the training which would be passed onto the new leadership to continue. The Network has also worked assiduously for the formulation of a constitution which we are going to adopt today.”

We have been able to bring lectors around the Kombos together to formulate something substantial for the network in The Gambia. The Network further has plans of expansion to the ends of The Gambia and this is part of the new mandate of the new executive.

The Bishop has been informed of our intention of asking Fr. Edu Gomez to serve as our Chaplain, which he is yet to respond to.

In a close contest for the positions, the following emerged as winners and were duly elected into office in joy. Ernest A. Mendy –President, Mary Kanu-Thomas, Vice President, Secretary General – Austin Kanjia, Assisted by Madeline Sambou of Divine Mercy of Brufut, Treasurer-John Nance of Resurrection, Social Secretary-Harriet Njie of Blessed Sacrament, assisted by Veronic Kujabi of St. Peter’s, Auditor- Peter Gomez of Holy Rosary of Lamin, PRO-Oluranti Oyeneye of Holy Family and was assisted by Theresa Adekunle Kanjia of Star of the Sea, Religious Secretary-Peter K. Rogers of St. Charles assisted by Angelic Nakui of the Blessed Sacrament at Kanifing.

The new president thanked all for re electing some of the interim members showing that they worked hard. He thanked all parish priests, Fr. Edu Gomez for his interest in the group the Bishop and those who always assist the Network. He urged those who are not yet members to try and be part of the Network for the good of the Church. “I call on your support and member participation. Success cannot be achieved without you and it entails sacrifice. The group meets on the 11th July 2008. All are urged to be here with new members as well.”

Preamble Inspired by The God Head - The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit We the Priests, Religious and Laity of the Catholic Diocese of Banjul under the Leadership of His Lordship Bishop Robert Patrick Ellison Cssp.

-Recalling that the First and Second Catholic Diocesan Assemblies held in 1985 and 1989.

-Considering the ensuing diocesan evaluation in 1995/1 996.

-Considering Diocesan Strategic Plan 2001-2010.

- Lamenting the lack of follow up action in some key areas.

Decided to hold the second Diocesan Assembly from the 30th March to 4th April 2008 at the Gambia Pastoral Institute under the theme - A Dynamic Self Reliant Church; developing a stronger sense of ownership of our local church Focusing on Evangelisation, Development and Finance;

Evangelisation:

Considering that Evangelisation is central to the mission of the Church we resolve that

-Evangelisation begins in our families and continues through our Parishes with the support of the Gambia Pastoral Institute.

- Holistic Catholic Education (doctrinal, moral and scriptural) be intensified in our institutions and religious formation houses.

i Social Communication

-The existing social communication unit of the Diocese be upgraded with the most modern communication technologies to accelerate propagation of the Catholic Faith, exchange of information and sharing of experiences.

ii Inter church/Inter faith dialogue

-Maintain and strengthen Inter church and inter faith dialogue.

Development

Considering that the Church is an agent of transformation based on its social teachings we resolve that;

-The raison d’etre of the Catholic Diocese of Banjul is the holistic development of the human person through the Catholic Development Office CaDo.

I Education

-Pro active involvement of the Catholic Church in. quality education and continuous formation at all levels.

- Education begins at home but is a joint responsibility of parents, teachers and other stakeholders.

-The Catholic Education Secretariat be strengthened for better management of all Catholic educational institutions.

ii Health

- Increase the capacity for Health care services within the Diocese.

Finance

Considering the need for Accountability, Transparency and Stewardship in Diocesan and Parish Finances we resolve

-To rationalize all Diocesan assets and resources to ensure maximum yields.

-A complete inventory of all Diocesan physical assets be conducted regularly for management information purposes.

-The Catholic Diocese of Banjul work towards self-reliance by building reserves and wealth creation through self- sustaining income generating schemes.

- Institutionalise regular financial planning and reporting.

-Judicious use of the Financial resources

i Human resources .

-Harness the existing Catholic human capital in skills, expertise and nurturing the young talents for the future growth and development of the Church.

Acknowledgements:

We acknowledge the goodwill messages from the Heads of other Christian Denominations, Donors and Partners, Diocesan Organisations within and abroad, for the material, financial and moral support, the Parishes for their invaluable input and the participants for their participation.

Done at the Gambia Pastoral Institute

Kairaba Avenue The Gambia.

On this 4th Day of April 2008

In the Year of our Lord

In the second year of the Episcopate of

His Lordship Bishop Robert Patrick Ellison CSSp.

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr. Charles Edward Tamba of Kenema and rector of St. Paul’s Major Seminary in Freetown, as Archbishop of Freetown and Bo (Sierra Leone).

He succeeds Bishop Joseph Ganda who retired last year. Archbishop-elect Tamba was born in Kainkordu (Diocese of Kenema), on April 18, 1956. Following the completion of his secondary studies, he attended the Pre-Seminary of St. Kizito of Kenema, in 1977, and from 1978-1985, Saint Paul’s Major Seminary in Gbarnga.
He was ordained a priest on April 4, 1986, in Kono, for the Diocese of Kenema. He has since ministered as follows: 1986-89: Vice-Administrator for the Cathedral of St. Paul; 1989-91: philosophy professor in St. Paul’s Major Seminary, Gbarnga, Liberia y Makeni; 1991-96: licentiate studies in dogmatic theology at the Gregorian University; 1996-98: Vice-rector of St. Paul’s Major Seminary, Makeni; 1998-02: Acting Rector of St. Paul’s Major Seminary Freetown; since 2002: Rector of St. Paul’s Major Seminary, Freetown.

The Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo was established in 1970. It has an area of 20,251 sq. km, a population 1,396,494 of whom 80,000 are Catholic, served by 59 priests and 29 religious.

At the same time, the Holy Father appointed Fr. Etienne Ung’eyowun of the clergy of Mahagi-Nioka, Democratic Republic of the Congo, adjunct secretary general of the national bishops’ conference, as bishop of Bondo. The Diocese of Bondo has 82,017 Catholics, 20 priests and 18 religious. Fr. Ung’eyowun was born in Nyalebbe in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1988.

St. Mary’s Church, Hellesdon, Norwich in England, presented a variety of teaching and learning materials and learning aids through the Rt. Rev. Dr. S. Telwa Johnson, the Parish Priest and Bishop of Banjul for the Anglican Mission. Bishop Telewa Johnson said, “I am delighted with this genuine and efficient partnership. I promise to include a visit to the church in my itinerary for the Lambeth conference.”

K.C. During, a parishioner at St. Mary’s Church Hellesdon, presented the items. The school reciprocated by presenting Gambian made alter linens to their counterparts.

Christopher Manley, the Anglican Education Secretary, commended their friends for the laudable gesture. He said, “the materials are appropriate and will serve their purpose well.”

In thanking their visitors, a pupil of the school, Elizabeth Jarjue said they were filled with joy at having received the items. She said that the gifts would go a long way towards promoting their school to even greater heights. She prayed for the donors and presented a gift on behalf of the school.