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In 2002 the Institute for Church Life at the
University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, working together with the Department
of Theology, African and African-American Studies Program and other
university bodies, felt strongly that this document with its prophetic call
was too important to be left in the shelves without an active response. They
decided to convoke a meeting of some Africans and people with interest in
Africa from October 19 to 21, 2002, to study this document more closely and
search for ways of giving it life. At that meeting which took place at Notre
Dame it was decided that the University of Notre Dame will undertake a
two-part conference in partnership with United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops and in conjunction with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria,
The Laity Council of Nigeria, The Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA),
The Spiritan international School of Theology (SIST), Attakwu¬Enugu, Nigeria
and the Conference of Women Religious of Nigeria.
The conference project aims at helping to
inspire all concerned in and outside Africa to think differently about
Africa and seek new ways of developing a sustainable commitment to the cause
of Africa at the institutional, organizational, church and government
levels. The first part of the conference took place at the University of
Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, from 21-24 September 2003. It brought together a
cross section of participants from different walks of life and professions
in the United States, Africa and Europe to deliberate on the story and
situation of Africa, past and present, increase the understanding of
Africa’s contemporary challenges and promise, and sensitize people on the
need for continuing educative commitment -to Africa at different levels of
church and society everywhere. A lot of issues were raised and ventilated.
The conference generated a lot of interest among many people, young and old,
Africans, Americans and Afro-Americans. There was a deep yearning to
continue the dialogue as soon as possible with greater commitment to look
for creative and practical responses to the issues that were raised.
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