Congress to Promote the Liturgy in Africa and Madagascar

[This is a conference that could be of some note and interest and one to watch out for. Being rooted in Africa, non-European, and with the CDW and Archbishop Ranjith's involvement with the specific aim to "to evaluate, promote and relaunch liturgical life" (already suggesting a re-launch is required) the conference could help clarify what does and does not constitute a proper liturgical "inculturation", as well as the balance between it and tradition in the sacred liturgy.]

VATICAN CITY, JUN 20, 2006 (VIS) - The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in collaboration with the Ghana Bishops' Conference, has organized a congress to promote the liturgy in Africa and Madagascar. The event is due to be held in Kumasi, Ghana from July 4 to 9.

According to a communique released by the congregation, the congress aims "to evaluate, promote and relaunch liturgical life," in the African continent. Among those invited to participate in the congress, the communique proceeds, are: superiors of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, members and consultors of African origin belonging to that dicastery, the presidents of SECAM (Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar) and of the liturgical commission of CERAO (Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa), and the apostolic nuncio to Ghana, as well as bishops, priests and religious.

The congress will be opened by Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The meeting will then consider four themes: the history of liturgical life in Africa, liturgical formation, the translation of liturgical books into various African languages, and inculturation in the liturgy.