First International Congress of African Liturgists

The First International Congress of African Liturgists was held in Dakar, Senegal, with the participation of 52 delegates from 14 African nations, from 4 to 8 December 2023. The theme of the congress was 'The State of the Liturgical Question in Africa: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects'. Among the participants were bishops, abbots and representatives of bishops' conferences.

The proceedings were officially opened with the readings of a Message from the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments signed by the Prefect, Cardinal Arthur Roche, by Msgr. Krzystof Marcjanowicz, Undersecretary of the Dicastery.

During the conference, various issues concerning the liturgy in Africa were addressed, including inculturation, active participation in the liturgy, and the role of the liturgy in the life of the Church. The successes achieved so far were highlighted, but also the remaining challenges, such as the need for a better understanding of Sacrosanctum Concilium and the inculturation of liturgical books.

The conference sessions included lectures and panel discussions led by eminent church figures, such as Cardinal Robert Sarah and bishops from different parts of Africa. Topics such as the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on the liturgy, the importance of inculturation, and the challenges of liturgical formation in Africa were discussed.

Cardinal Sarah was the principal celebrant at the closing Mass of the congress, during which the statutes for the group of African liturgists, which will henceforth be called 'Consociatio Liturgica Africana' (CLA), were read out. It was decided that the next congress will be held in Tanzania in 2026.

In addition to the official sessions of the congress, participants had the opportunity to visit significant places and attend religious events, such as the inaugural Mass at the Popenguine Shrine.

The coordinator of the organising committee thanked all those who had made the congress possible and expressed gratitude for the financial support received from the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, the Primate of the Benedictines and the Senegalese government.

The Scientific Committee was instructed to continue the work until the next congress, organising sub-regional meetings or meetings by language groupings to deepen the topics discussed during the Dakar congress.