AEC represented at CEAMA Assembly

The 6th General Assembly of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) took place in Bogotá, Colombia, from March 16–20, bringing together delegates from across the Amazon region and international Church organisations.

In a press release, CEAMA noted that the Assembly seeks to strengthen collaboration and promote common discernment in advancing the Church’s mission in the Amazon through a synodal approach.

Representing the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) from the territories within the Conference that form part of the Amazon region—Guyana (Diocese of Georgetown) and French Guiana (Diocese of Cayenne)—were Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB, Fr Jean-Paul Komi Sikpe, Fr Santiago Lantigua SJ, Auxilia Jacqueline Reand, and Marva Joy Hawksworth.

During his remarks, Fr Jean-Paul, a priest who lives and serves in French Guiana, expressed his joy at reuniting with many of the participants with whom he had already shared the Amazonian ecclesial journey at previous gatherings, such as the one held in Manaus.

“My joy is seeing the people I met two years ago in Manaus and discovering that the journey is not travelled alone,” he said, according to ceama.org

For the priest, this reunion confirms that the mission in the Amazon is a shared process built in community, strengthening fraternity among the Churches of the region.

Fr Jean-Paul emphasised that one of the most important fruits of this ecclesial process is the learning of synodality, understood as a path where everyone has something to contribute.

“Working in synodality is fundamental, because even the smallest among us can offer something. No one is so rich that they can say they do not need others.” In this sense, he highlighted that CEAMA offers a concrete opportunity for the Churches of the region to walk together, share experiences, and build common responses to the pastoral and social challenges of the Amazon region.