Spiritan Conference of Circumscriptions of African and the Islands (SCCAI)

Spiritans in Africa and EFESIA to Host Landmark Interfaith Dialogue Workshop in Nairobi

Spiritans in Africa and EFESIA to Host Landmark Interfaith Dialogue Workshop in Nairobi

Press release — Nairobi, Kenya, September 2026

The Spiritan Conference of Circumscriptions of Africa and the Islands (SCCAI), in partnership with the Belgium-based interfaith association EFESIA, hosted an Interfaith Dialogue Workshop at the Rosa Mystica Spiritual Centre in Nairobi from September 6 to 10, 2026. Hosted by the Spiritan Province of Kenya, the five-day event gathered 25 participants from West, Central, East, and Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, and Europe, aiming to strengthen the Church’s ministry of dialogue with Islam and African Traditional Religion.

Described by organisers as the first joint capacity-building initiative between SCCAI and EFESIA, the workshop fulfilled a mandate issued in August 2024 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, where Spiritan Major Superiors and formators from Africa and the Islands asked their Coordinator for Dialogue to help the Provinces and Groups develop a manual to revitalise this ministry. The newly developed Practical Manual for Spiritan Animators of Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue in Africa and the Islands (2026 edition) was tested and refined during the sessions.

Structured around the “see, judge, act” methodology, the programme opened with country reports and presentations on African Traditional Religion and Islam, before broadening to include partners such as EFESIA’s “Together with Mary” initiative, Muslim and interfaith actors, and civil society representatives — including a site visit to a Nairobi mosque and Islamic Centre. The final working day focused on the Manual, a proposed model Parish Committee for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism, and a strategic plan for the SCCAI Coordination for Dialogue.

For media enquiries: Fr. Louison Emerick Bissila Mbila, C.S.Sp., Executive Secretary, SCCAI — Email: executivesecretarysccai@gmail.com, Tel/WhatsApp: +251 704197619 / +248 2668633.

Read the full press release on the SCCAI Substack: Spiritans in Africa and EFESIA to Host Landmark Interfaith Dialogue Workshop in Nairobi

Share this article:

FacebookWhatsAppXLinkedInEmail

Share your thoughts

We welcome your comments on this article. To keep this space a place of dialogue, please observe these simple guidelines:

  • Be respectful and courteous. Disagree with ideas if you wish, but never attack or mock persons.
  • No insults, hate speech, discrimination, threats or vulgar language.
  • Stay on topic and keep your comment relevant to the article.
  • Be truthful: do not spread false or misleading information.
  • Protect privacy: do not post phone numbers, addresses or other personal details, yours or anyone else’s.
  • No advertising, spam or links to unrelated websites.

“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Your name and email address are required; your email will not be published. Your first comment will appear after a short review; after that, your comments appear directly. Comments that do not respect these guidelines may be edited or removed.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *