I attended to the OIEC –International Bureau of Catholic Education- Congress in New York as COFAEC president. There were about 550 attendances, from more than 60 countries; the congress was very successful, as was the reorganization of the OIEC. The closing session of the Congress at the United Nations headquarters, included a beautiful video addressed by the Pope.
I was sad that none of you, as OMAEC representative, could assist to the congress, since it was an opportunity to make contacts with all the general secretaries of Catholic education from attending countries (especially in Africa and Latin America), on the one hand, and with the heads of the teaching congregations, on the other, to help create federations of former students.
As requested by OIEC General Secretary, I addressed to attendance in a laboratory (in English) about working with international institutions ; I took the opportunity to briefly explain regarding our institutions, OMAEC and UNAEC.
This congress also allowed me to meet the two African parents whom COFAEC has initiated support for their actions: Father Camille Gomis, from Senegal, and Father Edgard Keket Ngamba, Secretary General of Catholic Education of the Central African Republic.
Finally, I spent some time with Monsignor Zani -Secretary General of the Congregation of the Holy See for Catholic Education-. He fervently hopes that OMAEC become more active and grow up, and has the particular intention to promote OMAEC within the Major Superiors of the teaching congregations.
With cordial greetings,
Laurent GREGOIRE
