African National Eucharistic Congress (ANEC)

Welcome to ANEC

“The African National Eucharistic Congress” (ANEC) is an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church/Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, and Travelers (PCMRT) to give African Catholics in the United States an opportunity to gather together, to experience mutual support, renewal of their life, and sharing of their values and cultures. The first African National Eucharistic Congress was held in September 2-3, 2006 in Washington DC. The Eucharistic Congress aimed to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church. It was also the gathering of all Catholics of African origin in the United States as one family, Clergy, Religious, laity and their friends to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and it brought together people from all over the United States and beyond. The Congress included time for prayer-fellowship-education-interaction-collaboration-and networking-leadership for the emerging African young adult and youths. It was a memorable and successful celebration that brought African Catholics in the United States together for the first time, to share their faith and rich heritage.

In 2012 and 2016 PCMRT also hosted the 2nd and the 3rd ANEC respectively. These past ANEC highlighted the gifts, contributions, challenges and evangelization opportunities of African families in the Catholic Church in the United States. The ANEC takes place every five years.