The African Union Chaplaincy is an outreach mission of the Church to the members and institutions of the African Union (AU). Entrusted to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit through the Spiritan Group of Ethiopia, it is canonically under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Archdiocese of Addis Ababa presently led by His Eminence Berhaneyesus Demerew Cardinal Souraphiel, C.M. The Chaplaincy assists the Symposium of the Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), religious congregations, and Church groups in their dealings with the Pan-African continental body.
Through a team led by a Chaplain, the AU Chaplaincy provides pastoral care to the Catholic members of the African Union Commission (AUC) and their families, and also monitors the work of the AU in all areas of interest to the Church.
A Chaplaincy Pastoral and Economic Council assists the Chaplain in the work of animating the Catholic Community. The AU Chaplaincy is also assisted by a number of Working Groups made up of experts and different partners in order to monitor and analyze developments in AU policies and initiatives and strives to contribute to the relevant processes. Ad hoc groups are created as and when necessary.
The Patron Saint of the AU Chaplaincy is Pope St. John Paul II.
Our Chaplain
Fr Louison Emerick Bissila Mbila is a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit since 1998, and a priest since 5th July 2003. Born on 10th May 1976, in Brazzaville, he is a citizen of the Republic of Seychelles and the Republic of Congo. Before his appointment as African Union Catholic Chaplain in 2019, he worked in the following countries: Seychelles (2010-2019), Belgium (2004-2010), and Congo-Brazzaville (2003-2004). As part of his training towards the priesthood, he did his philosophical studies in Libreville, Gabon (Grand Séminaire Spiritain International Père Daniel Brottier), his novitiate in Mbalmayo (Cameroon), his missionary experience or stage in Ejisu and Kumasi (Ghana), and his theological studies in Enugu State, Nigeria (Spiritan International School of Theology). Fr Emerick holds a Doctorate in Theology from the Université Catholique de Louvain.