KENYA: AMECEA Launches the Year of Golden Jubilee for Gaba Pastoral Institute
The Association of Members Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) on Saturday, 21st, October, 2017 during Eucharistic Celebrations launched the Year of Golden Jubilee for AMECEA Pastoral Institute (API), based at Gaba in the Diocese of Eldoret Kenya. The Year of Golden Jubilee whose theme is “Pastoral Ministry and Missionary Renewal in AMECEA Region” guided by the Gospel of Mathew Chapter 5 which says “You are the Light of World, You are the Salt of the Earth” will conclude in October, 2018.
The colourful Celebrations which were attended by all members of the AMECEA Executive, comprising of Bishop Representatives from AMECEA National Conferences was led by the Chairman of the Board, H.E. Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel, CM, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Also in attendance was the host Bishop, Rt. Rev. Cornelius Kipng’eno Arap Korir who is the Bishop of Eldoret, Senior staff members from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) led by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Justus Mbai, as well as government officials.“When we launch the Golden Jubilee today, it is with gratitude that we remember the past, some of you might remember that the Gaba Institute was started in Uganda 50 years ago and because the situations there did not allow it to continue, it was transferred to Eldoret,” Cardinal Berhaneyesus said adding that since the time of its establishment in 1967, API has been a great instrument to the AMECEA Countries preparing agents of evangelization, agents of Christian witness in the nine countries of AMECEA Region.
“Many have come here from the different backgrounds to study and some to reflect on their lives and get some more energy to continue to be servants and witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ. This place has become a place of purity and a place of togetherness in spite of differences of the nine countries but under one shepherd our Lord Jesus Christ,” Said the Cardinal.
Presently, the API is part of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), the Gaba campus and according to the chairman of AMECEA it is a great step in the history of the Institute to be
incorporated into CUEA which is one of the biggest institutions which AMECEA founded and one that has been preparing leaders from all the member countries in AMECEA and in deed the continent of Africa and beyond.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus who is also the Chancellor of CUEA explained that the uniqueness of the university is that it not only provides quality education but also help in cultivating the Catholic identity and Catholic Ethics in the various fields of education offered by CUEA.
“As we leave the future in God’s hand, we hope that, this institute will continue to serve AMECEA Countries for continued preaching of the gospel especially in places where it has not reached and where it needs to be strengthened” he said.
According to API Coordinator Rev. Dr. Joseph Ekomwa, the institute is a brain child of the AMECEA founding Bishops who thought it wise to have such a facility in the region to facilitate the work of evangelization and expansion of missionary activities of the Church within the AMECEA Region and beyond.
“The Bishops of AMECEA conceived the idea of starting the institute to enable them address the matters of pastoral challenges in the region such that when they come together to share their challenges they are able to forge ahead together,” Rev. Ekomwa explained adding that the first participants arrived in Gaba Uganda on 1st, February, 1968 to start the training.
In July 2008 during the AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Lusaka Zambia, the AMECEA Bishops resolved that API be incorporated into the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) as Gaba Campus.
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