MALAWI: Catholic Church urged to integrate Liturgy and Inculturation in Evangelization
|
| Bishop Wainaina of Murang’a Diocese |
The
Bishop of Murang’a Diocese in Kenya, Right Rev. James Maria Wainaina has
expressed the need for the Catholic Church to embrace inculturation to break
barriers of New Evangelization.
While
presenting his paper to the AMECEA delegates in Lilongwe, Bishop Wainaina described inculturation in Liturgy is the only way local communities are able to identify
with the Word of God in their local realities.
presenting his paper to the AMECEA delegates in Lilongwe, Bishop Wainaina described inculturation in Liturgy is the only way local communities are able to identify
with the Word of God in their local realities.
He however warned against
disjointed and uncoordinated attempts at inculturation adding that “Liturgy is an exercise
of the Priestly office of Jesus Christ”.
disjointed and uncoordinated attempts at inculturation adding that “Liturgy is an exercise
of the Priestly office of Jesus Christ”.
“There has been a lack in systematic, well
organised, officially initiated inculturation.
The dancing, the change in vestments fabric, patterns and forms, and
much of what makes our liturgy very lively have mostly been introduced without
due diligence,” he told the delegates.
organised, officially initiated inculturation.
The dancing, the change in vestments fabric, patterns and forms, and
much of what makes our liturgy very lively have mostly been introduced without
due diligence,” he told the delegates.
Describing
liturgy as a Divine human encounter and a meeting place between God and man,
the Bishop urged the local Church to follow the instruction Varietates
Legitimae given by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline
of the Sacraments, in 1994, For the right application of the Sacrosanctum
Concilium (Articles 37-40)
liturgy as a Divine human encounter and a meeting place between God and man,
the Bishop urged the local Church to follow the instruction Varietates
Legitimae given by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline
of the Sacraments, in 1994, For the right application of the Sacrosanctum
Concilium (Articles 37-40)
“The
instructions urge the Church to adopt that rite which plays an important role in
socio-religious expression of the people, and are not obscene in nature,” he
added.
instructions urge the Church to adopt that rite which plays an important role in
socio-religious expression of the people, and are not obscene in nature,” he
added.
Bishop
Wainaina singled out; liturgical dancing in the African context urging that
care must be taken to eliminate any scenes or gestures that are obscene and
offensive.
Wainaina singled out; liturgical dancing in the African context urging that
care must be taken to eliminate any scenes or gestures that are obscene and
offensive.
By Prince Henderson-ECM
Communications Officer
Communications Officer
