TANZANIA: AMECEA Reviving the Council of the Laity for Eastern Africa (COLEA)
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| Group Photo of the Workshop Participants |
The workshop
organized by AMECEA Pastoral Department to revive the Council of the Laity in
Eastern Africa finally began in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania at the Conference’s
Secretariat in Kurasini. The workshop whose theme is ‘Marriage and Family Life
and the Future of the Church and Society’ started on Tuesday, 25th
and ends on 30th November, 2014.
organized by AMECEA Pastoral Department to revive the Council of the Laity in
Eastern Africa finally began in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania at the Conference’s
Secretariat in Kurasini. The workshop whose theme is ‘Marriage and Family Life
and the Future of the Church and Society’ started on Tuesday, 25th
and ends on 30th November, 2014.
According to
Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga, Coordinator of AMECEA Pastoral Department, the
workshop is well attended as participants have turned up from all AMECEA
Conferences and beyond.
Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga, Coordinator of AMECEA Pastoral Department, the
workshop is well attended as participants have turned up from all AMECEA
Conferences and beyond.
“We are very
happy that all AMECEA Conferences have this time around managed to send
delegates to this very important workshop,” he said adding that there are some
conferences which due to various challenges often fail to send delegates to
planed workshops.
happy that all AMECEA Conferences have this time around managed to send
delegates to this very important workshop,” he said adding that there are some
conferences which due to various challenges often fail to send delegates to
planed workshops.
“Eritrea and
Sudan conferences often miss out on workshops planned by AMECEA due to various
challenges that are beyond their control, however this time around, we thank
God that they managed to send delegates,” he added.
Sudan conferences often miss out on workshops planned by AMECEA due to various
challenges that are beyond their control, however this time around, we thank
God that they managed to send delegates,” he added.
“I am very
delighted that we also managed to get participants from AMECEA Affiliate
Countries of Djibouti and Somalia and also from Zimbabwe and Mauritius; this
shows that the region is indeed committed to reviving the council of the
laity,” Fr. Pikiti explained.
delighted that we also managed to get participants from AMECEA Affiliate
Countries of Djibouti and Somalia and also from Zimbabwe and Mauritius; this
shows that the region is indeed committed to reviving the council of the
laity,” Fr. Pikiti explained.
According to
Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo Bishop Chairman of AMECEA Pastoral Department, the Council
of the Laity for Eastern Africa has failed to remain permanently alive since it
was established in 1975.
Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo Bishop Chairman of AMECEA Pastoral Department, the Council
of the Laity for Eastern Africa has failed to remain permanently alive since it
was established in 1975.
“In August
1995, during the AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Malawi, the Bishops asked the
AMECEA Pastoral Department to facilitate the revival of the laity council for
the AMECEA Countries. It was “re-born” in 1996 and had its own
Constitution which was approved by the Bishops in 1998. Unfortunately it died
again,” Bishop Anyolo who is also the ordinary of Homabay Diocese in Kenya said
while addressing the workshop participants on Wednesday, 26th
November.
1995, during the AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Malawi, the Bishops asked the
AMECEA Pastoral Department to facilitate the revival of the laity council for
the AMECEA Countries. It was “re-born” in 1996 and had its own
Constitution which was approved by the Bishops in 1998. Unfortunately it died
again,” Bishop Anyolo who is also the ordinary of Homabay Diocese in Kenya said
while addressing the workshop participants on Wednesday, 26th
November.
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| Group Photo of Workshop Participants with the Clergy |
He further
explained that during the last two Plenary Assemblies of Bishops of AMECEA, we
have made resolution to encourage the laity to revitalize this association. “Now
is the opportune time for us to say, the Council of the Laity for Eastern
Africa is resurrected,” he said.
explained that during the last two Plenary Assemblies of Bishops of AMECEA, we
have made resolution to encourage the laity to revitalize this association. “Now
is the opportune time for us to say, the Council of the Laity for Eastern
Africa is resurrected,” he said.
The Eucharistic
Celebrations to mark the official opening of the workshop was graced by five
AMECEA Bishops which included the Auxiliary Bishop of Dar-es-Salaam Rt. Rev.
Eusebius Nzigilwa who represented HE Polycarp Cardinal Pengo. Also present was
Bishop Chairman of AMECEA Pastoral Department Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo of Homabay
Diocese Kenya; Rt. Rev. Method Kilaini, Auxiliary Bishop of Bukoba Tanzania,
Bishop Francis A. Kibira of Kasese Diocese Uganda and Bishop Telesphor Mkude of
Morogoro Tanzania.
Celebrations to mark the official opening of the workshop was graced by five
AMECEA Bishops which included the Auxiliary Bishop of Dar-es-Salaam Rt. Rev.
Eusebius Nzigilwa who represented HE Polycarp Cardinal Pengo. Also present was
Bishop Chairman of AMECEA Pastoral Department Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo of Homabay
Diocese Kenya; Rt. Rev. Method Kilaini, Auxiliary Bishop of Bukoba Tanzania,
Bishop Francis A. Kibira of Kasese Diocese Uganda and Bishop Telesphor Mkude of
Morogoro Tanzania.
Source: Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Social Communications
