KENYA: AMECEA holds a Forum on the Assessment of the Performance of Priests in Eastern Africa
The Pastoral Department of AMECEA held a workshop to assess the
effectiveness of the performance of Catholic Priests in Eastern Africa.
The workshop which was sponsored by Kirche in Not, (Church –in-Need), Germany took place in Nairobi
Kenya from 30th November to 3rd December, 2015 was based
on a baseline survey which was carried out by Research Department of Catholic
University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in collaboration with AMECEA Secretariat, which
assessed the effectiveness of the performance of Priests in Kenya Uganda and
Tanzania.
Kenya from 30th November to 3rd December, 2015 was based
on a baseline survey which was carried out by Research Department of Catholic
University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in collaboration with AMECEA Secretariat, which
assessed the effectiveness of the performance of Priests in Kenya Uganda and
Tanzania.
According Rev. Dr. John Lukwata, who was among the facilitators of
the workshop, 89.5% of the lay faithful perceive the performance of the Priests
to be excellent. However, there is lack of concrete strategic planning and
policies in some of the dioceses in the AMECEA Region and National Episcopal
Conferences to secure and ensure Priests’ livelihood and finances in order to
adequately carry out their pastoral programs.
the workshop, 89.5% of the lay faithful perceive the performance of the Priests
to be excellent. However, there is lack of concrete strategic planning and
policies in some of the dioceses in the AMECEA Region and National Episcopal
Conferences to secure and ensure Priests’ livelihood and finances in order to
adequately carry out their pastoral programs.
Dr. Lukwata, who is also a lecturer at CUEA and among the people
who conducted the survey
who conducted the survey
said that the workshop was a good forum to deliberate
on the findings of the survey and a reflection of the realities in the whole
AMECEA Region despite the fact that only the three AMECEA Countries were
captured.
Among the issues that the workshop deliberated on in depth
included the identity of the African Priest, where it emerged that there is a
feeling among Catholics on the identity of secular and religious Priests and
therefore, there is a need to define the real identity of the diocesan priests.
included the identity of the African Priest, where it emerged that there is a
feeling among Catholics on the identity of secular and religious Priests and
therefore, there is a need to define the real identity of the diocesan priests.
The diocesan priests were challenged to consider having specific charism,
understand it, as well as embrace it. This will help them to identify areas
where they are weak and work towards improving them, hence making their pastoral
work effective.
understand it, as well as embrace it. This will help them to identify areas
where they are weak and work towards improving them, hence making their pastoral
work effective.
The issue of Priestly Formation and Ongoing Formation for Priests
was also discussed in depth. Since prospective seminarians come from different
backgrounds including orphans, single parentage, polygamous families and other
faiths it was proposed that dioceses need to put in place mechanisms to
thoroughly scrutinize the candidates before admitting them in the
was also discussed in depth. Since prospective seminarians come from different
backgrounds including orphans, single parentage, polygamous families and other
faiths it was proposed that dioceses need to put in place mechanisms to
thoroughly scrutinize the candidates before admitting them in the
seminaries. The
recruitment process should be thoroughly examined and Vocation Directors in the
Dioceses must scrutinize the family, the background and their faith before a
candidate is accepted in the seminary. SCCs, Parish Priests and families should
be involved in the selection, preparation and entry into seminary formation.
It was proposed that the Ongoing Formation for priests is
necessary and clear guidelines on how to go about it, should be put in place.
Sabbatical programs, retreats and seminars for the diocesan priests from time
to time should be facilitated. This can be organized to happen after serving
for a certain period of time.
necessary and clear guidelines on how to go about it, should be put in place.
Sabbatical programs, retreats and seminars for the diocesan priests from time
to time should be facilitated. This can be organized to happen after serving
for a certain period of time.
The workshop was attended by over 32 participants that included
three Bishops, from Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania each, Rectors/representatives
of Seminaries, National Pastoral Coordinators as well as National Chairpersons
of Priests Associations.
three Bishops, from Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania each, Rectors/representatives
of Seminaries, National Pastoral Coordinators as well as National Chairpersons
of Priests Associations.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online
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