ZAMBIA: AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator Calls for strengthening of the Laity participation in Evangelization work
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| Rev. Fr. Febian Mulenga Pikiti |
Need for Christian Formation of the laity, building
of Families as the Foundation of Christian Life, promoting active participation
of the Laity from the grassroots, encouraging the participation in public life
and need to encourage the Laity to be agents of positive change are among the issues
that AMECEA Countries need to put more emphasis on.
of Families as the Foundation of Christian Life, promoting active participation
of the Laity from the grassroots, encouraging the participation in public life
and need to encourage the Laity to be agents of positive change are among the issues
that AMECEA Countries need to put more emphasis on.
This was said by AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator Rev.
Fr. Febian Mulenga Pikiti during opening of the three-day conference of the
Council for the Laity in Eastern Africa COLEA held at Lusaka Zambia from Tuesday
16th- 19 February 2016.
Fr. Febian Mulenga Pikiti during opening of the three-day conference of the
Council for the Laity in Eastern Africa COLEA held at Lusaka Zambia from Tuesday
16th- 19 February 2016.
The conference was organized by AMECEA Pastoral
Department in collaboration with the ZEC Pastoral department and Laity Council
of Zambia.
Department in collaboration with the ZEC Pastoral department and Laity Council
of Zambia.
Fr. Pikiti explained that in order to help the
laity answer to their vocation, they must be formed individually and
collectively. In reference to the document Ecclesia in Africa no. 75, Fr.
Pikiti said “… People who have never had the chance to learn cannot really know
the truths of faith nor can they perform actions which they have never been
taught. For this reason the whole community needs to be trained, motivated and
empowered for evangelization, each according to his or her specific role within
the church.”
laity answer to their vocation, they must be formed individually and
collectively. In reference to the document Ecclesia in Africa no. 75, Fr.
Pikiti said “… People who have never had the chance to learn cannot really know
the truths of faith nor can they perform actions which they have never been
taught. For this reason the whole community needs to be trained, motivated and
empowered for evangelization, each according to his or her specific role within
the church.”
He said that Clergies should also know the place
and role of the laity and learn proper skills on how to guide them to achieve
their desired goal. “Unfortunately, we have inherited from the old system where
the clergy and religious had a big say in the Church, while the laity were mere
just receivers and sometimes onlookers. We cannot change the laity and make
them active unless we first change the system,” he said.
and role of the laity and learn proper skills on how to guide them to achieve
their desired goal. “Unfortunately, we have inherited from the old system where
the clergy and religious had a big say in the Church, while the laity were mere
just receivers and sometimes onlookers. We cannot change the laity and make
them active unless we first change the system,” he said.
On the issue of building the Family as the Foundation
of Christian life, Fr. Pikiti explained that the teaching and formation of Laity
must start in the families. “The families themselves must be prepared for the
noble task of forming a domestic church. This strong catechesis must accompany
the faithful through the different stages of life, that is, at school and after
school, in childhood, youth and adulthood,” he said.
of Christian life, Fr. Pikiti explained that the teaching and formation of Laity
must start in the families. “The families themselves must be prepared for the
noble task of forming a domestic church. This strong catechesis must accompany
the faithful through the different stages of life, that is, at school and after
school, in childhood, youth and adulthood,” he said.
Concerning the issue of promoting active participation
of the Laity from the grassroots level especially in the Small Christian
Communities, Fr. Pikiti said that the frontier of Evangelization in the AMECEA
Region for the laity is in the Small Christian Communities (SCCs)
of the Laity from the grassroots level especially in the Small Christian
Communities, Fr. Pikiti said that the frontier of Evangelization in the AMECEA
Region for the laity is in the Small Christian Communities (SCCs)
He said, “The small Christian Communities remind
us of the small home Churches of the first Christians who celebrated the
breaking of bread from house to house. In the same way, the SCCs members come know
each other. They visit each other and share whatever they have in the best way
possible. It is also in the SCCs that they can live together their faith in
everyday life. Here they are pro-active on a daily basis their mandate to
announce the Gospel to the neighbor by word, action and example.”
us of the small home Churches of the first Christians who celebrated the
breaking of bread from house to house. In the same way, the SCCs members come know
each other. They visit each other and share whatever they have in the best way
possible. It is also in the SCCs that they can live together their faith in
everyday life. Here they are pro-active on a daily basis their mandate to
announce the Gospel to the neighbor by word, action and example.”
Concerning the participation in Public Life, Fr.
Pikiti explained that the Laity are to be active agentd of holiness in the
world. Referring to the Post synodal exhortation Africae Munus, he said that Lay men and women are called, above
all, to holiness. A holiness which is to be lived in the world. “Through her
lay members, the Church is present and active in the world. Lay people have an
important role to play in the Church and in the society,” he said.
Pikiti explained that the Laity are to be active agentd of holiness in the
world. Referring to the Post synodal exhortation Africae Munus, he said that Lay men and women are called, above
all, to holiness. A holiness which is to be lived in the world. “Through her
lay members, the Church is present and active in the world. Lay people have an
important role to play in the Church and in the society,” he said.
Fr. Pikiti also emphasized on the issue of the need
for AMECEA Laity to be agents of positive change. “There are certain areas where
it is the laity who can make a difference. These include political, economical
and social areas,” he added that there are complaints that the good Catholics
often shun politics and in this way politics remains dirty.
for AMECEA Laity to be agents of positive change. “There are certain areas where
it is the laity who can make a difference. These include political, economical
and social areas,” he added that there are complaints that the good Catholics
often shun politics and in this way politics remains dirty.
To the Participants of the conference Fr Pikiti
said, “As representatives of the Laity from our various countries, we need to
consolidate the structures that bind us together to Christ the true vine.
Through the Laity Councils, we are to promote a systematic participatory
governance and mission of the Church.”
said, “As representatives of the Laity from our various countries, we need to
consolidate the structures that bind us together to Christ the true vine.
Through the Laity Councils, we are to promote a systematic participatory
governance and mission of the Church.”
“Let us all work together to build the kingdom of God,”
he implored.
he implored.
By Pamela
Adinda, AMECEA Online News
Adinda, AMECEA Online News
