KENYA: CUEA challenged to Respond to the Emerging Pastoral issues
Rev. Fr. Fabrizio Meroni
On Monday 20th, February, 2017, Secretary General of The Pontifical Missionary Union, Rev. Fr. Fabrizio Meroni challenged the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) University to provide formation opportunities for pastoral agents of the Church in order to respond to the emerging pastoral issues affecting the Catholic Church today.
Fr Meroni posed the challenge when he met with CUEA Vice Chancellor Professor Justus Mbae and various departmental heads where he encouraged collaboration of African scholars, publications and research on topical issues and areas of concern stating that, the Church needs to read the sign of times, respond promptly and provide timely interventions in social, moral and spiritual areas calling for guidance.
Later in the day, he met Dr. Steven Payne, Principal of Tangaza University College (a Constituent College of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa) and representatives drawn from School of Theology, Institute of Spirituality and Religious Formation and Institute of Social Ministry in Mission.
He appreciated the contribution of the college in the formation of pastoral agents within the Region, encouraging change of missionary approaches through open sharing, embracing of modern methods of communication and continued building of synergy and linkages.
Earlier, Fr. Meroni who is visiting the Catholic Church in Kenya with a mission to promote collaboration, universality, communion and solidarity of the Catholic Church through Pontifical Missionary Society (PMS) met with the Diocesan PMS Directors, and Holy Childhood Coordinators at St. Mary Magdalene Retreat House, Resurrection Garden in Nairobi during the PMS Annual General Meeting.
Fr. Meroni said that the missionary Union’s immediate and specific purpose is to promote missionary consciousness and formation among priests and religious men and women who in turn will provide the consciousness and formation within the Christian communities.
He challenged the assembly to develop clear ongoing programs that will awaken missionary passion in our communities adding that, missionary Union is an animation and formation instrument for capacity building of local churches that aims at arousing the missionary spirit and en-kindling the zeal of the faithful.
Fr. Meroni thanked the Diocesan Directors and Holy Childhood coordinators for their missionary zeal, availability and commitment to make Kenya truly a missionary country, appreciating the Kenyan sons and daughters who are working as priests and sisters in different parts of the world, the Diocesan priests who have become Fidei Donum priests in needy Dioceses in the country as well as the growing number of Lay Catholics who are offering their service as professionals to deserving marginal Dioceses.
The meeting was graced by the presence of H.E Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo, Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) – Chairman Commission for Missions Rt. Rev. Peter Kihara Kariuki, and the Commissions Vice Chairman Rt. Rev. Joseph Alessandro.
In his week long visit, Fr. Meroni is also scheduled to meet different Bishops, the clergy and religious from various institutions and to celebrate the Holy Eucharist with the faithful to have an experience of the Church in Kenya.
By Rose Achiego
