AMECEA: Outgoing Chaplain of CUEA recommends formation of Young Catholic Workers Movement in AMECEA Region
Rev. Fr. Charles Kyallo, Outgoing Chaplain of CUEA at his office in CUEA main Campus in Nairobi
Formation of Young Catholic Workers movements to provide continuity in the spiritual growth of young people after graduating from universities and colleges is an issue that AMECEA Fathers need to consider deliberating on during the forthcoming 19th AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in July, says Rev. Fr. Charles Kyallo, the outgoing Chaplain at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa CUEA.
“The majority of young people, who study at the Catholic Institutions or government institutions where systematic operational Catholic Chaplaincy services are available, usually gets accustomed to spiritual accompaniment and their participation in Church activities is often excellent. This is because there is a holistic formation of the individuals meaning that at the end of their academic journey, they not only acquire intellectual skills but also spiritual and moral formation which is essential to every human being,” Fr. Kyallo explained.
Fr. Kyallo however noted that, the situation changes for many of these young people once they leave campus life adding that, the majority of them only remain passive participants in liturgical celebrations as they rarely find a suitable spiritual group to belong once they go back to their home parishes.
“Either they often feel too old to be in the parish youth groups or Young Christian Society-YCS movements, which often comprise of high school children; at the same time, they feel too young to fit in the Small Christian Communities where their fathers and mothers belong or in the Catholic Women Association or Catholic Men Associations for that matter, because their spiritual and social needs and those of their parents are totally different,” Fr. Kyallo elaborated.
It is against this backdrop that Fr. Kyallo recommends that the Church in AMECEA Region prioritize the establishment of Young Christian Workers movements in Dioceses where this has not started and strengthen the movement in Dioceses where the initiative has already taken off. He feels that the Apostolate to this particular group is seriously lacking in the region.
“My interaction with young people who have graduated from colleges and are back in the communities has made me realise that there is usually a big gap in matters spiritual as far as the lives of these young people are concerned,” He explained adding that often times these young people have a lot going on in their lives; chasing careers, trying to establish families as well as investments for a secured future; it is usually at this stage that many of them fall out from the Church. Therefore advising that, it is important to establish a spiritual support group and a forum for them to continue with spiritual formation and accompaniment based on their specific need.
In an interview with AMECEA Online News at his Office in Nairobi, Father Kyallo whose contract is coming to an end in May, 2018, having served the university for the last six years says that, it is a good thing that almost all AMECEA Countries have a Catholic University, meaning that the students from such institutions are receiving strong spiritual formation which is crucial in their integral human development. Therefore, a great need to continue nourishing the faith and spiritually accompanying these young people when they get out of campus is very crucial.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
