KENYA: Small Christian Communities in AMECEA Region, “Unique Opportunity” in Preparation for Synod of Bishops, Prelate Says
Bishop Maurice Muhatia during presentation on Synod of Synodality
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The presence of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) region, has been lauded as a means through which full participation of the faithful from local churches will be realized in preparation for the synod of Bishops to be held in October 2023.
In his presentation in a webinar to create awareness about the synod on synodality and reinforce that Christian faithful should not be bystanders in this XVIth Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops’ synod, the Vice Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba appreciated the existence of SCCs in the region noting that it is a “unique opportunity,” that will help steer gathering information from grassroots.
“The Church in AMECEA region finds itself in a privileged position when it comes to implementing this proposal of the synod because of the presence of Small Christian Communities,” Bishop Muhatia of Kenya’s Nakuru Diocese told over 100 online participants during his presentation Saturday, September 18, adding that having SCCs “is going to work on our favor for Christian communities are properly utilized when it comes to participation in discernment.”
AMECEA region that comprises of nine countries; Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia established SCCs nearly six decades ago and has approximately 180,000 SCCs.
In AMECEA plenary meeting held nearly 40 years ago, the church leaders noted that “Small Christian Communities are very instrumental in bringing the Gospel down to the lives of the people, and are effective way of making people feel that they are fully part of the Church’s evangelization work.”
The Kenyan prelate disclosed that AMECEA region is better placed when it comes to involvement of the faithful from grassroots saying, “Sometimes we are so much used to Small Christian Communities that we don’t realize other churches do not have it… hence it is an opportunity for us during this synod to emphasize what has been going on with renewed vigor and even in a better way.”
The significance of SCCs in the AMECEA region has been acknowledged by other countries like Germany and Switzerland who sent a group of Catholics early last year to visit Kenya and learn more about SCC meetings so as to implement in their countries to improve the spiritual life of their people.
According to Bishop Muhatia, for the success of synod which calls for discernment from all the baptized, it is necessary “to begin the process with proper catechesis so the faithful may know what is expected from them.”
He calls upon all the diocesan coordinators involved in the synodal process, to take note of catechesis and instruct the Christians accordingly and to “make proper use of SCCs in the local church of AMECEA.”
