TANZANIA: The Church Must Motivate Catechists
Sarah Pelaji
Responding to religious diversity and deepening evangelization to children and the youth, different religion including the Catholic Church introduced the religion program to all primary and secondary schools. However, it has been determined that the teaching of religion in schools has faced both challenges and successes in its implementation.
The priests from Geita Diocese in the Deanery of Geita held a meeting recently to discuss the solution to the problem. The Dean of Geita Deanery and the Parish priest of the Virgin Mary Parish of Fatima Father Gerald Singu explained in details that, in their research, they have identified that one of the problems affecting the religion program in schools is lack of catechists’ allowances, infrastructures and motivation to enable them even cover the cost of transport to the schools.
Also, not being able to afford the expenses of running their families because many catechists have no income and are therefore convinced to use their time to earn a living or daily bread, instead of teaching religion.
Most catechists are volunteers even though their role, duties and responsibilities are very important. Catechism performance is the result achieved by catechists in carrying out tasks assigned to him based on willingness, experience and sincerity and use of time. Efforts to improve the performance are carried out by giving competence training and increasing the motivation and the commitment. Furthermore, catechists are few while schools are increasing daily. All these discourage and hinder the religion program in primary and secondary schools.
In search of a solution, the priests insist the Church to motivate the catechists in order for them to continue teaching the Catholic Faith among faithful. The Church must continue to recognize the noble service of Catechists to the church for through them different parts of Africa, the Church in Africa has been able to sink its roots into people’s lives and priorities.
Catechists are people who keep the memory of God alive in themselves and they are able to revive it in others.
The contribution of catechists is still important and sustainable said the late Pope Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Encyclical Africae Munus. He insisted that local bishops must ensure that catechists are given initial and continuous structures: intellectual, doctrinal, moral and pastoral, so that they can effectively carry out their responsibility in a process of deep evangelization that touches the needs of the whole person: spiritual and physical.
Earlier, the Dean of the Deanery of Kasamwa Father Nicodemus Duba said that time has come for the Church in Tanzania and Africa to motivate catechists with allowances, setting a provincial strategy, especially providing them with bicycle or motorcycle transport and guaranteeing them safety of their lives because many do not have other income activities. In supporting the activities of catechists, it is important a conducive parish climate and good relations between the pastor of the parish, the head of the catechetical section, the congregation and other sections.
The Geita Diocese priests insist that the teaching of Religion and Catechism to children should be given priority because currently there are many indicators of faith and moral decline. This is proved among lay people who decide not to respects Sacraments especially the Sacrament of Penance, Holy Eucharists, leaving Catholic faith and shift to miracle churches.
There is less Fear of God among lay faithful as they are in secular society which makes them not seeing the importance of praying together as family and small Christian community. They also suggest the teaching of Catechism in small Christian communities where few children gather and attend School of faith in their whole childhood.
