ERITREA: 48 Catechists Commissioned to Proclaim Christ’s Gospel
The Kidane Mehret Catechetical Institute of Asmara graduated 48 catechists for the 5th round on August 16, 2023.
The commissioning was opened with a solemn Mass officiated by Archbishop Menghisteab Tesfamariam who reminded the graduates that the mandate to preach the gospel is mandatory upon every member of the church, but most importantly to those who are called to the catechetical ministry.
Africa is the only continent that has shown phenomenal growth, both in number of the faithful and vocations. This growth according to the Archbishop is mainly due to the ministry of catechesis.
In Eritrea, the Catechism ministry is not strongly established but the expectation is that the great number of catechists who graduated from this center will remedy this concern. As most of the graduates are from various religious congregations, his grace recommended to each of their superiors to delegate them to areas where they will contribute effectively.
In conclusion of the mass, his grace officially commissioned the graduates to go and preach the Gospel, similar to what Jesus said to His disciples “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (MK 16:15).
Coordinator of the Kidane Mehret Catechetical Institute Ms. Ruth Habte (Ph.D.) presented a short history of the center, its current activities, the courses covered within these two years of study, and the plan of integrating all the Eparchies in Eritrea and preparing catechists of great quality and quantity for the entire catholic church of Eritrea. She congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to sow the seeds they have accumulated in these two years of training wherever they go and with whomever they encounter.
The Kidane Mehret Catechetical Institute was established in 2012 following the recommendations of the First and Second Eparchial Synods of the Arch Eparchy of Asmara to train qualified catechists. In the past 10 years, this Institute has trained 205 catechists in five batches. Most of the trained catechists are consecrated nuns from different congregations and only 52 are lay people who managed to be trained in catechism. The institution is managed and run by the Arch Eparchy of Asmara at the Kidane Mehret church compound.
