AMECEA: “May this Silver Jubilee be a Source of Unity,” AMECEA Deputy Secretary General

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

The Deputy Secretary General of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) region, while sharing his congratulatory message with seminarians of Blessed Bakanja AMECEA College (BBAC) during the Silver Jubilee celebration of the seminary, wished that the event may foster unity and togetherness among the seminarians, the region of AMECEA and eventually the entire Church.

“The celebration of this silver jubilee comes at a time when the universal Church is celebrating synod on synodality. The synod encourages all of us to strengthen unity, participate in the activities of the Church, and work in togetherness,” Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo explained in his speech on Saturday, October 21, and underscored, may I request that our celebration today be a source of unity for the Church, for all who work under this institution.”

He added, “Let this be a moment of discernment to allow the Holy Spirit guide the Church and this seminary of Blessed Bakanja for the next 25 years to come.”

BBAC was canonically established in 1998 as an inter-regional seminary bringing together young men from the eight AMECEA member conferences and beyond to have high-quality formation to the priesthood.

Prior to coming up with the dream of having a seminary in the region, AMECEA bishops had established Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in 1973, for Christians in various conferences in the region to share faith and support each other in living out the Gospel values in every aspect of their lives.

While sharing his speech during the celebration, Fr. Chimombo who doubles as the Pastoral Coordinator of AMECEA highlighted that it was by coincidence that Blessed Bakanja’s Silver Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee of the SCCs in the region were being marked the same year.

“This year AMECEA is also celebrating the golden jubilee of SCCs which was established in 1973, and with this, may we join hands in celebrating the SCCs too which is the Church at the grassroots,” the Malawian cleric said.

He continued, “I would also like to encourage our dear bishops, priests and all gathered here that our baby Blessed Bakanja Seminary can only exist if we patronize it. So, may we send a voice to all member conferences to have that spirit of sending seminarians to this institution. In so doing we live the spirit of our forefathers who established this institution of Bakanja.”

Fr. Chimombo requested the congregation to live the motto of “molding the future with vision and to live in the service of God while serving and acting with determination in whatever we do.”

On his part, while appreciating the founding fathers of BBAC, the head student of the seminary, Seminarian Marcel Ajoket referenced the scriptures to express the joy of the seminarians toward the 25years journey saying, “In the spirit of the biblical teaching of Jubilee, where renewal was proclaimed to Israel’s territorial land, we, the Seminarians are delighted to be a part of this milestone. Our journey of formation, would not have been possible without the unwavering support from our Local Ordinaries, Vocation Directors, local Parish Priests, and the faithful. Your blessings and support have brought us this far.”

The Ugandan seminarian from Soroti Diocese appreciated the involvement of their formators in nurturing their vocation highlighting that they have not only been molded in their human and theological development, but also in our Spiritual configuration.

“We are deeply inspired by the enormous sacrifice of our distinguished Professors and Lecturers,” Seminarian Ajoket said referring to those who lecture them at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) where the seminarians study theology and added that the lectures “Have is a pivotal role in fashioning minds and character.”

He assured all the formators and lecturers, that they are like “malleable clay and not in any instance be like the proverbial mouth that bites the hands which feed it.”

“May the Celebration of our Institution’s past, reawaken the dream of our founding fathers and renew in all of us the commitment to its realization,” seminarian Ajoket said as he concluded, “We continue to count on the support of each and every one of us to make the future Blessed Bakanja hope for her enduring present.”