KENYA: Prelate of Kenya’s Newly Erected Diocese Intends to Strengthen Capacity Building for Catechists

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

One month down the line since the Catholic Diocese of Wote in Kenya was erected on September 30, the pioneer Bishop anticipates improving the skills of Catechists who are key in the evangelization mission, so they can be more effective and competent in their delivery.

“I appreciate very much the initiative of teacher catechists, those who are teaching in secondary schools and have been prepared to teach catechism in those schools as well,” said Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru who was installed the first Local Ordinary of the new Diocese that was curved from Machakos Diocese and becomes one of the suffragan Dioceses of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi.

He continued in an interview with AMECEA Online saying, “I am going to enhance this initiative and see the possibility if we can do the same with our primary boarding school for this will enable catechists to accompany the children at a very close range when they are together in school.”

Bishop Kariuki who is the chairman of the Commission for Education and Religious Education at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) stressed that so much needs to be done to stabilize the new Diocese, especially in the work of evangelization to strengthen people’s faith hence the need for capacity building.

“Nowadays we talk of the advancement of people in education and with this, we are going to prepare Catechists in terms of training to the level of certificate or diploma to enhance and build their capacity,” Bishop Kariuki narrated adding that when pastoral agents including Priests, religious, catechists and leaders are well equipped with knowledge on Catholic teachings, “Christians will be firm in their faith.”

Catechists are mandated in the Church to help educate young people and adults in the faith, prepare candidates and their families for the sacraments of Christian initiation, and help with retreats and other meetings connected with catechesis.

In Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter issued in 2021, on instituting the Ministry of Catechists, he shared his reflections from the scriptures and noted that “It is fitting that those called to the instituted ministry of Catechist be men and women of deep faith and human maturity, active participants in the life of the Christian community, capable of welcoming others, being generous and living a life of fraternal communion.”

The letter adds that “They (Catechists) should also receive suitable biblical, theological, pastoral and pedagogical formation to be competent communicators of the truth of the faith and they should have some prior experience of catechesis.”

Besides focusing on Catechism, Bishop Kariuki the immediate former Shepherd of Kenya’s Embu Diocese revealed other areas in the diocese that need attention saying, “I also need to look into the area of education. Wote is a bit disadvantaged because many of the places are semi-arid but with education, the young people may be in a position to be creative on how to support their families.”

“The other area is health is also key since people travel long distances for medical attention,” the Bishop said and explained, “We will try to improve the dispensaries to the level of health centers or even to the level of a hospital. When people are healthy, then their participation in the Church and in the community is improved.”

The Prelate who has approximately 90 priests in the Diocese and 5 Deacons emphasized the aspect of journeying together with all members of the diocese including the poor, the disadvantaged, and the old among others saying, “One of the best ways to keep the fire burning here in Africa is to enhance Small Christian Communities (SCCs).

He narrated that it is in the SCCs that the Diocese can learn more about the challenges facing the people and also appreciate the gifts and skills of others since these can be detected in the small units like SCCs

The Bishop concluded asking for God’s intervention to continue blessing the diocese, especially the agents of evangelization to provide a clear road map following the Gospel of Christ.