TANZANIA: Catechesis Coordinators in AMECEA Region Meet to Discuss Catechist’s Ministry
Dalphina Rubyema
The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has brought together Catechesis Departments Coordinators to make jointly discussion on Situation Assessment Report on the state of Catechesis in the AMECEA Region.
This meeting held at the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) in Tanzania, gave chance for members to bring their inputs in that report in order to get joint report and draft guidelines that will aim to set standards for improving the ministry of Catechist.
During the opening remarks, Bishop Chairman of AMECEA Pastoral Department who is also the Bishop of the Same Catholic Diocese, in Tanzania, Rt. Rev. Rogath Kimaryo CSSp, said that Catechists are an important group in the Church, so they should be created conducive environment to fulfill their ministry.
He said, the service of a catechist is an internal call of the voice of the Holy Spirit; although not all respond to this voice, but for those who respond, they must give their evidence so that they can fulfill their duty (1Cor 3:6-8).
“In the Catholic Church, catechists share their faith with others, and help people grow in their faith and relationship with God. They do this through teaching, example, and participation in the life and mission of the Church,” said.
He said, in the Catholic Church, catechists share their faith with others, and help people grow in their faith and relationship with God. They do this through teaching, example, and participation in the life and mission of the Church.
Catechists as agents of evangelization in a Synodal Church
According to Bishop Kimaryo, in this vision, Church members work harmoniously together, ministering to all people and creation, fostering harmonious relationships among themselves, and achieving inner harmony.
Due to this, the Synod on Synodality has encouraged catechists to envision a Church where authentic peace and love of God flourish eternally. It’s a Church actively working to make real the mission of the Catechists.
“This vision underscores why the role of catechists as agents of evangelization in a Synodal Church is an honour… it involves partnering with the Holy Spirit in forming the cells of the body of Christ. Recognizing that they can only give what they have, the Synod Fathers emphasized the importance of continuous formation and personal growth. They stressed the need for an intimate relationship with Jesus through prayer, enabling catechists to listen with the heart, promote inclusivity and foster a spirit of communion,”.
He suggested that they should not see this task or ministry as a challenge but as an honour to form God’s people to be more of who we are called to be and to be agents of a Synodal Church, catechists must be people of communion and prayer, both individually and collectively. He urged them to explore new methodologies that nurture intimacy with Christ, each other, themselves, and creation.
“Let them allow their creative juices to flow so that they can deliver in a more pastoral way what is integral to the life of their parish communities. This will allow for healing, for companionship, for relationship development, for teamwork, leadership development, for missionary discipleship, and for being a sacrament to our local communities and wider society”, he added.
Speaking into that vital meeting, the General Secretary of AMECEA, Rev. Anthony Makunde has asked the participants to give great importance by contributing ideas that will enable to having guidelines which friendly to Catechists in the AMECEA Region.
“Every Baptized Catholic has passed through the hands of catechists… all missions started from the catechism we were taught by catechists; so, let’s make sure we contribute ideas that will make this mission worthwhile,” he said.
Giving an introduction of the meeting, the Coordinator of Pastoral Department, AMECEA, Rv. Florence Rutahiwa said the aim of the meeting is to evaluate the Catechist Ministry in the AMECEA Region and such meeting it is a continuation of the meeting held last year, which among other things, aimed to collect information on the actual situation of Catechists from all country members.
According to Moderator of the meeting who is also the Child Protection Officer AMECEA, Mr. George Thuku, said that the research of collecting information started from November 2023 to September last year (2024).
In such research multi-stakeholders were involved including key informants and special groups like Catechism Coordinators and the catechists themselves and AMECEA has prepared a draft report which have been discussed with the participants of the meeting by adding their inputs before finalized as a joint report and submitted to AMECEA Board for further action.
