Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has hosted a conference for the Council of Laity in Eastern Africa (COLEA). The conference is an initiative of AMECEA Pastoral Department in collaboration with National Pastoral Coordinators towards reviving COLEA as forum where the laity are able to interact, give witness to their faith, exchange knowledge, and enrich one another through sharing of experiences and creating a sense of belonging in the Region to the one family of God, the Church.
The three-day conference which was held in Lusaka Zambia started on Tuesday 16th-February under the theme: “The Vocation of the Laity in the Life of the Church and Society Today.”
“The Conference for the Reviving of COLEA is meant to enhance collaboration with the activities that promote Lay Apostolate through Conferences organized by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the Pontifical Commission for the Laity,” said Fr. Febian Pikiti, the AMECEA Pastoral coordinator.
Among the many expectations expressed by the participants at the beginning of the conference included desire for networking, sharing of experiences and learning from one another. The participants also expressed their joy that the conference is coming at an opportune time when unity in the church is very important and solidarity is paramount.
Fr. Pikiti said that from experience at all the AMECEA Plenary Assemblies, it is evident that the success of hosting them depends on the enormous contribution of the laity, participation at liturgy, provision of services and financial contributions from the Parishes. “It is, therefore, important that the revival of the Council of the laity in Eastern Africa (COLEA) be done in order to promote structures of collaboration of the laity with the Bishops in the AMECEA region so as to enhance their participation in the mission of the Church.”
Addressing the conference participants, The Secretary General of the ZEC Rev. Fr. Cleophas Lungu challenged them to exercise their mandate by being true backbone of the Church.
Fr. Lungu referred to the three documents of the Church; the Post Synodal Exhortation Africae Munus, Apostolic Exhortation on new Evangelization Evangelii Gaudium and the Apostolic Letter Misericordiae Vultus.
He asked the participants to be agents of mercy especially as they continue with the journey during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
The conference was officially opened by Rt. Rev. Clement Mulenga, ZEC Chairman for Pastoral and Bishop of Kabwe Diocese. In attendance included ZEC Secretary General Rev. Fr. Cleophas Lungu, National Secretaries for Pastoral Departments, and delegates comprising of heads of various lay catholic Associations and movements.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News