By Pamela Adinda
Promoting new and deeper evangelization through revitalization and utilization of Small Christian Communities (SCC) as a model of evangelization at the grassroots level is one of the goals of AMECEA 10-Year Pastoral Strategic Plan for 2014-2024. And among the strategies proposed towards the realization of this goal is the training of personnel to run SCC, develop material for use by SCC, creating desk and operation structure of SCC at national conference and Diocesan levels.
AMECEA Secretariat has embarked on the mission towards the realization of the goal by conducting workshop trainings in a number of dioceses within the region. The trainings whose objective is to revitalize and reenergize SCCs as an instrument of evangelizing and pastoral development target priests and lay leaders.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News on Wednesday 3rd May AMECEA Secretary General Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo said that the secretariat had scheduled a training on Small Christian Community for Kakamega Diocese from 4th-6th May 2017 where Priests and Lay leaders were expected to benefit. He further explained that the lay leaders being trained are expected to train others from within their jurisdictions. A total of 65 participants were expected to attend.
Facilitators for the workshop include Rev. Fr. Joseph Healey who is renounced for championing the growth of SCCs in Eastern Africa, Rev. Fr. Kizito Muchanga and Mr. Alphonse Omolo.
Facilitators for the workshop include Rev. Fr. Joseph Healey who is renounced for championing the growth of SCCs in Eastern Africa, Rev. Fr. Kizito Muchanga and Mr. Alphonse Omolo.
After Kakamega, another training is scheduled for priests in the Archdiocese of Kisumu from 9th May to 11th May. This is part of a series of on-going formation programs for the priests and its objective is to reenergize SCCs and bringing back the communal vibrancy of our faith within the neighbourhoods.
Fr. Lugonzo explained that following the AMECEA Pastoral Strategic Plan, there were recommendations for the need to go down to the grassroots level for effective participation and deepening od faith in the SCCs. Meru Diocese in Kenya has had a similar training and is so far doing well.
Previously, AMECEA Pastoral Department with the support from Maryknoll Missionaries, have conducted trainings in four AMECEA Countries. These included Malawi where 32 participants from various dioceses benefited in December, 2013; Ethiopia where 35 people benefited in February 2014; Tanzania where 47 participants from Mwanza Metropolitan benefited in May 2014 and Uganda where 44 participants from two dioceses in eastern Uganda (Tororo Archdiocese and Jinja Diocese) benefited in 2015.
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