By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
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| AMECEA Pastoral Institute Gaba Eldoret Kenya |
October 2017 is marking the beginning of Golden Jubilee for AMECEA Pastoral Institute (API) Gaba, the official date of inaugurating the Jubilee year is set for mid-October. It is indeed a milestone for the Catholic Church in the region to see an institution whose birth is the result of Vatican II Council deliberations, which was called by Pope, now St. John XXIII.
According to the Coordinator of the Pastoral Institute, Rev. Dr. Joseph Ekomwa, the institute was established immediately after the conclusion of Vatican II Council sessions in 1967.
“The question was, what next after the Council and how to respond to the needs of the Church at the time. One of the identified need was how to make the Church become participatory, meaning involving both the hierarchy and the lay faithful,” explained Fr. Ekomwa adding that upon return from the council meeting, AMECEA Bishops made it a priority to establish an institute for the renewal of the spirituality aspect of the Church.
“The establishment of the institute was to offer a chance to the Agents of Evangelization, which include the Ordained Ministers, Religious men and women and Lay leadership.”
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The then Archbishop of Kampala Most Rev. Emmanuel Nsubuga who later became Cardinal, offered St. Mary's Major Seminary Ggaba for the establishment of the Institute and the first group of trainees arrived in February 1968.
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The then Archbishop of Kampala Most Rev. Emmanuel Nsubuga who later became Cardinal, offered St. Mary's Major Seminary Ggaba for the establishment of the Institute and the first group of trainees arrived in February 1968. API operated in Ggaba till mid- 70s when there was a political turmoil in Uganda and it became difficult to maintain the institute in the country. The Kenyan Bishops agreed to host the institute prompting the move to the country in the outskirt of Eldoret town where it stands now while maintaining the same name Gaba.
According to Fr. Ekomwa among the remarkable success in the life of the Institute, is that it has lived to its expectations.
“From the time of its inception, to taking shape in terms of physical structures and receiving trainees and participants as well as facilitators being available to train them; the institute has covered more or less the whole of AMECEA Region and beyond,” he said adding that API has trained many Clergy, Religious men and women, and Catechists and Lay leaders who come for Spiritual Renewal, Pastoral Ministry and now management courses.
“By the fact that the Bishops and the General Superiors of Religious Congregations and even Parish Priests are sending their agents of evangelization here, it is a sign that API plays a very vital role in the Church in AMECEA Region and beyond," he said.
∽To be Continued Next Week∽
