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| H.E. John Cardinal Njue, Pro-Chancellor AMECEA, Archbishop of Nairobi |
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
Saturday May 18, 2019 will forever remain in the history of AMECEA as one of its institutions marked 50 years of existence in a colourful celebration that was attended by AMECEA Board Members, bishops, priests, Religious men and women and lay faithful from across the country.
The climax of the celebrations that were inaugurated on October 21, 2017 and were hosted by the Late Bishop of Eldoret Rt. Rev. Cornelius Arap Korir (MHSRIP) also included a small fundraiser for the institution to complete an academic building which will ease congestion of students coming for the academic and the spiritual programs that are offered at Gaba Campus.
Speaking during the occasion, H.E. John Cardinal Njue Pro-Chancellor of CUEA and Archbishop of Nairobi said that the celebration of the 50 years of existence of the Institute should be a reminder to all people of the good faith present in the AMECEA Region, and that these are the fruits of the wonderful and generous work that was done by those who initiated us in the Christian Life, the missionaries.
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| Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Chairman CUEA Council, Bishop of Nakuru |
Speaking at the same venue, Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Chairman of CUEA Council and Bishop of Nakuru pointed out that it is not worthy that the CUEA which only began 17 years ago, first as Catholic Higher Institute of Education (CHIEA) is currently more prominent than the AMECEA Pastoral Institute (API) which gave birth to it.
“In the API were contained the seminal beginnings of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Today as we celebrate 50 years, the API stands tall and proud to announce and say that it gave birth to CUEA. Therefore, as we speak loudly about CUEA, let us remember our humble beginnings in the API whose 50thAnniversary we are celebrating. We pray that the good Lord may continue blessing this institute,” Bishop Muhatia said.
He appreciated the fact that the API offers pastoral care for the ministers of the Church in the AMECEA Region - priests, religious and laity and prayed that this special arm of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa should never die for it is playing a very important role in evangelization mission of the Church in AMECEA region.
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| Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde, AMECEA Chairman, Bishop of Solwezi Zambia |
On his part, the AMECEA Chairman Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde observed that the foundation of API was meant to facilitate authenticity and authentic research for delivery of knowledge and skills that would empower Church leadership in various ministries and enhance Her transformative character in society, adding that the Institution has remained true to that vision.
“We are here as beneficiaries of what was started benevolently as a dream of our fathers in faith. The AMECEA Pastoral institute did not remain static after its inception in 1968 but rather has grown with the changing the world,” Bishop Kasonde elaborated adding that in 2008 the AMECEA Bishops, again through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, decided to merge it with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
“The AMECEA founding fathers who envisioned the Gaba Pastoral Institute must be rejoicing in heaven today as we celebrate this Golden Jubilee, seeing that at Gaba there are now many programs that meet the pastoral and academic needs of the Church in AMECEA Region. I therefore encourage you all to follow the example of our founding fathers in faith in supporting the API and the Catholic University as they continue to carry out their specific mandates in view of evangelization here in our region and beyond.”
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