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| Group Photo of the Workshop Participants |
The workshop organized by AMECEA Pastoral Department to revive the Council of the Laity in Eastern Africa finally began in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania at the Conference’s Secretariat in Kurasini. The workshop whose theme is ‘Marriage and Family Life and the Future of the Church and Society’ started on Tuesday, 25thand ends on 30th November, 2014.
According to Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga, Coordinator of AMECEA Pastoral Department, the workshop is well attended as participants have turned up from all AMECEA Conferences and beyond.
“We are very happy that all AMECEA Conferences have this time around managed to send delegates to this very important workshop,” he said adding that there are some conferences which due to various challenges often fail to send delegates to planed workshops.
“Eritrea and Sudan conferences often miss out on workshops planned by AMECEA due to various challenges that are beyond their control, however this time around, we thank God that they managed to send delegates,” he added.
“I am very delighted that we also managed to get participants from AMECEA Affiliate Countries of Djibouti and Somalia and also from Zimbabwe and Mauritius; this shows that the region is indeed committed to reviving the council of the laity,” Fr. Pikiti explained.
According to Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo Bishop Chairman of AMECEA Pastoral Department, the Council of the Laity for Eastern Africa has failed to remain permanently alive since it was established in 1975.
“In August 1995, during the AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Malawi, the Bishops asked the AMECEA Pastoral Department to facilitate the revival of the laity council for the AMECEA Countries. It was "re-born" in 1996 and had its own Constitution which was approved by the Bishops in 1998. Unfortunately it died again,” Bishop Anyolo who is also the ordinary of Homabay Diocese in Kenya said while addressing the workshop participants on Wednesday, 26thNovember.
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| Group Photo of Workshop Participants with the Clergy |
He further explained that during the last two Plenary Assemblies of Bishops of AMECEA, we have made resolution to encourage the laity to revitalize this association. “Now is the opportune time for us to say, the Council of the Laity for Eastern Africa is resurrected,” he said.
The Eucharistic Celebrations to mark the official opening of the workshop was graced by five AMECEA Bishops which included the Auxiliary Bishop of Dar-es-Salaam Rt. Rev. Eusebius Nzigilwa who represented HE Polycarp Cardinal Pengo. Also present was Bishop Chairman of AMECEA Pastoral Department Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo of Homabay Diocese Kenya; Rt. Rev. Method Kilaini, Auxiliary Bishop of Bukoba Tanzania, Bishop Francis A. Kibira of Kasese Diocese Uganda and Bishop Telesphor Mkude of Morogoro Tanzania.
Source: Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Social Communications
