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| Students Participants in a group discussion during the Workshop |
Participants at the Workshop on “Building Christian Fellowship in Institutions of Learning through Small Christian Communities” (SCCs) recommended that a research be conducted to study “The Impact of Catholic Chaplaincy in Tertiary Institutions of Learning”. The rapid growth of the young people and the rise in the number of Tertiary Institutions of learning in Kenya and other countries in the AMECEA region calls on the Church to position herself in the Pastoral Care of Students in the institutions of learning.
The Workshop, which took place from May 21st to 24th 2015, was organized by AMECEA Pastoral Department in collaboration with Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS), and brought together twenty five (25) students and two (2) Chaplains from seven different Universities in Kenya.
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| Fr. Lance Nadeau Chaplain Kenyatta University |
The keynote motivational presentation by Fr. Lance Nadeau, a Chaplain at Kenyatta University, Kenya raised serious concerns of the failure by the local Church to invest in the training and promotion of Chaplaincies in the Tertiary Institutions. He said, “The future and face of the Church in public life tomorrow depends on how much we invest in the pastoral accompaniment of the youth, especially those in tertiary institutions.”
The students gave testimonies on how, through SCCs or Bible Study Groups they are able to share not only their faith with other but show solidarity to those who are less privileged through financial or material support. It mentioned that there are some students who go hungry while others do not have enough money to cater for their tuition fees. Through SCCs some of these vulnerable students are identified and assisted through donations from fellow students.
Apart from the resolution to embark on a research project to study the Impact of Catholic Chaplaincy in Tertiary Institutions of Learning, the workshop resolved to encourage the leadership structures among Catholic students to promote participation in SCCs as way of building fellowship among students. They also proposed to create a national forum through the Pastoral Department of KCCB to create a network of collaboration among chaplains and students in Kenya. It was recommended that with an efficient and effective chaplaincy in the institutions of learning, it will create a good foundation for the committed laity in the future.
In concluding the Workshops, Fr. Odira Charles, Pastoral Coordinator at KCCB assured the students and chaplains that the Conference is committed to offering outreach and accompaniment to students in the institutions of learning. He said, “a forum of this nature should be encouraged with representation of more chaplains in order to promote collaboration and networking through the country”.
By AMECEA Online News Staff Reporter
