Despite the danger of civil unrest, delegates from seven dioceses in South Sudan were brave to attend the Workshop on “Revitalization of Small Christians Communities as Tools for Grass Root Evangelization”, which took place in Juba on 21st and 22nd October 2015.
The objectives of the Workshop, which was organized by the AMECEA Pastoral Department in Collaboration with Pastoral Department of Sudan Conference of Catholic Bishops (SCBC), are: 1. To share experiences on SCCs in the Parishes/ Dioceses and to learn from one another; 2. To reflect on the role of the different individuals and groups in supporting the growth and development of SCCs in the parishes/dioceses; 3. To enhance networking and collaboration among the Catholic groups, parishes and dioceses on strengthening the growth of SCCs.
During the two days’ workshop, the delegates shared their experiences of SCCs in their dioceses and parishes. It was observed that only three out of seven dioceses have made the building of SCCs as part of their pastoral plan. Among the major reasons that were given about this situation are: the long civil war to independence; the current internal conflict; the displacement of people and the lack of skilled pastoral agents in some of the dioceses.
Despite this situation, the delegates in their strategic resolutions and plans expressed their
determination to use every situation make the building of SCCs is a pastoral priority in all the dioceses. When making their work plans the common areas of concern and recommendations were the following:
All Diocesan Pastoral Teams to present to the local ordinaries, Bishops and Archbishops, the relevance of considering the building of SCCs as way being Church so that it is included in the Pastoral Strategic Plans.
The Solidarity Pastoral Team of SCBC to intensify the Trainer of Trainers Workshops around the Dioceses; offer capacity building to Diocesan Pastoral Teams and use of the Radio as means of formation sharing about SCCs.
Involvement of Priests as key pastoral agents in the implementation process, especially in those dioceses that are starting the building of SCCs.
In those dioceses where SCCs have been initiated, to intensify the involvement of the Lay Leaders, Parish Councils and all the laity in sensitization on the importance of SCCs in promoting the Pastoral life of the Church.
To design plans on making follow-down through the Diocesan and Parish Pastoral Teams.
The facilitators of the Workshop were Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga, AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator and Mr. Omolo Alphonce, from the AMECEA SCCs Training Team. The twenty for delegates who attended the Workshop where from the following Arch/dioceses: Juba (1); Malakal (2); Rumbek (4), Torit (4); Tombura-Yambio (1); Wau (4); Yei (4) and the Pastoral Solidarity Team (4).
In his closing remarks, Fr. Philip Bingo, Pastoral Coordinator of SCBC expressed gratitude to AMECEA Secretariat for the gesture of solidarity and for offering capacity building to the members of the Inter-Diocesan Pastoral Team.
By AMECEA Online News Correspondent. Juba, South Sudan