Apostles of Jesus Theologicum Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya on 21-22 February, 2008

THEME: "SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES (SCCs) AS A NEW MODEL OF CHURCH IN AFRICA TODAY"

1. Introduction

A total of 77 people (three priests and 74 seminarians in the four years of theology participated in this SCC workshop. There were two Apostles of Jesus priests and one Maryknoll priest. There were 63 Apostles of Jesus seminarians and 11 other seminarians from Eldoret, Homa Bay, Machakos and Meru Dioceses and Nairobi Archdiocese covering 24 in 1st Theology, 30 in 2nd Theology, 6 in 3rd Theology,  and 14 in 4th Theology  The participants came from eight countries: Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The facilitator of the workshop was Father Joseph G. Healey, M.M.

2. Program of the SCC Workshop  

THURSDAY, 21 FEBRUARY, 2008

6:45 a.m. – 7:15 a.m.: Meditation on the life and ministries of the first Small Christian Communities in the Acts of the Apostles: Acts 2:42-45 and Acts 4:32-35.

7:15 a.m. "Jumuiya Mass." Shared Homily: Buzz Groups of two people each on the Gospel of the Day — Luke 16:19-31. Spontaneous "Prayers of the Faithful" connecting our faith to our daily life.

9.00 a.m. …………………………………………… (1st Period)

1. Welcome to the Guest Speaker for his presentation.

2. SEE – JUDGE – ACT Process of the Workshop (Pastoral Circle/Pastoral Spiral). Start from life experience.

3. Survey taken from the class of 74 people. How many have actually participated in a Small Christian Community? 

4. Four volunteers to "Draw the Church." Discussion.

10.00 a.m.…………………………………………Tea Break

10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m….……………….. ……………(2nd Period)

1. Short reports by students about their experiences in SCCs. 3rd and 4th Year Theology from their Pastoral Year. 1st and 2nd Theology from their Saturday and Sunday apostolates.

2. Discussion.

11. 45 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.: Timeline in the History and Development of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Africa Especially Eastern Africa — Part One (handout)… (3rd Period)

There are 90,000 SCCs in our eight AMECEA Countries today. Kenya alone has over 34,000 SCCs. The AMECEA Pastoral Priority of Building Small Christian Communities. Listen to the grassroots experience of two SCCs in Tanzania:

1. Rural: Bukiriro, Rulenge, Tanzania. Story taken from page 118 of Once Upon a Time in Africa: Stories of Wisdom and Joy).

2. Urban: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Story taken from pages 100-101 of Small Christian Communities Today: Capturing the New Moment.

1.00 p.m…………………………………………………Break for Lunch

2.00 p.m….."The Small Christian Communities Way of Being Church in Preaching and Teaching"………………………………………………… (4th Period)

3.00 p.m…………………………………………….………Break

3.30 p.m… Bible Sharing/Bible Reflection in eight (8) Small Groups using next Sunday’s Gospel of the 3rd Sunday of Lent (John 4:5 – 42)…………………………… (5th Period)

1. Read the Gospel slowly and meditatively using the Ignatian "composition of time and place." Followed by a period of silence.

2. Small Groups.

3. Reports from the Small Groups: "Applying next Sunday’s Gospel of John 4:5 – 42 to the Kenyan Situation Today."

5.00 pm.……………………………………………Break.

8.00 pm……………………………………………Video                                                                     

            1. The Church in the Neighborhood: Small Christian Communities.

FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY, 2008

6:45 a.m. – 7:15 a.m.: Meditation on Pope John Paul II’s Challenge to today’s Small Christian Communities in Africa.  Number 89 under "Living (or Vital) Christian Communities" in Ecclesia in Africa (The Church in Africa).

7:15 a.m. "Jumuiya Mass." Sermon: "Lenten Journey in a Brown Paper Bag" (found on pages 41-42 of African Stories for Preachers and Teachers). Spontaneous "Prayers of the Faithful" connecting our faith to our daily life.

9.00 a.m:  Timeline in the History and Development of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Africa Especially Eastern Africa — Part Two ………….……………………………. (1st Period)

10.00 a.m:   …………………………………………………………………………….Tea Break

10.30 a.m – 11.30 a.m: "SCCs and the Challenges of Reconciliation, Justice, and Peace." Relate to the Second African Synod to take place in Rome in October, 2009 on the theme "The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace."……………………………(2nd Period)

1. Successes of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) To Get Involved In/Solve Justice and Peace Issues in Kenya Today.

2. Failures of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) To Get Involved In/Solve Justice and Peace Issues in Kenya Today.

11. 45 a.m – 12.45 p.m.: "The Role of Small Christian Communities in Peacemaking and Reconciliation" ……………..…………………………………………………..………(3rd Period)

Specific examples/symbols of peacemaking and reconciliation:

            1. Chagga, Tanzania: isale leaf.

            2. Acholi, Uganda: drinking a bitter root and stepping on an egg (Mato Oput Ceremony)      

3. Bemba, Zambia: blood and flour.

            4. Universal symbols: dove, olive branch, handshake, food and drink (beer).

5. Examples from page 286 of Towards an African Narrative Theology. 

1.00 p.m…………………………………………..……………………………Break for Lunch

2.00 p.m: "SCCs and the Kenya Lenten Campaign 2008"………………………………….(4th Period)

Kenya Lenten Campaign, 2008 (Kenyan Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Publication). Theme: "With a New Heart and a New Spirit."  The "See, Judge and Act" Process draws on the experience of SCCs on justice and peace-related themes/issues such as "Accountability and Transparency," ‘Youth Empowerment," "Climate Change," "Gender" and "Reconciliation." The proposed action steps directly involve SCCs. Sample questions: "What is the role of youth in Small Christian Communities?" (page 13) and "Do we share our problems in our Small Christian Communities?" (page 21).

3.00 p.m……………………………………………………………………..………………Break

3.30 p.m: Discussion in five (5) Small Groups and Reports Back to the Big Group..………. (5th Period)

As Seminarians and Future Priests Missionary Animators of SCCs in Africa what practical actions do you recommend regarding the following topics (taken from pages 101-105 of Small Christian Communities Today: Capturing the New Moment):

1. Structures in the SCCs: "Closeness" and "Smallness."

            2. How to involve men more in SCCs.

            3 Youth SCCs (two groups).

            4. Formation of SCC Leaders.

5.00 p.m.……………………………………………………………………………………..Break.

8.00 p.m.……………………………………………………..…………………………..…Videos.

1. The Dancing Church of Kenya.

2. Walking With the Eastern Africa Church in Mission.

3. The Church in the Neighborhood: Small Christian Communities (repeat).

3. Reports of the Small Christian Communities Small Group Discussions

GROUP ONE: As a missionary animator of Small Christian Communities what practical actions would you suggest for the structures of a Small Christian Community regarding its "Smallness" and "Closeness"?

– The formation of the Small Christian Communities should be determined by the closeness of the families within a particular locality. This will enhance easy interaction, better knowledge of each other and solidarity among the members.

– The number of the members should be relatively few and determined by the closeness of the families which should preferably not be more than 10 families. This will ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the implementation of the programs set by the community e.g. holding meetings, prayers, visiting the sick, helping the poor, etc.

– There should be sensitivity to age groups in order to promote group interest. This will enhance active participation in the affairs of the community. Where possible, everybody should be charged with responsibility in the community, e.g. taking up some leadership responsibility. This will ensure that there is no monopoly of the activities of the community by some few members.

GROUP TWO: As a missionary animator of Small Christian Communities what practical actions would you suggest for the promotion of the active involvement of men in Small Christian Communities?

-There should be reasonable time limit for the Small Christian Community meetings because men tend to be more outgoing. There should be sensitivity in organizing programs that appeal to men.

– The programs should be balanced. If men don’t like singing while women do like singing, then it should be done with a lot of moderation to allow men not to feel out of place.

– In some dioceses like Meru, where men cannot be free to mix with women, a separate Small Christian Community group can be made for them.

– Some men fear frequent financial contributions to Catholic Church activities. If there is real need to raise money, appropriate means and frequency can be moderated with proper accountability and transparency. A permanent source of money (a treasury) should be created by the communities.

– Women should play a great role in persuading their husbands to participate in the Small Christian Communities.

GROUP THREE: As a missionary animator of Small Christian Communities what practical actions would you suggest to facilitate Youth Small Christian Communities?

– Youth should be incorporated into the Small Christian Communities even where some cultures oppose their interaction with their parents for Christianity is also transcendental and transformational.

– Youth should be involved in Small Christian Community leadership in order to conscienticize them and form them on their role in the society.

– The activities of the Small Christian Communities should be modified to include the interests of the youth, e.g. the new generation songs. Modes of praying the rosary and the language of prayer should also conform to the needs of the youths.

– Small Christian Communities should not be encouraged during weekdays when the youth are very busy. The members of the community should be sensitive to the time factor as far as the youth are concerned in order to avoid boredom.

– The youth should be granted freedom of expression though guided to ensure that their behavior is within the accepted moral standards of the society.

– The annual and monthly programs of the communities should include some activities that favor the youth’s interests like parties, picnics, sports, drama, etc both within the Small Christian Communities and outside to widen their scope of interaction.

– Seminars and workshops should be conducted to help the youth realize the need for their active participation and their role in the Small Christian Communities.

– The use of audio, visual, and audio-visual means of communication should be encouraged among youth in line with the signs of time.

– The youth should be motivated, e.g. giving awards in their activities, sponsoring some for training and other vocations formation for their future.

GROUP FOUR: As a missionary animator of Small Christian Communities what would you suggest for the formation of Small Christian Community leaders?

– There should be a shift from being a “Boss/King Model” to being an animator-leader. A leader should not be a person who “knows it all” but someone who respect others and encourages divergent opinions and views and allow the participation of every member of the community.

– Members of the community should be formed on what it means to be a leader of a Small Christian Community. As a leader one should know that he or she is part and parcel of the community.

– Leaders should be people who are exemplary role models to the rest of the people. A priest should not influence their elections and members should feel that they are free to be elected or elect others according to their experience in the Small Christian Communities.

-Ongoing formation seminars and workshops should be organized for them in order to conscienticize them on their duties and roles.

– There should be trips for them to allow them be more exposed and learn from other leaders in other parishes.

– The time span of one being in a particular office should be checked to discourage monopoly of leadership.

– Parish Priests and other agents of evangelization should respect the decisions of the Small Christian Communities.

4. Personal Observations on the Results of the Workshop by Father Thomas Komakech, A.J.

First of all, the SCC Workshop was very lively and focused on the concrete experience of the students. Moreover the facilitator himself, Father Joseph Healey, M.M, based his presentations and the facilitation of the workshop on his long practical and pastoral experience with Small Christian Communities in Africa.

Through these two days of the workshop it became very clear that the Catholic Church; particularly in the AMECEA Region (eight countries in Eastern Africa) can only find her dynamism and vitality through Small Christian Communities. This is so because it is only in these small communities that each member of the Church will feel his or her true Christian identity in the Catholic Church.

The only caution that should be kept in mind — a point that came out in the discussions in the various groups — is the relationship of these Small Christian Communities with the parish structures. The small communities should not be taken primarily as an instrument of the Parish Priests for the sustenance and self reliance of the parish structures, but should be the very foundation by which the Word of God can reach and be lived by every member of the faithful.

NOTE: This report will be distributed to interested people in Eastern Africa and will be posted under the "Africa" Continent on the

Small Christian Communities Global Collaborative Website

www.smallchristiancommunities.org

Report Prepared on 4 March, 2008 by:

Father Thomas Komakech, A.J. is an Apostles of Jesus missionary priest from Gulu Archdiocese in Northern Uganda. From 2003 to 2008 he taught Biblical Theology and was the Dean of Studies at the Apostles of Jesus Major Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya. In February, 2008 he was elected to the General Council of the Apostles of Jesus with special responsibility for Pastoral Communications.

Rev. Thomas Komakech, AJ
General Council – Apostles of Jesus
P.O. Box 24946, Karen,
00502 Nairobi, Kenya
Cell : 0737 437 363
Email: frthomask@yahoo.com

and

Father Joseph Healey, M.M is a Maryknoll missionary priest who teaches a course on "Small Christian Communities as a New Model of Church in Africa Today" at Hekima College (Jesuit School of Theology) in Nairobi, Kenya. He is the co-editor of Small Christian Communities Today: Capturing the New Moment. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2005 and Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2006.

Rev. Joseph G. Healey, M.M.
Maryknoll Society
P.O. Box 43058
00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Cell: 057- 2522 977
Email: JGHealey@aol.com

 

 

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