By Ojok Robert Mone and Proscovia Achomo
 
Gulu City
 
As Uganda episcopal conference thinks of revising the curriculum for catechists’ formation, it’s important to know the current roles catechists play in church.
 
In last week’s edition of Faith Matters with Robert Ojok, we are try to understand the relevance of improving catechists’ training curriculum.
 
Gulu Archdiocese, has 3-catechists` formation centers namely, the university of sacred Heart, Comboni Animation Centre and Kitgum Pastoral Centre. Currently, they are about 1400-catechists in the archdiocese trained in 3-statges as Preliminary for 2-years graduating with certificate.

Coordinator of catechists’ formation in the archdiocese John Bosco Komakech says currently there are 12-course units taught including Bible, Liturgy, Prayer, Pastoral ministry, counselling, church doctrines among others but detailed at second level of training for two years with additional course units like code of canon law, church history and social teaching and information communication and ecumenism with 4-sessions.  
 
Fr. Benard Denis Abanga director Angal catechists’ training Centre says majority of parishioners are elite therefore having a catechist who has not attained basic education to some extent may cause some divides. “Most of our catechists are identified from the community with the help of the parish priests but basic elements of reading, writing and mastery of local languages are always considered “Fr. Denis added”

Catechist Elizabeth Lalam Okello from Holy Rosary Parish Gulu Archdiocese says it`s hard to work without basic academic qualifications with the current trend of advancing catechists` training to diploma level.

According to a parishioner from Lukung Parish, Evelyn Acheng some catechists do not attend spiritual needs of Christians like priests without disclosing details of her concern.  

The chairperson Laity of Gulu Archdiocese, Matthew Ojok thinks the curriculum should embrace wider spectrum of training with uniform format of delivery starting from preparation of couples for Holy matrimony. “I think there should be uniform training guides given to the catechists so that uniform messages are delivered to couples from various parishes,” he noted.

The pastoral coordinator of Gulu Archdiocese Fr. Sameul Norbert Ocaya, however encourages Christians and priests to support works of catechists instead of using degrading words like “mere catechists” and sometimes catechists are not economically empowered.
   
Fr. Dr. John Baptist Kaganda, National Pastoral coordinator says catechists have been at the Centre of evangelization since 1879 when the missionaries introduced Christianity in Uganda.

Father Kaganda, said making revision in the curriculum for catechists is very important. According to Fr. John Baptist, catechists need support with special attention especially in their formation.

In Uganda, catechists are about 15-thousand compared with 1900 priests to serve the estimated 14-million Catholics in Uganda.
There are 17-catichests’ training centers across Uganda.

COVER PHOTO: Some Catechists of Lira Catholic Diocese By Ojok Robert Mone and Proscovia Achomo