The administrator of Lumko Institute and Conference Centre in Benoni says the ongoing formation of catechists is very important as the “quality of community life depends largely on the quality of the catechesis that is received.”
In an interview with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) communication office, Sr Thandi Moyo FIC said ongoing Christian formation through catechesis is “very important,” as some have simply become Sunday “church attenders.”
“The pastoral plan of 1989 says the quality of a community life depends largely on the quality of the catechesis that is received,” said Sr Moyo FIC about the SACBC’s first Pastoral Plan under the theme ‘Community Serving Humanity’.
She continued saying, “If we are not having priests, it’s because of the kind of catechesis we have received. If we do not have vocations to the religious life, it’s because of the kind of catechesis we have received. Ongoing formation is for everyone and as we say here at lumko, catechesis starts from the womb to the tomb.
As per recommendations from the SACBC January 2024 plenary session, the Department for Christian Formation, Liturgy, and Culture in collaboration with Lumko Institute is to hold Catechetical Indabas (Conferences) in all Metropolitan Archdioceses.
The first Catechetical Indaba was held in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bloemfontein from March 1-3. Speaking to the SACBC communication office, the Coordinating Secretary of the Department for Christian Formation, Liturgy and Culture Fr Francis Cibane said the first phase of the program is the Metropolitan Archdioceses followed by “Dioceses and eventually parishes.”
“20 to 30 years ago, Lumko Institute was a pivotal instrument in terms of fulfilling Vatican II and the vision for the church. And so, we decided to propose that we negotiate with Lumko and collaborate in the area of catechetics,” said Fr Cibane.
He continued, “Back in the days Lumko used to have a team that would go throughout the conference area, to seminaries, to parishes, to dioceses, to train people so that they could be active participants in the mission of the church, and so, we have decided to revive that program.”
Fr Cibane further said, “The program also aims at training youth and young adults.”
In a separate interview with the SACBC communication office youth delegate and catechist from Ivory Park Parish Sizwe Mabena said that learning about the history of the ‘Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults’ (RCIA) was quite informative.
