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Catechetical

Chairman: Rt. Rev. Eusebius Nzigilwa, Auxiliary Bishop of Dar es Salaam

Vice Chairman: Rt. Rev. Ludovick Minde ALCP/OSS, Bishop of Kahama

Executive Secretary: Rev. Fr. Raphael Madinda

 

Catechetical VISION:

To ensure that salvation is offered to all as a gift of God’s Grace and Mercy revealed through a sound education and formation on the Mystery of Christ.

 

MISSION:

To go and proclaim the Gospel to all the people, through an active participation and collaboration in the integral formation for the development of humankind in our pluralistic-changing society.

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE CATECHETICAL DEPARTMENT

 

Catechetical Department of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference is among the nine departments of the Catholic Secretariat of the Conference. The department began in 1981. Formerly, the Catechetical works were done by the Pastoral Department. Due to the big load of activities within the Pastoral Department, the bishops decided to separate the catechetical activities with that of pastoral. However, since 1981, the department started to have its own structure in order to operate well. It has its Bishop Chairman, and Executive Secretary who co-ordinates 33 Catholic Dioceses, over twenty Catechetical Training Centers and several committees.

 

The Personnel of the Department who have assumed the Role of the Chairman and Secretary respectively in the National Level:

 

A: The Bishops who have assumed the role of the Chairman of the department.

 

  1. Rt. Rev. Alfons D. Nsabi (RIP) Bishop of Kigoma Diocese from 1981 to 1988.

  2. Rt. Rev. Emanuel Mapunda,(Emeritus) Bishop of Mbinga from 1988 to 199

  3. 3Rt. Rev. Telesfor Mkude Bishop of Morogoro from 1993 to 2009

  4. Rt. Rev. Paschal Kikoti (RIP) Bishop of Mpanda from 2009 to 28th August 2012.

  5. Rt.Rev. Eusebius Nzigilwa Auxiliary Bishop of Dar es Salaam from November 2012 todate.

 

B: those who have assumed the role of the Executive Secretaries of the department.

 

  1. Sr Nicole Gregoire resided in Mwanza (sa). From 1981 to October 1981

  2. Fr. Melito Itatiro from Mahenge Diocese. from October 1981 to 1985

  3. Fr. Martin Kalugira (Rulenge Diocese) from Nov 1987to August 1993.

  4. Sr Claudia Mashambo (COLU Usambara Sisters) from August 1993 to August 2005.

  5. Sr. Romana Muhilu (COLU Usambara Sisters) from August 2005 to January 2010.

  6. Fr. Raphael Madinda (Singida Diocese) from January 2010 to date.

 

The Objectives of the Catechetical Department:

 

  • To Co-ordinate and Promote all the catechetical activities in the national level.

  • To enhance networking and sharing of the experiences between the Diocesan Catechetical departments, Catechetical Centres and others related institutions.

  • To ensure that a sound guideline for the Catechetical activities proper to the religious, social-cultural needs of our time, people and situation is available, up to dated and disseminated in all levels of the Church structure.

  • To ensure that the essential catechetical books and teaching-learning materials are well prepared and disseminated in the national and diocesan levels.

  • To ensure that all the agents of catechesis and evangelization are being prepared, motivated, advised, encouraged and supported.

  • To maintain the good relationship with the agents of catechetical activities in all levels through the Diocesan Catechetical Directors and Catechetical Training Centres’ Directors.

  • To support and the join hands in interfaith as well as ecumenical efforts for Religious education in schools through the preparation of the sound syllabi (EDIMASHUTA).

  • To facilitate the translation of some important Catechetical Documents of the Church: e.g. Guides for Catechists, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Catechetical Directory, Cateches Tradendae etc.

  • To facilitate the ongoing formation of the catechists various meetings, seminars, courses and workshops wherever possible in order to share the experience and contribute for the integral formation and development of the people of God.

  • To be responsible to provide an executive report on the catechetical activities to the Church Authority whenever required during the Permanent Council or Plenary Assembly as well as when asked by individual Bishops.

  • To communicate the needed catechetical information to the dioceses and all other stakeholders of catechetical activities.

  • The Catechetical department in collaboration with other TEC departments has the duty o sensitize, to educate and to empower the Family of God to confront the challenges of the cross-cutting issues of our time in all dimensions of life.

 

Activities:

 

THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CATECHETICAL DEPARTMENT:

 

Some efforts have been done to make sure that the catechetical department is moving forward:

 

A: Preparation, Printing and dissemination of some Catechetical materials:

 

i) Watoto wa Mungu Series 1985-1987.

 

ii) Primary School Syllabus for Religious Education 1995.

iii) National Secondary School Syllabus for O-Level 1998.

iv) Ecumenical Syllabus done by joint efforts of C.C.T. and TEC 1998.v) Publication of the translation of the Catechism of Catholic Church in Kiswahili. It has been reprinted for three times due to the great need of the people 2000.

vi) Printing of Kristo Tumaini Letu textbooks for standard one pupils and teachers guide 2001.

vii) Printing of the common Syllabus of Catechetical Training Centres 2002.

viii) Translation and publication of the “Guide for Catechists” document in to Kiswahili 2004.

ix) Translation and publication of the Compedium for the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2006.

x) Publication of the Syllabi for Catholic Religious Education and Ethics in Schools (Elementary, Primary and Secondary levels ).

xi) Publication of the Syllabi for Catholic Religious Education and Ethics in Colleges (Vocational, Teachers Certicate and Diploma levels ).

xii) Publication of the Syllabi for Bible Knowledge and Divinity for Secondary Schools.

 

B: For the implementation and evaluation of some of these catechetical works the department has introduced.

 

  1. The National Catholic Religious Examination early in 1993 in a trial bases for few dioceses. But it has been strengthened since 1995 after having the common primary schools syllabus for Religious Education.

  2. In the year 2000 – the introduction of form four catholic religious examinations was implemented as a first trial. It has been continued up to date.

  3. The National Catechetical Training Centers Examination has been introduced as a first trial in 2004. This examination is being done by those catechists who are taking the catechetical course for two years and three years only

 

From the beginning to date all these National Exams have been carried out successfully.

 

C: The Training and the Ongoing Formation of the Catechists:

 

The formal training of the Catechists is carried out through 28 Catechetical Schools and Institutions for Short and Long Courses of the range between Three Months to three years with the award of Certificate and diploma respectively.

 

The informal training of the catechists is done through various meetings, seminars, workshops, spiritual retreats in the parish, diocese and national levels.

 

Also it through some printed articles/materials in the Catechetical and other catholic newspapers, journals the most of these common printed media are MLEZI, MWENGE and KIONGOZI in the National Level and the Some Diocesan and other Church Institutions News Bulletins.

 

The Broadcasting Media such as Radio and TV play a greater role for the informal Training and the Ongoing Formation of the Catechists.

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