Catechists, the Most Essential for the Mission
At the Clergy-Laity Assembly of Priests and Trustees of the Archdiocesan District of Geita, which took place in the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Buseresere, with participation from all Parishes, under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba and Western Tanzania.
Following the Bishop’s address, the following topics were discussed:
- Priests and their ministry
- Registration of all Parishes
- Registration of Catechists and their ministry
- Planning new missionary destinations and strengthening problematic Parishes.
- Course of Financial Support for Parishes and the Diocese.
Statements and discussions were held, primarily concerning the better organization of the mission.
The persistent plea from all was for the training of new Catechists, as many older ones are elderly and many parishes lack Catechists.
Many interesting issues were raised and significant opinions were heard on this matter, such as:
“without catechists, the Mission cannot progress,”
“priests absolutely need Catechists to do their work,”
“without Catechists, our Church does not grow,”
“prepare and send us new Catechists.”
Following this dramatic appeal, the Bishop requested that a list of young people, who will be selected to attend a Catechists’ Seminar, be sent by the end of February.
Many understand Mission to mean building Churches, Schools, Hospitals, drilling boreholes, distributing clothes, and food.
Usually, by Mission we mean baptisms, but again, without catechesis. We exhaust all our missionary activity in liturgical work, but without catechesis.
The lack of catechesis in Foreign Missions is due to a mistaken goal of those involved in the Mission, both on the front lines and in the rear.
Unfortunately, the Mission rarely deals with Mission-Catechesis.
The reason is the lack of appreciation for catechesis in general. It is true that those who did not appreciate and did not work in internal Mission and did not engage in catechesis in Greece, do not consider catechesis necessary in Foreign Missions.
Another reason is the difficulty of the work of catechesis. For it to happen, Seminars must be created and suitable Catechists must be trained. More importantly, priests need to be convinced to engage in this humble work.
Another reason for the underestimation of Catechesis is that catechesis is an event that is not visible, that is not easily promoted. One cannot easily boast about it. The erection of a Church is visible. The School, the Hospital, the borehole are visible. They are promoted with photos and praises.
Unfortunately, missionary practice often imitates foreign Missions. It is swayed more by Catholic and Protestant Missions. However, Catholics and Protestants systematically catechize their members. Our deviation, unfortunately, lies in imitating social work and not catechesis. The construction of hospitals, schools, drilling boreholes, etc. They do social work, but they also do catechesis.
God willing, we hope that the Diocese’s Catechists’ Seminar will operate from 2026 in Kasikizi for three months. Beyond that, the support and monitoring of the catechists’ work must be organized. The 6 Catechetical aids must be prepared: 1. Old Testament, 2. New Testament, 3. Liturgical, 4. Catechesis, 5. Apostles-Martyrs, 6. Fathers-Saints.
At the same time, the funds for the movement and coverage of all other needs of the Catechists must be secured from the Parishes and the Diocese.
The incident I mentioned at the beginning compels us, in the Mission of Bukoba, to revise the goal of missionary work up to now.
The goal is now the spiritual and qualitative upgrading of the people of God.
The goal is the awareness and training of the clergy. The training of the body of Catechists through Seminars. The coordination of this work by experienced personnel who can direct and support this work.
A plea to Missionary Associations: to primarily support the work of Mission-catechesis, which requires less money but is more important. Many times, they propose social projects to missionaries that do not help in proper mission.
We are looking for volunteer Catechists, Theologians, circuit leaders who know English, to come and catechize. Even if they don’t know the language, if they are balanced, to come and travel from parish to parish and catechize. We will provide them with accommodation, food, and transportation solely for the sake of having catechesis. An example is Mrs. E. Z. from Larissa, who came to Bukoba for 1 month for 15 years and went daily to the Parishes to catechize.
Very few Missionary Associations respond to the request for true mission, which is catechesis.
The Brotherhood of Orthodox Foreign Mission is also aligned with the correct missionary goal, funding a portion of the 15 missionary teams of the Diocese of Bukoba every month! We thank them!
This is Mission! This is the heart of the Mission! Catechesis!
Chrysostomos of Bukoba
