As a practical response to the AMECEA Pastoral Strategic Plan 2014-2024, AMECEA has published a training handbook for facilitators of Small Christian Communities (SCCs), which fulfills an emerging need for inducing training contents and methodologies for individuals and groups actively involved in the facilitation of SCCs Processes.
The handbook which was edited by a team of experts in SCCs including AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo and his predecessor Rev. Fr. Febian P. Mulenga, Rev. Fr. Joseph Healey, MM, a renowned promotors of SCCs in Eastern Africa together with his team Mrs. Rose Musimba and Alphonce C.L. Omolo was published by Paulines Publication and aims at Strengthening the growth of Small Christian Communities in Africa.
According Rev. Fr. Joseph Healey, MM, the handbook is unique because it is a guide for the facilitators and is not just to be given out to SCCs members but rather to Pastoral Agents who are responsible for forming others about SCCs Processes.
“For years, we used the term Training of Trainers but then we realized that in the structure of the SCCs facilitators, it has a deeper meaning, therefore the handbook is called the Training Handbook for facilitators,” Fr. Healey explained.
The handbook has been inspired by two important Apostolic Exhortation of Pope France, The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium) of 2013 and the Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia) of 2016.
“There is a dramatic change going on, the doctrines are changing therefore, the need for servant leadership. The facilitators of SCCs processes have to also be the servant leaders; they are not bosses;” he said.
The handbook among other things provides the methodology of training for facilitators on SCCs as well as topics and sessions for the trainings. It is therefore hoped that the handbook will be outstandingly utilized to achieve the ultimate goal of promoting new and deeper evangelization in AMECEA Region.
The handbook retails at two US Dollars ($2) and is available at AMECEA Secretariat Pastoral Department and Pauline’s Catholic Bookshops in Kenya. Orders can be made through AMECEA Pastoral Departments through the following email addresses: pastoral@amecea.org
The handbook has already been launched in Kakamega Diocese as well as the Archdiocese of Kisumu recently.
∽End∽