AMECEA: Professor Justus Mbae Installed the 7th CUEA Vice Chancellor

Installation Ceremony of Prof. Justus Mbae
 as new Vice Chancellor of CUEA

The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) on May 26, witnessed the installation of Prof. Justus Mbae as the 7^th, the First Lay person and the First Kenyan Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University.

Other Vice Chancellors during the 32 years of CUEA existence came from Tanzania (3), Uganda (2), and Sudan (1).

The installation of Prof Mbae took place at the Langata main Campus, in Nairobi, as part of the graduation Holy Mass.

The ceremony was presided over by the Chairman of the University Council Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba, who represented the Chancellor of the University, H.E Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel, AMECEA Chairman and the Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Prof Mbae recited the Creed as a sign of his commitment to the Catholic church and what it stands for.

Rt. Rev. Muhatia, who is the Bishop of Nakuru, Kenya congratulated Prof Mbae and promised him the support of the University council as he takes this new assignment.  

Prof. Mbae holding the Symbol of Power
 right after being Installed
 Vice Chancellor of CUEA

Meanwhile, Bishop Muhatia thanked the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Msgr. Pius Rutechura on behalf of the Chancellor for the services he rendered to the University during his five years’ tenure at the university.

“I wish you success and God’s blessings in your new responsibilities back in your diocese,” he said.

Speaking during the event, Prof Mbae expressed gratitude to the AMECEA members of the Executive Board for the big trust they put on him. He was also grateful to the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Msgr. Rutechura for the wonderful work during his tenure as a Vice Chancellor. “Fr Pius has been a friend, and a mentor,” he said.  

On his part Msgr. Rutechura said that with the installation of the new Vice Chancellor his service at CUEA has come to an end.

“I am going back to my diocese after 22 years of service outside,” he said.

Monsignor Rutechura asked the CUEA community to support the new Vice Chancellor, “I have no doubt of his abilities to lead the university,” he said.

By AMECEA Online News Correspondent, Nairobi, Kenya

AMECEA: Rev Fr Chimombo from Malawi to head Pastoral Department

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo, 
Newly Appointed Coordinator, 
AMECEA Pastoral Department.
 Fr. Chimombo is from Malawi

The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa. (AMECEA) Executive Board has appointed Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo from Malawi as new AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator.

The appointment was ratified last week during the AMECEA Executive Board meeting held from 19 -20 May 2016 at the Secretariat Office in Nairobi, Kenya. Fr. Chimombo is taking the office from Rev Fr Febian Pikiti from the Archdiocese of Kasama, Zambia who finished his mandate with AMECEA.

The AMECEA Chairman H.E Berhaneysus D. Souraphiel expressed gratitude to Fr Pikiti for the services he rendered to AMECEA secretariat and wished him a success in his new responsibility.

Among the many responsibilities Fr Pikiti carried out at AMECEA secretariat is the revitalization of the Council of Laity of Eastern Africa which aimed to assist and encourage the laity to understand and fulfilltheir evangelizing mission; to promote dialogue between the laity and Bishops, priests and religious in order to build up the church as a family; to foster human and Christian formation and technical training of the laity and to encourage the exchange of information/experiences among the AMECEA laity.

Meanwhile, according to information reporting from Malawi the announcement of the appointment of Fr. Chimombo was made by ECM Secretary General Very Rev Fr Henry Saindi through his official statement.

“On behalf of the Catholic Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, I write to officially announce the appointment of Reverend Father Emmanuel Chimombo as AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator,” read part of the statement signed by Fr. Saindi.

He said Fr. Chimombo is expected to report at AMECEA Secretariat in June 2016. “On behalf of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, I take this occasion to congratulate and wish Father Chimombo God’s blessings as he takes up this new position at the regional level,” said Fr. Saindi.

Until his appointment, Father Chimombo was serving as the National Pastoral Secretary and Deputy Secretary General at ECM.

Fr. Chimombo hails from Mayaka Parish in the Diocese of Zomba, Malawi.

By AMECEA Online News Correspondent and Prince Henderson ECM Communications Office

AMECEA: Pastoral Coordinator Rev Fr. Febian Pikiti leaves AMECEA Secretariat for his sabbatical leave

Rev. Fr. Febian Mulenga Pikiti, 
Outgoing Pastoral 
Coordinator at AMECEA

Rev Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga is leaving AMECEA secretariat this week for his Sabbatical leave after finishing his mandate as Pastoral Department of the secretariat.

Speaking to AMECEA Online News, Fr. Pikiti said, as my mandate and service as Pastoral Coordinator at AMECEA Secretariat comes to an end, I am prayerfully thanking God for the gift of priesthood and the Church in the AMECEA Region.

National Annual Pastoral Coordinators Meeting in 
Nairobi with Mr. Hans Peter from Missio Germany

Fr. Pikiti was appointed as Pastoral Coordinator at the AMECEA Secretariat fours year ago. He said that although the period has been very short, yet from the experience, it has been a great moment of growth in his faith, priestly ministry and personal maturity.

Catholic Students Workshop in Nairobi organized by 
AMECEA Pastoral Department in Nairobi 2015

“It has been indeed a blessing that God offered me this opportunity to serve the Church as Pastoral Coordinator here at AMECEA Secretariat. If ever something has been achieved in the Pastoral Department during the few years I have served here, it is because of the collaboration with all those with whom I have journeyed in seeking the will of God,” he said.

Conference on the Council of the Laity for Eastern Africa 
(COLEA) Workshop in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania
 organized by Pastoral Department  in 2004

He said, “I am going back home, to the Archdiocese of Kasama, in Zambia, I would like to thank the Chairman of AMECEA, His Eminence, Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel and also the Executive Board for their guidance and wisdom in carrying out my mandate,” he said, adding “I am very grateful to Right Rev. Philip Anyolo, Bishop of Homa Bay, Kenya and Chairman of Pastoral Department for supporting me in all the initiatives that we embarked on as a Department.”

Workshop on the Assessment of Priests Organized by 
Pastoral Department in Nairobi in 2015

Fr. Pikiti said that he is indebted to his Local Ordinary, Most Rev. Ignatius Chama, together with Zambia Episcopal Conference, for appointing him to serve the Church in the AMECEA region; and to the Secretary General, Very Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo Ferdinand and to all the Staff members of AMECEA Secretariat.  “I say that your collaboration made all that we achieved together possible,” he said.

“To all friends and benefactors who supported the activities of the Pastoral Department, I am thankful to you and wishing you God’s abundant blessings,” he said.

By AMECEA Online News Correspondent, Nairobi

AMECEA: Secretariat Challenged to Strive Towards Being More Relevant to the Needs of the Region

Mr. Fritz Zuger, Consultant 
from USCCB Office of 
National Collection

Mr. Fritz Zuger from the Office of National Collection at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) who is currently visiting East African Bishops Conferences has challenged the AMECEA Secretariat to strive towards being relevant to the needs of the Bishops in the region.

“AMECEA is doing a very good job serving different conferences in Eastern Africa and each one of the Bishops have particular needs according to the challenges in their dioceses. From what I have seen, AMECEA Secretariat departments therefore should continually develop programs that answer to the needs of the Bishops,” Fritz said during and interview with AMECEA Online Newsat the AMECEA Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya.

“When for instance the departments of Justice Peace and Caritas produce material or information that the Bishops are looking for; anticipating even what they are looking for because the department has studied what is happening in the region and understands the various challenges in the region; if the department can deliver to the Bishops the information that can help them address particular needs, then the Bishops say ‘wow, it is great that AMECEA exists; they are giving me the material that I need right now!’” Fritz added that the departments have to continue to be swift and should always strive to anticipate what the Bishops really needs as this will make the secretariat and its departments always more relevant to the AMECEA Bishops.

He further explained that from what he has experienced, when the Social Communications Department of AMECEA helps the Bishops improve the communications in their own dioceses, then the Bishops feel the need for AMECEA and in turn support the secretariat even more willingly.

Meanwhile he emphasized the ongoing need to ensure continuity by making advanced plans such that when there is change of staff then proper handing over is done before the outgoing staff leaves.

“As we have all experienced, if a staff member leaves and there is a gap, this slows down everything. Sometimes it is not possible to have the new person come in before the outgoing staff leaves the office, however, proper handing over is very important for continuity,” he said.

Fritz also challenged the secretariat to continue to review and develop precise job descriptions for every person that works at AMECEA. He explained that a job description is a very important tool that helps an organization or institution to have personnel that matches the tasks they have been assigned to perform.

“When you have a job description that details what you are looking for then it is easier to find the person that matches these criteria,” he said. “Obviously,” he added “one might not always fit perfectly to the job they are doing but if the description is there then they can always adjust it.”

By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News