Lay Apostolate
The department is entrusted with promoting lay apostolate through the activities of laity council laity Movements and Associations
§ Increasing the Capacity of the dioceses in empowering the Laity to know and witness their faith.
§ Increasing the capacity of the Dioceses to promote Lay Apostolate eg. Lay family apostolate, youth ministry.
§ Improving communication in terms teamwork spirit with other departments and Diocesan offices of Lay Apostolate.
§ To improve the sustainability of the Department and lay movements.
1.0 Outstanding Issues
The Statutes and By- Laws of the Tanzania Episcopal conference (TEC) define the duties of the Department Secretaries and of the Department Secretary of the LADE in particular. However, they do not give a detailed explanation about LADE`s identity, vision, mission and goals. The department considers these aspects to be of paramount importance to enhancing its apostolate. Thus, LADE having defined its duties and responsibilities through a number of recollections, meetings, and seminars workshops and in a recent Strategic Planning, came out with some working ideas in relation to the above mentioned aspects.
Other documents to help the Department Secretary besides the Statues and By-Laws are:
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Taratibu za Utendaji na Mahusiano
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The Constitution of the National Council of the Laity
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The Department`s Strategic Plan
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5 years laity awareness programme 2010-2014
1.1 Identity of LADE
LADE is one of the Departments of the Catholic Secretariat (CS) of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC).
The key stakeholders of LADE include the following:
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TEC and Local Ordinaries through and with CS
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Head office of the Department(Bishop Chairman, Vice Chairman and Department Secretary)
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Diocesan Lay Apostolate Directors and Executive Secretaries
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The National Council of the Laity as an umbrella of all Lay Movements and Associations at the National level
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Chaplains of Lay Movements and Associations at the national and diocesan levels
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The People of goodwill
LADE is managed by its head office comprising the Bishop Chairman, Bishop Vice Chairman, the Department Secretary, and moderators or coordinators of the departmental sections. The Secretary is responsible directly to the Bishop Chairman. Moreover, his work is subject to supervision and co-ordination by the Secretary General of the TEC.
1.2 Leadership as from 2010
Bishop Chairman |
Rt. Rev. Desiderius R`woma |
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Assistant Chairman |
Rt. Rev. Paschal Kikoti |
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Executive Secretary |
Rev. Fr. Vitus Sichalwe |
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Chaplains |
Rev. Fr. Vic Missiaen CPT |
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CHAIR PERSON |
V/CHAIR PERSON |
SEC. GENERAL |
ASS. SECRETARY |
TREASURER |
OTHERS |
NCL |
Gaspar Makiluli |
Easter Njau |
Jeremia Daffa |
Sweetbert Malola |
Alvera Kabwogi |
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WAWATA |
Olive Luena |
Theodora Mtejeta |
E. Maita |
Sarah Kessi |
Elizabeth Twissa |
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VIWAWA |
Ditrick Rutashobya |
Arestidy John |
Lazaro Lukonge |
Marcelina Joseph |
Hilda Qorro |
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UNUM OMNES |
K.J. Kambona |
Sylvester Massawe |
Fulugence Ntiruhungwa |
Costa Frisch |
Sylvester Rupia |
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SSHJ |
Beata Mkenda |
Joseph Mushi |
Christopher Mrope |
Richard Mahundi |
Emiliana Kondowe |
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CPT |
Joseph Ibreck |
Prof. Beda Mutagahywa |
Epiphania Mfundo |
Dr. Cleoptias Kente |
Method Kashonda |
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LEGION OF MARY |
Conrad Kuyawaga |
Aidan Mwakanyamale |
Alveria Kabwogi |
Modest Msangi |
Monica Eliah |
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TYCS |
Charles Francis |
Frank Pilimo |
Peter D. Komba |
Caren Batalingaya |
Vera Bosco |
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1.3 Vision of LADE
To see the Church as Family of God ( EA 63) whereby the Laity are brothers and sisters together with the clergy, those in consecrated life, and all people of goodwill in evangelizing the secular world. (Evangelizing together as Family.)
1.4 Mission of LADE
LADE`s mission is to administer and manage pastoral functions and activities related to Lay Apostolate in the Church as mandated by the TEC, through the CS, with a view to promoting active involvement of the laity in bringing the Good News ( Mt 28: 18) into all the strata of humanity and through their influence transform humanity from within ( EN 18)
1.5 Goals of LADE
2.5.1 To coordinate functions and activities of Lay Movements and Associations and others related to Lay Apostolate so that they are carried out in harmony and in collaboration with those of the other members of the Church and society, namely, the clergy and, those in consecrated life.
2.5.2 To foster and promote unity of mission and vocations of Lay Movements and associations, in tune with the teachings of the Church, policies and directives of TEC, and the signs of the time, in the process of inseminating the Gospel values and principles and transforming the secular world.
2.5.3 To promote empowerment through training, capacity building and spiritual formation and growth to the members of Lay Movements and associations at the national level.
2.5.3 To facilitate and enable effective supervision of the operations of Lay Movements and associations through and with chaplains and Diocesan Lay Apostolate Directors.
1.6 Some Objectives
Having articulated its vision, mission and goals, LADE embarked on to identify some objectives as a point of departure for action. LADE indentified two objectives, namely
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To promote broad and common awareness of Lay Apostolate within the mission of the Church
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To improve the operations of the office
The objectives have remained the major concern of LADE in the last four years.
2.0 Activities and Achievements
In the line of the identified objectives some activities were performed and achievements obtained.
+Promotion of Broad and Common Awareness
3.1.1 Recollections and meetings have continued to enrich the vision of Lay Apostolate among executives at the national level. The recollections which are held at least three times a year are financially supported by national lay leaders. The NCL, in collaboration with the respective Associations/ Movements select appropriate themes, prepare timetable, invite participants and compile resolutions and recommendations.
3.1.3 Training manual
The Department has developed a training manual which contains basic teachings of the Catholic faith. This manual has been distributed to 33 dioceses.
3.1.4 Meetings
For the diocesan directors, chaplains, lay leaders and other according to the annual calendar. Usually, three times a year, a meeting of all executives at the national level ( SEIDA), once every month meetings of executive committees of lay Movement/Associations once or twice a year a meeting of diocesan lay apostolate directors, once a year a meeting of LADE.
Construction of the BAKANJA TEC Laity Centre
Strategies:
Project proposal to donors: The objective of completing the construction of the BAKANJA TEC Laity Centre is still our priority. A lot has been done, the ground floor is yet to be completed. A Project proposal to donors has been developed.
Laity council contributions: Our main strategy is to get support from dioceses through the laity contributions as agreed by the Laity council’s General meeting. The Department humbly requests collaboration from Local Ordinaries to accept and accelerate the Laity efforts in this project.
In this phase, under the guidance of the chairman and vice chairman of the department a Building and Fundraising committee has been formed. It has carried out the work of consultancy agreement with the architectural team which is in final stages.
The Department hereby requests the approval of Bishops for the Laity to execute their commitment to raise funds to complete the construction of Bakanja Laity Training Centre. Their strategy is to raise 400,000,000 Tshs by a contribution of Tshs 200 from each faithful.
Opening of Fundraising Bank Accounts: For the purpose of collecting funds Bank accounts have been opened one in Mkombozi Commercial Bank Ac No 00120400860501 and with NMB AC No. 2232300077. The aim is to facilitate deposits from dioceses and donors
2.1 Improvement of the Operations of the Offices
2.1.1 Involvement of the Laity through their leaders
a) Preparation of annual calendar of events and activities
b) Preparation of the five Years and 2010-2014 Programmes. So far we have prepared for the years 2001-2005 and 2006-2011
c) Preparation of annual working themes (dhamira ya utendaji) for action according to the objectives identified.
d) The themes have been mentioned and ellaborated in a booklet containing the five years programme 2010-2014
These are as follows:
i. The year 2006 was for focusing on Family Apostolate. The working theme was: Family gift of God and first cell of society and Domestic Church.
ii. They year 2007 was for focusing on Youth Apostolate, the working theme was: Youth Today`s Church and today`s nation ( Vijana Kanisa la leo na Taifa la leo)
iii. The year 2008 was for focusing on the participation of the laity in social development. The reflection theme was sustain the activities of your apostolate
iv. The year is for focusing on child apostolate, the reflection theme is children are a gift.
v. The year 2010 is for the evaluation of the programme
vi. The year 2011: evangelizing together as Family of God
3.3 Ongoing Projects and Activities
3.3.2 Ongoing formation of lay Leaders
The project, supported by USA Episcopal Conference Pastoral Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa to starty in 2012.
3.3.4 New Constitution of the Council of the Laity
The department facilitated the revision of the Constitution of the Council of the Laity. The new constitution was approved by the Bishops in November 2003-2007.
3.3.5 Elections of Lay Leaders 2010
The office of the Lay Apostolate Department in collaboration with the National Council of Laity (NCL) prepared and issued an election manifesto in booklet form to be followed at all levels by the NCL and other Lay Movements and Associations up to the next elections.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Apart from the activities and achievements, LADE is not without some strengths and opportunities as well as challenges, and limitations and even threats. All these need to be explored and utilized more where possible. Following is, therefore, a brief examination of the actual situation.
4.0 Praxis and Actual Situation
4.1 The Strengths and Opportunities of LADE
4.1.2 Planning
Short term plans (at most five years), meetings, common prayer and reflections, calendar of events.
4.1.3 Coordination
Readiness of lay movements and associations to work together, some Movements/Associations are Church NGOs Good relationship between Church NGOs and other NGOs, Structures of lay movements/associations go to the grassroots level, some lay movements/associations address specific issues like HIV/AIDS and proventry.
4.1.4 Staffing
Competent and skilled personnel among some Lay Movements and Associations, job description with clear delineation of roles and duties within the movements and association
4.1.5 Programming capabilities
Due to the skilled personnel present either in the movements and associations or within the CS, there is potentiality of making good programmes.
4.1.6 Financial capabilities
Most of the Lay movements and association are to some extent self reliant.
4.1.7 Other
The laity are the most majority of the Church members in terms of population, some members of lay movements and associations are God-fearing, committed and self motivated with sense of ownership and belonging, availability of Bishops (especially at the Departmental level).
4.1.8 Socio-political and cultural factors
Common language (Kiswahili), the Government stand on constitutional rights and obligations of citizens, autonomy of Church NGOs in the country, peaceful relationship with the government, government respects religions and faiths, political will of citizens, good networking with NGOs, collective policies towards fighting HIVI/ AIDs, political stability
4.1.9 Science and technology
Mushrooming of means of social communication like the press, the cinema, radio, and television and internet.
4.2 Weaknesses and Threats
4.2.1 Organization structure
Presumed to be there.
4.2.2 Planning
Lack of common long term-planning among stakeholders, short term plans and action plans not coordinated the departmental level, lack of comprehensive plan.
4.2.3 Coordination
Office of Lay Movements/Associations not located in one place or area, action plans of the lay Movements and Associations and the head office of LADE is not always clear, chain of command not clear.
4.2.4 Staffing
Ongoing formation and training and on the feedback not always provided, few qualified staff, domination by some personalities, absentism, ignorance of Church policies and of the social teachings of the church.
4.2.5 Supervision
No regular contact with the supervisor at the department level, not setting performance objective and checking performance against these objectives, lack of well defined focus.
4.2.6 Training
Areas, to which each staff needs training are not identified, do not regularly assess training needs.
4.2.7 Information System
Poor management information system especially among the Movements and Association, with the head office, and with dioceses, poor researched data system/bank.
4.2.8 Property Management
Inventories are either not there or not renewed.
4.2.9 Financial capabil
Almost all Lay Movements and Associations that are also Church NGOs are more than 90 percent donor dependant, poor remuneration of employees.
4.2.10 Economic Factors
Inflation, poor living conditions of most of the laity, unemployment, and poverty.
4.2.11 Socio-political and cultural factors
Corruption, NGO`s spirit, witchcraft beliefs and practices, increase of street children, sex workers and homosexuals, school drop-outs, single parent families, alcoholism and drug abuse.
4.2.12 Health conditions
HIV and AIDS, malaria and malnutrition, high costs of education health facilities.
5.0 Challenges and Limitations
5.1 “Culture of not contributing” and Donor Dependence Syndrome
Still few contributions are received from dioceses to support lay activities and running office costs.
Due to lack of enough funds, most of Lay Movements and Associations, even those which seem to be strong and operating well depend on outside donors. Nevertheless, donor agencies seem not to favour the idea of sustainability.
Annual contributions and Pentecost collections from dioceses are either received in small amounts, or come late, or never come. It seems that the support from the clergy in this area has not always been the best. Also some of lay leaders are not committed. The situation tarnishes the name and image of the NCL and department as a whole.
5.2 Inadequate knowledge of faith
There are indicators of inadequate knowledge of faith among the laity and especially among Catholic students in schools, colleges and institutes of higher learning.
5.3 Poor Leadership
There is poor leadership in some of the movements at the national level and misunderstandings about the meaning, nature and objective of leadership in some leaders. The NCL and most of the Lay Movements and Associations to some extent face also leadership problems.
6.0 Needs and Desired Objectives ( Proposals)
Looking at the actual situation above one may identify the following needs:
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