The Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese Most Reverend Doctor Stephen Dami Mamza has commissioned 29 Catechists alongside their wives after undergoing two years training with a charge on them to proclaim and preach the gospel by example.
Bishop Dami Mamza who is also the state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) during 2023 investiture and commissioning of Catechists held at catechetical training center Muchala in Gombi local government appreciated
all the directors, priests and staff for the support given to the Catechists throughout their two years training.
He said the purpose of training the Catechists is to make them proclaim and preach the gospel of the Lord while expressing joy saying graduating twenty nine Catcechists is a great achievement to the Catholic diocese of Yola.
Bishop Dami said during the training they were taught different doctrines and scriptures of the Catholic Church hoping that they are fit to go out and preach the good news of the lord.
He urged them to take all the knowledge gained with all seriousness and be committed to the work and teach by example pointing out that they should work in collaboration with the priest’s, church council and people of their communities.
Bishop Dami Mamza emphasize the need to work as a team stressing that without collaboration between them and priests they would not work effectively.
The Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese appealed to the graduating Catechists and their wives to desist from being liability and beggars but should engage in farming while their wives should use the sewing machines given to them to support their families.
Earlier in his welcome address, the director catechetical training center Muchala, Reverend father Simon Salama said pope Francis declared the period spanning from 2021 to 2023 to be a time for discussion and reflecting the spirit of solidarity in the church.
He described Catechists as a person of Faith who leads others in the understanding of Faith teaching according to the official teachings of the church saying their role is a vital ministry to the church.
Reverend father Simon Salama further enumerated the role of the Catechists to include a witness of Faith and keeper of the memory of God, teacher and mystagogue who introduces others to the mystery of God, as well as accompanier and educator of those who are entrusted to them by church among others.
Some of the catechist interviewed expressed joy and thanked Bishop Dami Mamza for finding them worthy to serve the church and promised to make good use of the opportunity.
Highlight of the event was presentation of motorcycles to the catechists by Bishop Dami Mamza to facilitate their work and their wives were given sewing machines to also support their families.
