The following first report is furnished by Fr. Joseph Healey, MM.
During a visit to Uganda from 15--23 March, 2001 I participated in five different Small Christian Community (SCC) Meetings in five parishes in Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese which is west of Kampala. On 18 March I facilitated a one day Seminar on Small Christian Communities for 35 diocesan leaders. Â Small Christian Communities are the main pastoral priority in Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese and very dear to the heart of local ordinary, Bishop Joseph Mukwaya. The diocese has one of the best overall plans in Eastern Africa for developing SCCs as the pillar or foundation of the pastoral life of the Catholic Church especially its well organized SCCs training programs on diocesan and parish levels.
There are important links between the SCCs in Uganda and the USA. Bishop Mukwaya has shared information with Bishop Frank Rodimer of Paterson Diocese, New Jersey about SCC plans and activities. Father Bob Pelton of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana follows SCC activities in Uganda closely.
In the winter, 2001 issue of SCC Gatherings, a publication of the Office of Small Christian Communities of Hartford Archdiocese, Connecticut, Brother Bob Moriarty, SM writes:
"The visit to AMECEA [Catholic Bishops Association in Eastern Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya] also allowed for a conversation with Ugandan Bishop Joseph Mukwaya [Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese], himself also a former AMECEA Social Communications Secretary who succeeded Fr. Joe Healey in that capacity and then later became the Secretary General. Luganda is Bishop Mukwaya's native tongue and he explained that in Luganda the word for Small Christian Community is "abassekimu." The word is most appropriately translated, says the bishop, as the people who are of the same mind, heart and faith. Small Christian Communities have been named as the priority of our diocesan synod, said Bishop Mukwaya. In his diocese he suggested that catechists (a role even more broadly understood in the African church than in our own), play a major role in the development and training related to Small Christian Communities. They are often better at it than priests, he suggested, adding that more substantial training in this regard is needed in seminary formation. Bishop Mukwaya indicated that in his diocese there is a model Small Christian Community designated in each parish to aid in the animation of other communities. In addition, a model deanery has been named and there are three designated model parishes identified for the purposes of supporting this development in other parishes of the diocese."
Reference Material: Agatha Radoli, ed., "How Local is the Local Church: Small Christian Communities and Church in Eastern Africa." Eldoret: Spearhead No. 126-28, 1993. See especially article by Joseph Healey on "Twelve Case Studies of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Eastern Africa" on pages 59-103.