Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – In order to extend their pastoral services to all the inhabitants of the often large territories in their care, African priests and missionaries must rely on assistance from lay catechists, who in turn must first receive the proper training before performing their service.
In the Archdiocese of Kananga, in Kasayi (Dominican Republic of Congo), a response to the need for catechetical training was first begun in the 1920s . According to a report sent to Agenzia Fides from this Congolese Archdiocese, the first catechists were called “Basambidishi” and were considered the vanguard of Catholic Action. The first catechetical training school dates back to the time period of 1926-1931. During that time, Bishop Auguste Declerq, Apostolic Vicar of Upper Kasai, held a meeting to determine the conditions for becoming a catechist. Among the requirements were participation in a period of training lasting at least 3 months, spiritual exercises, and a retreat. From 1932-1960, the same rule was followed. The name of the catechist in the local dialect is “mulami,” which means “guardian, shepherd.” The catechist is the one who teaches the catechism of the Catholic Church in their village and guides the community prayer.
After 1960, the year Congo gained its independence, the country began a turbulent time, marked by a series of civil wars; in this situation it became increasingly more difficult for catechists to continue offering their services.
In 1963, in order to relaunch the ministry of the “mulami” in the Archdiocese of Kananga, Fr. Gerard Bulck, missionary of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, was placed in charge of spreading awareness among the Christians and selecting the “Balami” (those responsible for the Catholic community). In 1969, the Pastoral Centers were built and led by catechists across the Archdiocese. Each Pastoral Center is led by a “mulami en chef” (“Mulami Makulu” in the local language), who had attended a special course at St. Joseph Mfuki in Mikalayi. In 1969, the first 49 “mulami en chef” were formed.
In 1998, the Diocesan Pastoral Center was built with the purpose of training “Balami” in the area of ecclesial base communities for integral development. This task was to be performed in strict collaboration with the priests of the missions, under the supervision of a pastoral coordinator and with the guidelines and recommendations of the Bishop.
The current coordinator of the “Balami” in the Archdiocese of Kananga is Mr. Victor Tshiyoyo Beya, who studied at the Institut Supérieur des Sciences Religieuses in Kananga (ISSR) from 1982-84 and the Institut International de Catéchèse et de Pastorale “Lumen Vitae” in Brussels (Belgium) from 1987-88. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 19/1/2009)
