Diocesan Pastoral Coordinators workshop was held at Debre Zeit from 11-13 May 2010

 "The object that priests strive for their ministry and life is the procuring of the glory of God the Father in Christ" (PO 2)

The Pastoral Coordinators of ten jurisdictions of Ethiopia, except the Vicariate of Hawassa took part in a workshop organized at Galilee Center, Debre Zeit from 11-13 May 2010. The workshop was organized for all the Pastoral Coordinators of Ecclesiastical jurisdictions of Ethiopia. Bishop Markos, of Jimma Bonga Vicariate and Episcopal delegate for Pastoral Coordination Office, opened the workshop with the Eucharistic celebration and delivered a message on the role of Diocesan Pastoral Coordinators. He stated that the Pastoral Coordinators playa key role in animating the pastoral activities of the jurisdictions. The Church is not a dead museum, but a flourishing garden full of flowers and we are the gardeners who are assigned to cultivate in the Lord's garden. He emphasized not to create dichotomy between proclaiming the Word of God, the celebration of the Sacraments and the celebration of charity (Diakonia) in the Church. He suggested developing better plans towards youth ministry at national level, by providing them with books and workshops.

The aim of the workshop was experience sharing among Pastoral Coordinators and discerning the pastoral plan of the jurisdictions together.

All ten Pastoral Coordinators gave a short report of pastoral activities in their respective jurisdictions. The workshop dealt with topics such as family evangelization, the expectation of youth from the Church, Peace and Justice in the Catholic Social teaching, celebrating the year for priests and writing project proposals and project report in a standard way. The input was given by different persons from Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat Units.

There were twenty participants in the workshop and they all expressed their satisfaction in the workshop and asked the PAC to organize similar seminars at regular basis. In the future it would be possible to have a learning alliance, by traveling to different jurisdictions to have experience sharing of pastoral activities of the jurisdictions.

Some jurisdictions do not have yet a full time Pastoral Coordinator and the participants suggest assigning full time Pastoral Coordinators when ever it is possible. The participants asked to work out on a national pastoral guide line, which can facilitate the pastoral activities of every jurisdiction. The participants established a taskforce (from Archdiocese, Emdibir and Meki delegates) which will work on the preparation of PAC general assembly to be held from 16-18 Nov. 2010. The next ordinary Pastoral Coordinators meeting will take place at Debre Zeit, 11-14 Oct. 2010. I take the occasion to express my sincere thanks to all those who contributed for the success of the workshop, particularly to ECS Coordination Office for sponsoring the workshop.

 Fr. Haile Gabriel Meleku

PAC