Catholic Catechism, Bible Translated into Local Languages in Angola, Kenya

Pope St. John Paul II  approved the CCC in French in June 1992 and promulgated it on October 11, 1992 through his Apostolic Constitution ‘Fidei depositum’, on the 30^th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

Five years later, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Polish-born Pope approved and promulgated the “definitive text” of the Catechism in Latin through his apostolic letter ‘Laetamur Magnopere’.

In 2005, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI promulgated the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a summary of CCC. 

In Kenya, the semi-nomadic pastoralists belonging to the Samburu community in the north central part of the country are able read the New Testament in their native Samburu language after the translation and the official launch of final copy Saturday, December 14.

According to a local media report, “The New Testament copies were transported on a donkey from Bible Translation and Literacy office in Maralal town to Kenyatta Stadium as Christians sang and danced.”

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The Catholic Bishop of Maralal, Virgilio Pante and Kenya’s Deputy President, William Ruto were among the dignitaries at the Saturday event.

According to Bible Translation and Literacy, a Christian organization that translated the New Testament, the initiative was inspired by lack of good understanding of Christianity among the Samburu people who are Nilotic speakers.

“There is little understanding of Christianity among the Samburu and a tendency to mix this with traditional religion,” the organization has explained and added, “In a recent survey, many community leaders and church pastors interviewed expressed their desire to see the Samburu language written and Scriptures translated.”

“Most of them attributed the lack of growth in the Samburu Church and the low understanding of Christianity among the Samburu to lack of Scriptures in their language,” the organization has explained.

Another inspiration for the translation, the organization has noted, is the confusion that the Samburu people were experiencing while using the Bible of fellow Nilotic speakers, the Maasai, particularly “issues with comprehension and offensive or derogatory lexical terms.” 

The translation was funded by Samburu Church leaders and partners who, from 2008, fundraised for the initiative. The funds drive was mainly through giving of a cow, which according to a myth by the pastoralist community, “ate the Bible”, cutting off communication between the Samburu people and their God.

The organization has printed about 1500 copies of the translation, with each selling at Ksh. 150.00 (US$1.50). 

“Translation of the Old Testament is ongoing and hopefully in a few years, the Samburu people will have a complete Bible,” the Bible Translation and Literacy organization has stated.