Advertisement

Catholic Charity Rallying for Support to Fund Catechesis, Bible Apostolate in Ethiopia

Credit: ACN

The Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, is running a donation appeal to support catechesis and distribution of Bibles in Ethiopia in order to boost evangelization efforts in the Horn of Africa country.

In the appeal announced on August 2, ACN expresses a desire to support Priests of the Order of the Imitation of Christ (OIC) who have devoted themselves to their Biblical apostolate in Ethiopia and the training of Catechists in the African country.

The charity fund is seeking 6,600 Euros to support the Priests especially in the translation of the Holy Bible into local languages and the production of copies of the Holy Book to be distributed to families.

ACN reports, in reference to the members of OIC in Ethiopia, “The Fathers ask us for help, because every family that has just found the Catholic faith should be given a copy of the Holy Scriptures.”

“In addition, the friars want to publish the catechism in two local languages. Aid to the Church in Need would like to support this valuable apostolate with 6,600 Euros,” the charity foundation, which reaches out to the Church in difficult situations has reported.

Advertisement

The pontifical foundation has further reported that OIC, which was founded in 1919 in Kerala, South India, has also been present in the Horn of Africa country since 2009.

In Ethiopia, OIC members are in three monasteries in the Diocese of Endibir and in the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte.

In these two Catholic jurisdictions, the Fathers take care of six Parishes, ACN has reported, adding in reference to OIC members, “They devote themselves in particular to the biblical apostolate, catechesis for adults and children, especially in preparation for the sacraments, and the training of catechists.”

“They translate the Holy Scriptures and liturgical and catechetical books into the local languages and publish them. They also teach themselves,” the charity foundation has further reported, and adds, “It is especially important to them that each family receive a copy of Holy Scripture and be guided in reading and pondering the Word of God.”

The charity has reported that in 2019, it had already supported their Bible apostolate and educational work for the Laity with 3,500 Euros.

More in Africa

ACN has also reported that those involved in the project on the ground had testified to its success, saying it had borne “rich fruit”.

“Many more people than before are coming to Mass and the Parish churches are full! There are also numerous baptismal candidates and many people have now received baptism. In addition, there is a gratifyingly high number of parents who have their babies and small children baptized,” ACN has quoted a Fr. Mathews Augustine as saying.

The Pontifical foundation has called on those willing to support the Biblical and Catechesis apostolate in Ethiopia to channel their funds through the 118-04-49 Ethiopia bank transfer.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.