Pastoral Work

I salute you my dear readers as we are yet to enjoy the experience of pastoral life of the people in Kinyamasika Seminary. First and for most, Pastoral work begins with the personalities engaged in this activity.  As widely known that one cannot give what one does not have, and so pastoral. One has to do the job in one’s own self, then that job can be transferred to others elsewhere in the nearby communities. For example, one ought to encourage oneself to have personal prayers in the side chapels that are ever open for personal prayers and adoration to be carried out anytime apart from the general routine prayer time.

Next is to the neighbor, as we read in Luke 10: 25-37; the parable of the Good Samaritan. Here Jesus was asked by the Scribe, who one’s neighbor should be. Jesus answered him that, everyone who needs help is a neighbor. In Kinyamasika, pastoral work is carried out in conjunction with that parable of the Good Samaritan. But here it goes beyond necessity that, for one to carry out an act of mercy, it calls for one’s maturity and spiritual growth. There is a general term applied in reference to that, “surprising” where one does something to a brother unexpectedly. This also promotes the spirit of pastoral work among students and even the staff members.

At team level the is encourage in the sense that, in a week prayers are being said at team level and house level at least once. Here brothers encourage, correct, direct and sensitize one another on different matters concerning attendance of spiritual activities, human formation, auto-formation inter personal relations and wellbeing of the team through team work.

At community level, Pastoral work is satisfactorily done. Beginning with the well-designed time table where prayers are communally conducted a number of times. These begin with morning prayers (Lauds), in these there is scriptural reading, followed by mass in which there is always a rich homily by a priest or a deacon on duty, angelus at 1:00pm before we go for lunch, evening prayers (Vespers) and finally night prayers. These give and develop the pastoral zeal.

In addition, on communally, we receive a Spiritual Talk every Monday. In this, our beloved General Spiritual Director Rev Fr. John Baptist Naleela directs us by providing us with the tools which be used during pastoral work. Among these is the elaboration of the life outside the Seminary walls so as to bring to our awareness of what is expected of us by people of God whom we are to serve.

Catholic movements play tremendous role in carrying out pastoral work and pastoral activities here in Kinyamasika. Each seminarian is obliged to have membership in at least one movement. Some of the movements are; Legion of Mary, Apostleship of Prayer, Focolare, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and many others. These are used as foundation for doing pastoral work in the community and in the surrounding communities. Among these are; Secondary schools, Primary schools, Hospitals, Parishes, Prisons, to mention but a few. This experience is very important for both the pastoral workers and communities where it is carried out.

In conclusion, pastoral work is a very valuable service in Kinyamasika and the surrounding communities. More so, this is a preparation for the real pastoral work that is to be embarked on in future as servants of God and his people in service of priesthood. The work in our dioceses becomes a continuation of the job that is already being started in formation house. And so, the pastoral work in the dioceses does not come as a new experience. That is the pastoral life and the work in Kinyamasika Seminary.