INTERDIOCESAN CATECHETICAL TRAINING CENTRE

in LIKULEZI / PHALOMBE

map Malawi: Encarta Encyclopaedia,1998

In the 1960's the catholic Bishops of Blantyre, Zomba, Chikwawa and Mangochi wanted an interdiocesan Centre for the training / formation. of catechists.

They asked the Brothers F.I.C. to help in setting up a propramme, to provide teaching-staff and to do the administration. It was agreed that gradually the Brothers would be replaced and their work taken over by Malawians.

The centre was located in Likulesi / Phalombe in the South-Eastern part of Malawi.

It was a 2-years course, and it was unique in that the whole family was involved.

Some twenty families selected from the four dioceses stayed at the Centre, going for holidays at Easter, and at the end of the first year. Each family had its own house, and a plot of land to grow maize and vegetables.

 

Together they built up a community, a village where they lived together and supported each other. The men got a training as full-time catechist. The women followed a course in homecraft and childcare with the aim to help the women in the area where their husband would be working as a catechist.


They were appointed by their Bishop, preferably in the village or area where they came from. They were paid by the Bishop and the community for whom they worked.


Catechists and staff during the first year, 1969


Cookery-class, especially for the women.


The Brothers have been serving at the Centre from its start in 1968 till 1989 when everything was handed over to Malawians.

The staff in the last year the Brothers were present:
left to right: brother Oventius van Dooren, female staff member, brother Koos Baijer, another female staff member, father Kamalo, director of the Centre.

Bro. Oventius van Dooren f.i.c.