The youth apostolate is a major priority for the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The challenges that the young people of Ethiopia face are immense: they are all but promised poverty and unemployment; they are negatively influenced by media that reaches even the most distant villages. They dream of fleeing to Europe but do not understand the consequences of leaving home.
The people of the Gumuz tribe live in western Ethiopia, close to the border with Sudan. Until a few years ago, they were mainly a nomadic people, though many of the Gumuz were captured by Sudanese slave traders in the late 19th century.
The Institute for Philosophy and Theology run by the Capuchin Fathers in Addis Abeba is the only Catholic higher educational institution in central and southern Ethiopia. All the dioceses and all the religious communities in this country of Eastern Africa send their seminarians for their studies there.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella lies in the extreme west of Ethiopia, on the border with South Sudan. It is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped regions in the country, and is constantly plagued by violence, unrest and conflict.
To provide formation for these new catechists, the parish needs suitable teaching materials, including books, Bibles, instructional videos and related equipment for replaying and projecting films, etc. In addition, each catechist is to be provided with an alb to wear when leading the Liturgies of the Word.